The popularity of the National Football League (NFL) events serves as a powerful catalyst that draws a massive fan audience and creates a summer-long window for brands and media organizations to connect with passionate betting enthusiasts. It extends beyond the regular season with betting markets available for various off-season events, providing an opportunity for sportsbooks, OTT platforms, affiliates, and media companies to tap into a wide fanbase early on. Key events like the Super Bowl, Scouting Combine, NFL Draft, and free agency are what make the NFL offseason an interesting betting market to participate in.
Let’s explore how punters have built their interest around NFL wagering in the US and Canada.
Post-Super Bowl Speculation and Betting
The NFL off-season is now one of the best betting markets for football enthusiasts despite the absence of games. The off-season is not at all idle as it features events like the NFL Combine, the schedule release, training camps, and the NFL draft. For those interested in placing bets, top NFL betting sites offer a variety of options, including futures bets on player movements and retirements.
The immediate speculations involve player movements and their retirements, which will start immediately after the Super Bowl.
Travis Kelce, who has his name etched in the history of the Chiefs with three rings in the Super Bowl, is not a part of the game this season. Sources have disclosed that Kelce’s initial plan was to walk away from the game on a high note if Kansas City had secured an unprecedented three-peat. This has changed the betting odds for the punters.
Another surprising example is Aaron Rogers’ retirement odds. There are speculations about his future in the NFL after the second season with the Jets ended disappointingly. NFL sportsbooks are currently offering Aaron Rogers retirement odds with an implied probability of 55% for Yes (124), which means the bookie believes he is most likely to retire by then. The implied probability for a No (102) bet is 50.5%.
The NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine significantly impacts the NFL draft prospect’s stock since they navigate through high-pressure environments. Every year, key standout performers get to witness their stocks and emerge as huge players in the draft process post-Combine.
There is plenty of buzz around the odds for a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, bench press, and other drills this season.
Combine’s crown jewel is the 40-yard dash. The record is set by Xavier Worthy at 4.21 seconds and is not expected to fall since there is no other player to break this mark carrying -700 odds. Sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings have unique offerings, including specific betting odds for drills like the 40-yard dash and 3-cone drill.
In the current season of the NFL, special talent is required in the NFL draft odds to run a sub 4.3 40-yard dash. Only an all-rounder athlete can run sub 4.26 which has happened only thrice in the last 17 years.
Impact on Sportsbooks and Fans
One big limitation of the sports betting markets, such as Combine Betting lacks the liquidity of an average regular-season NFL game. For instance, at FanDuel, the maximum bet for the Over for a bench press rep stood at around $938 on Wednesday, which is a far cry from what one could have achieved on an NFL weekend.
The Combine contributes to year-round NFL interest and excitement. According to Johnny Avello, the director of sports operators at DraftKings, “Offering betting odds on major offseason events and storylines such as the combine, NFL Draft and free agency adds an additional layer of excitement for our customers and helps keep NFL fans engaged with the sport year-round,”
Regulatory Challenges and Future Opportunities
When it comes to US regulations, every state does not have the same access or opportunity to betting. While Combine betting can be interesting, it is valid only if bettors are allowed to wager on the Combine.
DraftKings has the license to offer wagering options on elements like the fastest 40-yard dash in the following US states – Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Wyoming, West Virginia, Maryland, Kansas, Maine, the Canadian province of Ontario and the District of Columbia.
These betting types, however, are not available in major states such as New Jersey and New York, which reflects and respects the aims of regulators and lawmakers there.
Avello mentioned that DraftKings adheres to the regulatory measures of every jurisdiction it operates in and “if regulatory changes permit us to offer betting on the combine in additional jurisdictions, we would welcome the opportunity to do so.”
