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NFL gambling reaches an all-time high
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By Brady Schlesman
10/13/21
Betting on the NFL has become a revenue source for many companies, along with many college students.
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Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 3, 2021 - Fourth Down: Philadelphia Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in week 2 of the NFL. Photo: Brady Schlesman
According to Sports Business Journal, the NFL lost 4 billion dollars in revenue last year due to COVID-19 advertising campaigns launched to increase sports betting. A survey done by the American Gaming Association estimates that 45.2 million Americans will place a bet on the 2021 NFL season, which would be an increase of 36 percent from the previous season.
As a result of COVID, fans wanted more ways to connect with players and teams through the volume of sports betting increasing.
Trae Zegarra, a college student and bookie at the University of Alabama, spoke with me about operating a book.
“From the one-hundred clients on my book, I’d say two to three thousand dollars are placed on the NFL per week.”
He also spoke about the volume of bets on his book this season versus previous years.
“[Bets on the NFL have] gone up substantially since last year, I’ve added 30 clients… on college campuses all over the country.”
According to Front Office Sports, the NFL launched an advertising partnership with several sports betting companies such as DraftKings, Caesars, and FanDuel. The contract, made in April, lasts five years. The contract also marked the first ever sportsbook partnership.
College students are betting more than ever now in Virginia since its legalization in 2020. A student at Virginia Tech spoke about his newly-found interest.
Austin Swaringen explained why he started sports betting: “Probably just to make individual games more entertaining… it’s fun to root for specific players.”
Between making game days more enjoyable and a chance to make money on your favorite players and teams, the NFL is set to make more money this year and in the future than any year prior because of sports betting.
 Blacksburg, VA, Oct. 11, 2021 - Wagering: Austin Swaringen places bets online on FanDuel. Photo: Brady Schlesman |  Blacksburg, VA, Oct. 12, 2021 - Rec: Austin Swaringen throws the football around with his friends before the NFL game that night. Photo: Brady Schlesman |
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 Blacksburg, Va, Oct. 12, 2021 - Parlay: Austin Swaringen thinks about a possible parlay for the Thursday night NFL game. Photo: Brady Schlesman |  Blacksburg, VA, Oct. 12 - Pondering: Austin Swaringen ponders the same parlay for the Thursday night game. Photo: Brady Schlesman |
 Blacksburg VA, Oct. 13, 2021 - Peace: Virginia Tech's campus after a loss to Notre Dame seems to be at peace. Photo: Brady Schlesman |  Atlanta, GA, Sept. 4, 2021 - Support: Trae Zegarra (right) supports his college football team all the way in Atlanta for the opening game of the season. Photo: unknown |
 Tallahassee, FL, Sept. 5, 2021 - Winnings: Trae Zegarra (left) celebrates his winnings on betting by going to the FSU Notre Dame game. Photo: Trae Zegarra |  Gainesville, FL, Sept. 18, 2021 - Celebration: Trae Zegarra celebrates his winnings from bets he placed at the Alabama Florida game. Photo: Paul Jennings |