Lower Handle, Solid Hold: Nevada Sportsbooks Still Profit From Super Bowl 60

Nevada’s sportsbooks posted their weakest Super Bowl handle in a decade, but the state’s books still came out ahead. The Gaming Control Board reported $133,813,230 wagered across 186 sportsbooks on Super Bowl 60, the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots. That total is the lowest Super Bowl handle in Nevada since 2016, and about $56 million below the $190,020,783 record set in 2024.

Despite the smaller pool of bets, Nevada books won $9,892,055, producing a hold of 7.4 percent on the game. That’s a far cry from last year’s $22,134,104 win and 14.6 percent hold, but it keeps Nevada’s long-standing Super Bowl profitability intact.

Why the handle dropped: star power and matchup dynamics

Industry insiders point to several reasons the handle dipped. Westgate vice president of race and sports John Murray said a lack of household-name quarterbacks and marquee star power likely cooled casual betting. “Drake Maye has a chance to be a great player, but he’s still at the beginning of his career,” Murray said, noting past Super Bowls featured more established stars.

Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito highlighted how matchup and betting trends affect totals. He said the public’s stronger recent seasons and more offense-driven matchups in prior years helped boost handles, while this game’s defensive focus and heavier “under” action on props reduced overall prop and game betting.

Big-ticket wagers and hedge plays still moved the needle

High-roller action kept things interesting. Nationwide, seven bets of $1 million or more were reported on Sunday’s game, with two big tickets at Circa Sports in Las Vegas. One Circa bettor placed $1.1 million on the Patriots money line (+188) as a hedge against futures, after earlier Seahawks futures produced major payouts. Circa also accepted another $1 million Patriots money line wager (+200) moments before kickoff.

BetMGM took a $725,000 hedge on the New England money line (+195), while another bettor backed the Patriots +4½ for $788,000. Those large single wagers underscore how books manage exposure with hedges and how sharp money can shift outcomes for operators.

Hold, volatility, and how books managed risk

Nevada has been profitable in almost every Super Bowl year on record, and this game was no exception. The state has lost just two Super Bowls since the Gaming Control Board began tracking the event in 1991, and books generally balance handle volume with risk management tools like limits, props pricing, and hedging.

This Super Bowl stayed under the posted total of 45½. Seattle led 9-0 at halftime, and no touchdowns came until the fourth quarter, which pushed more public and prop interest toward unders and defensive lines—factors that reduced prop handle and overall wagering volume.

Nevada’s Super Bowl track record, in context

Nevada sportsbooks have a strong Super Bowl record, and the state’s performance this year fits that broader pattern. Here are the past 11 Super Bowl handles and results, according to the Gaming Control Board:

• 2026: $133,813,230; $9,892,055 win; 7.4% hold; Seattle 29, New England 13
• 2025: $151,618,159; $22,134,104 win; 14.6% hold; Philadelphia 40, Kansas City 22
• 2024: $190,020,783; $11,182,973 win; 5.9% hold; Kansas City 25, San Francisco 22 (OT)
• 2023: $153,183,002; $4,361,646 win; 2.8% hold; Kansas City 38, Philadelphia 35
• 2022: $179,823,715; $11,063,412 win; 6.2% hold; Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati 20
• 2021: $136,096,460; $12,574,125 win; 9.2% hold; Tampa Bay 31, Kansas City 9
• 2020: $154,679,241; $18,774,148 win; 12.1% hold; Kansas City 31, San Francisco 20
• 2019: $145,939,025; $10,780,319 win; 7.4% hold; New England 13, L.A. Rams 3
• 2018: $158,586,934; $1,170,432 win; 0.7% hold; Philadelphia 41, New England 33
• 2017: $138,480,136; $10,937,826 win; 7.9% hold; New England 34, Atlanta 28 (OT)
• 2016: $132,545,587; $13,314,539 win; 10.1% hold; Denver 24, Carolina 10

Nevada’s books have lost only twice, in 1995 and 2008, when outlier outcomes and heavy underdog wins flipped the script for operators.

What this means for bettors and sportsbooks going forward

Lower handle doesn’t mean sportsbooks were unprepared. Operators balanced exposure with hedges, limits, and in-game adjustments, preserving profitability despite fewer casual and prop bets. The game also shows how matchup narratives and player recognition can sway public interest—and how that interest translates to handle.

Bettors should remember that past outcomes don’t guarantee future results, and terms and conditions apply to any promotional offers or hedging strategies. For a closer look at the full Gaming Control Board figures and Nevada’s Super Bowl trends, see the state report.