How to Bet on Super Bowl 2025: Tips for Success
Betting on the Super Bowl now is as much a tradition as the legendary halftime shows or what the best game-day snacks are (it’s always chips and guacamole, people—always).
Every year, millions of people—from die-hard sports junkies to the people who just came for the free guacamole—get in on the action. In 2024, Super Bowl betting reached record-breaking levels—there were billions of dollars that were wagered on everything from traditional bets to the odder prop bets like the length of the national anthem. And in 2025, the bets will be just as big.
But what exactly makes the Super Bowl so exciting for bettors? For one thing, it’s not just the scale of the iconic event—it’s also the big variety of bets that are available. If you’re rooting for your favorite team or just want to add a little extra excitement to the game, there is actually something for everyone. Want to find out how to get started? Our beginner’s guide on how to bet on Super Bowl 2025 will walk you step by step through everything you need to know to make your first bet!
Understanding Super Bowl Betting
Look, Super Bowl betting isn’t your average sports wagering experience, not by a long shot. The game’s insane popularity means that sportsbooks are pulling out all of the stops and offering more betting options, unique wagers, and bigger prize pools than nearly any other sporting event. The sheer variety makes it exciting and a little bit overwhelming, especially if you are a beginner. Below is how Super Bowl betting differs from ordinary betting!
What Makes Super Bowl Betting Different
The Super Bowl is a betting experience unlike any other sporting event, and it’s for the following reasons:
- Massive Audience: The Super Bowl attracts over 100 million viewers, and some of them are first-time or occasional bettors. The hype that surrounds the annual event only ramps up the excitement, and that makes pretty much everyone want to get in on the action.
- Variety of Bets: The more traditional bets like point spreads and moneylines are staples, but the Super Bowl also introduces countless off-the-beaten-path options, like player-specific props, halftime performance outcomes, and what color Gatorade will be dumped over the winning team’s coach’s head.
- Social Aspect: Some people will make bets as part of group activities, like office pools or Super Bowl parties, and that makes it as much a communal experience as it is an individual one.
Key Terms to Know
Before you throw down your money, you have to be at least familiar, if not knowledgeable, with some of the most common betting terms. The following are the bets, and how they work so you have a good understanding of what’s on the table when you are looking at the Super Bowl bets you can make:
- Point Spread: This bet is on the margin of victory. Like if one team is favored by 9 points, they need to win by more than 9 for your bet to win. And if you bet on the underdog, they either need to win outright or lose by fewer than 9 points.
- Moneyline: This is a simple bet—you just pick the winner of the game. The odds will be shown as positive or negative numbers—the underdog will have higher payouts, and the favorite team will have lower returns.
- Over/Under (Totals): This one revolves around the total number of points that are scored by both teams. You wager on whether the total will be higher (over) or lower (under) than a number that is set by the sportsbook.
- Prop Bets (Proposition Bets): These are the specific wagers that don’t actually depend on the outcome of the game.
- Examples of common prop bets include the following:
- Player Props: Will Player X score the first touchdown?
- Team Props: How many sacks will Team Y have?
- Novelty Props: What will be the length of the national anthem?
- Examples of common prop bets include the following:
- Futures Bets: Placed way in advance, these bets predict any long-term outcomes, like picking a Super Bowl winner before the season even starts.
- Live Betting (In-Play Betting): This is an option that lets you place wagers during the game, and the odds will shift based on what’s happening on the field.
Types of Super Bowl Bets
The amount of betting options for the Super Bowl is akin to an all-you-can-eat buffet—you’ll find everything from classic choices to offbeat and creative options! What’s on the game day menu? Look below!
Traditional bets are the basics of sports betting. They’re straightforward, and that makes them great picks for beginners:
– Point Spread: Betting on the spread adds an extra layer of strategy. For example, if a team is favored by 4.5 points, they need to win by at least 5 points for the bet to pay out. If you’re betting on the underdogs, they can win outright or lose by 4 points or fewer for you to win.
– Moneyline: Simplicity at its best—you’re betting on which team will win, with the odds showing their likelihood of victory. For example, a +200 moneyline for a team means a $100 bet would win you $200 if that team wins.
– Over/Under (Totals): Instead of choosing a team, you’re predicting whether the total combined score of both teams will go above or below a number set by the sportsbook. If the total is set at 46.5 points, you’d win an “over” bet if the game ends with 47 points or more.
Prop bets are really fun! They’re the more creative cousins of wagering, and they give you something else to focus on if you’re not super invested in the game’s outcome.
Player Props: The bets that revolve around individual player performances, like the following:
– Will the quarterback throw for over or under 250 yards?
– Who will score the first touchdown?
Team Props: These are the bets that focus on any team-specific events, like:
– Which team will score first?
– How many turnovers will there be in the game?
Novelty Props: These are the bets that are Super Bowl exclusives and add the entertainment value. Some examples include the following:
– What color will the Gatorade shower be for the winning coach?
– Will the coin toss land on heads or tails?
– How long will the national anthem performance last?
Futures bets are the long-term wagers that are placed way before the game itself—below are some examples:
– Predicting the Super Bowl winner months in advance—like before the season is even underway.
– Betting on which conference (AFC or NFC) will produce the winning team.
The bets usually come with much higher payouts because of their unpredictability and the time gap that happens between placing the wager and the event happening!
For those who want to live dangerously, live betting could be right up your alley—you can place bets as the game is going on in front of your eyes!
Real-Time Adjustments: Odds will be changing constantly based on the game’s events, like with touchdowns, turnovers, or any shifts in momentum.
The following are a few examples of live bets:
– Will the next play be a run or pass?
– How many points will be scored in the second quarter?
– Which team will be ahead at halftime?
Step-by-Step Guide to Betting on the Super Bowl
Laying down your first-ever Super Bowl isn’t that hard, but if you’re nervous about it, all you have to do is follow the steps below!
Step 1: Choose a Reputable Sportsbook
Not all sportsbooks are the same—not by a long shot. That means you have to pick one that is trustworthy, reliable, and user-friendly!
Here’s What to Look For:
- Licensing and Regulation: Make sure that the sportsbook is operating legally in your state.
- Ease of Use: Look for platforms that have intuitive interfaces so you can browse odds and place bets easily.
- Bonuses and Promotions: Most sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses, like deposit matches or risk-free bets to bring in new users.
Below are some of the most trusted and popular sportsbooks in the industry:
All of the above platforms have a host of betting options and promotions, and they are all really beginner-friendly!
Step 2: Set a Budget
Bankroll management is a must-have skill and discipline for any bettor—especially when you’re a beginner!
Here’s How to Budget:
- Decide how much money you’re okay with risking (and possibly losing). This should be an amount you’re fine with losing, as there are zero guarantees in gambling.
- Divide your bankroll into smaller portions to spread out your bets. For example, if you have a budget of $200, think about placing 4-5 smaller bets instead of one big wager.
Step 3: Research and Analyze
Betting successfully takes more than just a hunch you have—it’s about gathering the right info, too! When you study team dynamics, player performance, and trends that are in the run-up to the Super Bowl, you will be able to make better-informed wagers.
Here’s what you should consider:
- Team Performance: How have the teams performed throughout the season? Pay super close attention to recent games, as they usually show their current form. Look at offensive and defensive strengths, turnover rates, and consistency.
- Player Statistics: Star players usually drive the game’s outcome. Research the key athletes, their season stats, and how they’ve handled similar high-pressure situations. Injury reports are especially critical—one absent player can change a game.
- Matchups: Analyze how the two teams stack up against each other. For example, does one team’s strong defense counter the other’s high-powered offense? These kinds of specifics can heavily influence your bets.
- Historical Trends: Super Bowl history is filled with lots of interesting patterns. While past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, knowing which types of teams (e.g., strong defenses or high-scoring offenses) tend to do well will give you helpful context.
Step 4: Place Your Bets
Once you’ve done all of your homework, it’s time to put your plan into action. The following is how you can place your first Super Bowl wager:
- Log In to Your Sportsbook Account: After selecting a trusted sportsbook, login and navigate to the Super Bowl betting section.
- Browse the Options: You’ll find everything from point spreads and moneylines to quirky prop bets. Take your time looking around and find what interests you the most.
- Select Your Bet Type: Choose the wager that matches your research and confidence level. For example, if you’ve studied the team trends, you might feel the most comfortable betting on the over/under.
- Enter Your Wager Amount: Decide how much you want to bet. Beginners should start small to minimize the risks while they are still learning the ropes.
- Confirm Your Bet: Double-check everything before hitting the confirm button. Once they are placed, most bets cannot be changed or canceled.
Pro Tip: Some sportsbooks will let you combine bets into a parlay for potentially higher payouts. But know that parlays come with bigger risks since every bet in the combination has to win for you to collect.
Tips for Beginners
This is a lot to take in, isn’t it? That’s why we have some streamlined tips! They’ll help you start out smart—and be safe while doing it.
Start Small
When you’re just starting out, it’s best to keep your bets low. Why? So you can minimize your potential losses while you’re still finding your feet! Look at it as a way to get comfy with the process without jeopardizing your bank.
Instead of betting $100 on any single outcome, you should try putting smaller $5 or $10 wagers on different options. This will let you experiment and figure out what works best for you.
Focus on Simple Bets
Because there are so many options available on the Super Bowl, it’s easy to get the itch to try out more complex bets. Don’t do it! Always start out with straightforward options like moneylines or point spreads—it makes the process so much less intimidating.
You need to walk before you run, so don’t make a complicated prop bet about the total passing yards of a specific player. Keep it simple with predicting the game’s winner or whether the combined score will go over or under a set number.
Don’t Bet With Your Emotions
It’s only natural to want your favorite team to win, but betting based purely on loyalty can cloud your judgment, so try to separate your personal preferences from the facts.
Let’s say you’re a longtime fan of team A, but they’re up against a team with a much stronger offense and fewer injuries—it probably isn’t the best time to bet on them. Look at the data objectively before you make your bet!
Take Advantage of Bonuses
All legit online sportsbooks have promotions that are specifically for the Super Bowl, like the following:
- Free Bets: You can wager without risking any of your own money.
- Deposit Matches: The sportsbook will match a percentage of your initial deposit.
- Odds Boosts: Better odds on certain bets so that you can increase your potential winnings.
Check the promotions section of your chosen sportsbook to see what’s available. Just be sure that you read the terms and conditions and that you understand if there are any restrictions or requirements.
Mistakes to Avoid
Even the most experienced bettors can stumble when they lose sight of their strategy! With some solid prep, you won’t get derailed from your betting experience. Knowing what the most common errors bettors make means that you can sidestep them!
Betting without Research
Jumping into making bets without any background knowledge whatsoever is like trying to play poker when you don’t understand the rules. Sure, you could get lucky, but more often than not, it’ll only cause you to be disappointed. The Super Bowl is surrounded by excitement and hype, but it’s super important to ground your decisions in data and not in emotion.
Start with the Basics: how have the teams performed throughout the season? Which players are in top form, and who might be nursing an injury? Think about factors like team matchups, recent history, and the weather conditions if the game is being played outdoors. A few hours of research will give you a much clearer picture of what’s likely to happen—and increase your chances of placing a winning bet.
Overcomplicating Bets
One of the most tempting (and common) mistakes for beginners is chasing those high-risk, high-reward bets like parlays or intricate prop wagers. Yes, the bets have big payouts, but they require everything to line up perfectly—and that is the exception, not the rule, in sports.
Take prop bets as an example. Predicting the first touchdown scorer sounds fun, but it’s also one of the most difficult outcomes to guess correctly. Similarly, parlays string together multiple bets, and a single wrong prediction will tank the entire bet.
Stick to point spreads, moneylines, or over/under bets. Once you’ve got a little more confidence and understand how bets work, you can gradually experiment with the more complicated options.
Chasing Losses
After a bet doesn’t pan out, it’s totally normal to place another one to “get your money back immediately.” And while normal, you should not do this! It’s called chasing losses, and it’s one of the quickest ways to spin out into bad decision-making.
Let’s say you lose a $100 bet on a team to cover the spread. Instead of walking away, you double down with $woo on the next bet, only to lose again. This cycle will only cause anger, financial strain, and even more reckless decisions.
To evade this dangerous cycle, you should set a clear budget before the game and stick to it no matter what. Accept that losses are all part of the process and try to take them in stride (we know it’s hard to do). A calm and measured approach will serve you far better than acting on impulse.
Legal Considerations
Okay, so you might want to make a bet on the big day, but is it legal to do so? Sports betting isn’t legal in all 50 states, so you have to check if you’re in a place that allows it! Below is a breakdown of what you need to know about Super Bowl betting:
Check Your State Laws
The legal status of sports betting differs across the United States—since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, individual states have been given the power to regulate it as they see fit. But, and this is a big “but,” not every state has welcomed sports betting, and the rules differ wildly between those that have.
– Legal States: As of now, over 30 states have legalized sports betting in some form, and more are considering legislation. States like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nevada are in front and have well-established systems in place.
– Illegal States: In states where sports betting remains prohibited, participating—even online—can result in monetary fines or other legal consequences.
– In-Person Betting: Some states only allow sports betting at physical locations, like at casinos or racetracks.
– Online Betting: Others do permit online or mobile betting via licensed platforms, so it’s easier to place bets. Some states, like New York, allow both options.
Even if your state allows online betting, most sportsbooks require you to be physically present within the state to make a wager. You can’t get around this, as geolocation technology is used to verify your location.
Many Native American casinos offer sports betting under tribal gaming compacts, but their rules and platforms can differ from the state-regulated systems.
Age and Identity Verification
Age restrictions for sports betting are strictly enforced in order to promote responsible gambling and prevent underage participation. The following is what you need to know:
– Minimum Age Requirements: The legal betting age is usually 21 in most states, though a few, like Wyoming and Montana, permit betting at 18.
– Identity Verification: Before you make your first bet, sportsbooks will require you to verify your identity. This usually involves uploading a government-issued ID, like a driver’s license or passport, and sometimes a secondary document, like a utility bill, to confirm your physical address.
Verification isn’t solely for age—it also makes sure that the account is legit and is not being used for fraudulent activities. The process protects both users and sportsbooks from any scams or misuse.
Taxes on Gambling Winnings
If you win a bet, it’s not all yours to keep—at least, not legally. Gambling winnings are considered taxable income in the United States, and a failure to report them can result in penalties.
– The IRS requires you to report all gambling winnings, including those from sports betting, on your annual tax return.
– Winnings over $600 are typically reported to the IRS directly by the sportsbook, but it’s your responsibility to track the smaller amounts as well.
– Some states, like Nevada, don’t impose state income tax, meaning you’ll only owe federal taxes.
– Others, like New York and California, tax gambling winnings at both the state and federal levels.
– Sportsbooks will usually provide you with a W-2G form for any significant winnings. Keep detailed records of your bets, including wins and losses, as it’ll make tax filing easier when April rolls around.
– Losses can sometimes be deducted, but only up to the amount of your winnings and only if you itemize your deductions.
Sportsbook Licensing and Regulation
There are some shady sportsbooks out there, so making sure you are using a licensed, regulated operator is a non-negotiable for a safe betting experience. The following is what you should be looking for:
– Legal sportsbooks are licensed by the state’s gaming authority. Look for clear indicators of licensing on the sportsbook’s website or app—it will be displayed in the footer.
– Licensed sportsbooks have to adhere to strict rules regarding payouts, fairness, and user protection.
Offshore sportsbooks might seem like a good bet because of promotions or ease of access, but they operate outside of U.S. jurisdiction. This means that they are not regulated by U.S. laws, and you will have little to no recourse if any disputes arise.
Licensed sportsbooks all have safeguards in place, like dispute resolution services, secure payment processing, and tools and resources that promote responsible gambling.
Responsible Gambling and Self-Exclusion Programs
Legal sportsbooks are all required to promote responsible gambling practices and provide the tools that can help users stay in control, like the following:
– States let individuals voluntarily ban themselves from gambling platforms for a set period of time. This includes online sportsbooks, in-person betting, or both.
– Self-exclusion lists are confidential and are designed to help those who are struggling with gambling-related issues.
Licensed sportsbooks often let users set personal deposits, spending, or time limits directly through their accounts.
Most states have helplines, like the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700), for anyone who feels like they may be developing unhealthy gambling habits.
Geolocation Technology
As we said before, when you make online bets, sportsbooks use geolocation technology to confirm that you are within a state where betting is legal. How does that work? Look below to find out!
Apps or websites use GPS data from your device to verify your location. If you’re not physically within the state’s borders, you won’t be able to make a bet.
Sorry, but using a VPN to mask your location won’t work. Licensed sportsbooks all have safeguards in place in order to detect VPN usage and will flag or suspend accounts that are trying to bypass geolocation checks.
You should take the time to know and fully understand all of the legal considerations; this way, you can evade any problems and make sure that you have a simple and fun betting experience. Abiding by the rules isn’t some dumb formality—it’s your ticket to a safe and responsible Super Bowl bet.
Conclusion: Bring Your A-Game to Game Day
The Super Bowl is the best game of the year for football devotees, and making some well-planned bets can make it even more fun! And it doesn’t matter if you’re an old hat at it or a first-timer—with some research and a plan, you can bet with more confidence while you root on the team you put your money on!
Keep scrolling for a quick wrap up on how to bet on Super Bowl 2025: A beginner’s guide:
- Start out with the more straightforward bets like moneylines or point spreads to build up your confidence.
- Research the teams, players, and trends so you can base your decisions on facts and not just your gut feelings.
- Stick to a budget and keep your bets within monetary limits that are comfortable for you.
- Know what your state’s betting laws are, and only bet on licensed and reputable sportsbooks for a safe wagering experience.
And betting responsibly doesn’t mean that you can’t still have fun—just keep it balanced!
Are you ready to place your very first Super Bowl bet? We bet you are! If you want to know the best places to do it, check out our list of top football betting apps to get started! And if you’ve got your own solid betting strategies or any game-day tips, we’d love to hear from you, so drop them in the comments below!
