The National Football League championship game and biggest U.S. television event of the year will almost surely be the country’s single biggest betting event of the year. It is expected to generate twice as much in legal wagers across the country as last year, following the opening of sportsbooks in seven more states.
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May allowed states to legalize, regulate and tax sports betting. The decision instantly created a new national market, sparking a rush of activity by states, companies, leagues and others seeking to profit.