Super Bowl is expected to smash betting records
Nearly 68 million American adults — about 1 in 4 — plan to bet on this year's Super Bowl, setting a record by a wide margin, according to the gambling industry's national trade association.
Figures released Tuesday by the American Gaming Association include bets placed with legal outlets, as well as with illegal bookies and online operations in other countries.
The volume of betting participation is projected to be 35% higher than last year, which was the previous record.
Bettors plan to wager an estimated $23.1 billion on this year's Super Bowl, up from $16 billion last year, the group predicted.
Sports betting is legal in 38 states plus Washington,
D.C.
College athletics
JUDGE KEEPS RESTRICTIONS ON NIL IN PLACE >> A judge kept in place for now the NCAA's rules prohibiting name, image and likeness compensation from being used as a recruiting inducement, denying a request for a temporary restraining order by the states of Tennessee and Virginia.
The attorneys general of those states filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in the Eastern District of Tennessee last week that challenged the NCAA's NIL rules, after it was revealed the University of Tennessee was under investigation by the association for potential infractions.
The states asked for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, saying immediate action was needed to keep the NCAA from standing in the way of recruits monetizing their fame.
Media ESPN, FOX, WARNER BROTHERS DISCOVERY ANNOUNCE PLANS TO LAUNCH SPORTS STREAMING PLATFORM >>
ESPN, Fox and Warner Brothers Discovery announced plans to launch a sports streaming platform in the fall that will include offerings from at least 15 networks and all four major professional sports leagues.
A one-stop app to view most sports should be a welcome sight for fans, who continue to navigate rising costs by subscribing to multiple services.
The three companies will each share one-third ownership in the joint venture. A name for the service and pricing will be announced at a later date.
Baseball ALTUVE AND ASTROS AGREE TO NEW CONTACT >>
José Altuve and the Houston Astros agreed to a $125 million, five-year contract that covers 2025-29.
Houston announced a new multiyear deal for Altuve without disclosing financial details.
Altuve has a $26 million salary for 2024 in the final season of a $163.5 million, seven-year deal. The eighttime All-Star second baseman would have been eligible for free agency after this year's World Series.
His new agreement includes a $15 million signing bonus, payable upon the contract's approval by Major League Baseball, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press.