More than $150M bet on Super Bowl

Gamblers in Nevada wagered $154.7 million on this year’s Super Bowl, an increase from last year but still below the high set in 2018.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board released its Super Bowl betting figures on Tuesday, a day later than expected, because of technical difficulties with one of its licensees collecting and reporting betting data.

The Nevada totals were the highest in the nation, where 14 states now offer legal sports betting. The 190 sports books there won nearly $18.8 million, for a hold percentage of 12.1%.

The amount wagered in Nevada represented an increase from last year’s figure of $145.9 million, but it still trailed the $158.5 million that was bet on the 2018 Super Bowl.

The amount bet on the Super Bowl in Nevada, known as the “handle,” was three times higher than in New Jersey, the second-largest sports betting market. New Jersey’s casinos and horse tracks took in $54.2 million, up from $34.8 million. But New Jersey’s 10 retail sports books and 19 sports wagering mobile applications lost $4.28 million on the game, for a negative hold percentage of 7.8%.

Pennsylvania, which released its own figures

Tuesday, handled $30.7 million in Super Bowl wagers, leading to a $3.3 million loss for sports books.

Mississippi regulators reported taking in $6.7 million worth of bets on this year’s game, but they did not immediately calculate how much of that was paid out to customers who made winning bets.

In Rhode Island, with the New England Patriots not in the Super Bowl for the first time in four years, gamblers showed less interest in betting on someone other than Tom Brady.

The $5.5 million wagered was about 84% of the $6.5 million wagered last year when the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams.

Baseball

HALLADAY’S NUMBER TO BE RETIRED >> The Philadelphia Phillies will retire the late Hall of Fame pitcher Roy Halladay’s No. 34 this season.

The Phillies will pay tribute to Halladay on May 29, 2020, the 10th anniversary of his perfect game against the Marlins. It was the 20th perfect game in MLB history.

Halladay was 40 when he was killed in a plane crash in November 2017.

Halladay went 203105 with a 3.38 ERA and 2,117 strikeouts over his career with Toronto and Philadelphia.