September was reportedly a banner month for sportsbooks in Nevada as aggregated win hit an all-time high of $56.3 million off of a record $571 million in combined bets thanks in large part to punters placing wagers on contests from the National Football League (NFL). Momentous month: According to a Tuesday report from ESPN.com citing official information from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the 30-day month was the most lucrative for sportsbooks in ‘The Silver State’ since officials began tracking such figures in 1984 as win well surpassed the previous record of $53.3 million set in September of 2012.
NFL the catalyst: ESPN.com also reported that the September’s combined wagered amount eclipsed last October’s historical high mark of $565 million with aficionados placing approximately $389 million in bets on NFL and collegiate football contests before losing around $44.3 million. Not hurt by new competition: The record-setting month reportedly came after five other states encompassing New Jersey, Delaware, New Mexico, Mississippi and West Virginia took advantage of the United States Supreme Court’s recent invalidation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) to legalize their own sportsbooks. But, far from being worried, Michael Lawton, Senior Research Analyst for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, purportedly told ESPN that the added competition could actually help the state to attract even more bettors.
Lawton reportedly told ESPN.com…“I think we have believed all along that the expansion of sportsbetting outside of Nevada would not hurt our business but could actually help it grow as it gains more exposure and acceptance nationwide. This month’s numbers support that theory and we are very encouraged by this month’s results. However, it is still very early in the game as far as sportsbetting expansion is concerned.” New Jersey claims runner-up spot: Finally, ESPN.com reported that venues in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania are poised to begin offering sportsbetting in the coming months while it used September figures from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement of $24 million in win off of some $183.9 million in bets to demonstrate Nevada’s current market dominance.
