The American Gaming Association estimated that wagering through legal US sportsbooks on the upcoming NFL season will reach $30bn. The forecast is 8.5% above last season’s estimated handle and includes preseason games, futures, the playoffs and Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
The estimate provides operators and investors with a forecast of legal sportsbook wagering across the NFL season.
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EDGE Markets said it expects to process more than $2bn in transactions during the 2026 NFL season. The company reported more than $800m in volume during the season’s first 44 days, compared with $1.2bn over the full 2025 season.
DraftKings chief executive Jason Robins said the company could benefit whether sports prediction markets remain available or are restricted, while it monitors related legal challenges. He said sportsbook handle rose about 15% year over year in the first two weeks of the NFL season, and the company may bring forward some customer-acquisition and marketing spending planned for 2027, depending on trading and customer data.
Prediction markets are competing for sports betting customers as the NFL season approaches. The report identifies Kalshi and Polymarket as competitors to FanDuel and DraftKings.
FanDuel announced new sportsbook features ahead of the NFL season, including a monthly loyalty programme, expanded Bet Protect+ coverage and added in-app research tools. Customers can add injury protection to eligible player prop bets for an additional 3% of the wager; the company also plans further research features later in the season.
PENN Entertainment chief executive Jay Snowden said the company expected an aggressive and irrational market for acquiring customers as prediction-market platforms competed for online sports betting consumers ahead of the NFL season.