Call it a testament to the NFL’s popularity, but yes, people do bet on preseason games.
Expectedly, NFL sportsbooks say the betting action on the preseason does not compare to the regular season fever. But it does still come with some interesting wrinkles.
Both the amount of NFL preseason bettors and total betting volume are down compared to the regular season, oddsmakers say.
But while NFL teams typically use the preseason to evaluate talent and whittle down rosters before the regular season, bettors mostly stay away. However, some see the uncertainties as a chance to gain an edge.
Bet365: Rivalry MLB game outpaced NFL Hall of Fame Game betting
One operator provided a snapshot that shows a slow start to this year’s preseason betting.
According to data from bet365, the MLB rivalry game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs on Aug. 1 took in more than four times as many bets as the Pro Football Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans on the same day.
It’s worth noting that bet365 isn’t available in Illinois, Texas, or Missouri – the states home to all four teams. In addition, the annual opening of the NFL season could’ve been drowned out a bit by the Summer Olympics, as ratings were down too.
So, that data point could be an outlier. BetMGM, on the other hand, recently told Legal Sports Report that NFL preseason action was typically on par with an average MLB game at this point in the year. Betting handle on both will also fluctuate depending on broadcast details and audience size.
As for what bettors are wagering on, that part remains largely unchanged from preseason to the regular season, according to Kevin Hennessy at Fanatics Sportsbook.
“The preseason is just a happy time for Fanatics Sportsbook customers,” Hennessy said. “It means that football is back. In terms of betting, the preseason is very similar to the regular season with top selections still being total points, moneyline, and spread bets — just a lower volume.”
Different strategies shape NFL preseason betting action
NFL teams don’t necessarily approach the preseason in a uniform fashion, which can alter odds and betting strategies alike.
Staying up to date on each squad’s backups, evaluating playing time indicators, or examining coaching tendencies during preseason games are all potential factors in preseason NFL betting, according to Johnny Avello, director of sports operations at DraftKings Sportsbook.
“While the preseason doesn’t compare to the regular season (in terms of betting volume), we do see a decent amount of betting interest,” Avello said. “There is a real handicapping aspect if you have a good sense of who is going to play and give maximum effort, especially as less and less starters participate.”
That does, however, require a certain amount of in-depth knowledge of various NFL squads. Knowing not just which teams have the best players in second- or third-string roles but also which coaches are more likely to use those players in a way that will translate to the scoreboard during a preseason game takes more work.
According to Jeffrey Benson, director of operations at Circa Sportsbook, this could be one reason why the “main demographic and only demographic (for NFL preseason betting) is sharps.”
It’s a taste for sportsbooks and football bettors, but the main entree is still a few weeks away.
