The Super Bowl is the most popular sporting event of the year, especially for gamblers.
Depending on the sports betting state, you can bet on almost anything that’s part of the Big Game, including prop bets like whether the opening coin toss is heads or tails and the color of the Gatorade.
Many people, especially non-sports fans, also watch the game for the commercials.
With advertising companies spending millions of dollars to have their content in front of a national audience, advertisers usually save their best ideas for the Super Bowl. For last year’s game, a 30-second spot cost a record-high average of $7 million.
With the abundance of Super Bowl bets, you might wonder whether you can legally bet on the commercials.
Short answer: No. But we’ll explain why.
Betting on Super Bowl Commercials
You currently can’t bet on Super Bowl commercials at regulated U.S. online sportsbooks.
That means you can’t wager on things like which brand will have the first commercial after kickoff or how many car commercials will air during the game. There are countless possibilities here.
Regulators in legal sports betting states haven’t allowed these types of bets, though some states have approved bets on things that don’t affect the game’s outcome, such as the Gatorade color dumped on the winning coach. Wagering limits are far lower than what books take on moneyline bets, for example.
You can bet on the Gatordae color in states such as Michigan, New Jersey and West Virginia. Less than half of online sports betting states allow wagers on the Gatorade color.
Betting on Super Bowl commercials is similar to betting on the Gatorade color. However, no regulators have allowed traditional sports bets on the advertisements.
Sportsbooks could potentially lose money in this betting market if information about the commercials leaked beforehand. It could reflect poorly on the regulated betting industry.
Some states have also allowed wagers on awards shows like the Academy Awards, but this isn’t common in the industry. Wagers on Super Bowl commercials could be even trickier.
While a small group of individuals would know the color of the Gatorade that could be poured on a coach, many more people could have information about the commercials.
Gambling regulators are tasked with protecting the tax revenue from legal gambling and trying to uphold the image of the vice industry as best they can. At least for now, commercials are a no-go.
It’s possible to find low-limit Super Bowl commercial wagers at offshore online sportsbooks, but these platforms are unregulated and not as safe as licensed U.S. sportsbooks. Even if you win a bet on a Super Bowl commercial at an offshore sportsbook, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to cash out your winnings.
You’re better off sticking to what regulated NFL betting sites offer. And if you strongly desire to bet on Super Bowl commercials, you can always make a casual or informal wager with a friend.
The downside is you might take money from your friend, but at least vigorish isn’t involved.
Photo by Pepsi Co./Getty Images
