Originally posted on 02/03/2015:

The terrible play call from the New England Patriots’ one-yard line that led to Russell Wilson throwing an interception to Malcolm Butler at in the final minute of Super Bowl XLIX cost the Seattle Seahawks a chance at becoming only the ninth team in NFL history to repeat as Super Bowl champions. It also cost the sports books in Las Vegas millions of dollars.

Had the Seahawks scored the go-ahead touchdown and held on to win, the sports books in Vegas would have hauled in well north of $20 million in profits. Instead, they combined to profit $3.26 million. In total, there was $115.9 million wagered in Vegas on Sunday’s Super Bowl, which is slightly lower than the $119.4 million that was wagered on Super Bowl XLVIII a year ago.

The final point spread for the game was even (pick ‘em) and the over/under closed at 47.5. Butler’s interception clinched the cover for New England, and Tom Brady’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Julian Edelman clinched the over for the game. The most popular parlay bet for this year’s Super Bowl was by far New England with the over, meaning the bettors won big with Butler’s game-saving interception.

The books’ net of $3.26 million was a profit of 2.8% and was aided in large part by prop bets that heavily favored the books this year. The 2.8% profit was the lowest since Super Bowl XLV in 2011, but was the 24th time in 26 years that Vegas’ books have turned a profit on Super Bowl wagering.

All data courtesy of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.


Super Bowl XLIX


  • Result: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24
  • Wagers: $115,986,086
  • Win/(Loss): $3,261,066
  • Win %: 2.8%

Super Bowl XLVIII


  • Result: Seattle Seahawks 43, Denver Broncos 8
  • Wagers: $119,400,822
  • Win/(Loss): $19,673,960
  • Win %: 16.5%

Super Bowl XLVII


  • Result: Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31
  • Wagers: $98,936,798
  • Win/(Loss): $7,206,460
  • Win %: 7.3%

Super Bowl XLVI


  • Result: New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17
  • Wagers: $93,899,840
  • Win/(Loss): $5,064,470
  • Win %: 5.4%

Super Bowl XLV


  • Result: Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25
  • Wagers: $87,491,098
  • Win/(Loss): $724,176
  • Win %: 0.8%


Super Bowl XLIV


  • Result: New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17What do you think?
  • Wagers: $82,726,367What do you think?
  • Win/(Loss): $6,857,101What do you think?
  • Win %: 8.3%What do you think?

Super Bowl XLIII


  • Result: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23What do you think?
  • Wagers: $81,514,748What do you think?
  • Win/(Loss): $6,678,044What do you think?
  • Win %: 8.2%What do you think?

Super Bowl XLII


  • Result: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14What do you think?
  • Wagers: $92,055,833What do you think?
  • Win/(Loss): $(2,573,103)What do you think?
  • Win %: -2.8%What do you think?

Super Bowl XLI


  • Result: Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17What do you think?
  • Wagers: $93,067,358What do you think?
  • Win/(Loss): $12,930,175What do you think?
  • Win %: 13.9%What do you think?

Super Bowl XL


  • Result: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10What do you think?
  • Wagers: $94,534,372What do you think?
  • Win/(Loss): $8,828,431What do you think?
  • Win %: 9.3%