The New Orleans Saints may be the second-biggest winners on Super Sunday, right behind the Las Vegas sports books.
According to a report in the Las Vegas Sun, the Saints 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=181302# XLIV may be the biggest single-game bet in history.
"I believe that the total handle for the state will be a nice number," John Avello, race and sports book director at Wynn Las Vegas, told the Las Vegas Sun. "It could be the biggest number of all time."
Although the final numbers will not be available until Monday, the 2006 Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks is viewed as the standard, bringing in a record $94.5 million in action.
But bookmakers say this Super Bowl was every bit as busy and the sympathetic money wagered on the Saints could push this year's total to record marks.
Last year's Super Bowl between the Steelers and Arizona Cardinals was the worst in recent history at only $81.1 million - an $11 million dropoff from the previous year, when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots.
Many blame the decline in the sagging U.S. economy, but Avello believes the books did well despite the tough times.
"I base it on this year, even with the economy, sports did well," Avello said. "Sports held its own. So, I don’t see any reason why we can’t a set a record."