Sportsbooks Thrive in College Football Week 1
The first weekend of the college football season delivered lopsided results for the best sports betting sites, as the most heavily bet teams failed to deliver for the public.
At BetMGM, the five most wagered sides by bet count and total money ended in favor of the house.
Yahoo Sports reported that, among the top bets, Texas was beaten 14-7 by No. 3 Ohio State, Alabama was beaten 31-17 by Florida State, a two-touchdown favorite, and Notre Dame was beaten 27-24 by No. 10 Miami. Clemson also was beaten 17-10 by No. 9 LSU, with Indiana beating Old Dominion 24-10 but failing to cover a 24-point spread.
The losses translated into strong results for operators. "Alabama and Clemson losing outright carried Saturday for us. And obviously Notre Dame [on Sunday night] was also a help," said The Borgata sportsbook director Thomas Gable.
Large wagers on Texas also failed to cash. Caesars accepted a $1 million moneyline bet on the Longhorns at -105, and Circa Sports took a $550,000 wager on Texas +1. Both lost as Arch Manning's debut came up short. Circa Sports trader Jamey Pileggi noted the widespread industry need for Ohio State, adding it helped set a positive tone for the weekend.
Other operators echoed similar outcomes, including Station Casinos director Chuck Esposito who said "Getting both Alabama and Notre Dame to lose outright along with Clemson was huge. And also Texas. Handle, atmosphere and crowds were tremendous!"
NFL kickoff and prediction markets
This week, bettors can also turn their attentions to the first NFL action of the season. But for the league's players, they won't be able to circumvent restrictions to gambling by accessing the best prediction markets.
The NFL has moved to address the rise of sports prediction markets, confirming that such platforms will be treated under league policy as traditional sports betting.
Chief Compliance Officer Sabrina Perel said last week that all players, coaches, and staff are prohibited from participating in these markets, as "these platforms mimic sports betting, they are covered as prohibited under our policy."
The NFL bans direct betting on games, proxy betting, and gambling at team facilities. Daily fantasy contests are also restricted for personnel. Former players have been enlisted to deliver the message to current athletes this season.
Prediction markets, such as those launched by Kalshi and Robinhood, have introduced football-related contracts that resemble straight bets and proposition wagers. Their rapid growth prompted the league to clarify its position, stating they fall under its definition of prohibited betting activity.
NFL Vice President of Sports Betting, David Highhill, said prediction markets raise compliance challenges, and explained, “We’re concerned that if these markets aren’t properly regulated, they could be susceptible to manipulation or price distortion.”
