The Biggest Bet in Super Bowl History
The Super Bowl is not only the most-watched sporting event in the United States, but also the single largest betting event in this country.
Every year, billions of dollars are wagered legally across top sportsbooks, with casual fans placing small bets alongside high rollers risking staggering sums. Of course, illegal betting is present as well, and that’s something we have to acknowledge, too. Yet, that’s not the topic of this article.
Now, regarding the wagers tied to the NFL title game, one question consistently draws attention: What is the biggest bet ever placed on the Super Bowl?
Million-Dollar Bets on Football’s Biggest Stage
Over the past 20 or so years, a few seven-figure Super Bowl wagers have been confirmed by regulated sportsbooks, particularly in Nevada, that is, Las Vegas. These bets (typically placed by professional gamblers or betting syndicates) are rare but not unheard of.
In multiple Super Bowls, sportsbooks have publicly acknowledged individual wagers in the $1 million to $1.1 million range. This drew public attention because of the enormous sums involved, though the media never really got the small details, just the overall story.
Super Bowl XLIX and the MGM Grand Confirmation
One of the most frequently mentioned (confirmed by the sportsbooks) confirmed examples occurred around Super Bowl XLIX. Back then a bettor placed a wager reported at approximately $1.1 million on the New England Patriots to win. How do we know this? Well, the MGM Grand Sportsbook admitted accepting a “just over seven figures” wager on the Pats to cover the spread.
The Patriots’ dramatic victory turned that bet into a payout exceeding $2 million, making it one of the most profitable and widely documented Super Bowl wagers acknowledged by sportsbooks.
The Largest Reported Super Bowl Bet: Marco Piemonte
In more recent years, the name Marco Piemonte has become central to discussions about the biggest Super Bowl bet ever placed. Ahead of a modern Super Bowl, Piemonte reportedly wagered $1.1 million on a single outcome. This figure is widely described in media reports as the largest individual Super Bowl bet ever reported. While details of the wager were shared publicly by Piemonte himself and covered by major outlets. However the sportsbook involved did not formally disclose the bet on the record.
As a result, betting analysts typically describe Piemonte’s wager as the largest publicly reported bet, rather than the largest officially confirmed or registered bet. It is a distinction that matters in gambling journalism.
By the way, his bet was that the Eagles would cover the spread against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, which they did, winning 40-22. Philly was a 1.5-point underdog here.
Why Definitive Records Are Hard to Establish
Unlike total betting handle, which is tracked by regulators, individual wagers are often kept confidential. Sportsbooks may choose not to publicize high-roller bets to protect client privacy or avoid influencing betting markets. Additionally, some large wagers are split across multiple sportsbooks or placed through intermediaries, making precise figures difficult to verify.
This is why the “biggest Super Bowl bet” is best understood in two categories: confirmed bets acknowledged by sportsbooks, and reported bets disclosed by bettors or media sources. Both play a role in shaping public perception of Super Bowl gambling history.
