GeoComply reports 14% YoY rise in active player accounts over Super Bowl weekend
Research from the geolocation firm documented a significant increase in active accounts in states that have taken a stricter approach to shutting down illegal operators
GeoComply has revealed a 14% year-on-year (YoY) increase in active player accounts from its online sportsbook partners during this year’s Super Bowl weekend compared to the 2024 edition.
Over the course of the Super Bowl LIX weekend, GeoComply recorded nearly 535,000 geolocation transactions from more than 60,400 active accounts in New Orleans, where the Big Game was hosted.
Compared to seven days prior, the amount of Super Bowl transactions climbed by 150%, while the number of users also surged 220%.
Data taken from GeoComply also revealed that during the Super Bowl weekend, more than 724,400 new online wagering accounts were created in regulated states.
Prior to half-time, just before the Philadelphia Eagles scored their third touchdown in their 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, GeoComply recorded a peak of 14,300 transactions per second.
Elsewhere, the supplier pulled details that showed sports betting states where regulators had taken action against unlicensed and offshore recorded larger growth spikes compared to those not taking enforcement action.
Those states saw an active accounts growth rate that was twice as high as the rate seen in states that hadn’t taken a similar approach to curb illegal activity.
As per GeoComply, since Super Bowl LVIII last year, 14 US states have issued cease-and-desist orders to at least one prominent unlicensed sportsbook.
The strides made in that 12-month period “underscores the critical role of regulatory enforcement in protecting consumers” and the improvement highlights the importance of regulators in contributing to the growth of legal betting in the US, according to the geolocation services firm.
Data was collated from 12am ET on 8 February through to the end of the game on 9 February, although GeoComply did note its insights did not include Florida.
Anna Sainsbury, GeoComply CEO and co-founder, talked up the impact a stronger presence from licensed sportsbooks can have.
She said: “When states take enforcement action, we see a correlation with increased engagement on our customer’s platforms.
“More fans are choosing legal sportsbooks, driven by stronger consumer protections and enhanced user experiences. This means even greater tax revenues to support local communities and promote responsible growth while reducing reliance on illegal sportsbooks.”
Sainsbury added: “GeoComply’s unwavering commitment to reliability and scalability means that during big moments like the Super Bowl, our customers can trust us to support them fully.
“We’re proud to power the infrastructure that allows millions of fans to participate in one of the most important sporting events of the year, and we’ll continue innovating to meet the ever-growing demands of this dynamic market.”
Last month, GeoComply published data that highlighted the demand for legal sports betting in unregulated US states.
Between 4 September 2024 and 5 January this year, the company handled more than 4.5 million geolocation checks in Texas, representing the number of people looking to access legal sportsbooks despite online sports betting being illegal in the Lone Star State.