How the 1986 Super Bowl kickstarted prop betting in America – and why it’s threatening the integrity of US sports |
Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest night in American sports. The 2026 NFL showdown between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks in California will be more than just a football game – it’s a full evening of entertainment, from the live music performances to the multi-million dollar ad campaigns.
A popular destination to watch – and bet – on the Super Bowl is Las Vegas, Nevada. And it was in Las Vegas, 40 years ago, that one enterprising casino would forge a new direction in American sports gambling: prop betting.
In January 1986, on the night of the Super Bowl between........