N※N

New Hampshire Bets Big on Patriots, Even Without Super Bowl Appearance

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. patriots-even-without-super-bowl-appearance.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, February 10th 2026 at 23:34 GMT by Patch
      Locales: New Hampshire, UNITED STATES

CONCORD, NH - February 11, 2026 - New Hampshire's legal sports betting market experienced a surge in activity this past Sunday as residents wagered a total of $9 million on Super Bowl LVIII, according to data released by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. The Kansas City Chiefs ultimately defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling 25-22 overtime contest, but the betting narrative in the Granite State was dominated by unwavering support for the New England Patriots.

Despite not even being in the Super Bowl, the Patriots captured a remarkable 80% of all wagers placed by New Hampshire bettors. This overwhelming show of regional loyalty highlights the enduring power of the Patriots brand and fanbase, even during periods of team rebuilding. While the Chiefs emerged victorious on the field, the Patriots "won" the betting battle in New Hampshire, demonstrating a betting behavior driven more by regional pride than statistical probability.

"We saw incredible action on Super Bowl Sunday, with a handle of nearly $9 million," stated New Hampshire Lottery Commission spokesperson Drew Chesler. "The Patriots were heavily favored, and that showed in the betting patterns. It's a testament to the strong connection New Hampshire residents have with the team."

This $9 million handle encompasses a diverse range of bet types, including traditional moneyline bets (predicting the outright winner), point spread bets (where bettors wager on the margin of victory), over/under totals (predicting whether the combined score will be above or below a certain number), and increasingly popular prop bets (wagers on specific in-game events, like the number of rushing yards by a particular player, or whether the coin toss will land on heads or tails).

For context, the odds for Super Bowl LVIII in 2026 favored the 49ers (-150 on the moneyline) while the Chiefs were listed as 2-point underdogs (+130 moneyline). The over/under was set at 47.5 points. The fact that 80% of New Hampshire bets were on a team not participating showcases a deviation from conventional betting logic and suggests a strong emotional investment among local bettors. Analysts are now beginning to examine whether this trend is unique to New England, or if it represents a wider phenomenon of regional teams receiving disproportionately high betting volume regardless of their actual championship contention.

Growing Sports Betting Market in New Hampshire

The robust Super Bowl betting activity builds on the continued growth of legal sports betting in New Hampshire since its launch in late 2019. The state initially partnered with DraftKings for exclusive mobile and retail betting, and that partnership has proven remarkably successful. The $9 million Super Bowl handle represents a significant increase compared to previous years, pointing toward increasing acceptance and engagement with legal sports betting options.

Industry experts believe several factors contributed to this growth. Increased marketing efforts by DraftKings, wider availability of mobile betting platforms, and a greater understanding of the legal options among the public have all played a role. Furthermore, the ongoing expansion of sports betting across the United States has normalized the activity and reduced the stigma associated with it.

Implications for Future Betting Trends The strong performance of the Patriots in New Hampshire betting raises interesting questions about the future of sports betting. Will regional loyalties continue to outweigh rational betting decisions? Could this trend be exploited by sportsbooks through targeted promotions and marketing campaigns? It's likely that sportsbooks will begin to more closely monitor regional betting patterns and adjust their offerings accordingly.

Some are also suggesting this points to a need for responsible gaming education focused on the difference between supporting a team and making informed bets. While the emotional connection to a team is a significant part of the sports experience, bettors need to understand the odds and risks involved before placing a wager. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission already offers resources for responsible gaming, but increased outreach may be necessary to address this emerging trend.

Looking ahead, the New Hampshire Lottery Commission expects continued growth in the state's sports betting market. The commission is exploring options to expand the number of licensed operators and introduce new betting products to further enhance the experience for New Hampshire residents. While the Chiefs took home the Lombardi trophy, the data reveals a compelling story of local fandom powerfully shaping the betting landscape in New Hampshire.