Can you Bet on the Super Bowl National Anthem?

For those aiming to secure a win even before the kickoff of Super Bowl 58, the duration of the National Anthem presents a promising wager. The trend of betting on the National Anthem and related bets has seen a surge in popularity in recent times, however it is not available on legal betting apps in the United States.

American country singer and actress Reba McEntire will take the stage to deliver the National Anthem at this year’s Super Bowl.

A History of National Anthem Betting

The betting history for the Star-Spangled Banner traces its roots to 2007, marked by Billy Joel’s rendition lasting one minute and 30 seconds before the Colts-Bears matchup, falling short by 14 seconds. Throughout 16 seasons, the over has held a 9-6-1 record.

Back then, and still predominantly trending today, length was the single measurement by which the National Anthem could be turned into a simple bet.

The over emerged victorious in consecutive years, with Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church in 2021, followed by Mickey Guyton in 2022. However, Chris Stapleton’s rendition, spanning two minutes, went under by five seconds last season ahead of the Chiefs-Eagles clash.

Do US Sportsbooks Offer National Anthem Over/Unders?

While somewhat dissenting, the option to wager on the length of the national anthem isn’t available at legal US sportsbooks, mirroring the restrictions on bets related to commercials or the halftime show.

According to BetMGM Sportsbook’s information with various betting sites and news sources, the likelihood of offering such bets in any state in 2024 remains null.

The primary reason behind this limitation is the anthem’s lack of influence on the game’s outcome, rendering it ineligible as a legal betting market in numerous states. Additionally, the pre-rehearsed nature of the anthem poses challenges. In 2021, a rehearsal recording surfaced online, providing viewers with a preview of the performance’s duration.

For a wager to maintain fairness for both bettors and sportsbooks, the outcome must remain unknown beforehand. Unfortunately, this condition isn’t met with the national anthem, prompting gambling regulators to prohibit bets on it.

Other Unique Prop Bets for Super Bowl 58

For individuals in the US, standalone wagers on the national anthem are not accepted by any legal and regulated online sportsbooks.

An exception arises when a sportsbook links it to the game, such as offering a bet on whether the anthem’s duration will surpass the longest drive in the game—a type of bet previously presented by DraftKings Sportsbook.

However, other prop bets have become unique to Super Bowl games. For instance, the coin toss for Super Bowl 58 boils down to heads or tails, both carrying a 50% chance of correctness.

This uncomplicated bet attracts some bettors who appreciate its simplicity, as predicting the literal flip of a coin requires zero football expertise and yields a quick resolution before the game kicks off.

Another swiftly resolved bet occurs at the start of the game—the opening kickoff resulting in a touchback. As with all NFL games, Super Bowl 58 initiates with an opening kickoff, prompting many sportsbooks to offer bets on whether the kick will be returned or end in a touchback.

While NFL player prop odds are available for all games, Super Bowl player props, especially for high-profile events like this, offer numerous ways to wager on the performance of each player on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.