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How the 1986 Super Bowl kickstarted prop betting in America – and why it’s threatening the integrity of US sports

5 0
05.02.2026

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........

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