Super Bowl Betting Surge: What Paysafe's Data Tells Us About the Future of Sports Wagering in Ireland
Every year, the Super Bowl provides the clearest snapshot of where sports betting is heading globally. The sheer scale of wagering activity around America's biggest sporting event — and the payment trends that underpin it — offers lessons that extend far beyond North America. For Irish sports bettors and the operators who serve them, Paysafe's latest research into Super Bowl LX wagering behaviour contains some genuinely illuminating insights.
Paysafe, one of the world's leading payment solution providers and a major player in the Irish and European gambling payments space, has published its All the Ways Players Pay: Super Bowl report, surveying approximately 3,000 adults aged 21 and over across the United States and Canada. The findings paint a picture of a sports betting market that is maturing rapidly — and one where payment experience is increasingly central to operator success.
The Scale of Super Bowl Wagering: A €1.4 Billion Market
Super Bowl LX, the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, was projected to generate approximately $1.5 billion (roughly €1.4 billion) in wagers across regulated US markets alone, according to Citizens Equity Research analyst Jordan Bender. That figure represents a staggering concentration of betting activity into a single sporting event — and it's a number that continues to grow year on year as more US states legalise online sports wagering.
Of the 3,000 people Paysafe surveyed, approximately 50% planned to wager on the game. New Yorkers led the pack, with 65% of respondents from the Empire State planning to place an online bet with a state-licensed operator. These are extraordinary participation rates that would be the envy of any European market.
For context, Ireland's sports betting market — while highly engaged by European standards — operates at a very different scale. However, the behavioural trends emerging from the US market consistently foreshadow developments in European markets, including Ireland, typically with a lag of two to four years. Understanding what's driving American bettors today helps Irish operators anticipate what their customers will expect tomorrow.
The First-Time Bettor Opportunity: Lessons for Irish Operators
Perhaps the most striking finding in Paysafe's report is the significant proportion of first-time bettors drawn in by the Super Bowl. Of the 51% of fans in regulated markets who planned to bet online or via an app, 31% said they would be placing a bet for the very first time.
This influx of novice bettors represents a critical moment for operators — and one that carries important lessons for the Irish market. As Paysafe's report notes:
"For sportsbooks, this influx of first-time bettors represents more than short-term volume; it is an opportunity to establish trust and build long-term relationships through seamless onboarding and reliable payment experiences."
The emphasis on "seamless onboarding and reliable payment experiences" is particularly relevant for Irish operators navigating the new regulatory environment created by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Under Ireland's new framework, operators must implement robust Know Your Customer (KYC) processes and responsible gambling tools — requirements that, if poorly implemented, can create friction that drives first-time bettors away before they've placed their first bet.
The operators who will win in Ireland's evolving market are those who can deliver compliance without compromising the user experience. That means fast, frictionless payment processing, clear and transparent bonus terms, and onboarding flows that feel welcoming rather than bureaucratic.
Payment Experience as a Competitive Differentiator
Paysafe's research consistently highlights payment experience as a key driver of bettor satisfaction and retention. This finding aligns with what we observe in the Irish market, where players increasingly expect the same speed and convenience from gambling payments that they experience in everyday digital commerce.
Irish bettors today have access to a wide range of payment methods at licensed online casinos and sportsbooks, including:
- Debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) — the most widely used method, though credit card gambling remains prohibited under Irish regulations
- Bank transfers — popular for larger deposits and withdrawals, though typically slower than card payments
- e-Wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller) — favoured for their speed and the additional layer of privacy they provide
- Paysafecard — particularly popular among players who prefer to manage their gambling budget with prepaid vouchers
- Open Banking / Pay by Bank — an emerging option that allows instant bank transfers without sharing card details
- Cryptocurrency — available at a growing number of offshore operators, though regulatory clarity in Ireland remains limited
The trend in the US market — and one that is clearly emerging in Ireland — is toward instant payment processing on both deposits and withdrawals. Players who experience delays in accessing their winnings are significantly more likely to switch operators, making withdrawal speed a genuine competitive differentiator.
For a comprehensive overview of which Irish casinos offer the fastest and most flexible payment options, our payment guides provide detailed comparisons across all major methods. You can also explore our casino reviews to see how individual operators rate on payment processing speed and reliability.
The Demand from Non-Regulated Markets: A Warning for Offshore Operators
One of the more thought-provoking findings in Paysafe's report concerns bettors in non-regulated US markets. More than half (52%) of respondents in states where online sports betting remains illegal expressed interest in betting on the Super Bowl despite lacking access to regulated sportsbooks. Of those, 91% said that betting would make watching the game a better experience.
This pent-up demand in non-regulated markets has a direct parallel in Ireland's recent history. Before the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 created a clearer licensing framework, a significant proportion of Irish online gambling activity flowed to offshore operators operating outside Irish regulatory oversight. The new GRAI licensing regime is designed to bring this activity into a regulated environment — but it will only succeed if licensed operators offer a product that is genuinely competitive with offshore alternatives.
The lesson from the US data is clear: players want to bet legally, but they won't sacrifice convenience or experience to do so. Irish operators who deliver on payment speed, game variety, and user experience will capture the players who are currently using unlicensed offshore sites. Those who don't will continue to lose market share to operators who operate outside Irish regulatory jurisdiction.
Paysafe's Expanding Role in Social Gaming and Sweepstakes
Beyond its core sports betting payment business, Paysafe has been expanding its footprint in the social gaming and sweepstakes sector, joining the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) as its newest member. This move reflects the growing convergence between traditional gambling payments and the broader social gaming ecosystem.
For Irish players, this convergence is already visible in the growing number of social casino apps and free-to-play games that use virtual currencies rather than real money. While these products fall outside the scope of Ireland's gambling regulations (which apply to real-money wagering), they represent an important part of the broader gaming landscape and a potential pathway for new players to discover online casino entertainment.
Paysafe's involvement in this space — alongside its existing relationships with major operators including bet365, Jackpocket, and Betfair — positions it as a key infrastructure provider across the full spectrum of online gaming, from regulated real-money gambling to social and sweepstakes products.
What This Means for Irish Sports Bettors in 2026
The trends identified in Paysafe's Super Bowl research point toward several developments that Irish sports bettors and casino players can expect to see accelerate through 2026:
Faster Payments, Everywhere
The expectation of instant or near-instant payment processing — for both deposits and withdrawals — will become the baseline standard rather than a premium feature. Irish operators who cannot meet this expectation will face increasing pressure from competitors who can.
Better Onboarding for New Players
The Super Bowl data highlights the importance of first-time bettor experience. Irish operators will invest more heavily in streamlined onboarding flows that balance regulatory compliance with user-friendliness, recognising that the first betting experience often determines long-term loyalty.
More Payment Options, More Flexibility
As the Irish market matures, players will expect a broader range of payment options, including faster bank transfer solutions and potentially regulated cryptocurrency payments as the regulatory framework evolves. Operators who offer genuine payment flexibility will have a meaningful competitive advantage.
Responsible Gambling Integration
Under GRAI regulations, responsible gambling tools — including deposit limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion — must be integrated into the payment and account management experience. The best operators will make these tools genuinely useful rather than treating them as compliance checkboxes.
Finding the Best Payment Options at Irish Online Casinos
If you're looking to make the most of your online casino or sports betting experience in Ireland, payment method choice is one of the most important factors to consider. The right payment method can mean the difference between instant access to your winnings and waiting days for a bank transfer to clear.
Our casino reviews include detailed payment information for every operator we cover, including minimum and maximum deposit limits, withdrawal processing times, and any fees associated with specific payment methods. For players who prioritise fast withdrawals, our fast withdrawal casino guide identifies the operators who consistently deliver on this promise.
For those interested in the latest casino bonuses, it's worth noting that some payment methods — particularly e-wallets — may be excluded from certain bonus offers. Always check the terms and conditions before choosing your deposit method if you're planning to claim a welcome bonus.
The global sports betting market is evolving rapidly, and Ireland is very much part of that story. As Paysafe's Super Bowl data demonstrates, the operators who will thrive in this environment are those who put payment experience, player trust, and seamless onboarding at the heart of their product offering. For Irish players, that means more choice, better service, and a safer, more transparent betting environment than ever before.
