84% of NFL Bettors Placed a Live Bet Last Season, Optimove Says

Pre-game wagers still rank first by preference among NFL bettors. Even so, 84% of respondents in a new Optimove survey said they placed at least one live bet during the 2025/26 season.

Live betting was the preferred format for 34% of respondents, compared with 41% who chose pre-game wagering. The difference suggests that stated preference does not fully reflect how bettors behave once games are underway.

The figures come from Optimove’s 2026/27 NFL Betting Intentions Report. The company surveyed 926 US adults in August, all of whom had wagered on NFL games during the previous season.

Regular Season Draws the Most Bettors

Betting interest remains concentrated around the regular season. Close to 78% of respondents expect to wager during that part of the 2026/27 schedule. By comparison, planned participation in individual playoff rounds ranges from about 40% to 50%.

The most familiar markets also lead the betting plans:

Point spreads were chosen by 59% of respondents;
Moneyline wagers were close behind at 57%;
Over/unders attracted 43%;
29% planned to place parlays.

Recorded Betting Data Puts Live Use at 48%

Optimove has another set of NFL figures that adds useful context. Its analysis of more than 136 million wagers from over five million bettors during the 2025/26 season found that 48% used live betting in some form.

That is well below the 84% reported in the new survey. However, the figures are not directly comparable. The studies use different samples and methods: one records betting activity, while the other relies on respondents reporting their own behavior.

The comparison does show why the 84% headline needs some care. It points to widespread familiarity with in-play betting among surveyed NFL customers.

Most NFL Bettors Set a Spending Budget

Most respondents also said they set limits on their NFL spending. Optimove put the share using some form of budget at 81%. Weekly limits were the most common choice, used by 41%. Another 24% budgeted for the full season, while 16% set an overall spending cap.

Customers are also willing to move between brands. Around 64% expect to use two or more sportsbooks during the season, and 16% plan to use at least three.

For operators, the bigger question is no longer whether NFL bettors use live markets. It is how often they return once a game starts, how much activity shifts in-play, and how that behavior is split across competing sportsbooks.