Fans forced to go across the border to place Super Bowl bets

A record 31.5 million Americans plan to bet on this year’s Super Bowl, according to estimates released Tuesday by the gambling industry’s national trade group.

The American Gaming Association forecasted that over $7.6 billion will be wagered on pro football’s championship game set for Sunday.

In Massachusetts no betting is allowed, but as soon as you cross over to New Hampshire all of a sudden the betting app on your phone can work.

“I expect chaos, Super Bowls are always big betting days,” said James Rafferty GM of The River Casino and sports bar in Nashua New Hampshire.

Rafferty says he expects a lot of people to travel across the Massachusetts border Sunday for one of the most popular betting days of the year.

“People will use their accounts in this bar all day,” said Rafferty. “They’ll bet the coin toss and all the wonderful side bets.”

Who will win MVP? Will there be overtime? There are so many possible bets, along with who will win.

“If the Cincinnati Bengals lose, I lose $500,” said Robert Jenks of Nashua.

“I took the Bengals on a $10 bet,” said Joe Ashline of Nashua. “I think it’s like $35 it pays back.”

Ashline has been placing bets almost every Sunday, but won’t say if he is net positive or negative.

“My wife is sitting right next to me so I would rather not answer that,” he said.

He says he never bets the house, just a few dollars here and there.

“I enjoy doing it,” said Ashline. “It gives you something to follow during the game especially when the Patriots are on.”

At this bar, the bets come from all over.

“Our best sport is football we do the best that hockey is next,” said Rafferty.

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