Well, as the USA’s most significant sporting export rolls out for yet another blockbuster season, there are a few fundamental changes to take on board, as well as a few minor changes. So today, we’re going to make sure you’re equipped with all of the facts going into the start of the campaign. We will also explore how the world of sports betting is having a transformative impact on how the game is broadcast and viewed by millions of fans across the US.
Why 2024 is the Biggest Year Yet for NFL Betting
The number of states changing their gambling laws to accommodate digital sports betting saw the most significant changes in 2022. However, now that even more states have got on board and many have settled in as key subsidiaries of the broader market, betting companies believe that 2024 has the potential to be the biggest one yet for NFL betting markets.
NFL bets cover a range of in-play, outrights, or single bets. Delving further into the NFL betting markets, there’s a growing number of options year on year, and part of this choice drives the expert opinion that 2024 will be the biggest betting year on record for America’s most-watched sport. The most popular bets include
- Over/under points—a bet on whether or not a team will score a specific number of points.
- Multi-bets—a combination of teams, also known as a parlay or accumulator.
- Outright—betting on an outright result at the end of the season, such as which team will win the Super Bowl.
- Against the spread—betting against the predicted points difference between the two teams. Sites such as https://www.wsn.com/nfl/weekly-picks-against-the-spread/ dissect these markets and give their expert tips on how an against-the-spread bet might pan out.
- Prop bets—specific bets involving a player, such as first touchdown, last touchdown, how many points they’ll score in the game, etc.
Rule Changes for the 2024 Season
In addition to the continued growing market for betting, there are a few significant changes to note for the upcoming season.
Removing the Hip-drop Tackle
As a rule change that was voted unanimously across the board, and some say it should have happened years ago, removing the highly dangerous hip-drop tackle comes into play at the beginning of the 2024 season. It’s shown to have a 25 times higher chance of causing injury, so there’s no surprise to see this change finally enacted.
A hip-drop tackle is when a player uses both arms to wrap the runner or unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips or lower body, landing on and trapping anywhere below the runner’s knee area.
Kick-off Amendment
To promote more returns, the NFL has ruled that a change to the kick-off will now mean it resembles a scrimmage play. Aligning players on both teams closer together will restrict movement, which, in theory, should decrease space and speed, thus creating more returns.
Hawk Eye Feed
One of the more predictable changes—this technology has been increasingly rolled out over the last 18 months—but this season will see it in the coaches’ booths, as we have in pre-season.
Removal of Trade Deadline
The trading deadline has now been moved to the Tuesday after the 9th gameweek.
New Reviewable Plays
As technology continues to have a greater impact in the NFL, new reviewable plays include a ruling to check whether a quarterback was down or out of bounds or the play clock timed out before the snap.
Conclusion
Some thought that rule changes this year might implement amendments to how the game is broadcast in the US, aiming to accompany global streaming giants. For now, the NFL is still fending off these global media behemoths. The NFL, and one-off games like the Super Bowl, are some of the most significant sporting events on TV. So, for now, it’s just the changes we’ve touched on, many of which were anticipated, and some a little later than initially planned.
While the way people watch the sport won’t change, the way people are betting on the NFL will—expect to see a growing trend toward mobile sports betting and companies using precious TV advertising space during the game to try and get some of their welcome bonuses and promotions out there to prospective new customers. As the sport continues to become more global and attract a broader international fan base, betting markets and social media numbers will expand alongside it. Remember the rule changes, too!
