MGM Springfield gearing up for busy weekend of sports betting

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Kickoff for the NFL’s biggest game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs is just a few days away and, as we wait to see who will be crowned champions of football, many in western Massachusetts are looking to place their bets both before and during the contest.

San Francisco and Kansas City will soon be battling it out in a championship rematch four years in the making and, while he will be watching the game with family in New York, Dave Niemczura of Palmer stopped by MGM Springfield to make a little wager.

“I’d like to look at the props and I’ve got a few inklings of where I’d like to go with that,” Niemczura said.

When in-person sports betting became legal in the Bay State last year, the Super Bowl was the first major event everyone could bet on. Now, with both in-person and online sports betting both operational, MGM Springfield Vice President of Casino Operations Robert Westerfield said he expects big numbers for this year’s big game.

“We’ve had a whole year to develop a customer base. It’s exciting this year with the teams that are involved, so this year has been a little bit busier,” Westerfield said.

The BetMGM Sportsbook lounge is expected to be packed on Super Sunday, with a couple of former New England Patriots in attendance. Despite the Massachusetts Gaming Commission deciding this week not to allow wagers on the coin toss or other prop bets outside of the game, Westerfield told Western Mass News that should not impact betting that much.

“They’re nice, neat, novelty bets and they’re nice things to talk about with your friends. How long the national anthem took? How many times you’re going to see Taylor Swift? They’re fun topics at a cocktail party. Will it really affect the volume of betting here? I don’t think it will,” Westerfield added.

As for Niemczura, he already knows who he is putting his money on.

“I’d like to see San Francisco beat the Chiefs,” Niemczura added. “I think because of Christian McCaffrey, the running back, I think he’s going to be receiving, running and I think Brock Purdy, being the last pick in the draft a few years ago. I think he does well.”

Westerfield told us people are mostly doing prop bets on player performance, as well as simple wagers like who will win and the point spread, but with pop sensation Taylor Swift dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, he said that could draw more interest.

“Whether or not it will sway anybody’s bets? You know, it could if you start betting with your heart and you’re a Taylor Swift fan or a romantic fan or whatever. I think it’s really brought a renewed interest in the game and I think it’s really great,” Westerfield explained.

Westerfield advised anyone making a wager to bet responsibly as many around the country get ready to watch the NFL’s grand finale.