Thanksgiving Week Sees Surge in Sports Betting Activity

Thanksgiving has become not only a time for family gatherings and feasting but also a significant holiday for sports betting enthusiasts in the United States. With a packed schedule of sporting events, the week surrounding Thanksgiving is one of the busiest for sportsbooks, marking a remarkable surge in betting activity.

The Thanksgiving slate features traditional NFL games, supported by additional matchups on Black Friday, college football Rivalry Week, and college basketball tournaments. According to various sportsbooks, this week consistently ranks among the highest for betting volume throughout the year, rivaling key periods such as the opening rounds of March Madness and NFL playoff weekends. “This stretch easily rivals other marquee periods,” said Joey Feazel, head of football at Caesars Sportsbook, in an email to ESPN.

Record Betting Figures Expected

Data from BetMGM indicates that the NFL maintains a commanding presence during Thanksgiving week. In 2024, the NFL accounted for 79% of the total betting handle, significantly outpacing college basketball at 13% and college football at 5%. All three Thanksgiving Day games ranked within the top 20% of the most-bet NFL games of the entire season, including playoffs.

“Thanksgiving games are often some of the most-bet regular season games,” noted Christian Cipollini, senior trading manager at BetMGM. Factors contributing to this trend include the fact that many people are off work, the quality of the matchups, and the all-day event format.

For 2025, all three NFL games are projected to have spreads of seven points or fewer, marking only the sixth time since the Thanksgiving slate expanded to three games in 2006 that all games have had such narrow margins. The most significant spread of the day is set for the prime-time matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, with the Ravens currently favored by seven points.

A Full Week of Sports Action

The excitement doesn’t stop with Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday will feature a game between the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles, with the Eagles giving seven points. This matchup is noted to be the closest spread in the three-year history of the NFL’s Black Friday games, promising to attract considerable betting interest.

The college football landscape is equally vibrant, with three of the top seven teams in the College Football Playoff rankings scheduled to compete in rivalry games. Key matchups include the highly anticipated game between Ohio State and Michigan, with the Buckeyes favored by either 9.5 or 10 points, depending on the sportsbook.

Alongside football, college basketball also sees a surge in activity during Thanksgiving week. “We call it the unofficial kickoff of the college basketball season,” Cipollini explained. Early-season tournaments and marquee matchups attract significant betting volumes, making this week one of the busiest for basketball betting outside of March Madness.

The NHL and NBA contribute to the action with a variety of games scheduled, including notable matchups like the Dallas Mavericks facing the Los Angeles Lakers. “Thanksgiving Eve is always a big handle day for us,” Cipollini added, highlighting the appeal of the packed sports calendar.

As the week unfolds, sports fans and bettors alike can expect a thrilling mix of games across multiple sports, setting the stage for an exciting end to November. The holiday week not only celebrates gratitude and togetherness but also offers a vibrant atmosphere for sports betting, further cementing its status as a key event in American sports culture.