Cashing in on the Taylor Swift mania that has taken the Super Bowl by storm, Oregon Lottery is rolling out a series of Swift-themed bets for fans to playfully wager on during the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers showdown. DraftKings Sportsbook, through the Oregon Lottery, has concocted no fewer than 26 quirky props inspired by the pop sensation's hits, as reported by KPIC.
Players can try to quickly score a win with the “Shake It Off” bet, deciding which team will notch the first points, or go along with the “Wildest Dream” wager, banking on Travis Kelce to bookend the game with the first and last touchdowns. Amid the high stakes of the NFL's biggest night, these lighthearted bets promise to add some extra entertainment, particularly for Swift's dedicated fanbase, affectionately known as Swifties.
According to Oregon Lottery's Kerry Hemphill, such prop bets are a response to the "fanfare and celebrities" that amplify sports betting interest during the Super Bowl. "The ‘Taylor’ effect may also result in more casual sports betters taking a chance to have fun," Hemphill told KPIC. This strategy seems to be resonating with the public, considering the 307,000 bets placed through DraftKings Sportsbook in Oregon during last year's Super Bowl, tallying a hefty $5.3 million, KQEN Newsradio reported.
While beyond the borders of Oregon, major U.S. sportsbooks are toying with different ways to reel in Swift-centric bets. ESPN BET has specifically crafted a lineup of Swift-themed props, including swift decisions like Swift Action, with the odds of a touchdown in the first two minutes at +1200, and the creatively dubbed "Swelce Specials" centering around Kelce.
Though directly tapping into Swift's actions during the game remains off-limits due to most state regulations prohibiting subjective props, the allure of the Swift narrative remains undeniable. As confirmed by ESPN, sportsbooks are eagerly trying to leverage the spectacle around Kelce's superstar beau. This betting buzz brings a pop culture spin to the adrenaline-pumped gridiron battle, promising to keep both football fans and the Swifties on the edge of their seats come game day.
