A packed weekend in Las Vegas fueled an F1 betting rush that set new highs across major operators. The 2025 grand prix pulled in numbers that went far beyond last season and gave the market another reminder of how powerful the Las Vegas race has become for sportsbooks.
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BetMGM opened Monday with a headline figure that caught immediate attention across the sports betting industry. The operator said the Saturday race produced 51 percent more handle than the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, turning it into the most-bet F1 event in BetMGM history. The operator noted the race also tripled its average ticket count for Formula 1 this season.
Caesars Sportsbook saw the upswing as well. Craig Mucklow, vice president of trading at Caesars Entertainment, said wagering climbed thirty percent compared to last year. With retail sportsbooks spread across Las Vegas, Caesars had a strong local base drawn to the action.
Mucklow said:
“Given Caesars / William Hill offered more than 100 markets on the event, including Same Game Parlays, it was no surprise how popular the race was with Vegas enthusiasts. We were proud to offer the biggest depth of product and choice for bettors in our home state, which led to increased handle and wagers.”
Both operators leaned on deep Formula 1 menus, a strategy that has grown as American interest in the sport continues to build each year. Driving traffic through prop markets, position betting, lap-by-lap options and live prices gave bettors a wide mix of angles to play.
Max Verstappen once again delivered for fans, taking the win in front of a sold-out crowd while creating a tough financial night for books. Before the race, he drew nearly 37 percent of the handle and 24 percent of all tickets at BetMGM. After Friday qualifying, he was priced at +130.
The operator had no interest in seeing the Dutch driver grab another first-place finish, but the podium added another twist. Lando Norris closed as the favorite at -125 and took second, and Oscar Piastri landed fourth. Both McLaren drivers were later removed from the final results after they failed post-race inspection, which created another odd chapter in the outcome for bettors and books.
The disqualifications did not offset the hit from Verstappen, who continues to hold huge betting weight at nearly every track.
The Vegas race delivered another surge in demand for the city itself. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority projected a potential one-billion-dollar economic impact for this year’s event. The crowd included roughly 150,000 visitors, and the Strip once again became part of the racing circuit, turning the race into a tourist magnet.
In 2024, the grand prix fueled a reported 934-million-dollar impact, placing it among the strongest annual sports attractions in the city. The growth trend has not slowed, with more celebrity attendance and hospitality demand than the previous two editions.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin added to the star presence when he appeared at the track with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. The pair even rode a lap with Lewis Hamilton, adding another social-media moment to an already stacked weekend.
Las Vegas has turned its Formula 1 stop into a yearly entertainment anchor, mixing high-end hospitality, retail sportsbook energy, and international racing into a single weekend that continues to break records for operators and the city.
High demand for the Las Vegas race, expanded markets, and heavy action on Max Verstappen pushed numbers above any other F1 event.
Caesars recorded a thirty percent rise in wagers compared to last year, helped by more than one hundred available markets.
Max Verstappen held the largest risk for operators, taking more than a third of the handle at BetMGM.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were removed from the final results after failing post-race inspection.
Attendance reached roughly 150,000, along with a strong celebrity turnout.
Las Vegas officials expect the 2025 race to approach one billion dollars in economic activity.