Las Vegas sportsbooks expect record handle in Super Bowl LIII

New England Patriots' Tom Brady holds his daughter, Vivian, after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

New England Patriots' Julian Edelman holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy, after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. Edelman was named the Most Valuable Player. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gets doused after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates with teammates after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The New England Patriots celebrate after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

A New England Patriots cheerleader celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New England Patriots' Dont'a Hightower (54) gives a lift to a teammate as they celebrate winning the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game 13-3 over the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

New England Patriots' Stephon Gilmore, right, intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams' Brandin Cooks (12) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

New England Patriots' Sony Michel dives for a touchdown during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

New England Patriots' Kyle Van Noy (53) sacks Los Angeles Rams' Jared Goff (16) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

New England Patriots' Dont'a Hightower, top, sacks Los Angeles Rams' Jared Goff (16) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Los Angeles Rams' Todd Gurley II watches from the bench during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure form Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald (99) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

New England Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski (3) attempts a field goal against Los Angeles Rams during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. Gostkowski missed the field goal.(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

People waiting in line to collect their bet earnings watch the end of Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Jessica Reyes, a New England Patriots fan, reacts as she watches Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People react as they watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People react as they watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People react as they watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People react as they watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

People react as they watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Lisa Skjerven reaches for betting papers to place prop bets for the Super Bowl at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Bettors line up to place prop bets for the Super Bowl at the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

The lowest-scoring game in Super Bowl history might produce the highest betting handle ever at Nevada sportsbooks.

A late flurry of money poured in on the Rams and Patriots before Super Bowl LIII, including at least three $1 million-plus wagers, giving bookmakers reason to believe the total amount wagered in the state could eclipse last year’s record of $158.6 million.

“The handle is going to be up there,” MGM Resorts sportsbook director Jay Rood said Sunday night after New England’s 13-3 win over Los Angeles.

“It will probably be a 10 percent increase. If every (other book) was pacing the same way as us, it should set a record.”

Caesars Entertainment and the Westgate sportsbooks also reported higher handles than last year.

“The mobile app is a difference maker and in-play wagering adds so much,” Sunset Station sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said. “There’s a real opportunity that it could be a record.”

MGM, Caesars Entertainment, CG Technology, the Westgate and Station Casinos all reported small wins on the game despite the Patriots covering as popular 2½-point favorites.

The books came out on top thanks largely to the game staying under the closing total of 56.

“The under was the key and will probably keep the industry a moderate winner,” Esposito said. MGM took a $2 million money-line wager on the Rams and a $1 million-plus straight bet on the Patriots (-2½). William Hill sportsbook took a $1.5 million money-line wager on L.A.

Books across the city were packed with fans and bettors who didn’t get many chances to cheer in a game that featured only one touchdown — Sony Michel’s tiebreaking 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“It was not a super Super Bowl,” Rood said. “Everyone was kind of sitting there waiting for something to happen.”

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Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.