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Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes look on during a game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs as we look at MGM Resort in the third quarter of 2023.
Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes look on during a game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images/AFP.

The growing legal sports betting market in the United States has provided a significant boost to many companies in the broader gambling industry, particularly those that provide top sports betting applications.

MGM Resorts, which owns half of the mobile BetMGM brand, the third-largest among our top sportsbooks in the United States, has announced strong revenue figures for the third quarter of the 2026 fiscal year.

Despite facing a potentially devastating cyber attack in September 2026, the company has managed to report a 16% revenue growth compared to the previous year. This success can be attributed to the company’s presence in China and the establishment of the BetMGM sportsbook brand in the United States. Additionally, an increase in NFL betting through BetMGM has been influenced by unexpected factors, including the involvement of Taylor Swift.

Broad company revenues

In the third quarter, MGM Resorts reported $4 billion in global revenues for the three months ending on Sept. 30, marking a 16% increase from the previous year. Despite experiencing $100 million in losses from a cyber attack in September, the company still managed to show growth in earnings.

MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle expressed that the quarter began with strong momentum in all sectors of their business. Despite encountering a challenging cybersecurity issue in September, the employees demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination. Hornbuckle believes that the company has emerged stronger after overcoming this incident.

After experiencing a $1 billion loss in Q3 of 2026, the company’s operating income turned positive in the third quarter. MGM Resorts then reported a $370 million income for Q3 of 2026.

The BetMGM factor

BetMGM’s popularity had a significant impact on MGM Resorts in the third quarter, despite trailing behind FanDuel and DraftKings in the American market. With an approximate 18% market share in the U.S., BetMGM has made a strong presence, even without factoring in its position in New York sports betting, the largest market in the U.S.

BetMGM saw a 15% rise in sportsbook net gaming revenues compared to last year, resulting in $458 million in profits for the third quarter.

The number is expected to increase in the fourth quarter due to the introduction of mobile and retail sports betting options in the dynamic Kentucky sports betting market, which was unveiled at the start of the quarter. Additionally, the fourth-quarter output will receive a boost from the unveiling of a luxury retail location in the New Mexico market.

About the spike in NFL betting

BetMGM has seen a strong rise in NFL betting during the first half of its 2026-2026 season, with a 26% increase in wagers compared to the previous year.

Upon release of the NFL gambling report, Christian Cipollini, the trading manager at BetMGM, stated that the season has been successful thanks to favorable outcomes in prime-time games and a high rate of Unders hitting.

The growth of BetMGM is believed to be the main reason for the rise in NFL betting. The sports betting company has expanded its operations to include Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Kentucky since the third quarter of 2026. These states are among the top sports betting markets in the country and have significantly boosted BetMGM’s profits.

Obligatory Taylor Swift mention

The Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce story is impossible to escape. It has even caused a surge in popularity for BetMGM and other top sports betting sites.

Cipollini confirmed that the Taylor Swift effect is indeed real, even affecting bettors who cannot resist it. He noted that when rumors circulate about her attendance at a game, there is a significant rise in bets placed on Kelce’s player props.

Tipico Underscoreg noticed a 100% surge in bets on Kelce between Weeks 3 and 4, when the relationship was just starting. Kelce continues to be the top choice for bets on anytime touchdowns with American sportsbooks, largely due to fans placing bets on their favorite player.