How to Play Super Bowl Betting Squares

Super Bowl Betting Squares is a fun (mostly random) betting game for your Super Bowl party. If you’re hosting friends and family to watch the Super Bowl this year, you’ll want to include this game as part of your fun. Everyone, from kids to grandparents, and even non-football fans can enjoy the game when they participate in a Super Bowl Betting Squares game.

It may take a bit of convincing at first. But the people who toss $5-$20 into this fun Super Bowl betting game will be happy they did. And your hardcore sports betting friends won’t have an advantage. This isn’t an over-under bet. You’re not choosing sides. It’s pure, random fun.

How Super Bowl Betting Squares Work

All the money put in the pot will be distributed by the end of the game. So if you’re doing $1 per square, then all $100 that goes in will end up in participants’ pockets. This means Grandma might win $15, and niece Lily could be the big winner with $35. Big John might walk away with $5, and most people likely will win nothing.

But when you see your friend who doesn’t care about football rooting for a Chiefs field-goal in the 3rd quarter because it means they’ll win $5, you’ll know you’ve just upped your Super Bowl Party level to the next level. Here’s how to create a fun 10×10 square Super Bowl betting squares chart that’s fun for everyone who plays.

Materials

• Poster board
• Magic marker (black, permanent)
• Deck of cards (or random numbers 0-9)
• Basket, hat, or bowl (for the money)

Set-up

1. Draw lines dividing the poster board into 11 x 11 squares (draw 10 lines horizontal, and 10 vertical).
   1. Pro-tip: Leave a little space on the top and left edge to write the team names.
2. Write the team names. On the top edge write one Team Name (49ers), and on the left edge write the other Team Name (Chiefs)
3. Have people buy squares for $1 each.
   1. The total pot will be $100 if you fill up the board. Participants aren’t betting on any team to win or any specific score. You’re essentially just buying a “ticket” to play (each square = a “ticket”).
   2. Pro-tip: Try really hard to fill-up the board. Buy all the empty squares leftover for yourself if you have to.
   3. Note: If you don’t fill up the board, it’s okay. If an empty square wins, then nobody gets paid. Everyone will be disappointed and maybe they’ll buy more squares next year!
4. People write their names in any of the inner 10×10 squares (it’s random). Just write your name in any square. $1/square.
   1. Pro-tip: Fill the squares before kick-off. If people will arrive after kick-off, call them beforehand. Have them commit $5 or $10 to squares and you can write their names in for them beforehand. Remember, it’s random anyway, so there’s no disadvantage. They could still end up big winners!
5. Add the numbers to the top row and left column.
   1. IMPORTANT: the numbers are filled in AFTER all the names are written in the squares. This keeps it random, and allows everyone to have an equal, random chance of winning. Use the deck of cards to draw random numbers for each square in the top row and left column. Fill them in with numbers 0-9 (yes, include 0). Don’t do it in order. Make it random!

How to Pay Out

There are a few different ways to pay out for the betting squares game. Regardless of whether you want to pay out less frequently, or more frequently, you’re going to pay out the chart based on the random numbers (0-9) that match a square (and person’s name in that square). As the score gets higher, you’ll use the one’s digit of the score to determine the number. See the detailed example pay out below.

By Quarter

Some people like to pay out only at the end of each quarter. This means the total pot can be divided by 4. So if you sell 80 (of the 100) squares, you could pay out $20 at the end of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters. You could also weight the final score (4th quarter) more heavily. Pay out $10 for the score at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, while saving the highest pay out for the final score.

Every Score Change

My preferred method is to pay out $5 for every score change. Whoever had the numbers for half-time got $10. Then, whatever was left in the pot at the end of the game got the rest for the final score! The benefit of this more frequent pay-out schedule is that more people win and end up interested in the game. Even your Aunt who just came for the gossip and commercials will be rooting for a team to kick a field goal. haha This was the way that I played growing up at my Godfather’s Super Bowl party.

Make sure everyone knows that whoever has square 0, 0 wins $5 at kick-off! Then, when the score changes, whoever has the square for that score wins $5! This happens each time there’s a field goal, a touchdown, a point-after touchdown, a safety, or a 2-point conversion. Each time the number changes, somebody gets paid.

Yes, a touchdown should result in two $5 pay outs. Five dollars for the 6-point change (touchdown), and $5 for the 1-point change (PAT)! This way touchdowns are more exciting than field goals. Just like in the game. And whoever has the number with the PAT will be pissed if the kicker misses. haha

Example Pay Out

If the 49ers score a field goal first (3 pts), then whoever has 49ers 3, Chiefs 0 wins $5 (Sally in the pic)!

Then, let’s say the Chiefs reply by scoring a touchdown (6 pts). Whoever’s name is written in the square with 49ers 3, Chiefs 6 wins $5.  Naturally, the Chiefs will likely kick a PAT (point after touchdown, 1 pt). So whoever has 49ers 3, Chiefs 7 ALSO wins $5!

This style of Super Bowl betting pool is fun because many people can win money!  People who may not have been interested in the game become interested when there’s a chance that one of their squares might win!

At my Godfather’s Super Bowl party, it’s always funny to see some old lady (who doesn’t usually care about football) rooting for one team to kick a field goal, because the resulting score will win her $5! It’s fun for all ages, makes the game a little more interesting, and is not too difficult to set-up! So, create a Super Bowl betting pool for your Super Bowl party and get everybody involved!

Download Large Blank 10×10 Super Bowl Betting Board PDF

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Thanks for stopping by. If you like this article, explore some more. I also write about saving money and investing for your future. Come on back after the Super Bowl and I’d love to help you become a millionaire with all your Super Bowl winnings! Oh yeah, good luck and have fun.