Morning Business Report: Americans set to bet $30 billion on NFL season

Americans are expected to wager a record $30 billion on this year’s NFL season, according to the American Gaming Association.

(LILAMAX)- Americans are expected to wager a record $30 billion on this year’s NFL season, according to the American Gaming Association. Sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings are preparing for the biggest betting opportunity of the year, even as competition heats up from BetMGM and Caesars.

At the same time, authorities are cracking down on illegal betting sites. Earlier this month, 50 state attorneys general sent a letter to the Justice Department urging stronger enforcement against unlicensed gambling, citing an estimated $4 billion in lost state tax revenue.

In workplace news, seven in 10 American workers say they could be just as productive on a four-day work week, according to research by Talker Research. Millennials showed the strongest support for a shorter workweek, followed closely by Gen Z and Gen X. Among those who want the extra day off, Friday was the top choice at 55%, with Monday trailing.

On Wall Street, stocks closed lower on Friday, though the S&P 500 recorded its fourth consecutive winning month. September has historically been a challenging month for the markets, and this year analysts warn volatility could increase due to upcoming Federal Reserve meetings and ongoing tariff concerns.

In corporate news, Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy for the second time in a year. Bloomberg reports the airline may return as many as 150 leased planes and offer more extended voluntary leaves to employees. Discount airlines continue to face challenges balancing low fares with rising labor costs.

Meanwhile, baby boomers are rejoining the workforce at higher rates than before the pandemic, according to LinkedIn data. The share of retirees returning to work peaked at 5.5% in 2023 and dipped slightly to 4.4% in 2024, still well above pre-2020 levels of 2–3%, indicating the trend may be here to stay.