Taylor's Version: Swift-related Super Bowl bets include boyfriend Travis Kelce proposal

Swift has not revealed if she will jet across the Pacific Ocean to cheer her boyfriend at the February 11 Super Bowl

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While Taylor Swift has not revealed if she will jet across the Pacific Ocean to cheer on her boyfriend Travis Kelce at the February 11 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, that has not stopped online sportsbooks from offering bets that revolve around her presence at the game.

Novelty bets around major sporting events are nothing new but a number of sports betting companies decided to have some fun with the Swift-Kelce craze after the Kansas City Chiefs punched their Super Bowl ticket. One of the bolder wagers that can be made is being offered by FanDuel Canada, which is allowing people to bet on whether Chiefs tight end Kelce will propose to the pop superstar at the Super Bowl. 

With a week to go until the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers, FanDuel Canada said the "Will Travis Kelce pop the question?" market is split at 70% yes and 30% no. 

"At FanDuel Canada, we are always looking for ways to keep our customers engaged in major moments such as the Super Bowl," the FanDuel Canada Trading Team said in an email to Reuters. "Our trading team has been working hard to offer markets on all things halftime show, coin toss, the national anthem and even Taylor Swift-specific markets."

Swift has attended several Chiefs games this season but her presence at the Super Bowl is in question given the Anti-Hero singer has a February 10 concert in Tokyo followed by a run of shows in Australia starting on Feb. 16 in Melbourne.

Still, BetUS has no shortage of zany Swift-related prop bets - which are wagers in sports betting not tied to the outcome of a game - including whether the Grammy-winning artist and Kelce will announce their first pregnancy at the Super Bowl. BetUS also has odds on how many times Swift will be shown on camera during the Super Bowl, if her and Kelce will be shown kissing after the game and whether the game's most valuable player will mention her in his speech.

While the Halftime Show, which this year will feature Grammy-winning artist Usher, is traditionally the focus of non-game related prop bets, BetUS feels the interest in Swift could potentially change that.

"The volume of bets on Taylor Swift props might – for at least this year – give the Halftime Show a literal run for its money in terms of betting volume," Tim Williams, director of public relations for BetUS, told Reuters. "Sportsbook, including us here at BetUS.com, really owe it to Taylor Swift this year for bringing the industry millions of dollars in additional revenue."

Dispelling controversies

In other news regarding the renowned singer, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell dismissed conspiracy theories surrounding Swift as "nonsense". Pop icon Swift's burgeoning romance with the Kansas City Chiefs star has been cited by right-wing critics as evidence of a plot to rig the Super Bowl and help get US President Joe Biden reelected.

The bizarre theories have characterised Kelce and Swift's relationship as a deep-state psychological operation, designed to tip this year's presidential election in Biden's favor, with Fox News asking in a recent discussion: "Is Taylor Swift a Pentagon asset?" Mike Crispi, a pro-Donald Trump broadcast personality, meanwhile declared recently, "Everyone knows Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is fake and the Super Bowl is rigged. You’re a whacko at this point if you don't believe it."

But National Football League chief Goodell was having none of it as he addressed reporters in the depths of Allegiant Stadium on Monday ahead of next Sunday's Super Bowl showpiece between Kansas City and the San Francisco 49ers. "Anybody in society in a public position is subject to criticism," Goodell said of the conspiracy theories. "But I think the idea that this is within a script, this is pre-planned, is just nonsense," Goodell said. "It's frankly not even worth talking about." For one thing, Goodell noted wryly, "I'm not that good a scripter."

Goodell, though, was effusive about the impact Swift's relationship with Kelce has had on America's favourite sport. Ever since Swift began attending Kelce's games for Kansas City earlier this season, television audience numbers have surged, with ratings showing a boost among female viewers.

The Chiefs' playoff win over the Baltimore Ravens was the most-watched AFC Championship game in history. "She's a remarkable performer," Goodell said of Swift. "She's the best of the best. "The Taylor Swift effect is all positive. Travis and Taylor are wonderful young people. They seem very happy. She knows great entertainment and I think that's why she loves NFL football. It's great to have her part of it.

"Obviously, it creates buzz. So another group of young fans, particularly young women, are interested in saying, 'Why should we watch this game? Why is (Taylor) interested in this game?'" On Sunday, Swift made Grammy history by winning her fourth Album of the Year prize, the most of any performer.

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