News
Sports Betting Thriving Despite Lockdown
Wanna Make a Bet?
The global pandemic put North American professional sports on the shelf for nearly five months but bettors soon found leagues that they never knew existed and, well, if you’re dying of thirst in the desert and someone offers you water, you don’t ask if it’s Fiji. Soon there were millions of experts on Belarusian soccer and Taiwanese paddle ball willing to put up or shut up. Even eSports became a mainstream betting vehicle with everything from League of Legends to Madden NFL simulations.
Sports betting may not be the oldest profession but it is quickly becoming one of the most compelling. After decades in the shadows, it has recently been legitimized due to it finally being legalized in many parts of the United States. But gambling, whether it be legal or illegal, will always be pervasive because it’s fun, and potentially profitable if you know what you’re doing.
Adam Burns, an industry sportsbook director, stated, “Business is booming. “We probably took in 10 times more money than last year on the 2020 NFL Draft. It goes to show people are looking for something to bet on. The draft is always big, but I couldn’t believe how much money [was bet] when I woke up the next morning.”
In April of this year, betting was up 50 percent at New Jersey sportsbooks over last year on sports other than basketball, football, and baseball, to the tune of $21.7 million.
Prior to the reopening of sports in North America, Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayUSA.com network, stated, “The rise in bets on nontraditional sports has been interesting, and with auto racing and golf closer to starting, that trend could increase.”
Books are Booming
Now that the NBA, MLB, and NHL are in full swing, business is booming even more as evidenced by reports from the best online sportsbooks in the industry. But with the king of kings, the NFL, drawing closer, the numbers are expected to soar as long as the leagues can remain open for business.
In August of 2019, a total of $744,065,765 was legally wagered in the United States and $61,762,233 in revenue was hauled in as a result. But industry experts are nearly unanimous in declaring that this August will dwarf last year’s take, not to mention what the offshore books will do as well.
But few believe the take this month will beat the record-breaking month of November 2019, when U.S. sportsbooks handled over $1.8 billion, due to the fact there is no preseason football. “It’s a reach,” opined ESPN gambling writer David Purdum when asked by US Bets whether the month that starts Saturday can break the November ’19 record, “especially without preseason football, which accounts for more than most would believe. Last August, around 25% of the total handle bet in Nevada sportsbooks was attributed to football wagers. The NBA will probably make up for the lack of football, but even then, eclipsing a regular-season football month seems unlikely.”
As Purdum noted, the NBA and NHL are both playing in August which is a first for both leagues and will only add to what should be a robust betting handle this month. SportsHandle Editor-in-Chief, Brett Smiley, echoed Purdum’s sentiments regarding his skepticism of a record handle in August of 2020, “There are so many moving parts here, including players going in and out of quarantine. Over/under on games played for any of these leagues, I mean, who knows? We’re in completely uncharted territory here and there’s too many unknowns in the equation. I think people may watch in record numbers, but hopefully people who have taken a serious economic hit — and that’s an awful lot of Americans — are not using limited resources to gamble on sports. Betting 10 bucks is fine, but that doesn’t impact handle much.”
Purdum referenced the uncertain economic times and the looming election as another hurdle to climb for a record-breaking month, “The U.S. betting market is expanding and growing. We have more visibility than ever at how much is being wagered, which may lead to some record-setting numbers in some states. Records seem to be set routinely these days. But, to me, the pandemic, the pending election, and uncertainty surrounding the economy and sports in general will, at some point, have a negative impact on the betting market.”
Whatever happens this month, one thing we do know is that Americans have a growing passion for the action. Sports betting is now mainstream and records will be routinely shattered for several years to come as more states enter the fray and become beneficiaries of all that additional tax revenue. Legalized sports betting in the USA has been a long time coming but at long last, we’re glad it’s arrived.
Conferences
Industry leader Parimatch launches The Idol: Black is Back at iGB Affiliate in Barcelona
Are you an idol? Then join us as we take iGB Affiliate Barcelona by storm this January with The Idol: Black is Back, a unique series of events including amazing deals, giveaways, and our stunning Asian Euphoria party where dark luxury fuses with Asian artistry.
A new era is dawning at Parimatch and we want to celebrate it with you in style!
Once again Parimatch’s stand E20 will be the epicenter of iGB Affiliate Barcelona, an annual highlight of the iGaming industry at the iconic city’s famous Fira Gran Via.
We’re confident that Parimatch’s stand will be the talk of the conference. Here’s what you can look forward to:
- Fantastic deals: The latest updates and exclusive offers you can’t miss
- Giveaways where you’ll have the chance to win unique prizes
- Our Hall of Fame: Become part of Parimatch’s history
But wait, there’s more. As Parimatch embarks on a new era we are inviting over 500 partners and brand friends to our immersive Asian Euphoria party at a stunning location in the center of Barcelona where you will experience:
- The party headliner – world-famous DJ Steve Aoki
- The very best in performance art that Barcelona has to offer
- The world of Asian luxury merging with American pop culture
Don’t miss out! Be sure to join us to witness Parimatch set new standards at booth E20 at iGB Affiliate, Barcelona, January 20-23. And don’t stop there – join the Asian Euphoria party on January 21 and see us set a new trend for the entire industry!
Delegates attending next week’s iGB Affiliate Barcelona will have access to a programme of 14 business critical insight sessions delivered by a 40 strong assembly of industry thought leaders and experts in their respective fields.
The 2025 Program comprises sessions entitled: Affiliate Rundown L!VE: The 2024 Trends That Will Define 2025, Video Killed the Text-based Star: Platforms & Formats for Engaging the Next Generation, Navigating the Road Ahead, New Localisation Strategies to Secure a Slice of the Latin America and Africa Pies, Parasite SEO in iGaming: A Winning Formula to Dominate Search Engines or a Risky Gamble?, Growing Pains: Scaling Operations for Accelerating Affiliate Growth, Plugging Into a Fast Growing Vertical: Sweepstakes, Mastering PPC in iGaming Affiliate Marketing: A Data-Driven Blueprint for Paid Media Success, Market Insights: Unlocking the Next Big Opportunity in Asia and the Middle East, Crack the Code to Viral Success: The Ultimate Guide to a Million Views & Building a Robust Multi-Stream Influencer Business Model, Finding Your Next Role in a Time of Flux: The Inner Workings of Affiliate Recruiters, Masterclass: Reddit 101, Trust and Transparency: What Does a Win-Win Affiliate Data Share Look Like? and Business Without Borders: Boost Your Affiliate Game with International SEO.
The industry-leading line-up assembled by the iGB Affiliate organising team includes Michael Caselli, Non-Executive Chairman – Clarion Gaming, Corey Padveen, Partner – T2 Marketing International and Editor-at-Large, iGB Affiliate, Caleb Dykema, Co-founder & CEO – Vault Sports, Jamison Selby, CEO – Rubystone, Martin Calvert, Marketing Director – ICS-digital, Miruna Pandele, Head of Acquisition – Affiliates Bay, Jonas Warrer, CEO – Gentoo Media, Ben Cove, Chief Marketing Officer – Logifuture, Luis Portela de Carvalho, Partner – Lektou Advogados, Sasha Boerma, Commercial Director for Africa – Split The Pot, Dragan Berak, Head of SEO (AskGamblers and CasinoMeister) – Gentoo Media, Jamie Walters, CEO & Cofounder – QiH, Lee-Ann Johnstone, Founder – Affiverse, Rosi Bremec, COO – Game Lounge, Seth Schorr, CEO – Fifth Street Gaming , Simon Pilkington, Managing Director – Best Betting Media, Stephen Carter, Head of Affiliate Content – Clarion Gaming, and Alex Windsor, CMO – GameTime Digital.
Looking ahead to the first edition of iGB Affiliate to be held in Barcelona, Naomi Barton, Global Portfolio Director, iGB Events said: “I am incredibly passionate about delivering an exceptional and holistic experience on behalf of all of our customers. The Conference Program is an essential part of our pledge to facilitate outstanding business networking, deliver high-quality content, and provide thought leadership that fosters trust-based partnerships and drives growth throughout the iGaming affiliate ecosystem. The Program has been curated in consultation with our customers in order the key topics impacting their business and is being delivered by industry experts. It is a key part of the iGB Affiliate experience.”
iGB Affiliate 2025 will feature a record 250 industry-leading exhibitors and sponsors and host a vibrant community of 8000+ iGaming Affiliates and Tech Vendors.
“I personally think the industry should view this as a positive chance to work hand-in-hand with the NHS, charities and government as all stakeholders pull together to minimise gambling harm. Gambling is meant to be fun and entertaining and the industry must ensure that it is responsible, so that those in need can gain access to properly funded support as and when they need it.”
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