News

Sports Betting Thriving Despite Lockdown

Published

5 years ago

September 4, 2020

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.

Related Topics:Dustin Gouker Esports North American professional sports

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Conferences

New Sponsorship Opportunities Announced for the EEGS Affiliate Conference

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

George Miller

New Sponsorship Opportunities Announced for the EEGS Affiliate Conference

The EEGS Affiliate Conference, now in its 4th edition, is pleased to announce the launch of new sponsorship opportunities. As the region’s only event dedicated exclusively to affiliates, this conference serves as a vital platform for industry professionals, brands, and affiliates to network, share insights, and drive growth.

Part of the prestigious Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS), the Affiliate Conference will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the 25th of November. This event continues to grow as an essential opportunity for those seeking to expand their presence and influence within the affiliate marketing ecosystem.

The new sponsorship packages are thoughtfully designed to provide maximum visibility, targeted exposure, and valuable engagement opportunities for partners looking to connect with a focused and dynamic audience.

Bronze Sponsorship
Silver Sponsorship
Gold Sponsorship
Platinum Sponsorship
Fun Mirror Sponsorship

For more information, please click HERE or visit EEGS website https://eegamingsummit.com/

If you have any questions or would like to discuss customized opportunities, reach out to the organizers at [email protected]

The EEGS Affiliate Conference eagerly anticipates welcoming new partners and making this 4th edition in Sofia the most successful yet.

Affiliate Program News

Let’sBet Partners with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform

Published

4 days ago

July 8, 2025

George Miller

Let’sBet Partners with NetRefer for its Affiliate Marketing Platform

Emerging US sportsbook operator Let’sBet has partnered with NetRefer, the industry’s leading data-driven, AI-powered affiliate marketing platform, to support the launch and long-term growth of its affiliate programme.

Headquartered in Maryland, USA, Let’sBet is a dynamic new entrant to the regulated US betting market. Built with a player-first mindset, the operator delivers a seamless sports betting experience across all major US and international events – including the NBA, UFC, UEFA Euro Cup and Formula 1– via a mobile-optimised platform designed for both desktop and on-the-go bettors. The brand also offers extensive live and in-play betting options, keeping users engaged in real time.

New players are welcomed with a 100% deposit bonus, and frequent bettors can look forward to being handpicked for the Let’sBet VIP Club – a tiered programme offering access to personal account managers, dedicated promotions, express payouts, and exclusive VIP events such as race days and hospitality experiences.

Licensed by the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency and operated jointly by Veterans Services Corporation and Bee-Fee Limited, Let’sBet is committed to delivering a secure, compliant, and intuitive betting environment. Its infrastructure is monitored 24/7 by a dedicated Information Security team, with robust measures in place to protect data and ensure safe, frictionless transactions.

Let’sBet also maintains a strong commitment to Responsible Gambling. Its platform is equipped with a comprehensive suite of player protection tools, including deposit, wager, loss, session, and single-bet limits; timeout periods; and voluntary self-exclusion through Maryland’s state-run programme. These tools are supported by a customer service team trained to guide users toward healthy betting behaviours.

Marcin Doszczeczko, Director of Sports Betting Operations at Let’sBet, commented: “Choosing NetRefer as our affiliate platform provider was a natural step in building Let’sBet into a standout name in the US sports betting market. Their technology gives us the clarity and scalability we need to launch a high-impact programme from day one. It brings together everything we need to grow a successful affiliate operation – clear reporting through ASR 1.0 API and smart, actionable insights from NetRefer CoPilot AI. Just as we’ve built Let’sBet around trust, service, and user experience, we see those same values reflected in NetRefer’s platform and team. We’re excited to grow this partnership together.”

Amanda Camenzuli, Manager of NetRefer’s Account Management team, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Let’sBet to NetRefer. They’re an operator that blends innovation with a strong sense of player responsibility, they’re exactly the kind of forward-thinking company we’re proud to support. With a growing footprint in the US market, Let’sBet will benefit from our platform’s ability to deliver real-time insights, data clarity, and the flexibility needed to scale sustainably – while also strengthening NetRefer’s presence in this key region.”

This collaboration marks a significant step forward for both companies, combining the momentum of Let’sBet in the US market with NetRefer’s 20 years of experience in affiliate marketing technology. Together, they aim to build a programme defined by transparency, performance, and long-term growth.

Affiliate Success

Casino Guru secures Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year at iGB Affiliate Awards

Published

5 days ago

July 7, 2025

George Miller

Casino Guru secures Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year at iGB Affiliate Awards

Casino Guru is proud to announce that it has won the Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2025, for a third consecutive year.

The distinction further highlights the company’s commitment to building a sustainable future for the gambling industry, not only through its dedication to providing players with the most complete, real-time-updated database of online casinos curated by trained experts, but also through its efforts to influence business standards and responsible practices across the sector.

As a leader in informed play, Casino Guru has dedicated a significant portion of its time and efforts to building a casino database that uses safer gambling as one of its core metrics for assessing a brand’s reliability, sustainability, and treatment of customers.

Casino Guru’s Head of Sustainable and Safer Gambling, Šimon Vincze, was excited to share his appreciation for the award: “As someone closely involved in responsible gambling and safer play at Casino Guru, I can say this award is a true testament to our work. We’ve worked tirelessly to leverage our market position to produce tangible outcomes in terms of awareness and impact of safer gambling practices, player complaints, and the availability of blocking software. We are a trailblazer in safer gambling among affiliates, but collaboration with other like-minded companies has enabled us to stay at the forefront.”

Casino Guru could not be prouder of this moment, which once again reinforces the company’s leadership in helping to set safer gambling standards industry-wide.

Daniela Sliva, Public Relations and Creative Projects Director, commented on the distinction: “Winning the Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year for a third consecutive time was an emotional moment and a well-deserved one. Casino Guru has worked tirelessly to establish itself as a leader in promoting sustainable and responsible play. We truly believe we are setting new standards for responsible gambling, not just within the affiliate space, but across the wider industry. Our company ethos places safer gambling at the heart of everything we do, from our Complaint Resolution Center to the Safety Index, and especially through initiatives like the Casino Guru Awards, which further reinforce this commitment.”

Among the achievements that Casino Guru has to be proud of are the Casino Guru Awards, which have established clear competitive guidelines for safer and responsible gambling and distinguish companies that adhere to the Casino Guru’s ethical guidelines and best practices.

Furthermore, Casino Guru established the Gamtegrity platform, which reunites all of the company’s safer gambling projects in one place.

Among Casino Guru’s notable achievements are the Casino Guru Academy, which offers upskilling programs with a focus on responsible gambling, the Global Self-Exclusion Standards Initiative, an active list of partners with some of the leaders in the responsible gambling space, including Mindway AI, and much more.

“An industry-wide commitment to responsible gambling is not only possible: it’s within reach. Casino Guru’s achievement at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2025 is yet another reason for us to double down on our efforts and work even harder to make this vision a reality,” Silva concluded.