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Betting Without Sports

It is an odd time in the country with the coronavirus pandemic. People have been stripped of the normality that has existed in their lives. For many, that includes sports. Fans have lost the NCAA Tournament, NBA, NHL, MLB, and PGA Tour, to name a few.

Last year, it was estimated that Americans spent over $8 million on sports betting during the NCAA tournament. This year, that number would have even been larger, with more states now able to participate. The opening weekend of March Madness is one of the most popular times to be in Vegas for sports betters, along with the Super Bowl.

Yaniv Sherman, the top U.S. executive at 888 Holdings, had an interview with the New York Times. He said, “March Madness is sort of the epitome of sports betting. It is a unique combination of a large number of unpredictable events in a short time frame.”

This was going to be the first year that the NCAA allowed sports wagering to happen so close to a sportsbook. Games were going to be played miles away from a “brick-and-mortar” sportsbook for the first time.

All of these casinos and sportsbooks missed out on these large crowds and numbers they usually bring in every spring. The stock prices of several gaming companies have taken a hit as much as 60 percent.

Filling the Void

This is not only disappointing to these companies, but also the fans wanting to bet. The country is in a space that it has never been in before. It’s time for books to get creative to give people some entertainment, and some have done just that.

One bookie has admitted to the New York Post that he has added weather to his book. People are wagering the over/under on the exact temperature it will be at a certain time in the day.

Now, this can seem a little ridiculous, but it shows just how much this time in sports matters to a lot of people. Not only was it taken away, but there is nothing else to fill that void.

FanDuel has taken advantage of the fact that we are in an election year. They have added wagering on the presidential debate! The bets include the over/under of how many times they say things like “Trump” or “coronavirus.”

If any fans are doing ok during this time, it might be in NASCAR. They have found a way to keep racing going by going virtual, and there are sure to be bets placed on that. Without the Kentucky Derby this spring, people can also download and bet on virtual horse racing.

Fans across the country are trying to fill a void that COVID-19 has created. These times are showing the country and sports fans how much these games truly mean for businesses and their fans.

Hopefully, normality will hit soon, Vegas sportsbooks will be filled with people, along with arenas filled with fans. Then finally, the weather and political betting can come to a halt.

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