The increased popularity of online sports betting since COVID
By Pat Johnson
The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on our world and on all industries. Although most businesses have suffered because of the pandemic, one industry that has actually increased in popularity is online gambling.
With the rise in popularity of online gambling and the return of sports, online sportsbooks are bound to have droves of new customers once all the major sports leagues return.
The Effects of the Pandemic on Sports
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic early this year, the world of sports has dramatically shifted. Major sports leagues were forced to suspend their seasons in order to avoid the spread of the virus, not to mention that popular sports figures have also been afflicted by the virus. This meant bad news for everyone in the sports industry, including sports fans and sports bettors.
After the initial onslaught of the virus, sports made a careful return by adopting a “bubble” system, where teams and players are confined in a particular area while striving to finish their respective seasons. This method worked for major US sports leagues such as the NBA, the MLB, and the NFL.
Sports fans and bettors alike were indeed benefited by the methodical return of the major sports leagues, but the entire sports world remains drastically different. In the past, watching sports was a communal experience that the fans shared with the players. Now, fans can only watch through their screens, and homecourt advantage is no longer a factor in games.
Nevertheless, the success of the bubbles of the different leagues show great signs of hope and is even being adopted by some foreign sports leagues. With the end of the pandemic in sight, sports will surely make its return but in the meantime, fans can still support their teams through their screens and bettors can still wager on the games through online gambling.
The source: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/...
How Online Gambling has Shifted
With a large part of the world forced to stay at home due to quarantine, traditional gambling establishments and sportsbooks were forced to either close or to adapt. This has resulted to a boom in the online gambling market now that people are choosing to pass the time gambling online instead of at their local casino.
While sports betting has naturally gone down in numbers due to the cancellation of the respective seasons of the major sports leagues, the online sports gambling industry is sure to benefit from the increase in the number of online gamblers once all the sports are back in action.
Should I Bet on Sports Online?
Betting on sports is not always a profitable investment, but it can pay off if you gamble wisely. Sports bettors generally don’t just bet for the money itself, but also for the thrill and enjoyment that it brings. Watching sports is much more fun and exciting if you have money on the line.
Furthermore, having access to a sportsbook is extremely easy with the internet. There are multiple sportsbooks online which take wagers on all sports and cater to all budgets.
However, you must remember to only gamble with money you can afford to lose as it’s easy to fall into a gambling addiction, especially if you’re losing.
Some signs of a gambling addiction are:
- Gambling more to chase losses
- Thinking about gambling 24/7
- Lying to others about your gambling habits
- Trying to find ways to make more money for gambling
If you find yourself exhibiting these behaviors, it would be best to take a break from sports betting first.
The source: https://cbdholland.com/2019/01...
Bottom Line
The pandemic has brought about a significant increase of the number of online gamblers, and the sports betting industry is bound to reap its benefits. With the continuation of sports, it can get tempting to bet on the games hoping to make a quick buck, and access to sportsbooks is now as widespread as ever. However, sports fans must remember to set aside money for gambling only if they can afford to, and to be mindful if they’re exhibiting signs of a gambling addiction.