Sports betting operations all across the country have seen a surge in business months after the return of professional sports following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sports season during spring and fall is typically jam-packed with so many events that fans are usually spoilt for choice regarding which ones to bet on.
The first home runs of the baseball season, March Madness Cinderella runs, basketball and ice hockey playoffs, as well as the last matches of European soccer, are all regular springtime fixtures. The summer sports period, on the other hand, is usually characterized by major golf and tennis tournaments, the arduous drag that is the Tour de France, and, this year, the Olympics would have been held in Japan.
The pandemic, however, has effectively brought all these to a halt. For fans, the cancellation or the postponement of sports as we knew them has left a gaping hole in their usual routine. But it is the punters, who live to watch and wager, that are hurting the most. Even President Donald Trump himself has in the recent past bewailed the lack of sports, stating that he was getting sick of baseball reruns.
Sports betting and sports- a match made in heaven
Sports and sports betting are a match made in heaven like horse and cart. Sports betting was only just recently expedited to the mainstream after the momentous 2018 Supreme Court decision gave the ok for states to legalize sports betting should they wish to.
Apps make it hustle free to bet on your favorite sports and professional leagues have all but struck deals with some of the biggest betting companies, giving punters more variety than ever. Surely, what’s not to love about sports betting? Thanks to this Supreme Court decision, America is now anticipated to become the sports betting mecca of the world with New Jersey being at the helm as explained on NJGamblingFun.com here: https://www.njgamblingfun.com/nj/nj-sports-betting.
With the absence of sports, punters were betting on some really strange things just to get their fix. Most went underground betting on unusual events that they typically wouldn’t give a second thought to such as the KHL Russian Hockey League, the Mexican and Turkish soccer leagues, as well as virtual horse racing and reality shows. Yes, you read that right; people were actually betting on TV shows such as Survivor and The Bachelor.
But no more! The return of live sports on TV has caused sports betting fans to throng the various sportsbooks and sports betting sites available today in their numbers. Already, the Premier League, NASCAR, Golf, and Hockey have made debuts. Other sports such as Major League Baseball, which is rife with match cancellations due to false-positive coronavirus tests, are struggling but are looking to make a comeback soon.
These simultaneous events, with the NBA and NHL all scheduled at a time that’s typically occupied by baseball have seen a boost in the total number of sports bet being made. Since sports resumed, people are betting now more than ever.
This strong response is further proof of what we’ve always known- that live sports are one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable commodity in the TV industry particularly as more and more consumers opt for streaming services that are not weighed down by unnecessary ads or inconvenient time slots and schedules.
This surge shouldn’t come as a surprise since the production of original scripted programming is yet to begin and major movie releases are still being delayed. As such, sports betting is proving to be one of the best ways for individuals to unwind and relax during these hectic times that we find ourselves in.
What about the Big Ten?
Officially, the Big Ten has announced that it will not resume football in the fall. However, there is mounting pressure from fans and authorities alike for the Big Ten conference to reconsider this decision.
As things stand, The Big Ten Conference has already announced the postponement of the 2020-21 fall sports season. This implies that even regular-season contests, as well as the Big Ten Championships and Tournaments that you have come to love, have all been canceled due to continuing health and safety concerns related to the virus.
“Our primary responsibility is to make the best possible decisions in the interest of our students, faculty, and staff,” stated Morton Schapiro, Chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors and Northwestern University President.
Some of the fall sports affected by this decision include women’s volleyball, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, as well as men’s and women’s cross country. Although the Big Ten seems to have settled on their decision to cancel the fall season, sentiments are abounding that they shouldn’t.
For instance, several coaches and fans have spoken up admonishing The Big Ten’s conference decision. For instance, the #WeWantToPlay X #WeAreUnited crusade that developed swiftly and speedily late Sunday after the announcement seems to have given pause to the five major conferences.
Most of the Big Ten coaches, including Nebraska’s Scott Frost, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Penn State’s James Franklin, and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh have all openly backed playing the 2020 season. sadly, their appeals and petitions of Big Ten players have not been sufficient to change the mutual decision made by the Big Ten leaders.
Final Thoughts
Before the pandemic, punters always had so much variety to choose from to keep them entertained. But then the virus took over and then suddenly there was nothing. Thankfully, the sports drought is coming to an end with many sports slowly returning.
And people are wagering on sports more than they ever have before. Don’t believe it? While the NHL usually has one of the smallest audiences of the 4 major leagues, it has seen its audience numbers grow by more than 60%, which is truly remarkable. This positive trend is expected to last for a while, which is good news for everybody involved. Hopefully, in the future, we never have to deal with a prolonged sports absence like this again.
