While most people are still digesting the news that the World Cup is just around the corner, those who follow sports betting might be feeling a little bit anxious about the state of the world football season. After weeks of intense competition, the national leagues have finally come to an end and the world’s best players are now taking a well-deserved break. The last few weeks have been a test of endurance for both fans and players alike, and it’s finally time for a little breather before the next big event.
The good news is that while the World Cup might be over, the football season is still in full swing. The bad news is that after weeks of competition, the state of the world football season is far from being guaranteed. With the exception of the English Premier League, all of the top flight divisions from England, Germany, and Italy have now concluded their seasons and it’s time for action to take a back seat for a while. This is obviously going to have an impact on sports betting, particularly with regards to the big European football leagues. In this article, we will take a look at some of the more significant consequences that this season’s World Cup absence might have for bettors interested in placing wagers on European games.
Fewer Gamblers – But Is It Worth It?
Gamblers around the world have taken note of the hiatus in World Cup action, and with many sportsbooks closed during the peak season, it’s fair to assume that many have gone elsewhere to place their bets. When you add in the fact that most countries are on holiday during the European season, it’s fairly obvious that the number of wagers placed on football has taken a significant hit compared to pre-pandemic normal. Simply put, fewer people are placing bets on European matches, although it’s not necessarily a bad thing – a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, fewer bets mean less liquidity in the betting markets, which should in theory make prices more stable and predictable. On the other hand, those books that are still open have less competition, and that could mean that some of the less reputable sites might be tempted to raise their prices to make up for dwindling demand. This is pure speculation, but it’s something to keep in mind when lining up your next wager.
Smaller Win Totals – But Is It Worth It?
While some might see this as a negative trend due to decreased wagers, others might see it as a positive development. After all, fewer people are betting, so there’s less incentive for the remaining gamblers to place large wagers. This could potentially lead to bigger winnings, since there’s less competition to contend with. While we don’t know for sure, statistics from this year’s football season in Europe tend to bear this hypothesis out. Take the English Premier League for example. The top flight in England was already the most popular league in Europe before the pandemic, but this year’s data shows that it’s at least a close race between it and Spain’s La Liga for the top spot. According to data provided by Statista, the Premier League had a total market value of £11.9 billion this year, compared to £11.6 billion for La Liga and £4.9 billion for the Bundesliga. This is despite the fact that the three leagues have a total of 16 games between them. A potential explanation for this might be that with the world’s biggest soccer tournament coming up and many bookmakers opening up their services to Americans, the incentive to place large wagers has increased. Another factor could be that with the world’s best players taking a break after months of intense competition, it’s made ordinary people more passionate about the sport and therefore more likely to place bets on it. Finally, it’s possible that with many nations taking a break from the international stage, it’s made them appreciate the quality of their national teams more and therefore increased the demand for British, German, and French football matches. For now, it’s difficult to speculate as to what the future of football betting is going to look like, but it’s definitely an area that’s changed forever in the wake of the pandemic.
European Teams With The Most International Players
One of the significant differences between the 2019–20 football season and previous ones is that more and more top-level footballers are seeing more and more games from outside of Europe. It’s something that’s been going on for a while, but the world’s best players have always had the luxury of traveling wherever they wanted while playing club football. With fewer travel restrictions and more people getting to see international matches, it’s made a difference. It’s no secret that some of the best players in the world are the hardest to please, and with the advent of social distancing and the ability to play behind closed doors, many of them have taken the opportunity to play in front of packed stadiums in the comfort of their homes. Teams like the Brazilians have loved tours of Europe, and with the Italian and English leagues taking a break this year, it’s given them plenty of time to focus on their skills and prepare for the coming season. Some of the world’s best players have already announced that they will be playing in the next international tournament, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more and more top level players follow suit.
Increased Availability Of Overseas Bookmakers For Americans
This is possibly the greatest thing that could have happened to American sports bettors. It’s something that’s been eagerly anticipated for years, and the opportunity to place bets on soccer matches involving teams from England, Scotland, and Ireland at favorable odds has finally arrived. For years, the only option for American sports bettors has been to either wait till the next international tournament or settle for less-than-optimal odds from European books. With the ability to place bets online at any time via a VPN, the world of soccer betting has been opened up to those in the States who want to dip their toe in the water. For those who want to get deeply involved, there are various offshore betting sites that offer incredibly competitive odds, welcoming American players with open arms. It’s been a long time coming for American sports bettors, and with summer fast approaching, this is definitely something to look forward to.
More Money Available On Bets Offered By Prominent Bookmakers
Another great thing that’s happened since the start of this year is that more and more sportsbooks have opened up their books to American and international players alike. Many of the world’s best books have already started taking bets on the upcoming international season, and with the ability to place bets online, the world of soccer betting has been opened up to those in the know. It’s not only the ability to place bets online that makes these books attractive to international players. The amount of money that one can win playing at these books compared to your average sports betting operation is incredible. If you’re looking to place a bet on a German team this year and worry about where to go, these are definitely the places to be. The opportunity to place bets with some of the biggest names in world football has led to increased liquidity in the betting markets, and with more people getting involved, it means more stability and lower prices – definitely great news for sports bettors.
Increased TV Coverage Of International Matches
It’s well-known that the Premier League is the most popular football league in Europe, attracting an average of around 500 million weekly viewers across Europe. This year, the English top flight got a big boost in the form of expanded TV coverage. Since the beginning of this year, every single game in the Premier League has been televised live, including twice the amount of matches per week during the final season. With the ability to place bets online, Americans have been able to follow every game live as well, opening up a world of possibility that was previously only available to those with a European connection. The increased coverage of both domestic and international football has led to more people getting to know the game, increasing the interest rates and, ultimately, making the game more appealing to a larger audience. While this might not sound like a good thing, increased TV coverage does lead to more chances of mistakes being made on the pitch, meaning more goals could be scored!
Increased Number Of Goals Scored
Bets made on international matches have always had good, competitive odds, with many footballers boasting of having scored big wins throughout the years. This has not changed with the advent of the pandemic, with the number of goals scored across Europe this year averaging out at its highest since 2009. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that more goals are being scored, as this is clearly a result of more people getting involved in the game. Since the start of the year, there has been around 600 additional English Premier League goals than normal, along with an increase in other European football leagues as well. While this might seem like a contradiction, more people getting involved in the game could lead to fewer goals!