Well, the excitement continues! And like clockwork, the world of sports betting is back with a bang. As you may recall, during the lockdowns, the betting markets were mostly dormant as it was nearly impossible to place bets without risking your own safety. But here we are, with sports betting back with a bang, and an opportunity for punters to place their wagers as usual. And what does this mean for gamblers? Hugely positive, actually. As you’ll see below, with some careful planning and the use of technology, sports gambling fans can have all the excitement of an intense game and the security of knowing their money is safe.
New And Improved
So how has sports betting fared since the world was put on hold? The industry has changed dramatically, with new and improved platforms and tools emerging to take the sting out of missing out on those exciting matches. Naturally, with the betters returning, the demand for new and improved services also returned. And it didn’t take long before the industry started taking notice and acted swiftly to improve their offerings to meet the demands of the public. In fact, within just a few months of the pandemic ending, platforms like DraftKings and MyBookie began offering their services beyond just placing bets. DraftKings, in particular, launched a fantasy sports product that allowed users to manage their players across various sports and competitions, as well as a monthly fantasy draft with fellow fans. Essentially, these new platforms aim to create a fantasy sports competition between users, where the goal is to be the best manager of your chosen sports team by securing the most points at the end of the season. Naturally, given the addictive nature of sports and the opportunity to make money off of losing teams, this is a product that is bound to attract a following.
A Safer, More Convenient Way To Place Bets
One of the biggest issues that emerged during the pandemic was how difficult and dangerous it was for players to place bets. Whether it was the lack of access to landlines or the inability to travel to bet on matches, the world of sports was highly restricted during the pandemic. And it wasn’t just restricted to sports either – the ability to travel and the chance to place a bet using a smartphone made betting entirely too convenient, which in turn, caused many issues. For example, one of the biggest issues that befell the Asian poker community during the pandemic was the convenience of online poker platforms. Not only did they allow for safer gambling, but they also provided a much more convenient way for players to place bets, resulting in many complaints from traditional poker players. Ultimately, these platforms gave the Asian poker community the ability to continue their games, which in turn, made a huge impact on the game itself as more and more people wanted to get involved. As a result, more and more people turned to online poker as a safe and convenient alternative to traditional forms of gambling.
More Engagement With The Audience
Another major draw with fantasy sports is that it allows for more interaction with the audience. Whether it’s through shoutouts on social media or engaging with users through articles and blog posts, fantasy sports allow for more engagement with the audience and a better connection with the customers. In the case of DraftKings and MyBookie, they use articles and videos to engage with their audience and provide them with content they can use.
This type of strategy has worked incredibly well for platforms like these, as engagement with the audience is very high and the content is relatively interesting and engaging. Naturally, this also provides the opportunity to drive more traffic to your website. When someone is excited about a competition and wants to share it with their friends and followers, it’s often because it’s been a while since they’ve been able to follow a team closely or know much about the game. By providing them with interesting content and letting them participate in a mini competition, you can drive more traffic to your website and encourage them to become regular customers. Imagine if MyBookie or DraftKings started a blog post that was completely behind-the-scenes of a specific football match – what type of content would you think would emerge as a result? The possibility of a high quality, in-depth article that’s well-researched and informative is very likely, especially if the match in question is big news. So in these cases, the convenience of online betting platforms and the opportunity to engage with an audience are major factors in encouraging more people to try it.
Increased Transparency
One of the major issues that befell the industry during the pandemic was the lack of transparency when it comes to the odds. As you’re well aware, in traditional sports betting, the house generally has an edge and provides very favorable odds for the home side. Not so much so in fantasy sports, where the edge can be massively in favor of the sportsbook – in some cases, by a margin as large as 10 to 1! This is largely due to the ability of these platforms to negotiate huge volumes of bets without breaking the bank, as well as the ability to keep an eye on the trends and turn a blind eye to the opposition. At least, that’s what the insiders will tell you…
More Variety
Perhaps the biggest challenge that traditional sports betting faces is the variety of matches it offers. Unless you’re an expert, it can be difficult to know where to place your bet. You have Premier League Soccer, the NFL, NBA, and MLB seasons, making it difficult to know which one you should be focusing on. Fantasy sports, on the other hand, offers thousands of matches every season, making it easier for someone who is new to the industry to get involved in the games they love. For example, let’s say you love the New York Knicks and want to make sure they win the 2020 NBA Championship. You can search for all available games using the NBA’s official website and easily see which ones are most lucrative. Moreover, with more and more people tuning in to follow their favorite teams and players, platforms like MyBookie and DraftKings have made it easier for sports fans to find the content they want.
More Excitement
Another major advantage of fantasy sports is that it provides a level of excitement that is unmatched by traditional sports betting. In theory, at least… It’s also much safer, as you don’t run the risk of betting on a game that’s beyond your knowledge. Although, in some cases, this can still happen if you place incorrect bets… But then you’re back to square one – you lose money and the excitement level drops. And this ain’t pretty. So, in short, the risk of getting injured is significantly lower, and the chance of making money is also higher in fantasy sports – at least, this is how the theory goes.
More Time To Place Bets
Another important factor in deciding whether or not to place a bet is whether or not you have the time to follow the game. This is particularly relevant for those who place bets on matches taking place at inconvenient times, like during the day. If you don’t have the time to monitor the game closely, or if you’re asleep when the match starts, it can be difficult to know whether or not you’ll be able to follow the results. In the case of fantasy sports, this is much less of an issue – most games take place at convenient times and, in many cases, can be followed closely using live streaming services.
A Game For Everyone
If you’re looking for a way to enjoy watching sports without risking your health and safety, then look no further than fantasy sports. As a completely online venture, you don’t have to worry about getting sick from the virus and, at least for now, don’t have to feel restricted by geography. Plus, you can do it from the comfort of your home.
Overall, even though the world of sports betting has changed, it has arguably benefited from the pandemic. New and improved platforms have emerged, allowing sports fans to bet on their favorite games in a way that is safe, convenient, and more exciting than ever before.