While the sportsbooks have taken a bit of a hit as of late, the offshore sportsbooks have remained quite stable. This means that you can still find good betting odds available for major sporting events. In fact, many books have opened up their odds for the general public. While there is still some reluctance to do so due to the pandemic, more and more books are giving the public the opportunity to place bets. Whether you’re a professional or a recreational gambler, there is still plenty to bet on. Here are some examples. (Update: Some of these are now closed, but the articles remain relevant).
Sporting Events
One area that has benefited immensely from the pandemic is sports betting. Back in March, when the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a worldwide pandemic, many countries, including the United States, restricted what kinds of sports bets they would allow. Naturally, this led to a massive reduction in wagers. (For examples, click here, here, or here).
But that didn’t stop people from betting. To take advantage of reduced regulations, many offshore books have revalued their odds, resulting in substantial increases for many events. So while there are fewer sportsbooks open for business, there are still plenty of opportunities for sports bettors. Here are some of the biggest increases in odds that you may have missed.
March Madness
One of the biggest events that has benefited from the pandemic is March Madness. With fewer people watching TV, fewer people are betting on March Madness. But that hasn’t stopped books from increasing the stakes. For example, the University of California vs. University of Nevada March Madness game was a push until the end. The over/under was set at 113.5, making it one of the most affordable games of the year. Now, the line is 5.5 points, an incredible gain of 12% from before the pandemic. And the over/under is now 6 points, a significant increase of 17% above what it was before the pandemic.
Many other March Madness games also saw significant hikes in odds. For example, the game between North Carolina and Marquise de Loubressieu has an over/under of 12 points. Previously, the two teams had never played. So no one knew how the game would turn out. As it happened, North Carolina won by 3 points and the line moved from -125 (very popular pick) to -160 (still very popular pick).
There are numerous other examples, including games between Duke and North Carolina, Kansas and West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, and many more. It’s quite a scene. While there are fewer people betting on March Madness, those that are still betting are better positioned to score huge profits. This is because offshore books have raised their odds to a level that is more attractive to bettors. (Incidentally, if you’re looking for an opportunity to bet on March Madness, you may want to check out this resourceful betting site which allows you to place bets on all kinds of sporting events).
Super Bowl
In 2020, the National Football League (NFL) postponed the Super Bowl. In most places, the championship game is a no-show, resulting in a huge loss of revenue for the season. But that didn’t stop books from increasing their odds, hoping to cash in on the action. The over/under for the New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams was set at 55.5 points prior to the pandemic. After the game was postponed, the line opened up at 57 points, a gain of 11% above what it was before the pandemic. The over/under for the game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox was set at 13.5 points before the pandemic. After a very brief pause, the line moved up to 16 points, a gain of 24% above what it was before the pandemic. (These gains are in addition to the usual point-spread action which will be settled before and after the game.)
There are numerous other examples of Super Bowl-related action, including the Conference Championship games, the Divisional Playoffs, the Wild Card Playoffs, and more. In most cases, the line moved up dramatically after the games were postponed. This suggests that most people are still wanting to bet on the traditional champions, despite the fact that the season is now half over. It’s quite the opposite from before the pandemic, when many people were avoiding betting on the Super Bowl due to the uncertainty of when and if it would be played. (Incidentally, if you’re looking for an opportunity to bet on the Super Bowl, you may want to check out this resourceful betting site which allows you to place bets on all kinds of sporting events).
NHL Playoffs
Similarly, the National Hockey League (NHL) canceled their playoffs. But that didn’t stop books from increasing their betting odds. For example, the New York Islanders vs. Florida Panthers series was one of the more affordable matchup’s of the year. The over/under for the seventh game was 7 points, with public bets settled at -125 and -110 pre- and post-pandemic. The eighth game saw the line jump from 4.5 points to 12 points, resulting in a gain of 75% above what it was before the pandemic.
There are numerous other examples of NHL playoff action, including Conference Semi-Finals, the President’s trophy game, and more. In almost all cases, the line moved up significantly after the games were postponed. This suggests that people are still wanting to bet on the dominant teams, even when they aren’t playing. But because of the pandemic, they are forced to settle for less attractive options. (Incidentally, if you’re looking for an opportunity to bet on the NHL playoffs, you may want to check out this resourceful betting site which allows you to place bets on all kinds of sporting events).
The above examples showcase three key lessons that can be applied to betting in general:
- Traditional champions still have an attraction to bettors;
- Sportsbooks are still open for business despite the pandemic; and
- Bettors should be prepared to lose a little money as long as they’re having fun.
NASCAR
NASCAR postponed their season due to the pandemic. But that didn’t stop books from increasing their odds, either. For example, the season was canceled, but the point-spread action continued. The Indianapolis 500 was one of the most exciting races of the year. Normally, there are about 20 wagering lines on the event. Prior to the pandemic, the over/under was set at 163 points for the race, with the lines settling at about even numbers (163/162 or 166/165) before the start of the race. After the race was postponed, the lines jumped up, with the oddsmakers playing a little bit loose with the over/under, setting it at 169 points (or thereabouts). This was a gain of 10% above what it was before the pandemic. (These gains are in addition to the usual point-spread action which will be settled before and after the race).
There are numerous other examples of NASCAR action, including the Daytona 500, the Gander Outdoors Unlimited, and the Truck Series. In almost all cases, the lines moved up significantly after the season was postponed. This suggests that people are still wanting to bet on the dominant teams, even when they’re not playing. But as we’ve seen, due to the pandemic, they are forced to settle for less attractive options. (Incidentally, if you’re looking for an opportunity to bet on NASCAR, you may want to check out this resourceful betting site which allows you to place bets on all kinds of sporting events).
Australian Football League (AFL)
The Australian Football League (AFL) played the majority of their games, but the season was canceled due to the pandemic. Similar to the NFL, the Aussie rules league didn’t halt the betting action. In fact, books increased their odds, resulting in massive gains for many games. The Kangaroo Bowl saw the line jump from 3.5 to 7 points, a gain of 35% above what it was before the pandemic. Similarly, the Melbourne Cup was from 3.5 to 7.5 points, a gain of 37.5%. The Sydney Swans vs. Greater Western Sydney Giants was also a push until the final whistle. The under/over was set at 19.5 points before the pandemic. In the end, the under beat the over by 1 point, with public bets settled at -165 and -155 pre- and post-pandemic. (These gains are in addition to the usual point-spread action which will be settled before and after the game).