Wagering on sports has seen a tremendous spike in public interest in recent years. The majority of people that watch sporting events now have some sort of wager on the game. Some people accredit an increase in opportunities available for increased usage. However, it seems to be in part of an absurd amount of advertising and public exposure. ESPN has adjusted its sports scoreboard to show game lines/betting lines. This was not true 5 years ago. It seems like almost every major TV network will now feature live odds from the best offshore sportsbooks as part of their game coverage. Popular platforms for betting like Fan Duel and Draft Kings see constant exposure to the public. This is made possible by the extreme profits these companies reel in daily.
While betting on sports has become all too common, there are still a good amount of states that have not legalized sports betting. For example, North Carolina has had some talks about legalization but it has never come to fruition. However, many residents can find platforms that illegally allow them to bet on games. This is called “offshore betting.” There are a few states left that have not passed any legislation for sports betting. However, the majority has now made it legal to wager on any sporting event. This is a trend that became popular in very recent years. You might ask, why has sports betting blown up so quickly?
Yes, sports are a beautiful thing and are tons of fun to watch. That is not the reason though. In 2021, the state of New York received over $2 billion worth of bets. The amount of profit is unclear but you can expect the majority of these wagers to lose. A popular sportsbook named Caesar’s, reels in over $40 million a week. New York and Las Vegas are the two most grossing areas for sports betting. As you can tell, these betting platforms are bringing in profits that we can barely wrap our heads around. Sports betting has taken over the sports communities. Once you begin, you are hooked as you chase that “high” from winning a bet. Casinos and sportsbooks are constantly handing out free money and bonuses to their customers.
You may wonder why they would just give away money like that. Well, a company that brings in $40 million a week shouldn’t have an issue serving out bonuses to customers. Another reason these books reel in so much money is because of the plethora of options they have made available to you. We all know that nearly every country in the world has some type of sporting event every day. Sportsbooks have made it possible for us to wager money on these games. For some people, these lower events can be perfect opportunities to make a profit. However, it is all part of the plan as these games are often unpredictable with little background/statistics available.
Addiction is a real thing. People struggle with addiction to drugs, caffeine, alcohol, and many other things. Believe it or not, sports betting falls directly under this category. When you see numbers like $40 million a week for sportsbooks, you have to wonder where all this money is coming from. The number of people betting in today’s world has increased exponentially. However, the reason behind these astronomical numbers is due to many finding themselves addicted.
For example, a successful bettor will count his losses and will never “chase” a loss. A “chase” occurs after you lose a bet. A bettor will then decide to double up on the next game to attempt to erase all deficits from their previous losses. This is a dangerous tactic that frequently leads to an increased amount of losses. Sports betting has the potential to be a form of income for some. It isn’t easy to steadily make a profit but it is very much possible. Unfortunately, sports books make their money from those with a gambling addiction. Their goal is to keep sports betting at the forefront of your life. They want it advertised across every TV station and social media network. As you can tell, money is the motivation for this entire business. In retrospect, it comes down to you against the sportsbook. The sports book will always profit, no matter what the circumstances. The only question in play is if you will profit. With proper practice and focus, sports betting could be a positive thing for you. On the flip side, it can also turn into a terrible habit.
