How is Sports Betting in the US during the Pandemic

2020 is the first year of the 21st century where the whole world seemed to turn upside down. A pandemic caused by the Coronavirus disease hit almost every country, which caused them to shut down — forcing everyone to stay in their homes and isolate. With all the global restrictions, regular social activities were put to a halt. No one can attend and organise huge gatherings, and smaller businesses like restaurants had no choice but to close down. 

After a year since the global lockdown was put into effect, social restrictions — less outside contact, putting on a mask, six feet distance from each other, etc. — have become the new normal. Unfortunately, all of these have affected several lives, institutions, businesses, industries, and the world’s economy as a whole.

One of the areas that have received an enormous impact is the sports industry. 

Sporting events during the lockdown

During the lockdown, several sporting events have been cancelled, if not postponed. Stadiums were left empty, with no new games broadcasted on TVs for months. This was to protect sporting professionals, teams, and other personnel and employees working in the sports industry from contracting the virus. Leagues were cancelled, together with The Olympics, Paralympics, and other sporting events.

However, after months of staying at home and athletes trying to stay fit even without training, major sporting events worldwide are starting to make a comeback. Some of these are the NBA, the Soccer league in Korea, and more.

Operations of sports betting while in the pandemic.

With the comeback of sporting events, sports betting became possible again during this pandemic. Even before the lockdown, online gambling has already been growing exponentially over the years. However, when the pandemic struck, Nevada, the country’s most popular gaming hub, noticed a 90% increase in online gambling.

How can I bet while in lockdown?

Several states have made sports betting legal in the U.S. The legal sports betting marketplace has been booming these days, and the good thing about this is that the more bettors there are, the more it encourages betting platforms to give better service.

Here are some of the best websites for sports betting:

  • DraftKings Sportsbooks
  • FanDuel Sportsbooks
  • BetMGM Sportsbooks
  • William Hill
  • FOX Bet Sportsbook
  • PointsBet Sportsbook
  • Unibet Sportsbook
  • BetRivers

If you prefer using apps, here are the top 5 legal sports betting apps:

  • DraftKings Sportsbook App
  • FanDuel Sportsbook App
  • BetMGM Sportsbook App
  • William Hill Sports Betting App
  • Fox Bet Sportsbook App
  • PointsBet Sportsbook App
  • Unibet Sportsbook App
  • BetRivers Sportsbook App

Although there are legal sports betting sites, there are still malicious and fraudulent ones waiting for you to make the mistake of betting through them. You have to take note of these warning signs:

  • Offering alternative funding options other than PayPal and credit cards such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
  • The suspicious domain ending other than .com
  • Unusual bets offered such as Presidential Elections, etc.
  • Low-quality web or app presence with an unusual number of ads and long load times

It’s crucial to check the credibility and legality of the sports betting platforms you bet on so you can keep yourself safe from any risks and maximise your earnings.