Covid-19 Is No Longer an Obstacle for Sports Betting

Sports Betting Continues to Enjoy Success Sports Betting

Sports Betting Continues to Enjoy Success Despite COVID-19 Disruption

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 29 May 2021

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

See Full Bio

Despite the many challenges that sports betting and the world of sports have faced over the past year, the industry has continued to thrive.

Sports betting across the United States gained huge popularity right away after the overturning of PASPA back in 2018, and while the global pandemic has taken its toll on many industries, sports betting has gone from strength to strength.

Over the past year, many states have jumped onboard and legalized sports betting, as this has enabled them to recoup some of the financial losses caused by the pandemic. Still more continue to legalize sports betting, with Maryland being the latest to join the growing number of states where people can place bets on sports legally.

Many Opportunities in the Growing US Market

In the United States, casinos and retail sportsbooks took a battering last year because of closures and restrictions caused by the pandemic. Even the world of live sports ground to a halt for some weeks during the height of the first wave of the pandemic.

However, things have quickly got back on track for the industry, and online sports betting has helped to keep things running smoothly even when retail venues had to close or operate at restricted capacity.

The CEO of MGM Resorts International, Bill Hornbuckle, said that there were many exciting opportunities for the United States when it came to sports betting. He said:

The sports betting and iGaming market is one of the largest and most exciting growth opportunities in the U.S.A. today, and BetMGM is emerging as a long-term leader. BetMGM began 2020 in just three markets and has ended the year with ten.

Hornbuckle added that BetMGM was already live in 12 states, and it was expected to be available in 20 states by the end of this year. This would then provide sports betting access to around 40 percent of the US adult population.

Popularity of Online Sports Betting Soaring

The popularity of online sports betting, in particular, has been soaring over the past year, with many people turning to their computers and devices to place bets. While retail sportsbooks are now open, many still turn to the convenience of online betting, which continues to dominate sportsbook handle figures every month.

While the suspension of live sports early last year did have an impact on online sports betting, operators managed to find a range of other activities for bettors to wager on. This meant that many continued to place bets online even though there were no live sports events taking place.

After the return of live sports, pent-up demand for wagering saw activity surge for online sportsbook operators, and even while retail establishments remained closed, huge numbers of people headed online.

The legalization and continued popularity of both online and in-person sports betting in states across the country have also helped to improve state finances. Many states have been hit hard by the pandemic, but sports betting activities in states where it is legalized have made a significant difference to revenues.