It’s been just over ten months since the official legalization of sports betting in New Jersey and several other US states, and it’s safe to say the entire sports landscape has begun to change in response.
We’ve seen the explosion of mobile sportsbook applications from leading fantasy sports websites such as FanDuel and DraftKings, for whom a growing sports betting market means significantly greater profits. We’ve also seen Major League Baseball alter its pre-game lineup rules to accommodate wagering on games.
The latest changes in the sports world involve the media, which has started to focus more on an audience that’s just as interested in betting on games as watching them. How engaged is that audience? A study performed in 2016 by Nielsen Sports, in conjunction with the American Gaming Association, showed that bettors watch almost twice as much sports coverage as people who do not bet.
That’s just a small sample of how media networks have responded to the legalization of sports betting in Atlantic City, throughout New Jersey and in seven other states across the country. The trend toward more gambling-focused coverage is likely to continue, making it even more challenging to enjoy sports if you struggle with a gambling problem.
As legalized gambling expands, CCGNJ is dedicated to serving as a resource and support system in our community. If you or a loved one needs help maintaining healthy gambling habits, give our 24-hour confidential helpline a call today.
Sources:
http://fortune.com/2019/03/07/gambling-prompts-major-league-baseball-to-change-lineup-rules/
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/15/sports/sports-betting.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/11/28/darren-rovell-his-move-espn-action-network-theyre-buying-me-brand/?utm_term=.6cf45bac9826
http://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/25705887/nbc-sports-washington-plus-start-alternate-betting-focused-washington-wizards-broadcasts
https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-sports-betting-espn-20190311-story.html
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2019/04/02/nbc-sports-philadelphia-to-debut-alternative.html