And With the No. 1 Pick of the 2023 NFL Draft…
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...
I know this is a break from the norm, but with the NFL Draft getting underway Thursday night, it seemed like a good idea to send the Gaming Today Playbook out a day early.
Kudos to the NFL for turning the league into year-round entertainment — and betting opportunities. It's not the same as betting the Super Bowl or even a Thursday night game, but sportsbooks carry a ton of markets related to the NFL Draft.
There is still time to get your bets in if you have yet to get in on the action… I'm just saying…
Pick a Promo: Best Sports Betting Bonuses
Know your state’s rules, though. If you are in Nevada, for example, NFL Draft betting markets close today, 24 hours before Roger Goodell calls the name of the first overall pick.
But there is much more to the wide world of sports betting this week than the NFL Draft. The first round of the NBA Playoffs has already claimed a few teams, and more will find their season ending soon. The MLB season rolls on, as does the NHL postseason, the USFL, golf, the XFL Playoffs…
The list of options is long. So, let's get right to it. Time to talk about sports betting!
NFL Draft
Some of you may think, "Why should I bet on the NFL Draft?" The answer to that question is easy — because it’s fun and you can win money. You can make that statement at any time of the year, of course. So, what makes me say it here?
There are several reasons, but the primary one is in this article by Kris Johnson:
If the sportsbooks are worried about losing money, that must mean bettors can find an edge. Kris’ report, which quotes some of the best bookmakers in Las Vegas, goes much deeper in explaining how.
I know what some of you are thinking right about now: When we are this close to the draft, what's the point in putting money down? Okay, so it looks like the Panthers will take Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick, but is it worth wagering when the odds are -1600?
Actually, several sportsbooks seem to have taken that bet off their boards!
That’s probably a good thing, since there would be virtually no value in betting on Young to go No. 1 at this point. But NFL teams will do crazy things ahead of the draft. So, there is a lot of value out there just waiting for eager bettors to take advantage of. Which markets?
Rather than suggest a few here, take the time to read some of the content our team has produced this week:
NFL Draft Odds 2023: Reddit Post About Will Levis Causes Massive Shift In Odds
I'll have my ear to the ground listening for rumors, so check this article for the latest leading into Thursday night's draft.
Bryce Young Picked First as Gaming Today Mock 2.0 Mirrors Betting Lines Ahead of NFL Draft
2023 NFL Draft Prop Bets: Why Texans Will Take This Defensive Player With Second Pick
Anthony Richardson NFL Draft Odds: Seahawks Favored to Land Florida QB at No. 5
Will Levis NFL Draft Odds: Texans Favored to Land Kentucky QB at No. 2
NBA Playoffs
A couple of teams joined the Nets last night and became the latest to get eliminated from the postseason. A few more face elimination tonight. The Lakers have the Grizzlies on the brink, and in perhaps the biggest surprise of the playoffs to date, the Heat have the Bucks on the ropes.
Not having Giannis for a couple of games hurt, but they had him in Game 4, and that didn't matter. Of course, when Jimmy Buckets goes off like he did…
Our writers have been covering the games throughout the postseason. Be sure and check GamingToday.com each day to see our previews. Here are the previews for tonight's games:
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 5 Predictions, Odds, Props: New York Underdogs on Road
Lakers vs. Grizzlies Predictions, Odds, Props: LA Looks to Close Out Memphis in Game 5
Heat vs. Bucks Game 5 Predictions, Odds & Props: Miami's Series Price Light Despite 3-1 Lead
Keep up with the latest NBA Championship odds on our dedicated page.
Elsewhere in the Wide World Of Sports Betting…
We have been doing a lot of work on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, too, of course, including previews for games throughout the week:
Kraken vs. Avalanche Predictions, Odds, Props: Bet on Game 5 of the NHL Playoffs
Panthers vs. Bruins Game 5 Predictions, Odds, Props: Puck Line Worth a Look From Bettors
Islanders vs. Hurricanes Game 6 Odds, Predictions & Props: Bet This Team on Moneyline
We've been covering some soccer matches during the week, and Bill Bowman has the latest on this week’s golf events:
PGA Tour Mexico Open: Jon Rahm, Tony Finau the Clear-Cut Favorites
LIV Golf Singapore Predictions, Odds: Consider This Longshot
For those of you who can't get enough of spring football, I'll post my previews for the XFL Playoffs and Week 3 of the USFL season later in the week.
This Week on the Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…
With the NFL Draft approaching, Massachusetts announced rules for betting on the NFL Draft, which received a stamp of approval from the NFL.
In other news, Maine could join the sports betting fun soon. Sports betting was legalized in 2022, but the state is still working on making it happen. It sounds like this bill could be a step in the right direction:
For an interesting and provocative take on the sports betting industry, check out this article by Brant James, who interviews Jeff Benson from Circa in Las Vegas:
Sportsbook Promotions: Apr. 26, 2023
The following promotions could come in handy this weekend:
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Terms and conditions apply. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.
Fun With Fliff
Since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA and made it possible for states to decide if they want to legalize sports betting, 33 states and the District of Columbia have decided to do so. To those of you in states that have yet to do so, don't give up. For many states, it's a work in progress.
But if you want to bet and are tired of waiting on your state, you can — even without turning to one of those offshore sites or that guy down at the pool hall your cousin knows. There is a handy, dandy app called Fliff.
What is Fliff? It's an app that allows people to place bets just like you would at DraftKings or one of the other popular sports betting apps, but with Fliff coins and not cash. Check out our Fliff page to learn more.
It's something everyone interested in sports betting should check out. If you are like me and hate losing money, give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose!
It’s done, Roger. You can sit down now.
That's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much or more as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any questions or want to request a topic to get covered in a future newsletter, you can reach me via email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or via Twitter at @FatManWriting.
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer