ESPN, the Worldwide Leader in Sports…Betting?
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...
With the benefit of hindsight, we can now say that certain developments in the sports betting industry were not surprising.
For example:
Some states welcomed sports betting quickly, while others were more reluctant.
The four major pro sports leagues in North America have embraced the industry.
DraftKings and FanDuel, leaders in the daily fantasy space, expanded into sports betting.
Sports apparel company Fanatics and sports media giant Sports Illustrated entered the sports betting industry.
And while it may have taken a few years for this to happen, the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN, will soon have a sports betting app. Brant James reported on this development earlier in the week:
PENN Entertainment's decision to rebrand the super-hyped but super-unsuccessful Barstool Sportsbook as ESPN Bet is as expensive as it is a push against headwinds. PENN will pay Disney $1.5 billion over 10 years for the exclusive right to leverage the sports broadcasting giant's reach with ESPN granted warrants to purchase up to 31.8 million shares in the gambling company.
As for when the app will launch, the word 'soon' may be a little misleading. It’s expected to go live in November.
Exciting news, right? Factor in Week 1 of the NFL preseason kicking off tonight, the Women's World Cup, the MLB season, and it is safe to say we have quite a few things to discuss. Let's get right to it. It's time to talk about the week in sports betting!
NFL Preseason
Officially, the 2023 NFL preseason got underway last week with the Hall of Fame Game. But all 32 teams will see action this weekend, with a pair of games tonight, six on Friday, another six on Saturday, and a couple of games to wrap up the weekend on Sunday.
But it's the preseason. Why would anyone want to bet on a game where no one cares about winning (unless you're Jim Harbaugh)? Because teams have tendencies, even in the preseason, and you can win money betting on preseason football if you do your homework.
We've previewed a few of the games on deck for Week 1 of the NFL preseason:
If you would rather bet on competitive football games, seriously consider the CFL; Week 10 kicks off tonight with another game to follow on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
But if you are all NFL all the time and want something other than preseason action to bet on, we have you covered:
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Odds 2023: Damar Hamlin Favored But 3 Players Have Value
2023 NFL Season Win Totals & Predictions: Chiefs, Eagles, Bengals Priced With Highest Numbers
Women's World Cup (and Lionel Messi!)
The USWNT will not win a third consecutive World Cup title, but several solid teams are still playing, which means fans are in for some intense games as the field gets smaller. One of the frontrunners, Spain, play the Netherlands tonight with a spot in the semifinals on the line:
In other soccer news, Lionel Messi continues to dazzle soccer fans in the US and will see action on Friday when Inter Miami play Charlotte in the Leagues Cup:
MLB
Several teams made moves prior to the trade deadline that could pay off with a trip to the World Series this year. Before determining who made the right moves, teams have 45-50 regular season games to go. If you enjoy betting on futures, you should check out the latest NL Cy Young odds; there has been a lot of movement on oddsboards lately.
Bets on anyone other than Corbin Carroll to win NL Rookie of the Year would not be advisable, but the AL ROY race is not as clear-cut. Yes, Gunnar Henderson is a heavy favorite, but Masataka Yoshida is within reach.
For all the prop lovers looking for tips tonight, DJ Corrigan has you covered:
Elsewhere In The Wide World Of Sports Betting…
Football will start dominating the landscape in the days and weeks ahead as we get closer to the regular season, but there is more to the wide world of sports betting than the NFL. Fight fans can enjoy some great MMA action this weekend when the UFC returns to Vegas for UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos.
If that card does not interest bettors, there are some great fights on the UFC 292 card next weekend.
Golf bettors have some options coming up with the next stop of the LIV Tour (Bedminster) teeing off Friday. The FedEx Cup Playoffs get underway this week with the FedEx St. Jude Championship (which got underway this morning).
Other sports events this weekend include WNBA games and the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
This Week On The Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…
The big news was, of course, ESPN signing a deal with Penn Entertainment to create ESPN Bet. But there was more to the legal/business landscape this week.
Have you wondered who the industry leader is amongst the various online sportsbooks? According to news from Flutter Entertainment's earnings call on Wednesday, it's FanDuel with a reported 47% piece of the US online sportsbook market. For more on the story, read Rebecca Hanchett's article:
In other news, BetMGM announced it will enter the Kentucky market when sports betting launches in the Bluegrass State this fall. BetMGM will partner with Revolutionary Racing KY (RRKY) for market access.
"Kentucky has a rich history in sports and a passionate fan base," said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. "Revolutionary Racing is an ideal partner, enabling us to deliver an entertaining and responsible gaming experience, while investing in the state through job creation and tax revenue."
For more on this development, read this article: BetMGM Announces Kentucky Sports Betting Partnership.
Sportsbook Promotions: Aug. 10, 2023
The following promotions could come in handy this weekend:
Caesars: Get a limited-time 25% Profit Boost Thursday Aug. 10 to Sunday Aug. 13 — Opt-In and get one (1) 25% Profit Boost to use on any sport!
BetRivers: NFL Preseason 50% Matched Bet! Place a real money, LIVE wager on any NFL preseason game during the promotional period to receive a 50% Matched Bonus Bet up to $100 for VIPs and up to $25 for all other accounts.
Bet365: Bet $1 & Get $200 in bonus bets, no matter if your bet wins or loses (for new customers only).
FanDuel: Closest to the pin profit boost — All customers get a 50% PBT to use on any live wager for the FedEx St. Jude Golf Tournament.
DraftKings: Place a bet of $5+ and get $150 in Bonus Bets instantly! (new customers only).
Terms and conditions apply. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.
Newsletter is over, Von. But we get to watch football tonight. How does that make you feel?
I’m with you, man. I’m with you all the way.
That's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much (or more) than 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.
Bet wisely, my friends.
Until next week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer