It's Your Turn, Mass and Ohio; RIP Vin Scully
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ...
It's been a long time coming, and it will still be a bit longer. But we now know when sports betting is going to launch in Ohio. After Gov. Mike DeWine signed sports betting into law in December 2021, a deadline of January 1, 2023 was set. As it turns out, sports betting will launch on that date — exactly at 12:01 a.m. ET.
Also on the legislative front, Massachusetts lawmakers approved a bill Monday, in the 11th hour of their session, and Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to sign it into law.
Of course, the news out of Mass and Ohio is not the only thing I want to discuss in this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. …
Football kicks off tonight with the Hall of Fame Game, MLB season is heating up, and the UFC is back in Vegas on Saturday night…
Shop around: See what the top sportsbooks have to offer
There's plenty to talk about, so let's get right to it!
Yes, I'm Ready for Some Football!
The long wait is finally over. The NFL returns to our television screens tonight with the Hall of Fame Game. Preseason games are usually not great football, but occasionally, you can catch an excellent performance from an unheralded player looking to make a name for himself.
From a bettor's perspective, it is challenging to make a sound judgment call, since teams do not care about winning in the preseason. But that does not mean you can't make informed decisions; you just need to know what to look for.
If you need some help, Jim Robinson has you covered with five strategies for betting on NFL preseason games.
But the preseason is just getting underway, and the regular season will be here before you know it. Here are some of the articles we've worked on over the last week related to the NFL:
What are the Odds of Any NFL Team Going Undefeated This Year?
2022 AFC North Odds: Browns Close Gap on Ravens, Bengals With Watson Ruling
Browns' Betting Odds Shorten After Deshaun Watson's Six-Game Suspension
We will certainly have more on the NFL and college football in the days ahead. If you are interested in betting on college games, you may want to check out this article Brant James:
Can I Bet On In-State College Sports Where I Live? A Look At Rules, Options Ahead Of Football Season
How 'Bout The Boys Of Summer?
We are 100+ games into the 2022 MLB season, and it looks like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Astros will cruise to another division championship. Shocker. There is still plenty of time for all three to break down, lose their leads, and not make the playoffs. But we are talking about the three best teams in baseball — that's not going to happen.
As for how the rest of the season will progress, the trade deadline featured several deals that could pay off. None more so than the epic trade that brought Juan Soto and Josh Bell to San Diego. The move prompted some Padres bets at sportsbooks, and while it will not be enough to help them overcome the 11.5-game deficit in the NL West, it gave their World Series odds a boost.
Elsewhere In The Wide World Of Sports Betting…
As usual, it has been a busy week in the wide world of sports betting in more ways than one. From the various sports taking place to quarterly reports from sportsbooks, there has been a lot to cover — and we have tried to bring the best information to you.
If you are interested in the business side of the industry, you may find these articles from Stephanie Wood interesting:
And if you are looking for betting options other than football and baseball, we've got you covered there as well:
2023 NHL Futures Odds: Avs Still Favored, but Panthers and Canes on the Rise
UFC Vegas 59 Odds, Props, & Picks: Santos vs. Hill Headlines at the Apex
Celtics' NBA Futures Odds Tighten After Kevin Durant Trade Rumors
This Week On The Sports Betting Legal Landscape…
While Ohio jumps into the fray on New Year’s Day, sports bettors in Massachusetts are set to join the fun at some point in the not-too-distant future. The state House and Senate hammered out a deal at the last minute and passed sports betting legislation in the Commonwealth.
Which sportsbooks will the Mass market see? Only time will tell, but Rebecca Hanchett shared some thoughts this week:
If football fans are eager to put their money down on Mac Jones and the Patriots, they may still need to travel to a nearby state this season. From what state officials have said, they plan on taking their time setting the rules and regs.
Stay up to date on:
Sportsbook Promotions; August 4, 2022
The following are some of the promotions sportsbooks are running that could come in handy in the coming week:
BetMGM: MLB One-Game Parlay Insurance. Place a One-Game Parlay with at least four legs and get your stake back in free bets (up to $25) if one leg loses (opt-in required).
BetRivers: Hall of Fame Game Profit Boost. Log in and receive a random profit boost, up to 100%, to use on the Hall of Fame Game.
BetRivers: Braves vs. Mets HR Insurance. Bet a player to hit a home run in any game during the series, get your stake back up to $25 towards a free bet if your player records a hit in the game!
As always, terms and conditions apply.
Beginners Beat: Be Wary Of The Obvious
I fell into this trap last season. I saw a prop boost at a sportsbook that appeared too good to pass up — so I didn't, and I put a little more down than I usually do because I wanted to take advantage of it. It involved a running back on one of the lesser teams gaining something like 12 yards in the passing game. In this day and age, that seemed like a no-brainer, so I went with it.
Sure enough, he had something like six carries for seven yards and four receptions for three.
If the outcome looks obvious or the bet looks too good to be true, that's because it is. There is bound to be a reason why the odds seem high for a market or for the spread to be more significant than you'd think. You may have to do some research to figure out why, but you should study up before every bet you make anyway.
Does that mean you should pass on bets that look too good to be true? Not at all. But you should proceed with caution and do your homework before putting money down.
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.
As we conclude, I’d like to share this clip from Vin Scully's final broadcast:
Thanks, Vin, for making some of the best moments in sports genuinely unforgettable. We'll miss you. Rest in peace.
Bet wisely, my friends, and have a great weekend!
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer