March Madness, It's Not Just For College Hoops Anymore
Sports betting news and information for bettors by bettors ....
When we think of March Madness, we think about college basketball and its impact on the nation. Things like:
The estimated $13.8 billion in corporate cost because of workers’ lost productivity
The $200 million economic impact on New Orleans (the site of the Final Four)
The estimated $10 billion that will get wagered on the NCAA Tournament.
Yeah, I'd say that stuff sounds pretty crazy (mad, even).
We'll continue to offer March Madness content over these next several weeks, like this story where our Craig Williams highlights the odds of several bubble teams making the Tournament. And if you’d rather not wait for the Big Dance, this is Championship Week, so check out my takes on the Big 12 and SEC Tournaments.
Also read: Las Vegas bookmakers discuss March’s college hoops action
Like I alluded to in the title, this month’s madness is not contained to just basketball. A flurry of activity in the NFL, for example, certainly qualifies as madness.
Oh, What A Difference A Deal Makes: The Madness That Was The NFL This Week
It appears Aaron Rodgers has come to his senses and is staying in Green Bay. His best shot at winning another Super Bowl is with the Packers, so this was the move for him to make.
As news broke of Rodgers’ extension, Green Bay's Super Bowl 57 odds improved, of course, while the team many thought he was going to, Denver, saw its odds lengthen. But then madness took over the West Coast, as the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Broncos for a few players and a treasure chest of draft picks.
As a result, Denver's odds bounced back while Seattle's bottomed out.
How Rodgers, Wilson deals impacted NFL futures: Packers | Broncos, Seahawks
Ridley’s Bad Bet
In less fortunate NFL betting news, Atlanta WR Calvin Ridley was caught making $1,500 in parlay bets, all involving the Falcons, while he was away from the team this season. He’s been suspended for a year.
Twitter reactions ranged from ‘the NFL is full of s—’ to ‘we all understand why’ the league came down so harshly on Ridley. Read a sampling of Twitter respondes here.
UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev
With the UFC coming back to Sin City on Saturday night, check out what Mark Ashenfelter says about the UFC Vegas 50 card:
"If the main event of Saturday night's UFC card was a movie script, there'd be no doubt as to the outcome. Thiago Santos, 38 and closer to the end of his career than the beginning, would easily dispatch Magomed Ankalaev. Their light heavyweight matchup, however, is taking place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It's not a script unfolding on a Hollywood set – and the sports betting market sees that as bad news for Santos, a large underdog according to UFC Vegas 50 odds."
The Players Championship
For those inclined to like less violent sports, the PGA Tour rolls into Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Our Bill Bowman examines some of the top contenders, and Kris Johnson is leaning towards Scottie Scheffler being the top finisher from the U.S.
Also check out what Bowman says about some of The Players Championship prop betssportsbooks are offering.
This Week On The Sports Betting Legal Landscape
Virginia has embraced sports betting to the tune of $3.2 billion wagered in the first year. However, it appears there are limits as to how close the state wants to get to the industry. As reported by Mary M. Shaffrey, Virginia lawmakers have sent a bill to the governor that will ban gambling companies from using the phrase "Virginia is for bettors" for marketing purposes.
Virginians may love betting, but they don't want companies messing with their state slogan, “Virginia is for Lovers.”
More From Shaffrey: Alabama Sports Betting Bill Approved By Senate Committee
Rebecca Hatchett examines competing pieces of sports betting legislation in Missouri. While bills backed by the state’s pro sports teams seem to have early momentum, watch out of the one that comes with a higher tax rate for sportsbooks and thus promises more revenue for the state.
It is an excellent idea to examine all options, but with the legislative session ending May 13, time is ticking for the Show-Me State to get something done this year.
Sportsbook Promotions, March 10
It's a great time to get into online sports betting if you live in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois recently lifted the in-person registration requirement making it possible for bettors to complete registration online. As could be expected, sportsbooks are taking advantage of the opportunity by offering some incredible sign-up bonuses.
The following promotions are available in most states:
Caesars Sportsbook: Not sure if you want to bet on college basketball or The Players Championship? If you bet on The Players Championship at Caesars, you'll get a $25 free bet to use on college hoops!
FanDuel Sportsbook: Parlay lovers will like this offer. Bet $20+ on a college basketball parlay from March 10-12 and get a $10 bonus, win or lose.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Betting on The Players Championship gets a little more exciting with this offer. If any golfer makes a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, you'll get a $17 free bet. There have been nine on the par-3 island hole since 1982 and three since 2016.
BetRivers Sportsbook: Bet no more than $25 on The Players Championship (max winnings $250), and BetRivers will give you a 20 percent profit boost!
That's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. It's my first stab at the newsletter, so I hope you enjoy it and find it informative. I certainly enjoyed writing it. If you want to hear more about anything, feel free to shoot me an email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com.
After all, like Jerry Maguire says: "I am out here for you. You don't know what it's like to be me out here for you. It is an up-at-dawn, pride swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about, ok?
No, that's not true. I love my job, and I'm never up at dawn. But I am here for you, so let me know what you want to hear about!
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Gaming Today Sports Betting Expert
*The Gaming Today Playbook is intended for readers ages 21+. It's important to Gamble Responsibly. If you think you have a problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER