Sports betting is a pastime that has enjoyed a massive spike in popularity over the previous decade, something that has had an effect on the actual sports. Significant increases in television coverage coupled with the fact that many sports – including football – are now sponsored predominantly by betting companies has dictated several rules and ways of behaving, as well as changing the habits of the average football supporter.
If you are breaking down the football leagues that generate the most money, for themselves and other industries, then the dominance of the English Premier League simply cannot be disputed. At present, there are 212 different countries with the rights to broadcast live games in this league, with 80 television networks carrying this out. This means huge amounts of money for the clubs in the league, but the concomitant rise in betting also means large revenues for this industry.
The widespread television coverage of the Premier League ensures that every single club within it is under a media and fan spotlight and can boast followers from all over the globe. In the past, this was only true of sides like Manchester United and Chelsea, but now a club like Newcastle United is just as much a global brand. Thanks to the regular television coverage, fans of these teams from anywhere in the world know more than enough about current form, fitness of key players etc, to be able to bet on them in a smart way. However, given the emotional nature of football supporters, many fans of clubs like Newcastle will bet on their team regardless, with the club’s purchase of major signings like Mitrovic and Wijnaldum fuelling dreams of glory – even if 2015/16 has been a disappointment so far.
This is partly because the league is thrillingly unpredictable, as the shock against-the-odds success of Leicester has proven, meaning sticking with low odds favourites or betting more high-risk can both bring financial dividends. This brings in so many betting fans that info sites have sprung up alongside ever more betting sites – while the likes of online casinos have adapted by creating football-themed slots and roulette games. There are variations of these for fans of every club, including Newcastle, ensuring their fans can enjoy a betting escape from the struggles they are enduring in the league.
As we can see, gambling on sports is a growth activity, something that fans have absorbed into their weekly routines. Competitors like casinos have reacted with added sports betting and special mobile casino games on sites like casinonline.co.nz, ideal for fans of clubs like Newcastle who fancy a bet. Of course, those fans can still fantasise about being next year’s Leicester, despite not having the biggest budget, and this makes the Premier League so brilliant.
