Gambling Stories 2018

The year 2018 was inarguably the best year ever for sports betting in the UnitedStates (the SportsBusiness Journal thinks so as well).

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Editor’s Note: We are grateful to Ms. Jodie Nealley for sharing her story with readers of The BASIS. Throughout, we have provided links to journal articles and other sources to illustrate how aspects of Jodie’s story coincide with scientific findings.This Editorial is part of our month-long Special Series on Gambling Disorder. To understand my story you need to understand my addictions. Here Ashley shares her gambling story. This post is part of My Sweet Home Life’s Overcomers series – where we look at women whose lives haven’t turned out quite how they expected. We feature women who have struggled with abuse, addictions, unexpected loss, and challenging circumstances. Gambling harm podcast: Inspiring stories of hope and recovery There are many ways to seek professional and anonymous help for your own, or your loved one's problems with gambling. If you need immediate help, please call Gambler's Help on 1800 858 858 or Gambler's Help Youthline on 1800 262 376 (from within Australia only).

There was no shortage of major sports betting stories this year. Here’s our ranking of the top 10 for 2018.

Top 10 stories of the year

10. Haralabob to the Mavericks

We like to take a bigger picture view of things. Sometimes a smaller story has more significant ramifications.

Take into account Haralabos “Bob” Voulgaris (or @Haralabob on Twitter).

Voulgaris is as close to a celebrity (non-touting version) sports bettor as there is. He’s a regular guest on the “Bill Simmons Podcast” with a healthy Twitter following and has no shortage of strong opinions.

Much like how the World Poker Tour and WSOP took poker players out of the backrooms and spawned new celebrities, the legalization of sports betting legitimized some of the more reputable gurus making a good living off the lines.

Mark Cuban snatched up Voulgaris’ analytical acumen for a Mavericks’ front-office job. Long-time bettors Martin de Knijff and Bill Edler are overseeing ways to leverage technology to make sports betting more accessible.

Something like the Haralabos hire probably couldn’t have happened just a few years ago. Sports betting is getting mainstreamed, and its best and brightest are benefiting.

9. The match

While the actual golf and commentating (save Charles Barkley) could’ve been better, The match featuring TigerWoods and PhilMickelsonprovided a template for where sports betting can go in the next few years.

This made-for-TV event was also made for betting. Betting information was integrated throughout the broadcast and embedded in the fabric of all facets of the competition (Side sauce, anyone?).

Expect more match-type events with greater fan interactivity and live-betting options in the future. Let’s hope the quality of competition meets the betting potential in the next go-around.

Gambling Addiction Stories 2018

8. Newcomers innovating the market

Sports betting is legal in the US; Nevada must be leading the charge!

Nope.

Actually, it’s the new kids on the block, like DraftKingsproviding a different look at technology and betting options in other states that are pushing technology and wagering innovation.

As it turns out, Nevada and its technology platforms are the ones who could learn something about sports betting in America (More on this in a later post.).

7. The battle for integrity fees

Has there ever been a less captivating battle than that of pro sports leagues lobbying for integrity fees?

This snoozer won’t go away and it’s understandable. The leagues want to monitor the integrity of their games to ensure the product is honest (fair enough) and charge a fee to do so for their financial benefit (obviously). Even college sports was looking into it (more obviously).

While some of this provided interesting theater, for the most part, integrity fees were like your Trump-loving, Fox-News-watching uncle at Thanksgiving: an annoying but unavoidable part of the discussion.

6. The technology acquisitions

The age-old question: do you build it or buy it?

If you have the money, buy it.

Acquisitions for prospective market entrants or to boost existing products were a sure bet with the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) repeal.

The Stars Group made a major chess move in acquiring Sky Bet. Paddy Power Betfair (Cougar Mellencamp) bought FanDuel. Scientific Games looked to enhance its product with the acquisition of Don Best (Was the boot camp not included?).

But if it’s not the acquisitions, it’s …

5. … technology partnerships

Kambi partners with DraftKings. MGM and GVCstrike a $200 million deal.

True Gambling Stories

Hey, it takes a village, right? Whatever you have to do to enter a new market.

4. Pro sports partnerships

Wait, US sports league are striking sports betting partnerships, too?

You’re damn right they are.

As the year comes to a close, there’s been a whirlwind of deal-making for the pro leagues and operators.

Even NHL teams are getting some love, including the non-Las Vegas ones!

The sports betting partnership model has existed for ages in Europe, but it’s a welcome sight with surprisingly rapid adoption in the US.

Pay credit to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for being waaaaay ahead of his contemporaries on this one (and knock NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for being far behind while sitting on the biggest betting cash cow out there).

3. The rise of new gambling content

By the second half of 2018, the sports betting floodgates had opened and there was no shortage of new gambling-related programming from companies looking to cash in on the new market. FoxNewswas in early. ESPN hopped in. Companies like VSIN were well ahead of the game. Um, TheLines.

Sports betting provides an incredible source of compelling content. There are big winners and losers, and it’s entertaining.

While sports betting programming has focused on the obvious to start, it will get more interactive and inventive (think “Jackass” for money).

You can bet on that.

2. The early success of sports betting

Gambling Stories 2018 Movie

You may find this shocking, but people like to gamble.

NewJersey, Mississippi and Pennsylvania all showed strong early results.

That’s the great thing about sports betting: everyone wins. Except for the losing bettors in New Jersey, Mississippi and Pennsylvania.

Casino Stories

1. The repeal of PASPA

Gambling Stories 2018 Online

Putting the repeal of PASPA as the top story of the year is as obvious as listing Nirvana’s “Nevermind” as the best album of the ’90s or the “Godfather” (Part I or II) as the best movie ever. But just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean it’s not right.

If it weren’t for the PASPA repeal, this list wouldn’t likely exist. It’s ushered in a flood of new money for content, marketing and advertising, and to state coffers.

The repeal of PASPA is not only the biggest sports betting story of the year; it’s the most critical gaming industry story of the century.