Gov. Steve Sisolak has instructed all casinos in Nevada to shut down for the month of April. The aim is to decelerate the transmission of coronavirus by closing non-essential businesses. Despite the closure of all casinos, four sportsbook operators continue to provide mobile wagering.
Business has slowed down due to the suspension of play in the most popular sports leagues worldwide.
Sportsbooks have been scouring every corner for sports betting possibilities for their patrons. While future bets may satisfy some, there are punters who prefer instant gratification from their bets, rather than waiting for six to nine months.
With the suspension of major professional sports leagues, Nevada sports bettors have turned to Table Tennis and eNASCAR, which have gained popularity.
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Table tennis blowing up
Most games available for betting have been from international fringe sports, typically not featured in US sportsbooks. Table tennis, also known as ping pong, has emerged as a favored non-traditional sport among bettors seeking immediate wagering opportunities.
This week, a bettor at William Hill transformed a $2 ping pong parlay into $1,442. On April Fool’s Day, a six-leg parlay hit at William Hill, netting nearly $19,000 for the bettor.
Nick Bogdanovich, U.S. Director of Trading at William Hill, has stated, “Over the last few weeks, table tennis has constituted a significant portion of our handle, demonstrating its acceptance among sports fans.”
Why does table tennis enjoy such popularity? He further explains, “The matches are quick to conclude and with a multitude of games to bet on, people appear to thoroughly appreciate it. The sport has surpassed my expectations a thousandfold. I’m astounded, and in a very positive way.”
Betting on table tennis may become a permanent fixture, but it’s not the only unconventional sport gaining popularity due to the suspension of major league sports.
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eNASCAR off to a good start
On Sunday, April 5th, both William Hill and Circa Sports presented eNASCAR betting for the first time. It marked the debut of wagering in Nevada for the 2020 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series. The race took place at the virtual Bristol Raceway.
In this digital car race, authentic NASCAR racers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. participate on the iRacing simulation platform. Although the financial stakes aren’t as high as actual races, virtual NASCAR betting is showing promising beginnings.
Matthew Metcalf, the director of Circa sportsbook, informed the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the initial eNASCAR race approximately equated to half of a typical race once everything was finalized. Metcalf highlighted that the “Yes” or “No” bets were some of the favorites. It’s worth noting that only Circa Sports provides this distinctive betting option to sports gamblers in Nevada.
Bogdanovich informed the Review-Journal that William Hill accepted 400 bets on the inaugural eNASCAR race. He continued to explain, “we didn’t make much profit, but we’re optimistic after the first week. We issued many tickets, which is our main objective.”
He says that William Hill, similar to their offering of small sports like table tennis for betting, simply aims to keep people engaged. They want to keep attracting visitors to their site by providing them with activities to participate in.
Even though table tennis might still be an option for sports betting during major sports events, it’s unlikely the same will hold true for eNASCAR. The professional drivers will be back in their actual cars, racing on real tracks. While it’s possible that eNASCAR could become a popular esport to bet on, the virtual drivers won’t be the familiar names that many people know.