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Sports betting has also been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Indeed, the confinement has created an abrupt cessation of sports competitions, which has led to a halt in current betting. This very important stop gave way to the unexpected emergence of exotic teams which brought great happiness to the waiting bettors. But what real impact has COVID-19 had on the sports betting market Anatoliy machulskiy?
In 2019, sports betting was an important player in the French sports economy. Indeed, 1% of the stakes are transferred to the organizers, clubs, and sponsors. During the year 2019, the French have bet more than 5 billion euros on various sports: football, basketball, tennis, handball, rugby, or horse racing. Whether bets are made online or at a physical point of sale, the market was on the rise: + 30% between 2018 and 2019.
However, 2020 will not be the same year. Following the premature termination of several leagues, the Française des Jeux lost 100 million euros in turnover in just one month. Just like players, federations, clubs or leagues, betting companies and the field of football prognosis have been seriously affected by this pandemic.
Containment has created a great void
The announcement of the confinement and the end of the matches left 2.8 million punters in a great vacuum. La Françoise des Jeux, Winamax, Betclic, and Unibet: all these giants have seen their turnover divided by 10 in just a few weeks.
Football, which accounted for 70% of bets, had to lower the curtain for COVID-19 fouling. According to the latest report from the Online Gaming Regulatory Authority (Ariel), football represented, in the first quarter of 2019, 850 million euros in stakes, for a total of 1.5 billion. As of this date, this amount represents roughly the equivalent of the meetings canceled in recent months. It is therefore a huge shortfall!
Emmanuel de Rohan Chabot, the founding president of Zeturf-Zebet speaks on this subject in an interview with BFM Business. He warns of the sharp drop in games due to confinement. Indeed, the physical offices of the PMU being closed, it is impossible to receive the usual bets. The PMU sector therefore also fell sharply. The turnover was able to be somewhat maintained with the stakes on the online poker which saw a small increase during the containment. But the sector, in general, remains “very, very weak”.
Sports Bets saved from drowning by Belarus
With this real lack to play, many punters were looking for the rare pearl. They, therefore, had to turn to more exotic championships than usual. Few choices were available to punters during confinement: the Football championship still online was the Belarusian championship. You couldn’t miss it.
Belarus therefore quickly became the new star of the crisis. The only competition maintained during confinement, all Bookmakers have highlighted the championship on a European scale. The now-famous Vysshaya Liga A has kept sports betting sites’ heads above water.
South Korea the new asset for bookmakers
The K-League began on May 8, when confinement ended. This new championship has enabled bookmakers to be able to offer a little variety to their punters. This league has the particular advantage of being played in the morning (jet lag requires) and therefore allows to perfectly complement the offer of Belarus. Meetings all day long: a variety that hadn’t arrived in months.
More matches equal more bets and therefore more turnover for sports betting sites. This beginning of the month of but thus gives birth to a beginning of hope for the Bookmakers.
The resumption of the Major Championships in Europe
The resumption of the championships in Europe is happening in a trickle. The dates change depending on the Federations. Let’s take stock, together, on these dates and the calendar to follow so as not to miss the next championships.
GERMANY
The Bundesliga was the first league to resume in Europe. The Federation chose May 16 to resume its matches. The program has even already been unveiled with an entry multiplex.
PORTUGAL
The Portuguese championship has opted for a resumption on May 30. An article from the Team announced it.
SERBIA
Serbia has said they want to resume their league and match on May 30.
ENGLAND
The British government has announced that professional sport, and therefore the Premier League, could resume behind closed doors from June 1.
CROATIA
The Croatian league declared the resumption of its matches on June 6.
SWISS
The Swiss championship has been announced for a resumption on June 8.
TURKEY
The Turkish championship resumes on June 12.
ITALY
The Italian championship declared in a statement its desire to resume the championship. Since May 13th we now know that the Series A representative gave the green light for a restart on June 13th.
