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Betting agencies minimally affected by pandemic

Published:Tuesday | August 18, 2020 | 12:27 AM
Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes (front) dives to make a save during their UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against Manchester City at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday. The return of football competitions, globally, includin
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Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes (front) dives to make a save during their UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against Manchester City at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday. The return of football competitions, globally, including the Champions League, has given local online betters more options to choose from.

Sports betting agencies have moved towards online virtual gaming to cushion the effects of the cancellation of global sporting events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supreme Ventures’ (SV) Senior Sports Betting Officer Christopher Sawyers says that it was wise of the company to host online virtual betting during the pandemic.

“For us, it affected our company, as customers were not able to go in the shops in large groups,” he said. “However, what they did to counteract that was to allow customers to bet online via their phones.

“I wouldn’t say we weren’t impacted but it wasn’t as great as what we expected. We expected a bigger hit.”

Sawyers said that SV has provided online sporting games such as football and horse racing, mimicking games that would receive major betting numbers outside of the pandemic.

“Betters are gamblers and they will bet on anything you give them to bet on and it was basically the same sports online,” he said.

ONLINE BETTING

Similarly, Island Bet Chairman Adam Epstein says that his company took advantage of its online platform and allowed customers to not only partake in sports betting, but they were introduced to the online casino experience.

“During the closure of sports, we offered E-Sports with customer’s able to bet on live FIFA20, NBA2k, and other E-sports games with the option of watching the games via live stream while betting,” Epstein told The Gleaner.

“Along with sports, we geared our focus to interactive gaming, educating our current customers of these products which include over 300 games of chance, such as Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Jacks or Better, and many more.”

However, Sawyers says the resumption of international football leagues has positively impacted the amount of traffic sports betting has gained, which has provided an opportunity for SV to add more leagues.

“It has picked up since international sports has resumed, especially the bigger leagues such as the Champions League, which we have been doing well in,” he said.

“We are also adding more leagues for people to bet on so it is looking bright for us in terms of garnering a bigger foothold in the market,” he added.

Island Bet will continue to provide interactive games for betters while being able to engage in voting for local and international elections online.

“During the periods leading up to September 3 (the date of Jamaica’s general election), the odds will change based on data and risk analysis,” Epstein said.

“Along with Jamaica, we also offer betting on USA and British elections. We believe it creates a fun and entertaining twist to the outcome of his or her party of choice.”

Athena Clarke