The things to focus on in 2025

 

As we approach the end of 2024,it is time to get ready to formulate an action plan for 2025. I will share my people, places and things to focus on that will grow your brand.These concepts are applicable to the following indutries. Tourism,Gaming amd Sports Betting are the primay areas that will be impacted. If you are able to incorporate any of these,you will see an improvement in your field of expertise.

Women- This is the audience that is getting the most attention.BetMGM cited an increase of 108% over year to year in wagers on the WNBA. The 2024 Womens NCAA Basketball Tournament  drew a larger viewing audience than the Mens Yournament for the first time. The USA Womens Olympic Team led by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier won the Gold Medal. Those players have combined to start the Unrivaled Basketball League that will debut in January,2025 on TNT. The Caitlin Clark phenomenon has added more interest by women and men to professuonal basketball. There is conversation that the NBA All Star Game Weekend may feature a 3 point compeition between Steph Curry and Klay Thompson vs Sabrina Ionescu and Clark.The Taylor Swift effect has increased the amount of women that are watching the NFL and in particular,the Kansas City Chiefs.Beyonce will perform at halftime on Christmas Day during the NFL Game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens. 

Expect to see more wagers that are designed for women. 2025 will have more glam cam as the women will get attention for pre game walk in outfits. NIL deals will be offered to women at record numbers.The viewership,merchandise and the sports betting are direct corelations to the women athletes. Use the trends mentioned above to determine if your strategy has a female component so you are in tune to the audience. 

I Gaming- The fact that 38 states have sports betting while only 4 have I Gaming is obviously a growth opportunity. When you factor the revenue generated by those 38 states is equivalent to the amount produced by the 4 states, you have a golden opportunity to make money.I do understand some of trepidation that states may have in advancing igaming legislation. There is a thought that this will destroy or at least cannibalize brick and mortar casino business. This is not the case in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.Business is still robust jn retail or onsite gaming.Most of the Sports Betting wagers are made on line. If more states were to offer IGaming, that trend will continue with some modifications. The patrons that play in the casino will continue and be the VIP style of player. The IGaming world will not be as appealing to that player.

Expect a breakthrough of IGaming legislation quth a neighboring state to follow. The trend toward convenience and tax revenue are too much to resist. I concepts that would enhance the spending wallet available to the operators of the IGaming space.

Mexico City and Brazil.- I highlighted both of these places because the interest the NBA and NFL have shown in Latin America. The expansion of Gaming and Sports Betting in those markets is a growth opportunity. While both places are known for tourism,festivaks and excellent cuisine. The introduction of two of themore popular sports leagues will add a new allegiance of fans that will buy merchanduse and bet on the games.Some residents of these places may be looking for business collaborations within the continental United States.

How does your brand connect with the cLatin American Culture? Are any of your managerial team bilingual? I would look at the SBC Summit Americas that will be held in Fort Lauderdale,Florida in 2025. That event could serve as an introduction to the market and some of the constituents. 

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Temple University Sports Analytics Competition

 

On Thursday evening,I was honored to judge the 2nd Annual Sports Analytics Competition at Temple University.The even lasted for approximately 2 and a half hours and had two divisions.There was an undergrate and graduate section.

Each group was given a subset of NFL data from 1980 - 2023.The information consisted of the winners and losers of each game,the total points scored and how the information translated to the outcomes against the spread.The contestants were given the task of scraping the data and looking for trends that would be appealing to an investment firm.

The groups cited,temperature,wind,home field advantage as important variables.They went further and examine the ATS by divisions and individual months during the season. Temple University is one of the few schools in the country that has several courses of studies that address Sports Gaming. While UNLV is the leader in offering gaming and sports related classes,Temple has carve out a niche that introduces the sports betting industry to this region. 

If you are interested in sports gaming and how it relates to business, analytics,tourism and hospitality,please contact Yang Yang or George Diemer ,two professors at Temple University School of Hospiality and Tourism.

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TRAMS: Just in time for Responsible Gaming Month

 This is design to get you or anyone of the millions of people that the American Gaming Association reports that engage in  sports betting.The last published reports indicates that over  25 million people enjoy some form of wagering on sporting events. The report also states that people between the ages of 18-24 are at a high risk of developing a gambling disorder.  The responsible gaming report from the AGA highlights, "the adrenaline of chance and the excitement of winning but concludes those feelings would not be plausible without a foundation of responsibility".

The Webster 's Dictionary definition of tram is a public transport vehicle that travels along rails and powered by electricity. I get the vision of Las Vegas Mccarran Airport going between terminals and to baggage claim. I now want share my new vertical that is just like the dictionary version of tram but able to accomodate thousands. Not only the young but the millenials and the baby boomers. All of those gorups engages in some form of wagering. Gambling studies indicate that demographicly,African Americans,Hispanics and Asians are high risk for gaming disorders Women are now wagering at a hiher rate than anytime in history.All of the generations and demographics mentioned  can enjoy gaming more effectively without being in jeopardize.

So without further adieu,I want to introduce my version of tram that is like you've never seen before.

TRAMS is an acronym that if applied in principal,will make the sports betting expierience fun and controllable. I will share it with you now.

Track  the teams,players,sports and leagues that you know and are interested in. You cannot follow all of them.But if you have a sub section of anything that you like or know, you.ve increased your chances because you have eliminated some choices.

Responsible methods are put in place as you open any account or enter a betting emstablishment. If you play online,those methods include limits on deposits,time on device and the amount of wagers. If you wager in brick and mortar places, do it without debit and credit cards.Pay all of your essential obligations to your creditors and your family before engaging with the game.

Alerts are the information highways that will keep you aware of whose playing,the weather conditions,injury reports and anything pertinent to making a selection. Follow news feeds and social media from the sports that captivate  you.Avoid the prompts from operators that are designed to stimulate a reaction from you to play a bet. Discipline keeps you in the game.

Market watch is looking at the numbers and the price associated with sports wagering. Here is an example. Before two teams play. visualize  what you think that point spread would be.Then examine the numbers that the bookmaker has posted. Final step is compare what operator is offers the best line and the best price. No difference than buying online from Amazon or EBay. Substitute a player for a team and apply the same idealogy.

Statistics should support any selection. Emotion and personal prefence are fine but prudent action calls for an analytic approach to identify trends. If you are able to find two stats that support your selection, you are ready to finalize your action.

                                                     And now you have TRAMS.

Each facet works in conjunction with each other. Practicing just one or two of the  methods will give minimal results.The foundation of the acroym is to game and wager responsibly. It doesn;t mean that you will win. It does mean that you will keep it fun! 

I am available to discuss how the application of this concept can benefit you or  a group you are affiliated with

NFL- AFC East Win Totals

 The NFL AFC East has three of the top quarterbacks in the entire league. The recent ranking of quarterbacks by PFF has Josh Allen,Aaron Rodgers and Tua Tagovailoa as 4th,8th and 14th. This division had at least two teams in the playoffs over the past two years.The wins for the Buffalo Bills,New York Jets and Miami Dolphins are projected at 9.5 or higher. The New England Patriots are not expected to contend for the division. Let's take a peek at each team and see what's ahead.

The Buffalo Bills are projected at 10.5. The Bills have QB Josh Allen and that makes them deadly. Allen can win games with his arm as well as his legs. He will be without his main target ,WR Stefon Diggs,who was traded to the Houston Texans.This places Head Coach Sean McDermott in a make or break year. The Bills have not advanced to the Super Bowl under McDermott. The Kansas City Chiefs and bad luck seem to thwart them every year. The run defense struggled in 2023 so that must improve. I think this is the year that the Bills do not live up to expectations. I see the championship window closing for Allen and McDermott with the coach moving on after this season. Take the Bills under.

The New York Jets are projected at 9.5. The Jets are hoping that Aaron Rodgers can return to form after suffering a torn achilles on the first series of play in 2023. Rodgers is 40 years old and was not at the mandatory workouts prior to the start of training camp. This makes one question if his heart is commited to anotherNFL season. He does have weaponswith RB Breece Hall and WR Garrett Wilson.  The jets are one of the top defenses in the NFL. Head Coach Robert Saleh is in a position where the Jets must make the playoffs if he expects to return.Since I am not totally sold on Rodgers .I will go in contrast to public opinion and go under on the Jets win total.

The Miami Dolphins are projected at 9.5, The Dolphins just extend Tua and WR Tyreek Hill. Miami has the most potent offense in the league and put up record numbers in 2023. Miami were ranked 1st in passing,4th in rushing and 1st in scoring. I expect 2024 to be a duplication. If the defense remains strong in QB pressure and improve their third down conversion rate,the Dolphins should be the top team in the division again. Miami won 11 games and finished second in the division.They will pass the projected total.

The New England Patriots are projected at 4.5 wins. Long time Head Coach Bill Belcheck has moved on after an outstanding run with the Pats. While new Head Coach Jarod Mayo was considered the heir apparent to replace Belcheck. The last two season the Patriots won 12 games and missed the playoffs. This is a rebuilding situation and a dynamic shift in team culture. QB Drake Mayo is talented but needs time to learn the position.The Patriot go under the projected total.

Here is a clip of the AFC Total Wins

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NFL- NFC North Wins Totals

 The NFC North is shaping up as a competitive division. With the Detroit Lions set to defend their 2023 division crown after a impressive season. The Lions won 12 games and won their first playoff game in over 32 years.Two teams from this division made the playoffs. The Chicago Bears had the top draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft so they are looking to improve their recordfrom 7-10. Let's look at the win total for each team 

Detroit Lions- Projected Win Total is 10.5. The Lions have won 21 games over the past two regular seasons. Last year's 3 game win improvement was one of the highest increases in the NFL over a year to year period.While a another increase is not foreseeable because of strong streght of schedule,the Lions are on paper the best team in the division.Lions will go over the projected win total. 

The Green Bay Packes-projected win total is 9.5. The Packers signed QB Jordan Love to a multi year extension basd his 2nd half performance of the 2023 season. Love led the Packers to a 6-2 record and a win over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. They added RB Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillion The Pack movrd on from star RBAaron Jones after he declined to take a pay cut. The Packers are poised to make anther playoff run and will contend for the division. Green Bay will go over the 9/5 projection.

The Chicago Bears-projected win total is 8.5.The Bears selected QB Caleb Williams with the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. They moved on from hhe extremely talented but erratic QB Justin Fields.The Bears have weapons around Williams that should help him assimilate into the pro game.The question is will Williams be more like CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans or struggle similar to Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers. I see Williams struggling early but doing better after the first 4 games of the season.The Bears willschedule from week four to eight includes the Panthers,Washingron Commanders and the Arizona Cardinals.Bears will   not make the playoffs but will scratch out 9 wins. They go over the projection.

Minnesota Vikings projected win total is 7.5.The Vikings are moving on from QB Kirk Cousins and trusting QBs Sam Darnold and top draft pick JJ McCarthy to keep the team in contention. Although they have WR Justin Jefferson who is one of the top recievers in the league, he will not perform at the optomum level  due to the drop in quarterback play.The Vikings won 7 games last year without Cousins and Jefferson for most of the season.I am not sold on either QB so this will be a down year for the Vikings, Vikings will go under.

Here is a clip of the NFL North Win Totals.

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NFL-NFC South Win Totals

 The NFC South is a division that does not posess one team that is projected with a double digit win total. This shows the low ceiling of expectations that the sports betting operators have for each team. The highest projected win total in the NFC South is the Atlanta Falcons with 9.5. This is a fall from 2021 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl ,defeating the Kansas City Chiefs.The odds for a Super Bowl win in this division are +1500.That number is the hghest of the four divisions in the National Conference. Let's dissect each team and see the win projections.

The Atlanta Falcons are projected at 9.5. The addition of QB Kirk Cousins has infuse some excitemeny in the dirty south.The Falcons had some good players in 2023. RB Bijan Robinson should improve upon his rookie season numbers of 8 TDs and over 1400 yards,rushing and recieving.The Falcons just added depth to their offensive line with two veteran signings. Look for a breakout year from Drake London,a wide reciever entering his third year. The question mark is the recovery of Cousins from his achilles injury. While top QB draft pick Michael Penix Jr. is talented,he is not expected to play right away.  The recovery time of Cousins injury is generally a year . The firts three games are potential losses against the Pittsburgh Steelers,Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Falcons will struggle to find 9 wins and they will go under the total.

The Tampa Bay Buccanners are projected at 7,5. Tampa Bay has fwon the NFC South the last 4 years in a row. Look for 4 to 5 wins in the division and 3 possibles against the Washington Commanders,Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. While QB Baker Mayfield is not a top tier quarterback,he can manage a game. TheBucs go over the projection and challenge for the division title.

The New Orleans Saints are projected at 7.5.QB Derek Carr is erratic and does not evoke confidence as you look at the Saints. Rookie QB Spencer Rattler is getting high praise in training camp.The possible wins outside the division are against the Denver Broncos,New York Giants and the Washington Commanders. Three wins against divisonal opponents and the win total is 6. One upset along theway and a win over the Las Vegas Raiders will push them over the projection.

The Carolina Panthers are projected at 5.5. The Panther have the distinction of being one of the worst teams in rhe NFL. While QB Bryce Young  did not have much to work with in 2023,his perfomance was not what you would expect from a top draft pick. The Panthers were 2-15 last year. The expectations are similar for 2024. Panther will be hard pressed to win a game within the division.The Panthers go under the 5.5 projection.

Here is a clip of the NFC South Win Projection.

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NFL-NFC West Win Totals

 The NFC West is the fome of the NFC Defending Conference Champion San Francisco Niners,The division has at least 2 playoff teams in each of the last 4 seasons. The Niners have won the division the past 3 seasons.They are the only team in the division this year with a double digit projection win total.Let examine the entire division and see how they stack up in 2024.

The San Francisco 49ers have a projected win total of 11.5. The Niners record was 12-5 in 2023. The team loss in the Super Bowl to the two time Champion Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 25-22 in OT. The team is relatively intact a in position to dominate the National Conference. Over the past 3 seasons,the Niners have averaged  11.6 wins. They have a potent offense and a top 5 defense.While their schedule in 2024 includes the Kansas City Cheifs,Miami Dolphins,Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, they would be a slight underdog in 3 of those games because they will be on the road. They are 18-8 on the road over the last 3 years for a win percentage of 69.2%. The Niners go over 11.5 barely.

The Los Angeles Rams are projected at 8.5. The Rams have QB Matthew Stafford who is showing no signs of slowing down. The dynamic duo of Cooper Kupp and Puca Nacua put fear into any secondary. The retirement of Aaron Donald will weaken the defense so most games will be shootouts. As long as Stafford is healthy and has a slight threat of a run game,the Rams will be in most contests.The Rams should win 3 of the 4 games they play against the NFC North. I see 3 wins in their division as well. The Rams will edge by the projected total of 8.5.

The Seattle Seahawks are projected at 7.5. The rebuilding is finally reached Seattle. It was supposed to start when QB Russell Wilson left and was traded to the Denver Broncos.Nobody told QB Geno Smith and he proceeded to have two seasons where he led them to consecutive 9-8 seasons.The problem for the Seahawks have been the defense and penalties. The hire of Leslie Frazier as defensive cordinactor will improve some of the problem. However the hirer of Head Coach Mike MacDonald will take time to pay dividends. The Seahawks fall short of the 7.5 and go under.

The Arizona Cardinals are projected at 7.5. At first glance, you may think this is an overstimation of the Cardinals who finished with consecutive 4-13 records. The defense showed flashes of improvement and the addition of WR Marvin Harrison Jr, is part of the optomism. If QB Kyler Murray can avoid injury, a eight or nine game win total is within reach. The potential wins on the schedule include the Minnesota Vikings,Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots. The team is capable of two upsets as they play AFC East opponents,  New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills.Don 't see playoffs but do see improvement. Cardinals over 7.5.

Check out the clip of the NFC West Win Total.

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NFL-NFC East Wins Totals

 The NFC NFC East has at least 2 teams in the playoffs in the past 3 seasons. It is not a coincidence that the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys have the highest projected win total in the division.Both teams won over 10 games last season.

The Eagles are projected at 10.5 wins. The Eagles had a total collapse at the end of 2023 when they loss 5 of their last 6 and an opening round playoff game to the Tampa Bay Bucanners by ascore of 32-9. The Eagles have added RB Saquon Barklry to upgrade the running attack and drafted two highly touted rookies to shore up the secondary. They should be able to withstand the losses of Jason Kelce,Flecther Cox and D'Andre Swift. The Eagles go over 10.5

The Dallas Cowboys are projected at 10.5. The Cowboys were 12-5 in 2023. They lost in the opening round of the NFL Wild Card round to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 48-32.The Cowboys loss RB Tony Pollard in free agency to the Tennessee Titans. They brought back RB Ezekiel Elliott after he struggled in his one year stint with the Nw England Patriots.This is a contract year for Quarterback Dak Prescott.At this time, WR Ceedee Lamb is not in camp due to a contract dispute. This is not a blueprint for team unity in any situation. The Cowboys go under 10.5. 

The Washington Commandersare projected at 6.5. The Commanders record in 2023 was 4-13. The team struggled with injuries and traded key defensive players during the middle of the season. This led to the firing of Head Coach Ron Rivera and the selection of QB Jayden Daniels with the 2nd pick of the NFL Draft. Daniels was thewinner of the 2023 Heisman Trophy.The Commanders should match last year and get at least 3 wins outside of the division.If the combination of Daniels and QB Sam Howell can get 3 wins in the division,that is a pathway to go over. Washington over 6.5.

The New York Giants are projected at 6.5. The Giants record in 2023 was 6-11. The Giants are led by QB Daniel Jones. Jones has not delivered on his 160,00,00 million dollar contract. He has been injury prone and sacked 179 times in his 5 season.His record in games played with Saquon Barkley was 14-23-1. Without Barkley,Jones was 8-14. No Barkley means more problem.The wheels fall off in New York and the Giants go under the 6.5. 

Check out the clip of the NFC East Win Total. 

 

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Sports Betting-By the Numbers:NFL Win Totals

 

This week is the start of NFL Training Camps.Since the next few weeks are relatively light in terms of activity,you should be focused on the NFL Win Total for your team.Those numbers are available to you on most sports betting apps.

The popular strategy for approaching the total wins is to go through the schedule meticulously and look at each game. Remove the emotional attachment and look at the each game objectively.Add up the number of winsnand compare your number to what the sport betting operator has posted. If your total exceeds the projected amount ,you will make a wager going over. If you have less wins than the projection, then the under is the play.

If you are not able to be objective then focus on the win total of a team that is not in your team's division. It should be a team that you are familiar with. Look at the strgenth of schedule and when the bye week takes place. If there is a key injury to the starting quarterback,does the team you picked have a viable backup.Also look at how many trips a team makes across country.and what was their road record in similar situations last season.

The projections are generally the same at every sports book. The difference will be in the price. An example is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are projected at10.5 wins.One operator has the under at -150 and the over at +120.A competitor has the same projection with the price -155 for the under and the over at +130.The competitor is offering better odds at the exact same number. Go with the competitor!

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers: Operators Mid-Term

 

After seeing the reports that Penn Entertainment had a round of layoff wirh members of their ESPNBet team,I decided to look at the mid year numbers for the top operators. Let's see where everyone is positioned as the NFL returns this fall.  These are the market shares of the top operators.                           DraftKings :38%

  FanDuel 36.5%

   BetMGM:7%

   Caesars:5.9%

   ESPNBet 3.2%

   Rush Street Interactive 3%

Comparing these numbers to the 1st quarter of 2024,DraftKings increased by 2.7%.FanDuel decreased by 1.3%.FanDuel'sDraft market share shifted slightly toward DraftKings and Rush Interactive.BetMGM decreased by.3%despite some impressive partnerships. Caesars decreased .6% and ESPNBet dropped 1.5%.

Let's look at the stock prices to see if investors are still confident over the last month of activity. DraftKings fell -6.07% but close today up 0,26%. FanDuel is down -0.6% over the last 30 days but closed today up 0.6%. Public confidence is unchanged.BetMGM was up 8.80% in the last month and closed yesterday up ,15%. The public opinion of the stock is unwavered. Caesars Entertainment was down 5% 30 days ago but closed yesterday up .82%/.Caesars was down $9 6 months ago and $2 a month ago. While the market share declined, the price is going up.Rush Interactive's stock price was in the low teens 6 months ago but has dropped to just under $10 yesterday. The shift in market share did not translate to increasing the stock value. Penn Entertainment and ESPNBet are not trending in the anticipated direction. A stock price that was high as $25 a year ago is now at $18.52 and down .27% yesterday. 

The Outlook: Expect the two market leaders to jockey for the top position as the NFL and NCAA Football returns in September. BetMGM's partnership with Twitter and the expansion of their sports betting service in Washington, D.C.,will  help recoup the .3% loss of the 2nd quarter, I see Rush as a possible acquisition based on a fvorable price. ESPNBet has the advantage of starting this football season off at the inception. By not launching until after week 7 in 2023,they acqiured multiple downloads but were not able to grow the market.A correction is imperative or this media and gaming merger will be short lived.

I encourage you to practice smart responsible gaming and do your homework as you look to invest in the stock market.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers:Olympic Marketing

 The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games enaged with an audience of over 3 billion people according to an independent reasearch survey conducted by the IOC.This was via linear TV and digital platforms.Along with the Olympic broadcast partners using media and digital platforms,this led to over 28 billion views.Some of those views were done multiple times by the same people. This is still 139% increase over th 2016 Olympics Games in Rio.The power of streaming can not not be undereatimated and the 2024 Olympics should exceed the record set in 2020.

So how many of these people are your customers and how do you plan to involve them over the next 3 week? I have some suggestions that you can use to connect with your customers.

1. Provide periodic updates during the games with a personal touch. Have members of your team relay scores or video highlights.Share updates that the customer will find relevant. Have a team member that speak the same language as the customer or in the same age range, initiate the conversation.The patron will value the exchange and the team member solidify the relationship.
2. Plan a special that coincides with the Olympics Games. If you have brisk business in the morning,offer croissants.If your crowd is mid day to dinner time,steak fries will be appropriate. Both of these choices are synonymous with Paris ,France.
3. Allow your team members to wear t-shirts representing the country they are rooting for. This   acknowleges their lineage and the heritage of their ancestors.The employees will feel proud working for you during this two week period.  
4. Poll your clientele and gauge the interest in a watch party.If you get a response rate of 50%,you can realistically expect 30 to 60% of that group to come. Depending on your budget,you can entertain your guests with games of corn hole,Culture Tags and Five Card Draw Poker. Everyone has the opportunity to play with the top three people getting a prize ranking Gold,Silver and Bronze.
5. Sports Betting on the Olympics has some intrguing odds. The numbers range from prohibitive favoritess  to long shots.The USA Mens and Womens Basketball are the overwhelming favorites. The USA Soccer Team is a 25-1 long shot to win a gold medal.You can bet on what country will win the most gold medals and if the USA will win under 40.5 Gold Medals/ The odds are set at -130 for the under.China has the same under price but the number is set at 34.5. 

If you are not connecting your venue or brand with something related to the Olympics,there should be a serious look at how you are connecting with your customers.Just by celebrating the diversity of the participants will create a buzz. If you totally sleeping this opportunity then I know you should be conversing with me before NFL starts this fall!

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers:Totals

 A popular method of wagering on sports is totals.Totals are the amount of scores combine in a contest or by an individual. The runs in MLB,the points in the NFL,NBA,WNBA,NCAA Football  and Basketball,along with  NHL are events that most people will bet on. The total gives you the ability to watch and have a vested interest in both teams.You can make your bet on one team to exceed or go under a projected number as well.

How the Sports Book Operators determines  the total for a contest by combining the points that the two teams averaged together.The 2024 Super Bowl LVIII featured the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The total was set at 47.5. The 49ers averaged 28.9 points in 2023.The Chiefs averaged 21.8 points.Both teams had outstanding defenses so a number that would be 50.5 was modified by 3 points. The final score was the Chiefs winning 25-22 in overtime.  

There are situations when the Operators are feeling out the public and setting a number based on speculation. Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark played in her first WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun. Her projected points for that game were 20.5. This was based on her performance in college where she averaged 28.4 for her career. She scored 20 in a 92-71 loss.Most of the tickets were on Clark to go over the number. 

The public is prone to make wagers on the over because of the appeal of offense. The use of algorithms keeps the projected number close to the final outcome. This is the ideal circumstance for the operator and the betting public. The public will gravitate toward the over in most sports but over the last 10 seasons in the NFL,the games have gone under 51.32% of the time. Less than 2% of the game end in a push . A push is when a game ends in a tie. 

The strategies  with totals should factor in injuries,weather and if applicable,recent divisional history. Avoid out of conference games unless one team is clearly superior to the other. That team will dominate and the lean to the over would be the play.When looking at individuals,focus on the player's average,last 5 games played and recent performance against an opponent.

Now I will get you ready for the Summer Olympics. Root for your country and make money while doing it. Always practice smart responsible gaming! We will dive into the Summer Games in my next posy.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers:Favorites

 Sports Betting has a variable that all pundits or bettors are aware of. Who is the favorite is the question asked before any contest or event between teams or individuals.This is the team or individual that is generally considered as the better of the two.The consensus of the public along with the statistics associated with opponents plays a part.

The Sports Betting Operators assess the opponents once an event is scheduled and within moments,provide the betting community with a number. While the bettors is lookung at emotional attachments and personal prefences,the operators uses algorithms and data to arrive at a number. The number the operator selects is designed to create a balance of interest in the event. 

When a popular team is onvolved,balance is hard to achieve. Some rabid fans of the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles will wager on their home teams  regardless of the designation as a favorite  or a underdog. An undefdog is the team that is viewed as the weaker of the two. Regional Sports Book Operators are quietly rooting that the home team wins but does not cover the number assigned to the event. Covering the number is qinning by more than the figure posted. The Eagles may be favored by 7 points over the New York Giants. The Sports Book Manager in Philadelphia wants to win money. The way to do that is for favorites to loses or at least not cover.

When a number is assigned,there are  two segments that follow it. Smart Money comes in first. Smart Money is from people that are astute sports bettors that generally wager limit or high amounts of money.Smart Money is known to take advantage of a line  or number. Public Money comes next. The public takes time to decipher the number. In that time,the sports book operator can slightly adjust the number based on the smart money wagered initially.

My next post will go into how the operator arrives at a number and the strategy associated with it. Remember that knowlege and discipline equare to power! Always think smart responsible gaming.

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Sports Betting-Inside the Numbers

 Sports Betting is growing exponentially in popularity.While it has always been part of the landscape in other countries,it is still in the developmental stage in the United States. Prior to the repeal of _PASPA six year ago,legal bets were limited to Nevada. That has now expanded to 38 states. So in an effort to understand the business,I will take you inside the numbers on difference levels.This will allow you to make smart and responsible decisions.

Most articles that you see on Sports Betting will give opinions on who will win the game or who will perform at what level during a contest. I am taking the perspective that the number attached to the event should mitigate the play. The play is the amount of the wager. An example is a star pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Ranger Suarez starting against the Oakland Athletics.The price to wager on the Phillies Money line for that game was -235. The money line is a wager that on who will win the game ,regardless of the score.While the Phillies are the best team reordwise in the MLB and the  A's are one of the worst,the price of taking the money line is exorbitant.The win on -235would bring you $100 and you would have $335 in your pocket. A loss would cost your $235.So you would have to win 3 bets at that money line number to recoup your initial loss. The Phillies loss the game 6-2. 

If you are deadset on making a wager at this price,an intelligent approach is to include the bet in a parlay. While the price will weaken the payoff ,the odds of you hitting the parlay have increased without the cash overlay.

We just went inside the number. Before lookung at the odds that are posted,have a price in your mind that is optimal to yourbankroll.Do not exceed that price regardless of the conditions associated with the teams.While Sports Betting is fun,it's more enjoyable when you are discipline and strategic. 

Check out another sports betting strategy in the videi.

Follow me for more on Twitter and Linkedin.

 

 

NFL Totals for 2022

 

The NFL is just one day away from starting the 2022 season. A great time to look at some over/under projections for several NFL teams. I looked at the schedule and breakdown the victories and the losses. I also look for teams that have a winning streak against their opponents within a division.

An example of this is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have won seven straight games against the Miami Dolphins and four straight against the New York Jets. If those streaks continue and the Bills split with the New England Patriots as they have in the past two seasons, Buffalo will have 5 wins in their own division. The Bills play the NFC North with projected wins against the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Buffalo plays Green Bay at home and after a bye week. They will be favored to win that game. This would take them to 8 wins. With games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns the Bills can easily be at 10 wins This would mean that the Bills would need 2 wins against this group of teams. The Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Baltimore Ravens. I see the 1^st game against the Rams as a potential loss. The Bills would finish 12-5 and go over the projected total of 11.5. The price is -140 if you take them over.

Most times the emphasis is on the good teams and a winning situation. There is value in taking the projected under on teams transitioning due to coaching or quarterback changes. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers are going into a season for the 1^st time in over 15 seasons without Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh will have problems with division opponents and will only be favored in their home game against the Cleveland Browns. With 5 projected losses within the division the Steelers will look at a 1-3 mark against the AFC East, they should only be favored against the Jets. Pittsburgh is projected at 7.5 wins. The under price is -135.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are being coach by Doug Pederson. The culture needs a makeover after Urban Meyers toxic reign as coach. Even having Trevor Lawrence, the number one pick in the 2021 draft is not enough to project this team to above 500.The Jags will go 0-4 against the AFC West. The same outlook appears when they play the NFC East. With 8 losses. Jacksonville would have to win 7 of the nine remaining games. Wins should come against the Texans, Jets and Detroit. The Jags should come short of the projected total of 6.5 games. The under has a price of -120.

Bet RIVERS has several alternate team wins projected over and under. Check them out at Bet Rivers

 

Here are several top teams and their projected win totals.

Kansas City Chiefs-10.5

Dallas Cowboys - 10

Los Angeles Rams-10.5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- 11.5

Green Bay Packers-11

Baltimore Ravens-9.5

I would advise you to look at the schedules and gauge where the wins and losses will occur before making your selections.

 

Sports Betting: The Business of Risk

 

The business of Sports Betting is at an all-time high. Just 5 years ago, you could only make wagers on single games in Nevada. Now you can bet on a single game in over 30 states. Last year over 57 billion was bet legally by Americans on sports. I am not counting the illegal market that is still available to a segment of the gaming patrons.

So why is the stock market not reflecting this renaissance period? A review of the leading sports betting companies and gaming operators stock prices show dismal results over the past 6 months. While the amount of money wagered is staggering, the investors in the companies are seeing red digits on their portfolios.

While the slide could be due to global inflation, there are long term profitability concerns for the industry. Look for a merger or acquisition as a way for one or two operators to turn things around. CNBC Jim Cramer stated “But as we see what the reality looks like, there’s tons of competition for market share and little in the way of profits. Too bad because profits are what this market wants right now. That is why every single one of these stocks has been obliterated,”

According to Yahoo Finance, MGM Resorts International announced an offer to acquire the global gaming company Leovegas. MGM is attempting to build on the success of BetMGM in the United States with this acquisition allowing them to expand globally with an omnichannel strategy. I also found that MGM, as part of the Maryland Education Summit for Sports Betting, will offer a mentorship program to a qualified applicant that is pursuing a Class C sport betting license. This week, MGM was approved for a takeover of the Cosmopolitan amid questions about a monopoly on the Las Vegas Strip. MGM International is making progressive moves and has a stock price of 36.56.A year ago it was $51.17.

Any organization that has an established following on social media, does a high volume of sales and is known internationally may want to purchase a gaming company as a caveat to provide entertainment value to their customers. Imagine if Google or Facebook decided to offer sports betting to their followers. They would have to gain the trust of the public in a manner comparable to Uber and Disney. The patrons would have to be comfortable sharing their banking information and be guaranteed an enjoyable experience that is not based solely on winning.

Since gaining market share is the driver for the more renown operators, the winner of the Sports Betting race will be the operator with a brick-and-mortar venue in cities with a large population along with online gaming presence. The operator that provides visual content of the event to coincide with in game wagering will corner the market.

Check out my articles about sports betting in IGaming Player & Bettors Insider. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

 

The Metro Report: What's Next?

The year is winding down! as we approach the holidays I want to share with you what I have on my agenda. This is my personalize version of the Metro Report. I am covering the gaming in the following cities. Philadelphia,New York City and Washington DC. are taking center stage between now and Christmas.

In Philly, I had the opportunity to interview two of the top General Managers on the East Coast. I am strongly considering doing more of these. Two of the top restaurants in the city are mentioned and recommended. Check out the interview here. 

Next week in New York City and the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey. the SBC North America will convene. I am honored to be part of a panel that will tackled the question of How to nurture talent to your sports betting operations. The panel will be moderated by Bronwen Gregg, The other panel members include Allison Bassman,Director of People and Culture for Penn Interactive,Noemie Levy, Talent Acquisition Manager for Bet MGM and Holly Gagnon Co-CEO of Artemis Strategic Investment Corporation. Some of the subjects we will cover include job opportunities,working remotely vs. working on property and diversity. I may have a surprise interview while in NYC. Stay tuned!

Here is a look back at SBC 2019. It includes part of the team from SeventySix Capital. Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie and Newly Reelected Governor Phil Murphy attended this event.

 

Then I'll easy down 95 to Washington DC to the Capital One Arena. James Van Stone and the team at Monumental Sports and Entertainment are among the leaders in bringing sports betting to a stadium style venue.  They are the model to emulate and started trends with sports wagering centric broadcasts of Washington Wizards and Washington Capital games. I will be seeing how a world class organization does it first hand with a game day experience that you will not want to miss. The Wizards are currently 4th in the NBA Eastern Conference and will be playing the Utah Jazz.

So this is what's next for me. If you are on LinkedIn, we can have a professional exchange there. If you chat on Twitter,then follow me and we can tweet about gaming and professional sports like NFL & NBA.  Videos similar to what  you saw earlier can be found on Instagram and Facebook.  Stay with me and we can roll into 2022 together. 

3 Takeaways from the G2E 2021

These are my 3 Takeaways from the 2021 G2E. This was my 1st trip to Las Vegas in 2 years so I could have easily added more to my list. But these three are areas I envision that will gain traction over the next 18 months. Watch the video and read my commentary, Tell me what you think about where the gaming industry is going.

1). CashLess Transactions: Even before Covid 19 changed the way we interact with each other,cashless gaming transactions were available in Europe & the UK. Covid is expediting the transition to having those transactions here in the United States. As oppose to counting  a large sum of money and transfering it from your facility to a finacial institution, a digital trnsaction would save time and money. Jonathan Micheals,SVP for Strategic Development of Sightline Payments is instrumental in the conversation about the advantages associated with going cashless.

2). Mobile Technology expansion to the casino floor: Remember the days when using your phone in the sports book or near a table game was totally prohibited. Well look for the advent of a mobile expierience that the casinos will welcome. Resorts World Las Vegas has a loyalty system that a player can utilize if they did not bring their player's card to the casino. If the player has his phone the play can be tracked and the player can recieve an accurate rating of his action. This saves money because the casino does not have to print up a new loyalty card everytime the guest forgets to bring it. It also allows the marketing team to know when you are playing and increases the opportunities for the casino to connect with the guest. A player could have match play downloaded to his phone while playing blackjack or an odd boost tailored to his favorite team after a score.

3).The Importance of Media: The sucessful operators are partnering with media companies to promote brand awareness. So the way to stand out is to have content that is engaging and spurs conversation. How is your message extending beyond your facility? Is it being communicated within your building? The use of social media is imperative to reach outside of your geographical radius. There is a substantial gain associated with a strategic digital marketing plan that operators & media collectively work toward. The propect of gaming and media has me at the perfect intersection.

Follow me on Twitter for more gaming and sports betting related content. During the NBA & NFL season,you can access my work with the hashtag #GTLivechat. Join me and my cohost @KeshisCuties during prime time telecasts when games are on ESPN,TNT,NBC, ABC & NFL Network.

 

The G2E Experience in Espanol

 

Avance de G2E 2021: Mims se dirige a Las Vegas ya que la exposición de juegos será en vivo y virtual este año.

El G2E 2021 es la próxima semana. Estoy emocionado por la oportunidad de ir y tengo la suerte de ser parte de un equipo que valora mis esfuerzos y empeños. No tomo su compromiso conmigo a la ligera y me enorgullece ser miembro de una organización que ve la utilidad de una conferencia como esta.

 Este año, el G2E será un evento virtual y presencial. Empieza el 4 de octubre y termina el 7 de octubre. Los avances tecnológicos en la industria del juego aún estarán en exhibición en la Venetian Expo en Las Vegas, Nevada. Los seminarios educativos cubrirán temas como E Sports, Sports Betting & I Gaming. 

Algunas de las empresas y organizaciones notables que participan en el G2E de este año incluyen Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Seventy-Six Capital, UNLV y Global Gaming Business. Daré más información sobre otros grupos antes del inicio de la conferencia.

 Hay 3 paneles en los que me he registrado: Asisto al panel moderado por Contessa Brewer sobre juegos y diversidad. El segundo panel al que voy a ir es Modernización de pagos de juegos. Este panel es un punto de énfasis que revolucionará la industria de los casinos. El tercer panel sobre dólares y sentido; La forma en que los deportes, las apuestas y los medios están impulsando los resultados es relevante para cualquier profesional de los juegos como yo. 

Anticipo varias oportunidades para establecer contactos mientras estoy en la sala de exposiciones y proporcionaré actualizaciones diarias en las redes sociales. Podrás ver mis tweets en Twitter y mis fotos y videos en Instagram. Mientras le proporciono cobertura y acceso, es posible que esté pensando en asistir. Existen mandatos y precauciones de seguridad vigentes con respecto a las máscaras, las pruebas de covid y las vacunas. Vaya al sitio web de G2E para obtener detalles e información. Tendré un resumen cuando regrese aquí en Bettors Insider.

 

The sports betting coverage of the New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC markets will have the thousand of viewers looking for an edge. I would normally just focus on Las Vegas, Philly and Atlantic City.I expect this to be the most action ever wagered on professional sports over the next calendar year. So I will expand with my Gaming Guy News minutes into the 3 top cities on the East Coast.

The New York Giants play the Washington Football Team on Thursday Night Football. The Giants are getting 3 and the total is 41. The Giants lost to the Denver Broncos and were not able to establish a running game. Giants only gained 60 yards on 20 carries. I am not expecting a great deal of production from Saquon Barkley. This will be two games in 5days after a major injury. Daniel Jones must eliminate the turnovers, Washington lost QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for several games due to a hip injury.

                                                   Eagles +3.5 vs the Niners- Total 50

                                                   Jets +5.5 vs the Patriots - Total 43

The surprise of the week was he play of the Eagles. I thought the Birds could win but I was not thinking domination. I am not as confident with the Niners coming in. It is the 2nd straight road game for San Francisco.

Jets must protect  QB Zach Wilson better in Game 2 against the Pats. The Panther's sacked Wilson 6 times. New York did close with 5 with under 2 minutes to play. Jet have lost 10 straight to the Patriots,

                                                       In The NBA

The Brooklyn Nets improved their team by adding several free agents. Patty Mills, James Johnson and DeAndre Bembry will add depth to the star studded lineup.They will be better defensively. Grade B-.

The Sixers signed Andre Drummond and George Niang to replace Dwight Howard and Mike Scott. While Howard brought energy,Drummond will be more level headed.  Niang is a better shooter than Scott. Grade B+.

The New York Knicks made the biggest impact in free agency with the signing of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. The resigning of Derrick Rose means the guard play will improve dramactically. Grade: A.

The Washington Wizards signed Spencer Dinwiddie. If he return to his 2019 numbers of 20.6 points and 6,8 assists,the Wizards are getting a steal of a player.Grade B.

                                                       And now, A Sports Betting Tip

Follow me for more in depth coverage on NFL and NBA on Twitter and Bettors Insider My website  is Smart Responsible Gaming.