Single-game betting a game-changer for CFL
With details important to gamblers, league will adopt NFL'S style of injury reporting
There's no lack of things that are different about this shortened 14-game CFL season, but opening week has been a time to get your head wrapped around one of them:
Injury reporting.
Every day, every team is required to report every injury and the status of that injury leading up to game day.
With single-game and single-proposition betting having been legalized in Canada and with a desire to make fantasy football leagues an addictive part of proceedings for younger demographics, Nfl-style injury reporting has arrived. And the CFL teams have shown they're serious about it.
“Sports betting is a game-changer,” Edmonton Elks president and chief executive Chris Presson said.
“It not only generates dollars but also creates greater fan engagement and more interest from the casual fan. Any time you have skin in the game, your sensitivity to the outcome becomes heightened and the greater fan you tend to become.”
Former Edmonton president and chief executive Rick Lelacheur, now in the same capacity with the B.C. Lions, his response was totally gung-ho positive as well.
“The injury reporting is a big step and the right step for the CFL,” he said.
“With the change to single-game sports betting, injury information reporting plays an integral role in those wishing to bet on the outcome of a game.
“Football has always been one of the largest volume producers of sports betting. We believe within the next few years this will secure another revenue stream for both the Lions and the CFL.”
In Regina, Roughriders president and chief executive Craig Reynolds went on record as recognizing positives in another direction.
“I'm really excited about it. It's been a long time coming,” Reynolds said, answering a question from Regina Leader-post football writer Murray Mccormick on a Roughriders pre-season video interview earlier this week.
“To me, it's about professionalism and transparency. I think our fans deserve to know that. I think our fans need to know what players might be available. It helps the storyline of who is likely going to play and who is likely not to play.
“When you are moving towards the legalization of single-game betting, it affects betting lines and it affects whether or not you feel confident about a team.
“Obviously, there is a fantasy football component to it, too. If you're truly going to embrace fantasy football, you need to be very transparent with injuries. People who immerse themselves in fantasy football in the NFL live and die by those injury reports.”
It's been interesting to follow the CFL injury reports all week.
There's been the iffy status of B.C. quarterback Mike Reilly (right elbow) and Ottawa quarterback Matt Nichols (right shoulder). Both players' practice participation this week was listed as “limited.”
In Winnipeg, where the Blue Bombers raised their 2019 Grey
Cup banner and played host to the traditional Grey Cup rematch opener Thursday, There was a real focus on Grey Cup MVP Andrew Harris, wide receiver Darwin Adams and linebacker Kyrie Wilson, all of them important players for the defending champions.
Harris' injury was recorded as “calf,” while Adams' was listed as “shoulder” and Wilson's was designated as “thigh.”
All three had “DNP” (Did Not Practice) beside their name every day of the week and were finally listed under the game status as “out” on Wednesday.
For Edmonton, offensive linemen Sirvincent Rogers (chest) and Kyle Saxelid (back) and linebacker Mark Tyne (hamstring) were listed “DNP” Tuesday but were upgraded to “limited” with defensive backs Tarean Folston (hamstring) and Jermaine Gabriel (hamstring) and running
back Walter Fletcher (head). So far, so good.
Now, all the CFL teams wait. None of the provinces have produced a plan to activate their legalized sports betting initiatives. I'm sure they'll all be up and running for the 2022 season, but after losing the entire season last year and playing a reduced — and in some cases, restricted, — 14-game schedule this year, the league needs the revenue now.
Can't wait to see what they come up with.
One can only hope that the NHL is watching and we can get rid of “upper body” and “lower body” being the only injury identifications.
Before the Golden Knights came to Vegas, it was hard to find a line on a hockey game in one of their sports books.
Follow the CFL lead and the NHL salary caps might go up.