Virus shutdowns will likely make NFL draft most bet on ever

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — For those who haven’t mastered the odds of Belarussian soccer or Russian table tennis, this week’s NFL draft gives U.S. gamblers their first opportunity in weeks to bet on an event about which they actually know something.

With major sports shut down for more than a month because of the coronavirus outbreak, American sportsbooks say they expect football’s annual draft to be the most bet on ever.

Desperate to offer a familiar event, online sportsbooks say they are seeing a much greater volume of bets on the draft this year.

Several sportsbooks estimated the gambling industry as a whole could see $5 million wagered on the draft in the U.S. this year; FOX Bet estimated the market at $20 million, up from a typical draft of about $1 million.

“There’s no doubt this will be the biggest-bet draft ever,” said Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill U.S. “The draft is a time of renewal, and I think people are looking forward to a bit of fun after all of the tough news we’ve had recently. Betting on the draft is small in context, so this is no silver bullet, but it’s something positive for sure.”

He said he expected his company to see 10 times the amount of bets it usually does on the draft.

The draft beginning Thursday will not be a financial windfall for sportsbooks, though. The amount bet is small compared with other wellknown events.

And the level of action would be even greater if in-person sportsbooks were open (they’re not). About 80% of sports betting is done online in New Jersey, with similarly high rates in other states.