Online Gambling Rises in Popularity as Sports Betting Events are canceled over Coronavirus outbreak

Sports betting will be highly restrained for the next month, as all the major sporting events are postponed within the near future due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, online gambling remains alive and kicking.

Casinos take very seriously the health and safety of those players looking to step into a brick-and-mortar casino, hence bettors now have the option to avoid land-based casinos and gamble online, as most sports events have been shut down for the next few months. Operators GVC and Playtech have both confirmed the movement.

Coronavirus Halts Sports Events 
The pandemic has postponed or delayed the NBA, NHL and MLB seasons, and cancelled the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments and many other important events. The PGA Tour has also canceled the Valero Texas Open 2020.

Dr. Christopher Drumm of the Einstein Healthcare Network and co-host of “Doc and the Deacon” podcast  addressed the issue: “They should definitely play online now. This is the time where you might want to cut back on going out and being social. If I went to a casino, I wouldn’t be playing the slots. I would consider, at this time, decreasing visits to the casino. But I would be more comfortable if you were in the sportsbook as opposed to touching the slot machine.”

The Coronavirus outbreak has closed casinos in Macau, the gambling center of the world, and it has even prompted discussion of a postponement of the Olympics. Sports governing bodies, such as the NCAA, are considering playing games in empty arenas rather than stage March Madness events that could facilitate the transmission of the virus.