Sports betting is at an extremely intriguing juncture in its timeline. While European countries might be further ahead of this curve than US sports betting operators, there’s been a marked difference in the attitude toward sports betting and the availability of these markets throughout the US.
Until fairly recently, US sports betting and gambling as a whole were a localized market in Nevada, except for odd pockets popping up in New Jersey. Recent landmark changes have transformed it into a legitimized, multibillion-dollar market, and with this newfound interest comes the sort of questions that haven’t really been asked in American sporting culture before.
For example, which top names in the NBA have exhibited an interest in gambling, and what stance do some of the big teams take regarding players under contract placing wagers?
Growing online markets and the relationship with basketball
The betting landscape has changed significantly over the years, and this has been one of the main driving forces in the number of professional sports stars exploring what online casinos and sports betting companies have to offer.
The face of the NBA and its most prodigal son, Michael Jordan, has made no secret of his love for gambling. Not only would the basketball legend try his hand at blackjack on high-roller tables in Vegas, but he would often bet his teammates large sums of money on all sorts of eventualities.
The appeal of convenience
While big personalities like Jordan would soak up the sort of attention he’d attract in those grand Vegas casinos, some players are more reserved and introverted. For them, the idea of betting online is a much better way to unwind than the sort of hysteria that can occur if they were to rock up to a local, land-based casino.
It’s not just sportsbooks and online casinos that have found a home online, though. Other emerging elements of the sector have been able to drum up support and prove to the broader gambling community that they have a place in the broader model. At https://www.wsn.com/sportsbooks/, they have assembled a series of expert reviewers who use their experience and knowledge to rank the top sportsbooks, citing components ranging from the quality and effectiveness of their customer support desk to site security.
Prior to the advent of the internet, this wouldn’t have been a viable market. It’s just another example of how growing online markets have not only expanded online gambling but have allowed other elements of it to flourish.
Striking a balance
While Michael Jordan in casinos back in the 1990s and early 2000s was always a good photo op for the paparazzi, there does need to be a balance. While the most recent news about inflated stats has grabbed the headlines, Jordan is still one of the seminal names and is considered the most crucial figure in the sport’s history. His attachment to gambling games is a byproduct that also allowed the gambling industry to flourish, although a lot of these changes have only come in recently.
Sports betting markets, in particular, are much easier to access than they were back in Jordan’s heyday, and there are also far more games that players can bet on. For obvious reasons, NBA players cannot bet on individual markets or games tied to their own performance or that of their team.
The Jontay Porter scandal highlights precisely why these policies are in place. However, given that the NBA and other big sporting institutions are establishing much deeper ties with the gambling industry, those within pro basketball are also keen to allow players to bet on other sports or play casino games if they wish.
Although NBA players might be earning the big bucks in the NBA, they still adopt the same gambling patterns as many of us do, and they can be susceptible to some of the broader harms that can occur with problem gambling. If you think that you could be developing an issue with your gambling, or you believe one of your friends or family members might be having issues stemming from the amount of money and time spent gambling, professional help is but a phone call away.
Ultimately, the convenience of placing a bet at home and from their mobile phones has resulted in NBA players exploring gambling markets in more depth. The NBA isn’t alone in this; a number of high-profile sports stars have stated they’ve placed bets on their phones, whether they’re having a bit of downtime between games or in the hotel wanting to kill a bit of time.
NBA players are no different from other high-profile names who have taken an interest in gambling online; it’s the appeal of being able to do it on their phones or from their homes that has fueled much of this intrigue.
As we pointed out, there’s a lot of crossover between these players and the way we gamble; just because they’re on the big money doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy the same gambling games we do – and ultimately, that’s the main reason why more NBA players are gambling.
