Having no sports right now sucks. If you\u2019ve forgotten what a world with major events every weekend feels like, don\u2019t worry \u2013 we forgive you. You\u2019re probably not the only one.<\/p>\n
And despite what you might have been told, the Belarussian Premier League just isn\u2019t the same as watching the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and so on tussle with one another.<\/p>\n
Sure, things might seem like they\u2019ll never return to normal right now. But they will. Sports will come back and so will sports bettors. It remains to be seen *how* they do, but the certainty is that they will.<\/p>\n
Now is a good time to think about what a post-coronavirus sports betting world will look like, which is what we\u2019re going to help you with today.<\/p>\n
There is no definitive answer to this, but we can speculate that one of a few outcomes will happen. The first is that everything will return to normal, but considering the impact of Covid-19 on everybody that\u2019s questionable.<\/p>\n
Spending habits will probably change for many people. To begin with, many regular punters could find themselves out of work and therefore without disposable income. Meanwhile, others could become more cautious about where their money goes.<\/p>\n
On the flip side, there will be others who are excited for the return to action. People who feel that there is no substitute for watching their favourite team or player. These are the types of individuals that will mean that sports betting will always be around.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be stupid with your marketing.<\/strong>\u00a0We talked about this in our \u2018Pivot, Don\u2019t Panic\u2019 call a few weeks ago. Our industry receives plenty of scrutiny at the best of times, let alone now. This is not the time to go gung-ho with moronic marketing practices.<\/p>\n Both affiliates and operators have already been warned about the consequences of targeting players with inappropriate advertising. And alongside the financial penalties, it\u2019s just not worth risking your long-term reputation either. You should still be marketing yourself, but be sensible with your messaging.<\/p>\n Engage players now.\u00a0<\/strong>A lot of sports fans are a) stuck at home and b) bored. They want entertainment and that\u2019s something you\u2019ve got the power to provide.<\/p>\n This is a good time to adopt new content marketing practices that could prove successful in the long-term. For example, have you considered podcasts and video? Either (or both) of these will provide something unique if done properly.<\/p>\n You could also think about what you wish to include in your content. One way you could entertain people, beyond season previews and what not, is sports card pack openings. As was mentioned in our recent industry discussion, this has been well-received in some corners of social media. Ask players what they would like to see and experiment \u2013 it\u2019ll pay off in the long run.<\/p>\n Sports will return.\u00a0<\/strong>Nobody knows when, but it will. And those games that haven\u2019t been played over the past couple of months? Well\u2026 they\u2019ll have to take place at some point.<\/p>\n One could say that this break has been beneficial for sports such as football. We were at the business end of the season for many leagues. Now, key players will have more time to heal from injuries and everybody will be raring to go once things return to normal.<\/p>\n 2021 will be an action-packed sporting year.\u00a0<\/strong>Prior to the spread of Covid-19, the sports betting industry was gearing up for an exciting summer.\u00a0Euro<\/strong>\u00a02020<\/strong>\u00a0was going to be played across Europe for the first time, while the\u00a0Tokyo Olympics<\/strong>\u00a0was also on the agenda.<\/p>\n Both of those have now been postponed until next year, meaning that next summer will be one to remember. And the year after that, the men\u2019s World Cup will take place. So yeah, things might be dormant now \u2013 but we\u2019ve got a few years jam-packed with action to come.<\/p>\n It\u2019s understandable that many sports betting operators and affiliates are concerned about the future right now. But remember that with every passing day, we edge one closer to normality.<\/p>\n When things return to normal, the industry is in for a treat with plenty of action on the way. Nobody knows how player behaviours will change, but we can make educated guesses and prepare accordingly.<\/p>\n Now is the time to engage your consumers where possible. This includes both offering entertaining content and cross-selling other verticals. If you\u2019re there for them when sports is lacking, they\u2019ll remember you when the good times return.<\/p>\n