Coronavirus, an effective vaccine against gambling den disease
- The coronavirus has strongly shaken the economy of many countries. Production in some sectors has increased, while production in others has fallen to almost zero. An example of the latter are betting houses. They've lost their main lunch: no sporting events, no business, no profits.
The situation is dramatic for the sector. The major European football, basketball and tennis leagues and the losses without the return of Formula 1 cars and motors are enormous. All sports have been affected by the virus, which has caused millionaire losses and schedule problems. The main tests: Tokyo Olympic Games and Euro Cup, which will host several matches in Bilbao.
The betting houses are alive online, but most of the street residences are closed. There is little to bet on. Raúl Paniagua has gathered in El Periódico that the racing of greyhounds and horses, to this day, are still active in Britain. There is still a little bit of football, such as the leagues in Belarus, Burundi, Singapore, Turkmenistan and Angola. But the vacuum is invisible. All you have to see is that you don't know how to fill that big hole that's been left to sports on television news.
Loss of citizens, profit from betting houses
Citizens of the Spanish state spent €750 million on private betting in 2018: 355 locals and 395 online. Betting in 2018 totalled €6,963 million, according to the latest official data published by the Directorate-General for Gambling Management. With an average spending of EUR 62.5 million per month, a one-month stop would result in a loss of EUR 125 million, according to 2018 data.
Perhaps for that reason, William Hill, one of the most important betting houses in the world, has allowed you to wager in an online non-profit tournament. What I haven't seen so far. The announcer born in Bilbao Ibai Llanos, together with twenty first division players of the male Spanish football league, has organised a popular video game tournament and the betting house, with a desire for business, has offered this event to bet on it. The decision has been denounced by Llanos himself before the competition began.
The slot left by betting houses can be covered by casinos that offer the possibility to play and wager money online. Without a change in attitude and vision of betting and without a law strictly limiting the betting house business, it will hardly be possible to cope with the devastating betting culture. Even during lockdown.
