What can you bet on during Quarantine due to sports events cancellations
The stands in football grounds all over the country have been eerily quiet, with Liverpool still going through the excruciating wait to pop the long-awaited champagne. Things aren’t much better across the pond, with the NBA season cancelled and the last baseball home run hit back in August. We can strike the Olympics off our calendars, too.
Perhaps the worst thing about all of this? Being unable to head over to the local bookie before Super Sunday and placing an accumulator bet on the footy. Not being able to put a fiver on the horse with the funniest name is a close second.
If you’re like me and you’ve been missing a cheeky punt, there’s hope. Here are a few alternative events you can bet on. Hey, we all need something to get through this global coronavirus pandemic…!
Virtual Casinos
I’m a sports betting man myself, and don’t often venture into the bright lights of virtual casinos. However, with most footy and horse racing no longer an option, I have a dedicated seat at my favourite online blackjack table. I’ve become well-versed in basic strategy these days…
The nice little bonus about starting with virtual casinos for the first time is that you can take advantage of the free bets that pretty much every bookie on the planet is throwing at new members. SuperLenny is a solid source for the free bets currently available. I’m not a high stakes person, and considering I’m just learning the ropes, a cheeky punt using a free tenner doesn’t seem too risky.
For those of you seeking a little more interaction with, you know, real people, there are plenty of (virtual) tables welcoming newbie and experienced (and anything in between!) poker players.
Football in Belarus
Even though Fifpro is calling it ‘not comprehensible’, The Belarusian Premier League is still very much on. Sure, the quality isn’t what you expect from your Messis and Ronaldos, but it’s amazing what you can enjoy when beggars can’t be choosers.
Before COVID-19, I’d never in my wildest thought I’d be opening up FotMob on a Saturday evening to check the Belarusian footy scores. But yes, my knowledge of FC Minsk is now embarrassingly at University Challenge levels.
Wow, talking about Belarusian I’m even starting to miss Ray Winstone’s mug on telly gambling ads. But hey, while the lockdown is still active in the rest of Europe, you can catch me watching the Minsk derby (go FC!)…
Virtual Football
This arguably falls under the virtual casino bracket, but I was just so flabbergasted by the whole thing that I felt it deserved special mention: virtual football. Yes, it’s possible to bet on simulations of football matches. Think of it as running a game of FIFA with computer vs computer.
Sure, it’s a little silly, but it’s actually quite a lot of fun. Quality varies wildly between the different websites, but most major operators have a decent setup going. We’re not talking FIFA 20 here, but it’s worth having a look!
Random Bets
They’ve been part and parcel of the average bookie from day nought, but the selection has massively expanded since the start of the pandemic. Bookies have become quite creative on the random things you can bet on as a result of the pandemic. There are plenty of amusing examples:
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The number of times Bernie Sanders uttered ‘Trump’ during the Democratic debates.
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Whether Liverpool will be declared Premier League winners without having to kick another ball.
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The Time Person of the Year 2020. The current frontrunner? Deservedly, bookies think it’s going to be given to doctors, nurses, and health workers. Certainly hope that’s the case!
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The next British Airways flight to China. The current favourite is 1 July or later.
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Remember the climate change crisis? With all of this coronavirus talk, it’s been put on the subs bench. However, you can still bet on whether 2020 will be the warmest in recorded history.
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Instead of buying it, why not bet on it? You can put money on whether Bitcoin will be above 10k by the end of the year.
No Sports? No Problem
And there you have it. There’s still plenty to bet on, even with every major sporting event cancelled. Sure, it’s not a Liverpool v Barcelona classic, but it’s something, right? And hey, you’ll soon be the only UK expert on Belarussian football… an enviable title indeed.
Finally, and this may come across as a cheap disclaimer, but it’s honest advice: be careful. Having a punt here and there is harmless fun, and if you’re an experienced gambler there’s definitely money to be made.
But (and that’s a BIG but) it’s also easy to go too far and you’ll end up spending money you don’t have. UK charity GamCare has said that a pandemic situation can become problematic for serious gamblers, so be watchful of how much you spend. And with that community message out of the way, head on over to your favourite bookie and put a tenner on FC Minsk (win not guaranteed!).