March 12, 2020, will forever be known as the day the coronavirus shut down the sports world as we know it.
Did you ever think you would see the day when the NCAA Tournament would be canceled?
Well, it happened as a result of fears surrounding COVID-19.
So, did the suspension of the NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS seasons.
It means March Madness betting is canceled.
Limited NJ sports betting options
As far as the immediate future goes, NJ sports wagering options are extremely limited.
Operators are offering NFL Draft odds, as well as where Tom Brady will land next.
And NFL MVP odds are up, too.
As far as the sports that are paused, here is a statement from FanDuel Sportsbook:
It’s a confusing time in the sports betting world right now. See below for our latest update ↓
For any questions regarding your account, please contact our customer service team:
• Twitter: @FanDuel Support
• Phone: 877-689-0662
• Email: [email protected] pic.twitter.com/cIqqI8645G— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) March 12, 2020
Are NJ sportsbooks staying open?
The short answer is yes. But that could change at any moment.
Atlantic City casinos were gearing up for March Madness viewing parties. While those events have all been canceled, the town remains open.
Some casinos are canceling live entertainment scheduled for this month.
So far, William Hill NJ (with sportsbooks at Tropicana and Ocean Casino Resort) is riding out the coronavirus storm. The operator sent out a tweet updating its status.
An update for our William Hill customers.
For additional information, please visit https://t.co/hiSIFxr3Zr or contact our Customer Support Team at 855.754.1200. pic.twitter.com/ImHD9gvoJG
— William Hill US (@WilliamHillUS) March 12, 2020
What will NJ sports betting fans watch?
Just don’t expect to see much in terms of live sports.
The PGA Players’ Championship was canceled following Thursday’s first round.
The XFL decided to wipe out the remainder of the regular season, as well as the playoffs.
XFL statementhttps://t.co/MbuHgUmzmZ pic.twitter.com/PIZLOl1fld
— XFL (@xfl2020) March 12, 2020
Here is the updated list of where we stand:
- NCAA Tournament: Canceled
- PGA Players’ Championship: Canceled
- Masters Tournament: Will be played, just not from April 9-12
- NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS: Postponed until further notice.
- XFL Season: Canceled, and will return in 2021.
Coronavirus + playing it safe
The harsh reality of the coronavirus pandemic is it can strike anywhere at any time.
And spread.
This includes Wednesday night’s NBA game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Once Rudy Gobert from the Jazz tested positive, such an extreme step was necessary.
Teammate Donovan Mitchell has tested positive, too.
As a result, all NBA betting has been halted.
DraftKings Sportsbook tweeted out an official statement after the NBA news broke.
— DraftKings CX Team (@DK_Assist) March 12, 2020
FanDuel Sportbook voided all wagers made on the Jazz/Thunder game.
All wagers made on the FanDuel Sportsbook for the UTA @ OKC game will be voided shortly, and wager amount returned to your account. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
— FD Customer Support (@FanDuel_Support) March 12, 2020
The NCAA and pro sports leagues decided to follow the NBA’s lead.
DraftKings’ coronavirus update
So, this is new territory for sportsbook operators.
The next steps will be determined.
DraftKings emailed a letter to customers from Matt Kalish, president of DraftKings, Here is an excerpt from it:
“As you know, the rising concerns surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) have begun to impact the schedules for major sports leagues worldwide. With most of the major US leagues on a suspension from play as we stand here tonight, we wanted to provide an update on our plans here at DraftKings,” said Kalish.
“In the coming weeks, we will continue to offer all of our products in all cases where sports are happening. DFS, as well as sportsbook, will continue to be live, as will our casino games. We will strive to be a source of entertainment and joy for you during these unprecedented times. There will not be any change to our commitment to deliver you the best experience possible throughout this period.”
Until the NJ sports betting world returns to its normal status, NJ online casino apps will help bypass the time.
Remember this day.
