To catch a sneak peek into the future of sports betting in Virginia, explore the live in-game betting choices offered this week during The Masters 2020 at Augusta National.
Every year, Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia hosts the Masters Tournament, which is considered one of golf’s four major championships. The course spans 7,475 yards with a par of 72, and this year, the tournament boasts a generous prize pool of $11.5 million.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Masters, typically the inaugural major of the PGA season, has been rescheduled to take place this week.
The world’s top golfers will compete in a four-day tournament from Thursday, November 12th to Sunday, November 15th. Viewers can catch the action on ESPN with live coverage on Thursday and Friday from 1-5:30 p.m. ET. CBS will take over for the final rounds on Saturday (1-5 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
The eagerly awaited tournament of golf has been eagerly anticipated by fans, but it is the golf bettors who will undoubtedly be engrossed. With an abundance of betting opportunities, courtesy of pre-tournament and in-game wagering, the 2020 Masters presents a plethora of options for those inclined to place bets.
How in-game betting works in golf
As early as January, the initial Virginia sports betting applications may commence accepting wagers. The introduction of regulated sports betting will provide seasoned sports bettors with legitimate betting opportunities right here in the Old Dominion.
Nevertheless, both novice and seasoned sports bettors might find themselves taken aback by the extensive range of betting choices available in the current industry. This is particularly true for less mainstream sports such as golf, where the opportunities for betting seem to be limitless.
We should begin with the classics, all of which offer different betting odds:
- In order to emerge victorious, select the ultimate champion from the roster of participants in the tournament.
- Choose which of the two golfers will have a higher overall finish in the tournament.
- Round leader: Select the golfer you believe will emerge victorious in a particular round or day of the tournament.
- Place your bets on where a golfer will finish in the tournament, whether it’s in the top 3, top 5, top 10, top 20, and so on.
- Predict if a specific golfer will either qualify or fail to qualify after two rounds of play.
- Prop bets, also known as proposition bets, encompass a wide range of wagers that typically do not directly influence the tournament’s final outcome. For instance, a popular prop bet might be, “Will any golfer achieve a hole-in-one during the course of the tournament?”
- Groups are formed based on various factors such as home country, alma mater, age group, etc. Within these groups, select the golfer who performs the best.
- Predict the winner of the season or place a bet on a future major, award recipient, or any other event scheduled for later in the year.
Live betting opens up a plethora of wagering options, allowing you to actively participate in the action both during the day and throughout the tournament.
A bettor can engage in live betting to place wagers on various things, as the odds constantly fluctuate.
- Predict the tournament winner by analyzing the changing odds after each hole and even stroke.
- Choose a golfer from a group to emerge as the victor, loser, or tie a particular hole individually.
- Score prediction: Anticipate the performance of a golfer on a particular hole, including possibilities of birdie, par, bogey, and more.
- In Two-ball live betting, also known as three-ball, you are required to select the victor among a group of two or three golfers who commenced their game together.
Live wagering sparked PGA interest during pandemic
With the increasing legalization of sports betting in various US states, there has been a noticeable transition towards online platforms. Gone are the days when bettors had to visit physical establishments or exclusively rely on Las Vegas for placing wagers. In fact, when the Virginia sport betting market is introduced, it will solely operate online initially, with retail sports betting being introduced at a later stage.
Moreover, alongside the transition to online gambling, the future of sports betting is anticipated to include live wagering.
When the coronavirus first emerged this year, numerous sports events came to a halt. This left avid gamblers, who were used to having continuous options, in a state of desperation for some form of entertainment. Consequently, they turned to offshore and black markets to place bets on various unconventional subjects like weather conditions, stock market indexes, bitcoin’s value, and even simulated sports games.
Despite the fact that almost every prominent sports organization suspended their operations for a few weeks during this time, a handful were able to resume their activities within a few weeks. The NBA, MLB, and NHL had to temporarily shut down in order to establish safety protocols and testing procedures. However, smaller and more adaptable operations such as the UFC, NASCAR, and even the PGA quickly resumed their activities by excluding live spectators and opting for broadcasting instead.
Live betting has remained a constant in the realm of pandemic-era sports betting, despite the popularity of overseas table tennis and other emerging obsessions among fans and gamblers. This form of betting has provided bettors with a continuous stream of wagering opportunities, especially for events like the PGA and UFC.
If you find yourself in a state with legalized sports betting, make sure to explore the live betting options available for the Masters tournament this week. This type of betting, along with live streaming of games and events, could potentially shape the future of sports gambling.
“The future, as remarked by Keith Wachtel, the NHL’s chief business officer, is…”
Betting operators are eagerly seeking the experience factor as it enables people to actively participate in the game while placing bets. This aspect holds immense potential for the future. However, it is crucial to ensure that incorporating this experience does not harm the broadcast and digital streaming business. If done carefully, it can present a remarkable opportunity for betting operators.
A look at the 2020 Masters Field
What should you anticipate from the 2020 Masters tournament?
Don’t miss out on this year’s Masters if you’re enchanted by star-studded fields.
The entire group of the world’s top-ranked golfers are participating in the tournament this week, which comes as no surprise as they are considered favorites in the field.
The individuals featured in the lineup are Dustin Johnson, currently ranked No. 1 with odds of +900, Jon Rahm at No. 2 with odds of +1000, Justin Thomas at No. 3 with odds of +1200, Collin Morikawa at No. 4 with odds of +3500, and Rory McIlroy at No. 5 with odds of +1200.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to closely monitor Bryson DeChambeau. This golfer, known for his controversial approach, dominated the US Open with a six-stroke victory in September, propelling him to the No. 6 spot in the global rankings. Surprisingly, he is considered the frontrunner for the Masters with odds of +800 to claim victory, according to both DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook.
The top contenders for the first-round leader (FRL) are Johnson (+1,400), DeChambeau (+1,600), Rahm (+2,000), McIlroy (+2,200), Thomas (+2,200), and Xander Schauffele (+2,200).
Another golfer who is expected to attract a significant amount of attention from the betting world this week is Tiger Woods, with an impressive record of 82 PGA tournament wins and 15 major victories.
The public is absolutely enamored with Woods’ achievements, especially since the 44-year-old icon clinched his fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters.
Let’s take a glimpse into the diverse betting choices available for the 2020 Masters, involving Woods.
- To win tourney: +4,500
- Leader’s score after Round 1: 4,000 points.
- To make cut: -278
- To miss cut: +200
- Top American finisher: +2,200
- Matchup: Woods is favored at -159 against Phil Mickelson at +125.
Brooks Koepka, who is currently ranked No. 12 and a beloved player among fans, is expected to attract significant betting interest with odds set at +2,500.
Nevertheless, this year’s lineup will unfortunately exclude Sergio Garcia, the winner of the 2017 Masters, Scottie Scheffler, who was named the Rookie of the Year in 2020, and the promising Chilean talent Joaquin Niemann, all of whom were unable to participate due to positive COVID-19 test results.
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