On this page 3 sections
Nevada regulators with the Nevada Gaming Control (NGC) have been previously reluctant to allow esports betting, but have recently grown to acceptance. Sportsbooks throughout the country have become frantic, scrambling for any available sports betting opportunities during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Due to this adjusted opinion regarding esports, the NGC approved betting on the 2020 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, a sequence of virtual NASCAR races.
The state of Nevada continues to look for new ways to boost the online sports betting market, since sportsbook opportunities are nearly obsolete due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This eNASCAR virtual race contains many of America’s favorite names, including Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Kyle Busch.
NASCAR Management Displays Pleasure of Early Success
Scott Warfield, the managing director of gaming for NASCAR, spoke regarding the global appeal of the eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series:
“TV networks depending on programming, official sponsors and race entitlements that had made plans around races and fans needing a distraction.” The decision was considered a no-brainer to hold the esports exhibition.
Warfield stated Esports “gives [the racing organization] a fan engagement tool for mid-week. NASCAR doesn’t have games or injury reports that drive coverage or narrative [Monday-Friday], so if we can fire up an iRace and do 300K live streams it helps to connect the book-end Cup races on Sundays for our current fans.
NASCAR plans to continue the remainder of its 36-race season once the pandemic is contained.
Nevada Sportsbooks Interest in ENASCAR Wagers
Nevada sportsbooks were quick to indulge in the newfound interest in eSports, offering wagers to eNASCAR viewers.
Matt Metcalf, the chief of the Las Vegas-based sportsbook operator Circa Sports, stated: “I’d love to have it on board. A million viewers last week… people are paying attention.”
DraftKings sportsbook in West Virginia was the only United States sportsbook to offer wagering on last weekend’s eNASCAR event. Multiple mobile sports betting applications are sure to follow the growing trend of esports.