As you may or not have heard, something called the Coronavirus is crippling almost every single business from Boston to Beijing, not to mention taking lives at an alarmingly rapid rate and keeping half of the global population locked indoors.

Whilst these are undoubtedly tragic times, the way in which the spread of the virus has affected the previously flourishing global gambling industry is also a (much smaller) type of tragedy.

In this article, we will outline the ways in which Coronavirus is affecting gambling. From the impact on sports betting to the issues facing online casino gaming, we will look at it all.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at how Coronavirus is affecting gambling…

The Crippling of Online Sports Betting

Throughout the US, online gambling sites are regulated in different ways depending on which state they lie in.

However, one thing in which all sports betting sites in the US are united is that they currently have little to no income. This is because all sports events across the country – and for that matter, the world – have been cancelled. Whilst undoubtedly tragic for clubs, players and fans, this cancellation has a huge knock on effect on other industries, with the sports gambling business at the top of this list of casualties.

Sports betting companies of all types will certainly be hoping that the promise of multiple governments to prop up businesses through the coming hardships ring true. What’s more, they will be hoping even more fervently for a swift return to normality and a packed fixture list across all sports globally.

How are online casino sites coping?

With almost all of us forced to stay home, you would be forgiven for thinking that online casino sites are doing better than ever during the Coronavirus crisis.

However, you would be wrong to assume as much. In fact, it seems that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a huge fall in the fortunes of online gambling sites, with players just not in the mood for betting money in such uncertain times.

Only time will tell whether things return to normal soon and players once more begin to place money at the roulette wheel or slot machine. Certainly, casino sites are feeling the pinch and many are even being forced to let go of staff as wage bills mount up without any income to balance the books.

Overall, the current Coronavirus crisis is one of the greatest challenges that modern civilisation has ever had to face, and things are no different for the gambling industry. From huge companies expecting multi-billion dollar turnovers to smaller enterprises seeking to get a foot on the ladder, every kind of company involved in the gambling business is struggling to get through this leanest of periods.

One thing is for sure, both punters and casinos alike will need to band together to get through these times and ensure that once things return to normal, there will still be a gambling industry to enjoy and employ millions of people.