GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 48 - December 2020

T he COVID-19 pandemic created a problem that most sportsbook affiliates never dreamed of having to deal with. Nearly all games and events across the world were cancelled, leaving their players without a betting menu and their affiliate ac- counts dormant. For affiliates that were already promoting other verticals, the lack of games to wager on wasn’t nearly as damaging as those who specialize in sports betting pro- grams and content. And as the shutdown lingered from weeks to multiple months, some affiliates wondered out loud if it was time to try and break into promoting casino games, esports or even virtual sports. GPWA member Andy_thatsagoal posed the question on the GPWA fo- rums and other members quickly chipped in with their opinions from both sides of the debate. Excerpts from the thread are presented in the following pages. To read the entire conversation, visit gpwa.org/431 . For more forum posts, industry news, and complete ar- chives of our weekly GPWA newsletters and the GPWA Times Magazine , visit www.GPWA.org. Should sports betting affiliates consider shifting to another vertical amidst a global pandemic? FROM THE FORUMS * This thread was edited for clarity and length I magea by Wpadington/Shutterstock G P W A t i m e s . o r g 14