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The NFL Draft has become big business. So, too, has the betting surrounding it. You'd think this would be great for the sportsbooks. It's not.
The other day, Circa Sports owner Derek Stevens wasn't shy about his stance on the draft. According to Stevens, the NFL Draft represents "the worst day of the year" for the sports betting business. To be clear, it's great if you're a gambler.
"You cannot win," Stevens claims, referring to the sportsbook operator. "No matter what you do. Everybody is complaining about this and that. Then we get smoked.
"This is like a donation. The only good thing I can say is that I see this huge spike in people downloading Circa Sports. Now this year we got a couple of new states, so people are going to be downloading, so that's a good thing.
"Overall we just got no shot. There's just no way to win. Not with all of a sudden when you post something, someone gonna get drafted over/under 15.5, under might be something like +240 and the next thing you know it goes off at +600.
"You get smoked along the whole way, so it's terrible."
And Stevens is far from alone.
Sportsbook Manager at BetOnline Adam Burns tweeted a little more than 24 hours ahead of Thursday's draft.
"Just a reminder I hate the #NFLDraft."
BetOnline's Dave Mason is on a much deserved vacation these past two weeks and perhaps no better time to take it than with the draft in full play.
"Before @DaveMasonBOL (who is in parts unknown for a couple weeks) says it …The #NFLDraft2024 is a nightmare for all oddsmakers everywhere. Everyone is an expert my ass…. And I hate these next 2 weeks."
And then there's all the trickery.
"Just saying this, I do not do this but some books will make drastic moves on #NFLDraft2024 for a story and to get chatter on social... From experience of 17 years doing this shit, usually is all BS."
Burns noted that some of the day's draft odds will be coming off the board as the day progresses. BetOnline this week posted a number of fun NFL Draft odds, including the primary color of Caleb Williams nail polish.
The odds are good the folks in Detroit, host city of this year's NFL Draft, aren't exactly in line with Burns and Stevens - and likely most every other bookmaker worth their salt for that matter - thought process.
This year's draft will generate between $175 million and $200 million in economic impact for that city with between 300,000 to 400,000 people expected to descend on Detroit for the event, officials predicted Wednesday.
Many of these folks, to Burns dismay, will be betting on it too.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
