The major leagues across Europe have just been won and lost. In England, Chelsea have been crowned champions, in Spain, Real Madrid are the champions.
In France, Monaco have won the league, while Bayern Munich and Juventus are champions of Germany and Italy respectively. For these new champions, it is celebration time while their contenders rue missed chances and make plans for next season.
In Nigeria, the feeling is slightly different for owners of betting centres and bettors. Betting is a multi-billion naira industry and also a huge employer of labour, mostly youths. This money spinning industry feeds off the football passion of Nigerians for the major European football leagues.
“These are leagues which had enjoyed [a] large following in Nigeria before the advent of sports betting, So, football-crazy Nigerians are being given the opportunity to bet on their passion,” explains Mr Samuel Uangbaoje, a training executive with Bet9ja, in an interview with Vanguard newspapers.
Therefore, the two months break – July and August – will be challenging for agents and punters. Right now, the dream of both young and old punters that usually throng betting shops during Champions League matchdays and weekend league matchdays to place bets may just have been put on hold. Some bettors might decide to get temporary jobs to make ends meet during the off-season.
Hymar Idibie David
on Sunday
Boys will now be finding gainful employment and dusting their certificates as season dey carry dem million dollar hopes go months-long break.
Bet9ja is the biggest youth employer in Nigeria abeg.
There are still options for die-hard punters, who still have the option of betting on virtual games and other leagues from around Asia and Africa.
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The offseason is also time for stock-taking for the just concluded season. The bettors need to know how much have been won and lost over the previous season.
Owners of betting centres will see a drop in the commission they earn from bets placed in their centres. It is not unusual to find bet shops closed during this period as a result of low patronage. However, strategic bet agents will be calculating their profit and losses to determine if they should remain with their betting companies.
The offseason is time for betting agents to make plans for expansion; purchase of new office spaces and equipment.
Hopefully, international matches during the break will reduce the impact of the European offseason on both the agents and betters. Sports betting is a never ending cycle and the offseason will provide the chance for agents and bettors to recharge their batteries for the new season.
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