GamblingNews was recently joined by Raphael Esparza, a respected sports handicapper representing sports picks leader Doc’s Sports, to discuss the rapid growth of sports betting and the recent rise of betting on women’s sports.
Unpredictability Is Critical to the Success of March Madness
Raphael, who’s worked with Doc’s Sports for over two decades, has “done the homework” for countless sports betting enthusiasts, helping them make informed decisions and place lucrative bets.
In his interview with us, Raphael pointed out that many people tend to underestimate the intensity of the basketball season. While he admitted that few events attract the same viewership as the Super Bowl, he noted that the March Madness period is, in some regards, much busier because of all the teams and the multiple games taking place.
According to Raphael, the unpredictable nature of March Madness is key to the success of March Madness betting. While this year was mostly dominated by the favorites, the tournament has historically seen some pretty surprising outcomes. And, to top it all off, no bettor has had a perfect bracket yet, Raphael pointed out.
Even though the Doc’s Sports experts were mostly right about the outcomes of the most recent March Madness, Raphael mentioned that McNeese’s victory over Clemson was somewhat unexpected.
In any case, Raphael was certain that this year’s March Madness handle would exceed last year’s.
Women’s Sports Are on the Rise
Raphael also weighed in on the growth of women’s sports, attributing it to the addition of more broadcasts since “people would bet on something they can watch.” He also highlighted Caitlin Clark’s growing popularity and continued success as another major driver of interest in women’s sports.
Raphael added that he believes we are going to see more women betting on sports, as well as more men betting on women’s sports. He noted that the men in the industry are generally welcoming and that an inclusive future awaits.
Raphael Commented on the Challenges the Industry Is Facing
When asked about which state could legalize sports betting next, Raphael noted that this is the “million-dollar question” that everyone is asking. While he couldn’t answer for certain, he was quite puzzled by the fact that Texas still hasn’t done it. At the same time, he predicted that California will likely be among the last to legalize betting because of pressures from local tribes.
Raphael also answered questions regarding certain challenges that the industry is facing, such as problem gambling. He reflected on the matter, acknowledging that, unfortunately, not all sportsbooks care where the money comes from. Even though most sportsbooks have limits on max bets, he suggested that some companies do find ways to circumvent them.
Raphel spoke on athlete harassment too, rejecting the NCAA’s argument that banning prop bets would solve the issue. According to Raphael, the real issue is social media, which has provided people with an outlet to vent their frustrations.
“It’s not just sports. If they see a bad movie, what’s the first thing people do? They go online [and say] ‘This was the worst movie, this actor did this.’ Or ‘Oh, I tried this new restaurant. This restaurant stunk.’ It’s not just sports, it’s just in general how we live right now – we live lives of 365 days of news media.”
Raphael critiqued the NCAA for implying that this happens only to them when this is clearly not the case.
Raphael also commented on offshore gaming, saying that he doesn’t believe “they are going anywhere,” no matter the regulatory efforts.