Holiday Sports Weekend Drives Wagers
Thanksgiving and sports have been intertwined for decades now, but this year’s holiday was one of the best. The NFL, NBA, NHL, and college basketball and football featured fantastic weekly matchups. It seemed that great games were on from Thanksgiving through Sunday, leading to many fans wagering on them.
The New York Giants played against the rival Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. While the Giants’ season is all but over, the rivalry made this game special as they attempted to end the Cowboys' playoff hopes.
Hockey fans in the state also got to watch and wager on the Rangers taking on two top rivals in the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.
Cool Off Could be Coming
As hot as New York’s sports betting market has been, things may finally cool in December. While the NFL will be in its final stretch of the season, both New York teams have no hope to make the playoffs. That could lead to wagers dropping as fans turn their attention to other sports.
December also marks the end of the college football regular season. This weekend, the conference championship games will occur, followed by a lull before Bowl Season begins. New York has enjoyed watching Syracuse have one of their better seasons in some time, leading to an uptick in bets.
Fanatics Continues to Thrive
One of the most interesting stories from New York’s sports betting hot streak has been Fanatics' success. The sportsbook launched in the Empire State in February and has now become the third-most popular platform in the market.
While Fanatics still lags far behind FanDuel and BetMGM, they continually beat second-tier operators like BetMGM and Caesars. The two Vegas-based operators fight for third place in most markets, but the pecking order is changing.
