by Jeff Goldberg, guest contributor
With each passing day, if not hour, Covid-19 overwhelms another entertainment institution—including sports. By Thursday afternoon, three major American sports leagues—NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball—had all suspended their seasons. The NCAA March Madness tournament was cancelled. 
Even the lights went out on Broadway. All shows in New York have been cancelled over the next 30 days. People across the county and around the globe are being urged to stay away from crowds. On Thursday in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) joined a chorus of state leaders across several states calling for the suspension of any public gatherings of more than two-hundred-fifty people, in the hopes of curtailing the community spread of Covid-19.
The ripple effects are everywhere. Many aspects of our economy are about to undergo major shocks, particularly in service-based jobs. But as more and more people stay home and their entertainment choices are dramatically reduced, the online casino industry could actually find itself in a period of growth. Americans who love to gamble will find such activities during the virus outbreak limited to their phones, tablets, and laptops, as brick-and mortar-casinos face pressure to suspend access amid virus fears. Instead, it will be online gaming—from slots to blackjack to poker—that will allow gamers to continue their participation while keeping their risks of exposure at a minimum.
Land-based operators may now choose to modify their policies to include online-gaming platforms as a hedge against Covid-19. Being forced to 
transition operations online may be a blessing in disguise when we do move past the pandemic. Online operations may prove to attract a younger demographic who can then be enticed into the brick-and-mortar casinos, opening up new markets, which can result in a significant increase in revenue over the long term. In addition, data analytics from online operations provide gaming marketers valuable insight into their customer base, thus enabling them to improve the gaming experience in their land-based operations as well.
While land-based casinos provide a diverse and extensive menu of entertainment and live action, online integration can only serve to complement traditional operations both in the short term and long run. 
As we navigate our way through the Covid-19 pandemic, it is both good business and a public service to temporarily close land-based operations while we weather the storm. This is an optimal time for casino operators to cultivate an online customer base; it will soften the financial blow while providing the opportunity to develop a long-term promotional strategy to attract these online players to their land-based establishments in the future.
The bottom line—the need for in-home entertainment—may in fact galvanize the industry as online gambling opportunities increase. Land-based operators may expedite online platforms for sports betting, casino, poker and more. In addition, reluctant state legislators might now embrace the shift to digital. If the industry embraces a more highly regulated online presence the gaming footprint could expand nationwide and even worldwide.
Jeff Goldberg is the editor-in-chief of Sports Intel, a premium network providing sports fans with news, resources and analytics into the world of sports. Jeff previously was the former team reporter for the San Diego Fleet and covered the UConn women’s basketball team for The Hartford Courant newspaper. He is the author of two books about the Uconn team: Bird at the Buzzer and Unrivaled.
