Everyone Knows The Spread: The Increasing Popularity of Sports Gambling Media

Session Title

Session 1-2-E: Media Relations

Presenters

Ryan Thies, University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeFollow

Presentation Type

Event

Location

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Start Date

28-5-2019 11:00 AM

End Date

28-5-2019 12:25 PM

Disciplines

Communication Technology and New Media | Journalism Studies | Mass Communication | Other Film and Media Studies | Social Media

Abstract

Sports gambling is increasing its footprint in the television, radio and social media landscapes following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), but the topic has been present in more alternative media for decades. Media companies like The Action Network and Covers, who are solely dedicated to sports betting, are the products of social and technological changes that have helped sanitize and popularize the sports gambling industry. This study provides a content analysis of print, radio, podcast, television, video, and website media from the 1970s to present day to show the progression from statistics-heavy periodicals to entertaining podcasts and tweets dedicated to sports betting. Sports gambling increasing its presence into popular media is a reflection of the positive cultural change that gambling as a whole has gone through in the last three decades.

Keywords

Sports gambling, social media, gambling media

Author Bios

Ryan Thies is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee earning a Master’s degree in Media Studies. After being a part of the craze that is March Madness in Las Vegas, Thies has been fascinated with the relationship between sports and gambling and continues that through his studies.

Funding Sources

This study received no direct funding from any source that any any involvement in any aspects of the research.

Competing Interests

This study does not have any competing interests of any kind.