Why Darren Rovell Joined The Action Network and Went All-In on Sports Betting

Early Signs of a Changing Sports Betting Landscape

ONE MORNING IN early September, a train pulled up to a stop on the way to New York City. It was the same train that had been taken hundreds of times, having rarely noticed much of its exterior except for the New Jersey Transit logos and the rust marks that matched the tracks below.

But the old train wasn’t the same that day. It was freshly wrapped like it had never been seen before. The message promoted a major sportsbook and the idea of sports betting reimagined.

Sportsbook advertisements had been appearing over the previous months, as the home state had been the impetus behind the Supreme Court’s overturning of the sports betting law that gave states the right to make their own decisions on the matter.

There were local ads inserted in national sports broadcasts. There were ads on billboards along the major highways. Pieces of mail even arrived encouraging the download of mobile betting apps.

But this train wrap felt different. A train wrapped with an ad seemed more in-your-face. It resembled what is seen when walking the streets of English towns, where signs of sports betting are an unavoidable part of life. It felt like only the beginning.

Discovering a Passion for Covering Gambling

There had never been a habit of being a big sports bettor, but there was always a love for covering it. The bug arrived after the 2004 NCAA semifinal game between Duke and UConn.

There was no preparation to write a story that night. The setting was a bar in New York City. At the end of the game, Duke guard Chris Duhon launched a 38-foot shot off of one leg that went in.

A man nearby reacted in a way that drew attention. He was upset. But there was something strange about this. He was wearing a UConn jersey. Duhon’s shot didn’t change the outcome of the game. UConn still won by one. It took a moment to realize he had bet on UConn.

A quick cab ride followed to a brother’s New York City apartment and a call was made to a bookmaker in Vegas. Sure enough, the spread was in between two and three, depending on when it was taken.

Estimates were that $100 million could have swung in the illegal market from that one shot. The story was so well read that it stayed on ESPN’s homepage for two days.

Not only was there enjoyment in covering gambling, but readers clearly loved it. Gambling stories were monitored and they were always popular. As coverage of gambling ramped up on social media, it was similarly enjoyed.

Gamblers loved reading stories about the 800-1 parlays they dreamed of hitting — and the you-can't-make-this-stuff-up bad beats. Gamblers also loved being heard.

The Supreme Court Decision and a New Era

On May 14, 2018, during the last day of vacation while eating breakfast with family, a computer was opened to the Supreme Court blog when the decision came in. Parts of PASPA had been overturned. Sports gambling was going to be a real business in the U.S.

Since that day, more gambling stories were written than ever before and there were more conversations with sports executives about the space.

One top-ranking sports executive remarked that it was unbelievable how much of the day was now about gambling and how much fresh money was coming in.

Press conferences followed where the NBA, NHL and MLB all announced MGM as an official gaming partner. There was a chance to watch as Monmouth Park turned a sports bar into a sportsbook and to report on the New Jersey Devils selling two gambling sponsorships in a matter of days that included takeovers of bar spaces inside the Prudential Center.

As a New Jersey resident since 2006, there was a front-row seat to how the state became the East Coast’s answer to Las Vegas less than six months after legalization.

At that point, only eight states were in, and with those being in various stages, the full maturation of sports betting was at least three years away. But the response had already been incredible, with an estimated $700 million worth of bets flowing through New Jersey in six months.

Deciding to Go All-In on Sports Betting Coverage

Walking into that train on that day in September and being greeted with more betting ads, this time for another major sportsbook, crystallized a decision to make a move.

Eighteen years earlier, there had been a move into the niche of sports business reporting. Now, sports gambling — the business of bets, sportsbooks, bettors, sponsorships, data and leagues — was clearly big enough to cover every day.

The question became where to go. The answer felt obvious: The Action Network, a sophisticated, best-in-class operation founded in October 2017 after rolling up three data companies into one with the intention of giving sports bettors the best investing tools.

The site and the app operate on a freemium model, giving bettors a small peek behind the curtain of the tools and data they can pay for.

A promotion offered a discounted first month, emphasizing how embracing data is such a key part of betting on sports and encouraging bettors not to make decisions in isolation.

The People Behind The Action Network

No organization can be evaluated without looking at the people. The Action Network’s Chief Content Officer, Chad Millman, is both a dear friend and a sharp mind who understands the value of gambling stories.

There was a memorable moment at ESPN when there was difficulty getting approval to go to Leicester City to cover what would become one of the greatest gambling stories of all time. At the last moment, Chad gave the green light, regardless of cost, leading to the creation of a memorable video capturing the Leicester City bar celebration.

Then there is Patrick Keane, the CEO. His background and experience suggest he can run any organization, and his business sophistication aligns well with the new age of the sports gambling business.

The majority owners of The Action Network are the Chernin Group, led by Peter Chernin and Mike Kerns. Chernin also owns Barstool Sports. The back and forth with prominent Barstool personalities stems from respect for what they have helped build.

Inviting the Betting Community to Participate

The gambling community has been welcoming, and there is a clear desire to cover this business with the same intensity as a shutdown corner on the field.

Sportsbooks are encouraged to share their stories, provide details on the action they are taking, show tickets when someone cashes a massive parlay and help connect coverage to the bettor.

Bettors are invited to share verified winners, amazing covers and horrible beats. Teams are asked to share information about sponsorship deals with betting companies.

Politicians are encouraged to clarify how close states are to legalization and what is true or not about the process. Companies that emerge with innovative ideas in the newly legalized environment are of particular interest.

As the business of betting expands, there is a desire to profile the biggest and best players in the space, including both obvious and less obvious figures, and to identify who might become the next big names in betting.

Open Call for Stories, Trends and Insights

There is an open invitation to anyone who notices something interesting in the gambling space or something offbeat. Home mancaves that resemble sportsbooks are of interest, as are photos that capture unique betting environments.

Readers who have uncovered unorthodox betting trends that have been working, such as fading NBA teams coming off rough road back-to-backs, are encouraged to break down their approach and share the math behind it.

The Action Network has a wealth of stats, but there is always room for uncanny patterns that bettors have noticed when wagering on certain teams and are willing to share.

The goal is to hear from as many people as possible and to reflect the full scope of the sports betting world as it continues to grow and evolve.