DAYTON — Damar Hamlin’s medical emergency during the Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game on Monday is having a huge impact on him, his family and the entire NFL.
The incident is also having a big impact on two industries connected to the NFL: sports betting and Fantasy Football.
News Center 7 was at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway Monday as officials held the grand opening for the new Barstool Sportsbook, a day after sports betting became legal in Ohio.
The game between the Bengals and Bills was the main attraction for bettors that day, but when Hamlin’s went into cardiac arrest after a hit in the first quarter, the game was suspended and questions surrounding any bets made were brought up.
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“I think maybe just erase those bets, like they didn’t even happen,” Brandi Windle told News Center 7.
Windle said she doesn’t bet on football, but has friends that are really into it.
“I think maybe we should concentrate more on the player being injured and not my money,” she said.
News Center 7 reached out to the Barstool Sportsbook manager about the issue. They told us that Tyler Boyd scored the first touchdown, which was an offered prop bet, so a person would have been paid if they made that bet. Otherwise, people will just be paid their initial wagered amount.
The NFL announced Tuesday that the game between the Bills and Bengals would not be played this week. Since it will not take place within a seven-day window, MGM said their policy would void all bets.
Other questions have been risen in Fantasy Football leagues. On Twitter, one user wrote, “We go through the entire Fantasy Football year and get to championship weekend and now people who have Josh Allen and Joe Burrow and Stefon Diggs and Ja’Marr Chase are just out of luck?”
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That tweet brought on a ton of negative replies to which another uses wrote, “I don’t know why these fans are suddenly labeled nerds? Obviously, the 24-year-old in critical condition is the main important narrative, but it’s ok for people to care about a 17-week investment, too.”
“Same thing, just erase it like it never happened and pray for that man and his family,” Windle said.
All the the information News Center 7 received indicates that bettors and those in Fantasy Football leagues that were involved in the Bengals-Bills game are in a wait and see mode right now. It’s similar to Damar Hamlin and the NFL world, waiting for, hopefully, good news about his condition.