Meet James Bisson, Our Editor-in-Chief
James Bisson
Editor-in-Chief
15+ Years ExperienceJames Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief at Covers. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, including a nine-year stint with The Canadian Press and more than five years at theScore. He has covered dozens of marquee events including the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Stanley Cup final and Wrestlemania 23, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Yahoo! Sports, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.
His book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008 and earned him appearances on CBC Radio and Canada AM. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews, more than 200 industry news articles, and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles.
A graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), James has been an avid bettor since the early 2000s, and cites bet365 as his favorite sports betting site due to its superior functionality and quick payouts. His biggest professional highlight: Covering Canada's first Olympic gold medal on home soil – and interviewing Bret Hart. Twice.
What makes James Bisson an expert?
"JB" was first introduced to sports betting as a freelancer with the Covers team in 2010, and has been passionate about the industry – and the content side, in particular – ever since. He has helped bolster content offerings in editorial, commercial, digital PR, and industry news while maintaining a high standard across the board.
Experience
Covers.com
- Editor-in-Chief
- September 2021 - Present
- NFL Fan Compensation Index: Which Fan Bases Are Entitled to the Most Restitution?
- Publication
- 'He’s Scared to Death': Pacquiao Rips Mayweather, Eyes Another Belt
- Publication
- NBA Free Agent Malik Beasley Under Investigation for Betting on Games
- Publication
FantasyPros / BettingPros
- Content and Social Media Manager
- January 2019 - August 2021
- The 50 Greatest Prop Bets For Super Bowl LV
- Publication
theScore, Inc.
- Supervising Editor / Managing Editor
- May 2013 - December 2018
- An Oral History of the 1992-93 Montreal Canadiens
- Publication
Education
James graduated from Ryerson University (later renamed Toronto Metropolitan University) with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism (Broadcast). While completing the final two years of the program, James also worked part-time for both theScore and The Canadian Press, eventually landing full-time roles with both.
Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University)
- Bachelor of Applied Arts (Journalism, Broadcast)
14+ years in sports betting
James has been a trusted voice in the industry for nearly 15 years.
30+ years in sports writing
James has written about the wild world of sports for more than three decades.
Vast sports experience
James has covered nearly every major North American sporting event, including the Olympics and the Stanley Cup.
Passion for writing
James' work has appeared in more than 150 major publications world-wide.
How does James stay up to date?
James stays up to date with the latest news, injuries, line movement, and betting insights.
Pro Football Reference
Pro Football Reference is the Cadillac of football statistic and reference sites, housing virtually any NFL statistic you will ever need to access.
Spotrac
There is no better salary tracking site than Spotrac, which provides contract information for every major professional sport, covering thousands of athletes, coaches and more.
Covers
Covers is simply the best sports betting advice and information site out there. Whether you're looking for sharp game picks or guidance on which casino games to play, Covers has exactly what you need.
Q&A With James
What drives your passion for sports betting?
It's the "extra gravy" of the sports viewing experience, designed to take an already-enjoyable activity and make it even more fun. I don't need to have action on every game I watch, but I can assure that I'll always care a little more about an event if I have a bet on it.
What makes for great sports betting content?
Being able to keep people interested from start to finish is critical to any piece of sports betting content. You also have to be able to entertain – after all, there are thousands of people doing what we do every day. Standing out isn't just a plus – it's a necessity.
What are your biggest strengths in the industry?
My ability to turn around content quickly, to identify and lean into the strengths of my reports, and my unending passion for everything we do. You can't teach that fire.
What is the one thing you would change about the industry?
I would wish for everyone to just embrace what the public wants, rather than try to talk people out of the most popular sports betting practices.
If you have any desire at all to either change your existing sportsbook or take on new ones, you absolutely must check out Covers' industry leading sports betting site reviews. You won't find a more comprehensive breakdown of every sportsbook in your region. Make smart decisions even before you start making bets. Check out Covers' sportsbook reviews.
James's areas of expertise
James has written about or covered just about every sport imaginable – and he brings that impressive level of expertise into the always-changing sports betting universe.
Industry news
James has managed Covers' industry news team for the past 2+ years, overseeing the creation of more than 4,000 unique articles over that span.
Digital PR
James has been a pivotal contributor to Covers' growing digital PR footprint, generating key links from sites like the Los Angeles Times and Yahoo!.
James's memories
🚀 Big Wins
Helping a good friend and colleague win an industry experts sports betting contest in 2020 by correctly predicting Kevin Stefanski as NFL Coach of the Year. And of course I cashed in on it, too.
😭 Bad Beat?
I used to micro-bet table tennis service points. Once I lost nine straight (for those of you who bet on this sort of thing, that never happens). I decided it was time to stop.
James has also been featured in:
- Is Sofi Stadium Dangerous for Fans? | Los Angeles Times
- Publication
- Pacquiao reveals his insane training regimen | Fox Sports
- Publication
- 100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments
- Hardcover book
- The NHL's 100 Greatest Stanley Cup Champions | theScore
- 5-part content series
James's Articles
It's not just James doing the research
Eric Rosales
Betting Analyst
Eric has been involved in sports media in many different capacities since graduating from journalism school in 1999, back when getting your own column in a newspaper was still considered a thing. He doubled down and graduated from broadcast journalism school five years later, which led to a move to Toronto and a career with The Sports Network (TSN). From behind-the-scenes production work, he moved into the digital realm, where he had his own hoops column (At the Buzzer), while regularly live streaming and chatting with fans during broadcasts as the character known as LeBlog James. He was also a key contributor to TSN and CTVs Olympic programming during the 2012 London Games. Eric eventually found his way into the sports betting field in 2016 and has been a mainstay ever since. He was tagged on Twitter as a Top 10 NBA sharp during the 2021 season and has been interviewed about basketball and his handicapping process on shows from Vancouver to India. Eric is now a jack-of-all-sports at Covers, where his predictions span the alphabet soup: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, F1, WNBA, Euro, and Copa. When making picks, he focuses on finding value first and foremost, and ensuring readers have all the information they need to make an informed choice.
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Kyle LaRusic
Betting Analyst
Kyle LaRusic joined Covers in 2020 with a Holland College diploma in Journalism and a Mount Saint Vincent Degree in Public Relations. Stints at Amherst News and the Cape Breton Post helped sharpen his skills in a newsroom setting, while working for MSVU and Dalhousies athletic departments landed Kyle in his comfort zone. Kyle has been an avid bettor for over five years, starting with just one Sports Interaction account before discovering both the beauty and importance of price shopping. bet365 and Pinnacle are his go to books, but accounts at 10+ sportsbooks give him an array of options. Rusty will bet on anything under the sun as long as theres value and good reasoning behind it, but NHL and NFL are his two favorite leagues to watch and wager on especially with friends. Kyles biggest tip for any bettor is simple: gamble responsibly. Only bet what youre willing to lose and make sure to install a proper bankroll method to keep track of your ROI. If youre still dwelling on the amount you lost the next day, its time to decrease your spending.
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Ryan Gilbert
Betting Analyst
Ryan Gilbert brings the passion and pain of being a Philadelphia sports fan. After graduating from Monmouth University with a finance degree, he now uses his statistical background to find inefficiencies in betting markets. With past stops at NHL.com, NBC Sports, and currently at Covers, Ryan's hot picks blend well with the cold ice of a hockey rink.
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