Meet Ryan Butler, Our Senior News Analyst
Ryan Butler
Senior News Analyst
Ryan is a Senior Editor at Covers reporting on gaming industry legislative, regulatory, corporate, and financial news. He has reported on gaming since the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports wagering ban in 2018. Based in Tampa, Ryan graduated from the University of Florida with a major in Journalism and a minor in Sport Management. Before reporting on gaming, Ryan was a sports and political journalist in Florida and Virginia. He covered Vice Presidential nominee Tim Kaine and the rest of the Virginia Congressional delegation during the 2016 election cycle. He also worked as Sports Editor of the Chiefland (Fla.) Citizen and Digital Editor for the Sarasota (Fla.) Observer.
What makes Ryan Butler an expert?
Ryan's work has been cited by the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, and dozens of other publications. He is a frequent guest on podcasts, radio programs, and television shows across the U.S.
Experience
Covers.com
- Senior News Analyst
- May 2024 - Present
- Legal Sports Betting in St. Louis Is Close, Literally and Figuratively
- Publication
- The True State of US Sports Betting
- Publication
- Illinois Online Casino Gaming is Coming, State AG Predicts
- Publication
Onlinecasinos.com
- Senior editor
- May 2023 - May 2024
NEXT.io
- Reporter
- June 2022 - May 2023
Wagers.com
- Managing Editor
- November 2021 - June 2022
Betting USA
- Reporter
- March 2020 - October 2020
Gambling.com
- Writer
- March 2018 - March 2020
Education
Ryan graduated from the University of Florida with a major in Journalism and a minor in Sports Marketing. Ryan covered sports for the university's student newspaper, the Independent Florida Alligator, and was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity.
University of Florida
- Bachelor of Science in Journalism
7+ years of covering legal sports betting
Ryan has covered sports betting legislative and legal moves since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban in 2018
A trusted source of news
Ryan's work has been cited in ESPN, NPR and dozens of other publications and is a trusted source by industry figures and the public.
Award-winning reporter
Ryan has been recognized multiple times by the Associated Press Sports Editors.
Frequent media guest
Ryan has appeared on podcasts, radio programs and TV broadcasts and has been interviewed by newspapers across the U.S.
How does Ryan stay up to date?
While Ryan is a leading source in the gaming industry there are other leading resources he trusts
ESPN
The "Worldwide Leader in Sports" is generating more sports betting content than ever.
NFL.com
America's most popular league is, not surprisingly, its most gambled upon.
Q&A with Ryan
What sparked your interest in journalism?
I was obsessed with sports since I attended my first NFL game in person in 2001. I consumed all sports material I could find, including the family’s daily delivery of The Washington Post. I started with the sports section before expanding to the entire paper. My parents joked that not many middle schoolers read newspapers cover-to-cover and that it could be a career. I realized shortly after they did this was something I wanted to do professionally.
Were you an athlete?
No, but not from lack of trying. I was not naturally big, fast, strong or talented, four factors that pretty quickly ended my team sport aspirations. But I did have a natural endurance, and by Junior Year I was on the varsity cross country and track teams and served as captain of both Senior Year. I finished my final high school cross country race with my fastest 5K time ever, which is still my top athletic “accomplishment.”
How did you get involved in the professional gambling industry?
I must be one of the few people whose great-grandmother sparked an interest in gambling. Our family reunions were at the area horse racing track to honor her love of placing a few dollars on the ponies. I was enthralled by the races – and the potential to win money. I was taught from a young age never to gamble a dollar I couldn’t afford to lose, a mantra I keep with me today.
Are you a gambler yourself?
As someone who covers the billions of dollars gambling companies make from losing bettors, I still enjoy being one of those losing gamblers. I view gambling as entertainment, just like a streaming service or a night at the movies. I walk in to each casino with a budget – and the expectation I’ll walk out with less money than I started which, for me, is usually the reality.
Covers offers state-specific pages with a list of its live and pending sportsbooks as well as the latest news and legislative developments, so find your home state and discover everything you need to know about its sports betting environment.
Ryan's areas of expertise
Gambling legislation
Ryan is one of the leading experts on gambling legislation, policy, and news developments.
Financial reporting
Ryan is a trusted gambling financial reporter following casino and iGaming company's corporate earnings.
Ryan's memories
🚀 Big wins
Hitting a pregame Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 wager over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. It hit even after the Lightning gave up the first goal.
😂 Bad beat?
Losing a six-leg +1000 single-game parlay in the 2024 NFL Divisional Round between Kansas City and Buffalo by one leg: James Cook rushing yards Over. Cook missed the Over 61.5 yards prop – after entering the fourth quarter with 67 yards.
Ryan has also been featured in:
- ESPN| espn.com
- Publication
- NPR | npr.org
- New York Post | nypost.com
- St. Louis FOX affiliate | fox4kc.com
- Kansas City FOX affiliate | kctv5.com
Ryan's Articles
It's not just Ryan doing the research
Peter Clarke
Senior Editor
Peter Clarke is dedicated to keeping bettors informed about the biggest sports betting events, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness, and the best way to cash in on sportsbook promos. He's also always on top of the latest welcome offers from the biggest sportsbooks, so he can share the best deals and the most exciting games to use them on every day.
Read More
Bill Gelman
U.S. Casino Expert
Bill Gelman is a national iGaming writer based in South Jersey, the heart of Philadelphia Eagles country. It's the place he has called home for the majority of his life. One of his career highlights was covering the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl parade. It only took what seemed like a lifetime to experience it. After spending the early part of his career being an award-winning newspaper writer, Bill made the jump to the online gambling industry in 2018. That would be the same year the Garden State legalized sports betting. Bill still remembers covering the NJ online casino industry when a $20-million month seemed like a big deal. It's news he laughs about today, especially after the Garden State keeps smashing previous record months. Being a short drive from Atlantic City has allowed Bill to cover land-based casino news. Over the years, Bill has secured exclusive interviews with executives representing BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, and Hard Rock. His gaming industry coverage has appeared on regional and national websites, while he recommends using a variety of online casino apps with BetMGM, DraftKings, and Borgata being a few of his favorites.
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Matt Burke
Contributor
Matt Burke is an online casino and sports betting expert. He has been an editor and writer in the betting space for more than a decade. He has produced thousands of real money online casino pages and sports betting articles. The University of Connecticut graduate prides himself on accuracy and giving users all of the information they need to make informed wagers.
Read More
