The Southern Finance Association (SFA) Annual Meeting is fast approaching, and this year, it will be held in the idyllic setting of Key West, Florida, from November 19-22, 2024. As academics, finance professionals, and researchers prepare for this prestigious event, Jason Berkowitz, an Assistant Professor of Finance at St. John’s University, is organizing a special session focused on a timely and exciting topic: sports betting.
For finance researchers, practitioners, and academics, this represents a unique opportunity to contribute to a rapidly evolving field that combines financial theory, risk management, market analysis, and behavioral economics. Sports betting, with its complex dynamics, is becoming a significant area of interest within the finance world, and Berkowitz is putting together a proposal to present one or possibly two sessions dedicated to the subject at this year’s Southern Finance Association (SFA) Annual Meeting.
This article outlines the key details of this call for papers (CFP) and provides some background on the relevance of sports betting in finance, the significance of the Southern Finance Association meeting, and why researchers should seize this opportunity to participate.
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Jason Berkowitz’s Call for Papers on Sports Betting
Jason Berkowitz, an Assistant Professor of Finance at St. John’s University, is spearheading an effort to bring together experts and academics who are working on sports betting-related research. Berkowitz’s goal is to organize a session—or potentially two sessions—devoted entirely to the intersection of sports betting and finance at the 2024 Southern Finance Association Annual Meeting.
The call for papers is a great opportunity for scholars interested in sports betting to present their research at one of the major finance conferences in the United States. Given the growing interest in the financial aspects of sports betting markets, particularly with the expansion of legalized sports betting across several states, this session is sure to attract a lot of attention from both academic circles and industry professionals.
Why Sports Betting? Understanding Its Financial Relevance
The decision to focus on sports betting for a session at the Southern Finance Association meeting comes at a time when the intersection between sports, finance, and betting is more relevant than ever. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) opened the floodgates to the legalization of sports betting across the country, transforming what was once a niche activity into a major industry. Today, sports betting is legal in more than 30 U.S. states, and the economic implications of this legalization are immense.
From a financial perspective, sports betting offers a rich field of study. Here are a few reasons why sports betting is important in the context of finance research:
- Market Efficiency: Sports betting markets can be analyzed through the lens of financial market efficiency. Do betting lines accurately reflect all available information, or are there inefficiencies that savvy bettors can exploit? This mirrors questions about market efficiency in stock and bond markets.
- Risk and Return: Just like traditional financial assets, sports betting involves weighing risk and expected return. Researchers can apply financial models, including those used for portfolio management and option pricing, to sports betting markets to explore how bettors and bookmakers manage risk.
- Behavioral Finance: Sports betting provides a fascinating laboratory for behavioral finance research. How do cognitive biases like overconfidence, the gambler’s fallacy, or loss aversion manifest in sports betting decisions? Do bettors behave rationally, or are they prone to emotional decision-making?
- Financial Regulation and Policy: As sports betting becomes more mainstream, the regulatory and economic implications need deeper exploration. How should states regulate and tax sports betting? What impact do these policies have on revenue generation, both for governments and private enterprises?
- Economic Impact of Sports Betting: The broader economic effects of sports betting are increasingly significant, with implications for everything from tourism to state tax revenues. Studies focusing on the economic impacts of legalized sports betting can provide important insights for policymakers.
This is why the sports betting session at the Southern Finance Association meeting is a timely and important addition to the conference. Academics and professionals with relevant research are encouraged to contribute papers that explore these and other facets of the sports betting economy.
The Southern Finance Association Annual Meeting
For those unfamiliar, the Southern Finance Association (SFA) Annual Meeting is one of the premier finance conferences held in the United States, attracting scholars, industry professionals, and thought leaders from around the world. The conference covers a wide array of finance topics, including corporate finance, financial markets, investment strategies, risk management, behavioral finance, and now—thanks to Berkowitz’s initiative—sports betting.
Here’s what makes the SFA Annual Meeting such a vital event in the finance community:
- Cutting-Edge Research: The SFA provides a platform for scholars to present their latest research findings, often leading to fruitful discussions and future collaborations. It is an ideal venue for early-stage research as well as mature, fully-developed papers.
- Networking Opportunities: With its mix of academic researchers, finance professionals, and policymakers, the SFA meeting offers unique networking opportunities for participants. Whether you’re a seasoned academic or an early-career researcher, the conference allows you to connect with peers and mentors.
- Industry Relevance: The SFA Annual Meeting consistently bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world application, drawing participants from both the academic and professional finance sectors. This balance between research and practice is a hallmark of the SFA’s success.
- Peer Feedback: Presenting at the SFA allows researchers to receive valuable feedback from experts in their field, often leading to improvements in the research and better publication outcomes. Discussions during sessions can highlight new angles or methodologies that researchers hadn’t previously considered.
This year’s event in Key West, Florida, promises to be no different. As Berkowitz noted, the warm, tropical setting of Key West is an inviting respite for those used to colder climates (and the February blizzards that make the idea of a November conference in Florida sound particularly appealing).
Why You Should Participate in the Sports Betting Session
If you are conducting research in any area related to sports betting, this is an ideal opportunity to showcase your work at a respected finance conference. Here’s why you should consider submitting your paper:
- Gain Exposure: Presenting at the SFA will expose your work to a wider audience, which can lead to valuable discussions and future collaborations. With sports betting becoming a mainstream topic in finance, there will be significant interest in this session.
- Contribute to a Growing Field: The sports betting industry is growing rapidly, and there is still much to be learned about its financial dynamics. By presenting your research, you can contribute to the growing body of literature on this important subject.
- Potential for Publication: Presenting at a major conference like the SFA can lead to publication opportunities, as conference papers are often expanded and refined into journal articles. The SFA Annual Meeting is known for featuring research that goes on to be published in top finance journals.
- Be Part of a Unique Session: Jason Berkowitz’s sports betting session is a new and exciting addition to the SFA’s program, focusing on a topic that has real-world implications for finance and economics. Your participation will help shape the future of research in this area.
Submission Details
If you are interested in participating, please submit your abstract or completed paper to Jason Berkowitz via email at [email protected] by February 25th, 2024. Jason will be reviewing submissions and putting together the strongest possible proposal for the sports betting session(s) at the Southern Finance Association meeting.
Conclusion
The Southern Finance Association’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Key West offers a prime opportunity for researchers in the field of sports betting to present their work, network with leading finance professionals, and contribute to a growing area of study. Jason Berkowitz’s initiative to organize a dedicated session on sports betting comes at a time when the financial world is increasingly focused on the implications of legalized betting markets.
Whether you are researching market efficiency, behavioral finance, or the economic impact of sports betting, this is your chance to engage with other scholars and professionals in the field. Don’t miss the February 25th deadline for submissions, and we look forward to seeing how this exciting session develops at the Southern Finance Association meeting in November.
