Covers.com
Website offering data for sports betting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Covers.com, formerly known as SportsDirect, is an online publication that provides sports-related information and data analysis. It is based in Post Falls, Idaho, United States.
.svg){kind=logo} | |
Type of site | Sports betting information and analysis |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Founded | June 1995 |
| Headquarters | Post Falls, Idaho, United States |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Founders |
|
| Products | Odds, data feeds, analysis tools, forums, mobile app |
| URL | covers |
| Advertising | Yes |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional (free) |
| Current status | Active |
History
Covers.com was founded in 1995 by Paul Lavers and Joe MacDonald as an online information platform for sports bettors.[1][2][3] Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the platform gained popularity among sports betting enthusiasts due to its extensive coverage of betting data.[1]
For the 1997 World Figure Skating Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland, SportsDirect developed the first website to provide real-time coverage of the event.[1] During the early 2000s, Covers.com became a notable affiliate and information resource for sportsbooks.[4] In 2005, it acquired Wagerline.com.[5]
In 2007, Covers was awarded Halifax's business of the year award.[5]
In 2009, the founders divided their business interests: Lavers focused on a sister company (SportsDirect Inc.), while MacDonald became the sole owner of Covers.com.[6] Under MacDonald's direction, Covers expanded its content and international audience.[6]
In 2015, Covers Media Group, which operated Covers.com, was acquired by Gracenote, a U.S.-based data firm owned at the time by Tribune Media, as part of an expansion into sports statistics services.[7] The acquisition also included SportsDirect Inc., with the combined transaction valued at approximately $54 million.[7] Following the acquisition, Covers operated as part of Tribune Media's digital assets.Tribune sold Gracenote to Nielsen in 2017 but retained Covers.com as a direct consumer-focused property.[8]
In 2022, Covers and Postmedia Network agreed to distribute betting analysis and odds content across Postmedia's national news outlets.[9][10]
Platform
Covers.com is an online platform providing sports betting information and tools to users. It publishes real-time content covering major sports leagues and events and released a mobile app in 2019. The platform also hosts community forums where users discuss betting picks, and offers free-to-play contests.[11] It has an active community of 20 million users.[12]