Darren started covering the sports betting boom at multiple Play sites in the Catena brand, and branched out into the online gaming space. He’s also no stranger to the casinos in Atlantic City, understands that RTP rates matter, and how when the dealer has a six in blackjack then its time to double down.
With a background from a broad array of industries, Darren has been able to keep his finger on the pulse of the sports betting and online gaming space. He understands that the majority of bettors are just looking to have a good time and sweeten the taste of their team’s victory. He’s done deep examinations on the platforms put out by all of the major industry players.
Darren has won awards across four decades of writing from the 90s through the 2020s at the statewide level. He has been honored by the APSE each of the last three years for his print and digital work. He’s covered the Super Bowl, the NBA Draft and NCAA football and basketball. He maintains a large social media following on X and Instagram.
When he’s not writing, Darren lives for the other two Rs: Reading and Running. He maintains an extensive book collection with volumes dating back to the 1960s, and a large sports jersey collection (to his wife’s horror). While his long run days may be over – lousy Achilles tendonitis – he still enjoys being active with his kids–two are competitive swimmers.
Darren Cooper is a sports betting and online gambling writer who has covered multiple parts of the industry since 2020. He jokes that he’s written more stories on casino monthly revenue reports than anyone ever should.
He grew up outside New Orleans, where he spent time playing basketball, football, and lots of time in a boat doing what his father told him to do. He’s been a sports writer, columnist and freelance writer since 1998 in Northern New Jersey, where he lives with his much more talented writer/editor wife and three boys who never seem to stop eating, fighting, or fighting about what they want to eat.
Gannett
Sports Writer/Columnist
1998-present
Catena Media
Writer
2020-present
Field Level Media
Writer
2023-present
SportsRadar
Gambling Writer
2024-present
Forbes
Writer
2025-present
Louisiana State University
Bachelor’s Degree, Broadcast Journalism
1996
New Orleans Jazz, Baton Rouge Zydeco, Biloxi Shuckers
“Daylight” by Taylor Swift, or “Carlisle Wheeling” by The Monkees
Nachos, Doritos, pigs in a blanket
“Alas, Babylon” by Pat Frank.
Darren has been honored by the APSE each of the last three years for his print and digital work.
I was told stories growing up how my grandfather, Peter Helmstetter, aka “The Duke”, had a system for playing the ponies at the New Orleans Fairgrounds and how he would go early to the track to watch the horses work out. Sadly, the “system” which was written down on the back of a breadboard, has been lost.
Watching my wife shoot dice in Atlantic City! Oh my goodness, if she sees that she will be mad. I hit a big run on my birthday on Blood Suckers Megaways online slot and told everyone at my birthday party about it. My biggest sports bet was on a basketball game, and I won with a totally crazy backdoor cover at the end. I also am perfect on two of my last three Super Bowl parlays.
People who believe the games aren’t legit or fair. The truth is, all you can do is try to improve your odds by picking the best games to play, either by checking RTP rates or playing the odds at blackjack. The games are fair. It’s just hard to win. Stop thinking they’re deliberately against you.
Jeez, almost every day! I did have a run in the NBA playoffs a couple of years ago of 11 straight wins. That was fun, but there’s never a sure thing. Just when you think a team has momentum or a game is about to pay, it usually swings the other way. The best wins are the ones you don’t see coming.
I say just take a minute and check out the RTP rates of the online slots. If they don’t have it posted clearly, that usually means you’re in deep water, and move on. Try to find games with RTPs of 96 or better. Spend the bulk of your money on those. Also, sometimes it’s smarter not to take the online casino bonus.
