Five Other Sports You Could Be Betting On

Figure 1: There are plenty of other sports to investigate around the world.

It is no secret that online sports betting has experienced something of a revolution in the US in the last few years. Ever since the Supreme Court allowed individual states to make up their own minds on legalizing gambling in 2018, millions of Americans have now had the chance to give sports betting a go.

Obviously, big events like the Super Bowl attract the most business for the sportsbooks and get the fans most excited. But other high-profile sports and leagues have also seen a spike in interest, with pro leagues such as Major League Baseball and the NBA striking their own deals with betting operators found on www.onlinesportsbetting.net.

But there is so much more that you could be betting on. We wanted to come away from the major pro leagues for a moment and shine a light on sports that maybe don’t get as much attention.

These events can be found on most good sportsbooks and give fans a chance to make their predictions on lesser-known sports. There is a whole wide world of sports out there and there are sportsbooks that cover the events. You never know, you might just discover your new favorite sport.

Overseas Soccer

Now, you may well be a soccer fan already. Gone are the days when the world’s most favorite sport was still an underground, niche hobby in the States. Not only is there a well-established domestic league – where a certain Lionel Messi now finds employment – but fans of the sport are also very well-informed about all the major European and South American competitions, thanks to increased media coverage.

But why not try proving your soccer fan credentials still further by investigating some of the other leagues around the world? Take your attention away from the EPL, La Liga, or Serie A and you could find yourself becoming an expert on the leagues in Sweden, Poland, or Turkey. All of these can boast very established clubs and you may find that the novelty factor and new team names offer more interest than the same old winners in the bigger leagues.

Aussie Rules

Soccer may be a global sport but this one is a little different. As the name implies, Aussie Rules comes from Australia. Although there are very minor leagues and competitions found in other countries, this is one sport that never took off in a big way anywhere else outside of its home.

To the outsider, Aussie Rules can be a confusing – yet exciting – spectacle. Kind of like a mix of rugby and soccer, with the hard-hitting tackles and antics of hockey, this is a game played by almost stereotypical Aussie hard men. Especially popular in the city of Melbourne, Aussie Rules (sometimes confusingly referred to as “footy”) is highly addictive even before you pick up all the rules. Many sportsbooks offer markets on the competition and this is a great way of exploring a completely different sporting culture.

Esports

Even if you know nothing about esports, you will probably be familiar with video games. Your last experience of this world may well be spending hours in the local arcade as a child but gaming these days is big business. And esports is where the fiercest competition takes place across a range of titles.

Esports is, essentially, competitive gaming. But it is also so much more than that. The top pro gamers earn salaries on par with more traditional sports athletes and the biggest competitions pull in bigger ratings than the Super Bowl. Get to know the players and teams – as well as the individual games – and you will soon be going online yourself to see whether you have what it takes to be a pro.

Awards Shows

Sometimes the most interesting wager you can place at a sports betting site has nothing to do with sports at all. If you browse through the A-Z section on any sportsbook you will also be able to find markets for all the big awards shows. You should also be able to spot ones for elections too – but we thought you might have already had enough of politics for the moment!

Name any big red carpet event and your favorite sportsbook is likely to allow you to make predictions on the winners. Whether it is the Oscars or the Emmys, you can back your favorite movies and shows by taking a punt on who you think might pick up the gong. It is also a great way to see whether your taste falls in line with the critics.

Figure 2: Put your entertainment knowledge to the test.

Jai Alai

If you have spent any time in Florida, you may already be very aware of jai alai. Originally a game from the Basque region in Europe, it is still played mostly in Spain and France, as well as some Latin American countries. In the US, Florida is the jai alai hotspot and the home of the World Jai Alai League.

Jai alai is the fastest-moving ball sport in the world according to Guinness World Records and captivates its audience. It is virtually unknown outside of South Florida these days though, so if you are able to get into the sport you may well find that you become an expert very quickly. And that is going to be very helpful when it comes to predicting the outcomes of games.