Sports entertainment is a vast market, and a common mistake that people make is categorizing wrestling solely as the WWE or other professional entertainment-based wrestling theatre. Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the Olympics; it is also the foundation for many of the top fighters within the UFC and MMA as a whole.
So, the idea of placing a bet on wrestling goes far beyond simply betting on who will win Wrestlemania. Despite that market flourishing over the last few years, the truth is that many wrestling competitions now see increased gambling activity because of a potent mixture of looser gambling laws in many American territories, more advertising, and readily available access to mobile phones and the internet.
Following The Casino Blueprint
It wouldn’t be accurate to suggest that casinos set the foundation for emerging niche sports betting markets. As the Millennium dawned on us, many gambling companies identified the internet as the next great bastion to conquer. Still, few would have anticipated how a mixture of variables would have delivered a concoction that has transformed the industry from a ten-figure industry to a twelve-figure industry. However, casino games like poker showed the vast possibilities for gambling companies looking to switch online. There were also sports betting companies that also opened up their digital businesses.
The 2005 Gambling Act that came into force in the UK was one of the first in the world to crunch the numbers and provide legislation for those companies looking to expand online. Several highly successful online casinos and sportsbooks were operating in the UK by this point. Poker, blackjack, roulette, and dozens of prominent sporting markets were running on full cylinders, generating millions of pounds of profit in the UK. Casino real money games that have big popularity like poker may have highlighted how much potential the market had.
Still, innovators within the casino and sportsbook industry unlocked the key that saw both gambling markets flourish to their full extent. This immense potential and massive growth in these traditional gambling markets then had sportsbook companies looking further afield for other events that people could bet on, and this is where wrestling betting markets started to emerge.
Prominent Wrestling Gambling Markets
There’s no disputing the popularity of wrestling entertainment; it is a multi-billion dollar organization in the US. In addition, it is one of the most popular events south of the border in Mexico. But as we alluded to in our opening section, it is a sport that has featured in the Olympics for over 1,000 years, featuring in the initial games in ancient Greece. You can bet on the medallists at the Olympics, and some specialist bookmakers also offer markets in world championship tournaments, although they are difficult to find.
Following the misguided decision to drop the iconic, original sport from the program in 2020, Paris 2024 will see a triumphant return, and gambling markets will be in a prime position to offer a whole host of markets, many of which have never been available in wrestling before.
Some controversy stems from betting on WWE as it is scripted sports entertainment. However, there’s no doubt about the sporting prowess of wrestling entertainment and the crossover success many big names have had, particularly UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. WWE itself is a market that may be subject to foul play if the outcome of a big event is leaked early on social media.
In the UK, you can gamble on the outcome of some of the top WWE events. However, the US is still debating about opening up the idea of gambling on these pre-determined outcomes. It opens up a broader debate about where to draw the line with gambling, and the UK is a lot further ahead than many other countries when it comes to betting on pre-determined markets. Many bookmakers have markets for significant TV events, such as what film will win the Oscar that year or what character will be written off in a soap. So, there still needs to be clear distinctions for wrestling bettors to enjoy responsible wagering.
The Importance Of Responsible Gambling
Many wrestling fans have explored the gambling markets over the last decade. With mobile phones allowing millions more people to access these markets more easily, understanding the importance of education and the promotion of responsible gambling is vital.
Firstly, you should only ever use money you can afford to lose, and you should never see gambling as a source of income. If you believe you are spending too much money or time placing wrestling bets, then there are many things you can do to help yourself. By looking at local gambling services, you can attend support meetings and speak to other people who could conquer their problem gambling and gain sage advice.
Understanding the market is crucial also. Knowing what determines the price of specific outcomes and how to break down the odds will give you better knowledge about gambling mechanics, but the most crucial point is knowing there’s no way to make a consistent profit from gambling; you should see it as entertainment only.
