Across the globe, interest in sports betting continues to grow. This is a multi-billion dollar industry, and projections show no signs of market slowdown in the short to mid-term future.
The addition of new territories has helped revenue to increase substantially in the last six years. The United States opened up to sports betting in 2018, while parts of Canada have followed more recently. In addition to the new entrants, a number of emerging sports have also helped the sector to develop.
Battling Tradition
Historically, horse racing has always been the most popular sport to bet on. In recent years, interest in football has seen the betting community turn more to the top leagues across the world. Other traditional sports such as tennis, golf, rugby and cricket also have a huge following.
This is the landscape that emerging sports have to contend with. They may not rise to the very top, but each has captured a significant market share, with sportsbooks and their customers starting to take things more seriously.
Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed Martial arts, frequently abbreviated to MMA, is a perfect example of a sport that has emerged from the fringes to capture a vast audience. When it first came to prominence in the 1990s, the combination of fighting methods seemed strange at first, but fans quickly began to appreciate the immense skill of the athletes.
Within MMA there are several different organisations, with Ultimate Fighting Championship at the top. UFC showcases the best fighters, and the big events can attract up to two million viewers.
MMA’s growth has boosted its interest in the betting community, and it has another advantage. The available markets mirror those of an established sport, with boxing offering a template.
As well as backing the winner, punters can also stake on a range of side markets, including how the fight will end and how many rounds it will last.
ESports
While some may argue that professional video gaming isn’t a sport, it’s easy to dismiss those claims. The top events feature elite athletes battling it out in intense competition, and the action is no less thrilling than any mainstream discipline.
Sportsbooks clearly take eSports seriously, and some have even become involved in sponsorship deals with teams and athletes.
Similarly to MMA, eSports has a huge following, and it also provides companies with the opportunity to list a host of markets. Game and tournament winner bets are the most popular, while bettors can also stake on any element of the competition.
The most popular professional video games are included, so you can expect plenty of choice for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, DOTA 2, and others.
Cycling
While many sportsbooks have traditionally offered cycling markets, they were often seen as an afterthought. This was a specialized area and a fringe sport where relatively few spectators had any interest.
Like a lot of global sports, interest in cycling has been boosted by the wider coverage from TV broadcasters. Until recently, the Tour De France may have received a mention on national news, but the sport had little exposure beyond its main event.
All of that has changed, and every stage of the TDF is now shown live, alongside other major competitions, including the Giro D’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. Plus, there’s also cycling at the Olympic Games.
With greater fan interest and a host of potential markets, cycling is another of the betting industry’s rising stars.
Darts
Similarly to cycling, darts have enjoyed a huge surge of interest thanks largely to live TV coverage. Promoters have also become involved, and there are currently more major tournaments than ever before.
When the PDC World Championships finish at the beginning of January, the Premier League takes over, while other big events include the Grand Slam, the UK Open, and the World Grand Prix.
Extensive television broadcasts have undoubtedly played a part in darts’ rise, but the sport also offers the potential for more betting markets than most. Match winner, correct score, highest checkout, and 9-dart finish are among the many options.
Along with these emerging sports, there are many others that have more betting markets attached than they did in the past. Snooker and pool are both popular cue sports, and they have a growing global following.
Other sports gained popularity from the Summer Olympics, and these include volleyball, handball, and water polo. Each has gained a foothold in the betting industry in recent years.
With these sports emerging from the fringes to become mainstream events, the betting sector is looking to identify what will be next. Around the world, players engage in professional Quidditch, now known as quad ball, while there are events for zorbing, underwater polo, and much more.
The sporting landscape is vast, but there is plenty of room for more new sports to come along and challenge the established pastimes.