When people think about sports betting, they usually visualize the nation’s most popular sports. Images of football touchdowns, baseball home runs, and basketball slam dunks will come to mind, however the world of ‘sport’ is far more diverse than these favored mainstream giants.
Sports betting is stretching into unconventional territories, that may surprise you. If you want to uncover unusual sports you can wager on, explore the following guide of 10 options featuring in the betting landscape.
Cornhole
Cornhole, the classic game where players toss bean bags onto a raised board with a hole, has transcended its backyard roots to become a competitive sport. With tournaments and leagues springing up across the country, cornhole is gaining traction as a serious betting market. The growth of cornhole has sparked interest from bookmakers. While betting markets are still developing, promotions and special offers related to major tournaments crop up when relevant. More betting opportunities are likely to emerge as the sport continues to rise in popularity.
Professional Eating
Competitive eating, showcased by events like the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, combines spectacle with skill. The challenge of chowing down the most food in a given time is thrilling for those engaged with the events and has presented wagering opportunities, too. Competitive eating doesn’t have the broad betting market of more mainstream sports. However, when major events occur, specialized promotions may surface to enable bettors to place unique bets.
Esports
Esports has exploded into the mainstream, with games like League of Legends and Dota 2 commanding massive global audiences. The rise of competitive gaming has led to comprehensive betting options. Another favorite falling under the Esports banner is drone racing, where bettors can wager on the outcome of simulated virtual drone races participating in the Drone Racing League.
The variety of betting markets available to bettors extends from match outcomes to individual player performances, while there are frequent tournaments in different games and promotions available by sportsbooks. It is possible to employ different strategies, such as a matched betting technique often used in popular sports throughout the U.S.
Cow Chip Throwing
Cow chip throwing is a distinctive competition where participants throw dried cow manure disks (cow chips) as far as possible. This traditional Oklahoma event is popular in certain rural festivals across the Midwest. Despite its odd nature, this sport has a loyal following, with enthusiasts often placing bets on who will achieve the longest throw.
Professional Wrestling
Professional wrestling, like WWE and AEW, merges athletic prowess with scripted storylines. Betting on these events is tricky because the outcomes are predetermined.
Since the results are scripted, professional wrestling doesn’t lend itself well to traditional betting strategies, including matched betting. Betting in this arena is more about predicting storylines and less about real competition. However, many sportsbooks offer chances to place stakes, especially for matches taking place at Pay-Per-View events.
Roller Derby
Roller derby is a fast-paced and physical sport played on skates, combining athleticism with strategy. The sport has a passionate following, but how does it fare in the betting world? Roller Derby’s betting market is relatively niche. With few promotions and a smaller audience, it may be challenging to find lucrative betting opportunities. However, if you’re a fan of the sport, localized bets and small-scale promotions may come to surface.
Shuffleboard
Shuffleboard involves sliding pucks down a long table, aiming for strategic scoring. It’s a game of skill and finesse, but does the game translate into betting opportunities? Markets for shuffleboard are limited. The niche nature of the sport means that matched betting might be difficult unless there’s a surge in interest or promotional activity.
Kabaddi
Merging tag with wrestling, Kabbadi is a combat team sport with a large following in its native country of India but is also gaining traction worldwide. Due to its rise in popularity, this traditional sport is beginning to attract betting interest and seamlessly falls into bet types such as money line, spread, and total points.
Table Tennis
With regular promotions and a global betting market alongside its fanbase, table tennis reflects different sports, such as football, basketball, and baseball, where different strategies, such as arbitrage betting and matched betting, are commonly used.
Whether it’s betting on individual matches or entire tournaments, bettors have plenty of opportunities to place stakes in this lesser-known sport to match mainstream ones
Lawn Mower Racing
Lawn mower racing brings a whimsical twist to the racing world, featuring modified mowers racing on tracks. While niche, it offers a unique betting opportunity. The betting market for lawn mower racing is fairly limited, but it’s a fun and quirky sport that might offer alternative betting experiences.
Summary
As the landscape evolves in time, the potential for betting on these unconventional and intriguing sports will seemingly grow. It’s important to note that while these sports offer unique betting opportunities, they also come with their own set of risks. Esports and table tennis stand out with their robust markets and frequent promotions offering plentiful options for bettors to wager on, similar to popular mainstream sports. For sports like cornhole, lawn mower racing, and kabaddi, despite currently lacking consistency with their availability on the betting market, further opportunities arise, and they continue to gain popularity.