World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is one of the main professional wrestling companies, and professional wrestling is incredibly well-liked all around the world. The physical characteristics of the men and women who compete in professional wrestling are undeniable, and like any sport, there are those who like to wager on the results of matches.
Daily sports betting attracts millions of people worldwide, but is wagering on wrestling common?
Is It Moral to Wager on Wrestling?
Prior to delving deeper, it is crucial to take into account the problems with wrestling wagering.
Professional wrestlers are incredible athletes, and they are capable of incredible things in the ring. The majority of major wrestling events, however, are orchestrated in some fashion, so the competitors are aware of the conclusion and the course of the match. Fortunately, the results of wrestling matches are strictly kept secret to preserve the authenticity of the sport.
Additionally, matches’ results might alter just before they start, sometimes even as the wrestlers are about to enter the ring.
How Many People Bet on Wrestling?
In comparisons to sports like basketball, football, and tennis, wrestling is still a niche activity. The major events continue to draw a sizable following, as seen by the packed arenas and the over 2 million viewers of the broadcasts throughout the United States alone. You have a sizable viewership when you include the Europeans who enjoy watching professional wrestling. Even if just 10% of all spectators are interested in betting on the fights, that still amounts to at least 200,000 individuals in the United States alone. Thus, despite wrestling not being as well-liked for betting as sports like football, tennis, and basketball, there seem to be obvious enough individuals interested in betting on the activity for bookmakers to create betting markets.
Even if only 20 people place an online wager on a major wrestling event, those 20 people might also wager on other sporting events or play casino games. Wrestling bettors might turn to gamble pokies, roulette, blackjack, or baccarat. Online pokies in Australia provide games themed on wrestling, and one of the slots is named after the illustrious Andre the Giant.
More Legalized Betting Market in the United States Boosted WWE Betting Popularity
Since 2018, sports betting has rapidly increased in popularity in the US, with 30 states currently participating in a legal market, 21 of which permit online gambling. With two broadcast deals totaling more than $2 billion for the period between 2019 and 2024, WWE has had similarly successful several years.
No matter how much WWE tries to provide the appearance of validity by leaning toward the sporting side of sports entertainment, you would not anticipate those two businesses to merge in any manner. However, there are legitimate ways to gamble on the results of WWE events, and the Royal Rumble, which kicks off annually, is the only event in the WWE universe that can satisfy the realm of betting props.
Due to severe restrictions on what can and cannot be wagered upon, you will not see these bets available at an American bookmaker anytime soon, but a number of overseas bookies and European bookies have been giving lines on WWE match results for the greater part of the last 10 years. Although the WWE is scripted, the possibility to alter results up to the time the wrestlers enter the ring (and occasionally even later) makes betting on the WWE feel different than betting on any other wager that might be considered an entertainment wager.
This does not alter the fact that a single or a small number of people decide how each game will turn out. There are currently the most betting possibilities available for the Royal Rumble at offshore online wrestling betting sites. More than 50 men and women can be typically picked to bet on to win the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble match, but it goes deeper than that. Like Super Bowl props, which have grown in popularity over the years, this year’s offers from those sites and a number of others include, among other wagers, odds on the amount of time spent in the Royal Rumble, the number of eliminations, and odds of making the final 4.
Betting Options for Wrestling
Match Win is the most popular wrestling betting market. It is as simple as placing a wager on the player or team you believe will prevail in the game. The Retain Title market is accessible at online sportsbooks because there is a chance that a contest could terminate without a winner if a title is on the line, but the holder preserves their title. In other competitions, like the Royal Rumble, there are more than two competitors, and you pick the one you believe will win. In the Royal Rumble, it is additionally possible to back teams of wrestlers, and these teams are typically divided into heroes and villains.
The industry for wagering on wrestling online is expanding. While wrestling may not be as well-known as other sports, there are still enough people interested in placing bets on wrestling matches for bookmakers to continue offering odds.
