Sports betting is a very popular activity, but not everyone wants to bet on football or baseball. Some people have a more acquired or simply specific taste. It goes without saying that these games are not quite suitable for people who prefer betting online but they’re fun to watch anyways.
In this article, you will get an overview of some of the biggest sports you can bet on and share some fun facts about the world of sports betting as a whole.
Arm Wrestling
You probably knew you could bet on wrestling, but did you know you could also bet on arm wrestling? Of course, it might have happened before in your life that you placed a small bet on a friendly arm-wrestling competition between mates, but this is a little different.
In 2017, players such as James Harrison and Marshawn Lynch participated in Las Vegas’ tournament of arm-wrestling, and many people placed some bets on them. Although some controversies sparked due to the involvement of American football players, the event was a success, and the gathered money was destined for charity.
Cornhole
For the readers out there who are not familiar with the term cornhole, this game is about tossing small bags of corn kernels into holes carved into dummy boards. This is a classic game in the US that is often played in rural settings such as county fairs and similar environments. Surprisingly and mysteriously, this game became extremely popular in Hong Kong, where in 2015, the Shekow Cornhole Federation published a list of odds for the upcoming tournament. The team names featured in these odds were as creative as “Game of Throws” and “Breaking Bag.”
Quidditch
Who hasn’t heard of Quidditch? This game was popularized by the Harry Potter saga, but its development in the world of Muggles was quite a surprise for everyone. The original game featured flying brooms and magical balls, but this is not quite what’s happening in the more down-to-earth version you can play in real life.
Players use broomsticks, but they don’t fly. Magical balls are just tennis balls placed in a long yellow louch hanging off a runner’s shorts. The game works with two teams of six playing against each other. Betting on this sport is a phenomenon that appeared for the first time in 2011, and it is still alive and well, despite the uncanny appearance of the game itself.
Reindeer Racing
Reindeer racing is another interesting sport people enjoy to bet on. Reindeers are not commonly found in many places on earth, as they are native to the northern parts of Norway, Finland, and Russia. In these regions, reindeer racing is widely followed and often considered a competitive sport. This sport involved jockeys in speed suits and reindeer slights, of course. The speed is impressive as well, as these animals can run up to 37mph. What makes it even more interesting is the fact that reindeer are extremely difficult to train. If you are ever in this area, we recommend finding an event to watch.
These were only some of the strangest sports people like to bet on, but for sure many more could be included, such as niche esports, chess, and board games, among other quirky options. It is important to remember that the world of sports betting is always evolving and that the term sports itself became quite vague over the years to leave space for a broader number of games and to let people dive into the world of sports in the way they preferred, without useless labels or limitations.
