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Top Athletics Betting Sites & Guide on How to Bet

Ever since the dawn of the Olympic games, betting on athletics has been quite common although unofficially. In the last 20 years, punters and bookies have practically ignored the sport. Fortunately, after the newly found Diamond League’s great success, athletics betting markets have picked up the sport again.

Even though the sport is now as popular as ever, finding legitimate athletics betting sites that cover many events can be quite challenging. Luckily for you, we, at bestbettingsites.com, have done our research and prepared you a guide that’ll teach you how to bet on athletics efficiently and show you the way to the best bookies out there.

Luke Andrews: Editor-in-Chief at BestBettingSites.com
Written by: Luke Andrews
Updated on: 04.12.2023
A sprinter practises his starts during a training session.

Top 3 Athletics Betting Sites

  • 🥇 Sky Bet ✪ Our Top Operator ✪ Best Athletics Betting Site
  • 🥈 bwin ✪ Good for Mobile ✪ Top Betting Site App
  • 🥉 Grosvenor ✪ Easy to Use ✪ Quickest Withdrawals

In the last two decades, bookmakers have been quite successful at covering a wide range of betting markets. Unfortunately, bookies often stray away from providing odds for athletics events. However, in this guide, you’ll not only find a lot of tips to improve your betting strategy, but you’ll also learn which are the best athletics betting sites:

Best Athletics Betting Sites by Category:
🏆 Best Athletics Betting Site Sky Bet
👮 Most Secure Athletics Bookie Grosvenor
▶️ Best Athletics Livestreams bwin
📈 Top Athletics Market Selection Sky Bet
💰 Best European Championships Odds Grosvenor
🔎 Best Live Swimming Betting Site Sky Bet
🎁 Top Athletics Betting Bonus Grosvenor
📱 Best Athletics Betting App bwin
🔝 Top Track & Field Bookmaker Sky Bet
🆕 New Athletics Bookie Grosvenor

Further in our article, you’ll find an overview of the most popular athletics betting events and our experts’ recommendations on making the most out of them. We’ve also prepared you a table with odds that can be extremely useful when making bets. By the end of this guide, you should be able to create a bullet-proof athletics betting strategy. Let’s dive in!

Athletics Betting Odds and Payout

If you’ve ever been to a bookmaker point before, you have probably noticed how obsessed punters are with odds. But what’s so important about them? Frankly speaking, odds are the most critical factor in determining potential winnings — the more unlikely the outcome of a particular sports event the more prominent and juicier the possible win.

It’s worth knowing that, depending on the sport, different events also have different odds levels. For example, the Olympics normally have much higher odds than other athletics sports events. Perhaps the table below will help you get a better understanding of events and odds levels.

Average Odds for the Best Athletics Betting Events
Athletics Betting Site Mo Farah 2021 Olympics Long Jump – Women Mens 100m Tokyo 2021 Medal Specials
96,52% N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A 81,78% N/A
N/A N/A N/A 75.00%

By a rule of thumb, when you’re browsing athletics betting sites, you want to look for events and betting markets that have higher odds levels. That way, you’ll have much greater chances of coming out as a winner at the end of the day. However, it would be best for you if we put everything in perspective.

Say you’re looking at the Olympic games’ 100m sprint for men, and you have both Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay. Perhaps, the odds would be against the latter, as he would be the underdog. However, if Tyson Gay manages to emerge as a winner, the winnings would be much greater than if Usain Bolt had won.

Betting on Athletics: Competitions & Events

Similar to other popular sports, athletics also has major and minor leagues and competitions. The difference between them, besides their popularity and coverage, is often the variety of disciplines. Smaller athletics events don’t always have discus and hammer throwing competitions, but they often have sprints. Our best recommendation is to build your athletics betting strategy for disciplines that you completely understand.

Of course, there are plenty of competitions where you can make bets on more than one discipline. Take the Olympics, for example – you can bet on both 100m and 200m markets simultaneously, or you can even spice everything up with jump bets. You’ll see the most popular competitions that are often covered by athletics betting sites in the table below.

The Main Athletics Competitions You Can Bet on
Competition Name Competition Logo Since Season
2021 Olympics 1896 Summer
World Athletics Championships 1983 Summer
Diamond League 2010 Spring
World Athletics Indoor Tour 2016 Winter

It’s often encouraged to engage in athletics betting sprees only during the major competitions. In our guide on betting on the Olympics, we’ve listed different methods and approaches that can increase your chances of winning. However, you should know that big events can be quite limiting because, not only do they take place just a few times a year, but also the winner can be quite obvious.

On the other hand, smaller leagues and competitions are currently rising in popularity. Punters seem to adore the unexpectedness of such events. In addition, the odds are much more flexible, and sizeable wins are not far and in between. Nonetheless, betting on minor athletics leagues is often merely a gamble simply because it’s tough to make educated guesses.

The Athletics Events You Can Bet on

When talking about athletics, many people think that it’s about track and field. However, there is much more to the sport than sprints, jumps, hurdling, and distance running. Although it’s true that these disciplines are the most popular and exciting ones among punters, there are a few additional ones that often don’t make it to athletics betting markets.

Road running, cross country running, and race walking are the three additional events that punters often seem to ignore. However, on many occasions, they can be incredibly worthwhile in terms of athletics betting. Nevertheless, in the table below, you’ll see the most popular athletics events and disciplines.

While it’s true that most punters would definitely stray away from betting on 20-Kilometer Race Walk contests, that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. However, as we’ve already mentioned, the 100 and 200-meter sprints are the two most anticipated athletics betting events for dedicated punters during bigger championships.

Discus and hammer throwing can be quite entertaining for viewers, but that’s not the case for bettors. Such athletics variations are deemed relatively risky in terms of betting as they’re often very unpredictable. On the other hand, the long jump can be guessed a tad bit easier than the aforementioned sports. Sometimes, all you need to do is a little research on the sportspeople and their performance over time.

Athletics Betting Markets

Say you’ve chosen an athletics online betting site and you are ready to dive into the action. In that case, it’s high time you learned about the bets you can make. Athletics, similar to other sports, has quite a few betting markets. However, it’s worth noting that certain betting options aren’t supported in some platforms.

Nevertheless, the best online bookies are amazing in terms of variety when it comes to betting options. Once you choose the discipline you understand, there are a few types of wagers that you can make, and it’s worth figuring out which one is best in the current scenario. To make it easier for you, we’ve created a table dedicated to the most popular athletics betting markets.

To Win the Event

Winning Event MarketThis is one of the most common athletics online betting markets. You practically bet on an athlete to win the whole event, not just a medal. However, making a wager before the given sportsperson has qualified for the final can bring much better odds levels.

To Qualify

Main-Event Qualifier BetBefore every big competition, there are qualifying rounds where athletes are put in certain groups. In this case, you basically bet on the sportspeople you think would emerge victorious from the qualifying rounds. Sometimes, when groups are packed with strong athletes, the odds for online betting can be fascinating.

To Win a Medal

Winning Medal MarketTo win a medal is a very common athletics betting market, and it’s quite self-explanatory. While it’s true that you are essentially betting on an athlete to win any type of medal, it’s worth knowing that you can also bet on a specific country to receive such an award.

To Set a World Record

World Record BetAlthough world records aren’t a sight you see quite often, if you happen to guess such an outcome, it’s safe to say that you can bring big bags home. However, guessing that there would be a world record is definitely tough, and it requires a lot of research and luck.

Athletics Live Betting

It’s a known fact that the iGaming industry has been quite innovative in terms of betting markets with the technological advancements in the past decade. Athletics betting sites have been very successful at entertaining their dedicated punters with new markets and options. Nowadays, one of the most peculiar features that bookies offer is the in-play option, also known as live betting.

Live athletics betting allows you to make bets in real-time during ongoing races. Say there’s a 10,000-meter race and you aren’t quite sure who’s going to win. In that case, you can use the live betting option at certain platforms and see how the event goes before making a bet. However, if a player has a clear advantage, you should know that the odds will drastically drop for him.

How Does In-Play Betting Look at the Top Athletics Sportsbooks?
  • SkyBet Athletics Live BettingGreat Odds Levels for In-Play Betting
  • Bwin Athletics Live BettingSimplified and Optimised User-Friendly Experience
  • Grosvenor Athletics Live BettingTop-Rated Operator Among Bettors

Even though not many bookies allow live betting on athletics, some of the best live betting sites always strive to improve the experience of their users. In 2024, some bookmakers go the extra mile, providing their dedicated punters with free live streaming options, making in-play betting much more exciting.

You should know that live betting isn’t available for every discipline. For example, 100m and 200m usually end in a matter of seconds – the odds would have to change in milliseconds. On the other hand, marathons and longer races are perfect for in-play betting. However, placing bets before the event has begun can usually bring you better odds.

Athletics Betting Sites – Bonuses and Promotions

Bookmakers are continually working on making betting on athletics more exciting. One of the best approaches they have come up with is through bonuses and promotions. Nowadays, some of the most frequently seen offers come wrapped as a welcome bonus. Such promotions usually consist of either free bets or a deposit match.

Not only do welcome offers provide you with more funds to work with, but they can also make you more confident when making riskier bets. Such bonuses are usually claimed by creating an account and making your first deposit. Finding decent promotions can be time-consuming, but in the table below, you’ll see the best offer we found during our research.

Athlete Running on the Track
  • Safe and Reputable Bookmaker
  • Generous Welcome Bonus
  • Wide Betting Market Variety
eCOGRAIBASLicensed by:

Additionally, sometimes operators provide punters with more than just welcome bonuses. Some of the best betting offers often consist of weekly cashback, odds boosts, free bets, and bonuses for specific sports. Unfortunately, particular promotions are usually directed to more popular sports like on the best sites for betting on football.

While it’s true that bonuses can definitely help your win more, their wagering requirements need to be taken into account. You see, in order to withdraw your promotion, you have to meet specific playthrough requirements. To save future headaches, we would recommend reading the bonuses’ terms and conditions before claiming them.

How to Bet on Athletics

Assuming you’ve soaked up all the information so far, it’s time for you to learn how to bet on athletics. However, before you dive into the vast ocean of athletics online betting sites, you should know a few things. Luckily for you, we, at bestbettingsites.com, are more than ready to share our tips and experience with you.

Before we get to the actual tips concerning betting on athletics, we should build a foundation. The two most important rules in sports betting are always trying to make educated guesses and never bet what you can’t afford to lose. The top new betting sites are also a great place to start. With that out of the way, it’s time for our best tips for betting on athletics:

There’s a lot more you’re going to learn when you start placing bets, but what we mentioned above should be the perfect outline for your future athletics betting strategy. With a little research on the athletes’ previous performances, the weather on the race day, and the odds levels on different betting platforms, you should be able to increase your chances of winning!

Athletics Facts, History, and Stats

The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece as many as three millenniums ago. Since then, athletics has been one of the most astonishing displays of human physique and capability. Nowadays, athletes compete in championships that are watched by millions of people around the world. Here are some of the most climactic moments of athletics history:

Usain Bolt’s Two World Records in 2009

Usain Bolt's World RecordIn 2008, Usain Bolt took the world by surprise, breaking the Olympic record for 200m with his run for 19.30 seconds. Until then, not many people believed in him. However, just a year later, the athlete broke the world records for both 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19 seconds). With his unbeaten records, Usain Bolt is regarded as the fastest man who has ever lived.

Derek Redmond’s Run for Glory

The Run for GloryThe British runner Derek Redmond who specialises in 400 meters competed in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics. At the time, he was considered a favourite for the medals podium. During the semi-final, while running, the athlete tore his hamstring. Despite his intense pain and agony, Derek Redmond tried and limped slowly towards the finish line. What made the moment so memorable was that Derek’s father went to help him reach the finish line.

Michael Phelps – The Flying Fish

Michael Phelps, The Flying FishRegarded as one of the best swimmers who have ever raced in the Olympics, Michael Phelps has become an inspiration for many young athletes. In 2001, he set a world record for 200m butterfly (1:54.58). However, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the athlete managed to do something that nobody has ever done before – he won eight gold medals. To this day, his record of won medals remains unbeaten.

Athletics has been one of the sports that has made it into history books plenty of times. Although some disciplines aren’t quite popular among punters, athletics betting sites continue to flourish. The sport has stood the test of time, and it has proven that it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Conclusion About Athletics Online Betting

Licensed and regulated in Great Britain, athletics betting sites are becoming better and better – new functions, features, and events bonuses are being added every other week. Similar to the top gambling sites, sportsbook platforms provide extraordinary bonuses and promotions. Overall, there hasn’t been a time where placing bets was more accessible and straightforward than now. However, there aren’t many bookmakers who cover athletics events.

Even though betting on athletics online isn’t the most popular option among punters nowadays, we believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This means that, if you like and understand specific disciplines, you can go on and start betting on them. As you know, we provide our readers with only the best and most secure operators out there.

FAQ

With our article about athletics betting sites coming to an end, we believe it’s time we presented you with one last section dedicated to the most frequently asked questions about the topic. Our experience and expertise in the field allowed us to shed light on queries that are commonly raised by punters on the internet. In the following paragraphs, we hope you find answers to any unanswered questions!

⭐ What are the best athletics betting sites?

Although the answer to this question can be rather complicated, there are several things that all of the best athletics bookies have in common. The top sportsbook platforms usually have a wide variety of betting markets, generous bonuses, innovative features, and user-friendly interface.

🔒 Is betting on athletics allowed?

Not only is betting on athletics allowed, but it's also completely safe and secure, assuming you're using our tips and bookmaker recommendations. In the platforms we've listed, you can find plenty of athletics events to bet on - some sites even provide punters with live betting options.

🤑 What are the average athletics betting odds levels?

To determine the average athletics betting odds levels, you have to take a few things into account – the bookmaker that provides the odds, the sports event, and the popularity of the given discipline you're interested in. For example, the average odds levels for Mo Farah 2021 in in 2021 amount to 96.52% at SkyBet.

🤔 Is there a strategy I can follow to bet on athletics?

Yes, in order to increase your chances of winning, you need an athletics betting strategy. We share our best tips and recommendations on our page that could help you save a lot of cash and future headaches. Our primary advice is always to research the athletes you bet on and their competitors.