Have You Considered Betting on Bandy, Bowls or Coursing?
Globally, televised football is generating billions in gambling revenue. ©GettyImages
Globally football is the world’s most-played sport. It is also the most viewed sport on television. Consequently it is also the world’s most popular gambling sport.
In the UK, horse racing used to generate the most betting turnover. But the Internet – followed by apps and innovations such as in-play betting and early cash-outs – has seen football betting sites eat up much of its market share.
The latest estimates indicate over £1 billion is gambled on football every year in the UK. In most countries the sport tops the turnover lists. Obvious exceptions would be the USA – where NFL rules – and Canada where hockey is king. Rugby and horse racing are the most popular gambling sports in Australia and New Zealand.
Outside of the Big Five Betting Sports
In the UK, in terms of gross gambling yield – the amount retained by gambling operators after the payment of winnings and before deductions for operating costs – Football currently accounts for almost 49 percent of gambling profits.
Horse racing follows. It takes approximately 28 percent. Tennis claims five percent and greyhound racing, along with virtual sports, takes around three percent apiece. The remaining yield comes from a selection of random sports. Some, such as golf, are obvious.
However, the best sports betting websites like to cater for everyone and so you can bet on numerous sports – many of which you may have never heard of or considered. Here we have listed a handful of lesser-known sports that you can gamble on with the leading online bookmakers.
Bowls
Live bowling action at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. ©GettyImages
If you think ‘bowls’ you might recall school history lessons and the tale of Francis Drake finishing up his game before defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588. But apparently, the game dates back much further, to ancient Greek times.
It is now considered a ‘quintessential British thing’ and there are currently thirty-five affiliated county bowling associations. These embrace a total of 2,700 clubs and at least 100,000 active players.
There is clearly plenty of interest in Bowls. Resultantly, you can bet on the Indoors and Outdoors World Championships, the National Championship and the Commonwealth Games.
Bandy
Your first question: What is Bandy? It is a form of Ice Hockey played using a ball instead of a puck. Second question: Where is Bandy played? It is huge in Sweden and Russia. Also very popular in Finland and Norway, Bandy has a big footprint in the Baltic countries, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
The premier international Bandy competition for men is the Bandy World Championship. It is staged every four years. In Sweden, the Elitserien is the highest Bandy league for men. You can bet on all matches in this competition as well as the Bandyliiga – Finland’s premier Bandy league for men – at the best Bandy betting sites.
Floorball
Floorball could best be described as Ice Hockey without ice or skates. Similar to Bandy, its fanbase is in Scandinavia and central Europe.
Betting on Floorball is very straightforward. Goals are the simple objective. It is akin to Football meaning it can be bet in-play and markets such as the first team to score, correct score and total goals are commonplace.
Unsurprisingly, online sportsbooks such as Unibet that have a huge following in Scandinavia feature the widest range of Floorball betting opportunities and live streaming.
Handball
Paris Saint-Germain handball star Luka Karabatic takes a shot on goal. ©GettyImages
At the time of writing, a brief look at Ladbrokes sportsbook showed betting opportunities on ongoing or scheduled Handball games in France, Estonian, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Slovenia.
High speed with lots of goals and excitement, Handball is rapidly growing as a participation, spectator and handball gambling sport.
The game consists of two teams of six players plus a goalkeeper. There are two 30-minute halves, and the simple objective is to score the most goals. Don’t let the name confuse you, in Handball players can touch the ball with any body part above their knees.
In possession, a player’s options are to pass the ball, dribble the ball or take a shot. A player can only dribble for three steps before they must make a pass or take a shoot. They are also only allowed to hold the ball for a maximum of three seconds.
This rule ensures the game is played at a fast pace and is always high-scoring. Most competitive Handball matches have an average of 50 goals.
Coursing
Greyhound Racing made its debut in 1919 in California. It quickly spread across the world and enjoyed massive popularity in the UK immediately before and after the Second World War. At one point over 240 greyhound tracks were operating in the UK. London alone had 25 tracks.
However, long before oval tracks and mechanical lures, greyhounds had been competing in match races chasing live hares. The centuries-old sport took place across the UK. Racecourses such as Sandown Park, Kempton Park and Fontwell Park were originally facilities for coursing – as greyhounds coursed hares on the parkland found there.
Coursing became illegal in the UK in February 2005 but it still takes place in Ireland where Boylesports supports the highly controversial sport by sponsoring the Derby at the Clonmel Coursing Festival.
Staged in the infield of Powerstown Park – otherwise known as Clonmel Racecourse – that feature competition takes place every February. It draws thousands of spectators.
The online bookmaker offers these fans opportunities to bet on both the Derby and the Oaks. These competitions are for 64 greyhounds that can progress to the next round after winning a match race. The outright competition winner will need to win six consecutive times.
The winner of a ‘course’ is declared by a judge. He follows the hare and hounds on horseback and determines which greyhound is leading when the hare makes its first turn to evade its pursuers. That greyhound is declared to be the winner.
