It was May 2018 when the Supreme Court struck down a federal law that barred gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most US states.
It gave states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports and they have wasted little time in printing tickets. Today, 26 states have legalized sports betting and 15 of these states have green-lighted online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps.
This gold rush has happened before in other countries. Ireland legalized betting in shops away from racetracks way back in 1926. The UK went legal in 1961 and within a few years there were 10,000 betting shops scattered across the Island.
Amazing stuff considering the UK is the same size as Oregon!
Name it, Bet on it
With more than a 50 year head-start on most US gambling states, it should come as no surprise the betting landscape in the UK is very different to here in the U.S. Yes, there are many different bet types but most impressively you can bet on pretty much anything.
Of course UK sports betting odds are available on all the popular sports headlined by horse racing, soccer, tennis, NFL, golf and greyhound racing. But there’s plenty more tools in the kit of the UK bookmakers box.
Sailing, surfing, water polo, cricket, trotting, table tennis and cycling are all eye-catchers but there are two particular categories where betting in the UK never fails to make you smile.
Royals Betting
Political and Royal Family related betting are increasing in popularity. No sooner had Oprah’s chat with Harry and wife Meghan ended, the bookmakers were devising their own Harry & Meghan Royal betting markets.
First up was the obvious, the name of their new baby which was divulged in the Oprah show to be a girl. Here Diana is the 5/1 bookies favorite.
But when asked when the new baby was due the response was a simple “in the summer”. That’s something to bet on right? Yes, it’s 3/2 (+150) about a June delivery, 3/2 (+150) about July, 5/1 (+500) August and May is 8/1 (+800) with the UK’s betting firms.
Long Shot
If you are looking for a live long-shot, how about the couple losing their Royal titles in 2021?
If you think they will be stripped of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex appendage during the year you can bet the outcome at 5/1 (+500).
Betting On The Box
The other betting category is ‘TV specials’ which incorporates everything from betting on the Oscars through to outcomes such as the song which will top the Billboard charts at Christmas.
Who shot JR?
This type of novelty betting market snowballed in popularity in 1980 when the UK, like 83 million Americans, were gripped by the suspense of ‘Who Shot JR’ in Dallas.
Bookmakers jumped on the spectacle and took over $360,000 in bets (over $1.2 million in today’s money) in the space of 48 hours.
The history books show Kristin Shepard was responsible for the shooting and that result, at winning odds of 4/1 (+400), was actually a loser for the betting firms! Lusty Dusty was the 3/2 favorite incidentally.
