If we were to ask you which modern sport has the distinction of taking the first bet, you would probably think it is one of the more popular ones. The answer, however, is a sport that has disappeared in the mists of time.
Race walking, also known as pedestrianism, enjoyed a wave of popularity in 19th century Europe. And its fame attracted money and bets. It is interesting to note that at the height of its popularity, pedestrianism was no better than modern wrestling entertainment, where many outcomes are fixed.
The surging wave of the sport took it from the alleys of Europe to the streets of the new world, America, and sports betting has never looked back since.
The rise of modern sports, such as baseball and basketball, sparked the rise of the sportsbook as well. With all the legalities in place, there was no grey area for punters to place their bets on a sport of their choice. Everything was regulated and followed the code laid out by individual states.
Another important difference occurred in the betting dynamics. Up until the late 19th century, a punter could place money on individual-centric sports. Case in point, race walking. With the predictable demise of pedestrianism, and the surge of baseball, sports betting shifted focus to team games.
This allowed for a wider range of smaller, in-game bets in addition to the regular winner or loser bets. It also meant that live betting became popular, with odds changing throughout a game.
These days, using an online sportsbook is by far the most popular way to place a sports bet. This makes sense in many ways. Online casino games could be seen to be missing some vital element which can only be found at a land-based casino, but not so with sports betting. Unless you’re the kind of person who likes to sit at the bookmaker and watch the screens, there’s very little advantage to be had by betting in person.
Online betting offers convenience, choice and security. In fact, it’s hard to see a downside to placing a bet with an online sportsbook site. Another place where online sportsbook shines is if you want to place a live bet. Sportsbooks offer constantly updated odds, so you can place a bet from your smartphone even when the game is in motion.
Many sportsbook providers also offer a cashout option, so if, for example, you bet on your football team to win, but it’s a draw at half-time and not looking promising, you can cash your bet out while you’re still ahead. Added to this, online sportsbooks regularly offer the best odds available.
With such a wide choice available, it can be difficult to decide where to take your custom. One of the great things about online sportsbooks is that, no matter how obscure the sport, you’re sure to find someone offering odds.
So, the first consideration is the range of sports on offer. Other things to look at are the reputation of the sportsbook, so make sure you do your homework on things like trustworthiness, license and regulation, level of customer support and what options are available for payments and withdrawals.
We can help with choosing the best site for you, and here you’ll find information on the best sportsbooks on the internet. With a bit of research, you can find the right sportsbook to trust with your bets, and with a bit of good judgment, start seeing some serious sportsbook winnings.
