Combat sports’ historic relationship with betting – and others on the rise

Combat sports’ historic relationship with betting – and others on the rise

Whatever your favorite sport is, there is no denying the fact that combat sports are among the most exciting in the world. The fact that everything can change in the blink of an eye, and that the underdog always has a chance, makes it thrilling to watch. It’s why they say a “puncher’s chance” after all.

It is not just the action which combat sports offer that keeps fans entertained though. Sports betting adds a little thrill to any MMA or boxing bout you are watching and remains a popular way for fight fans to get more enjoyment from following combat sports.

Sports betting not just popular for combat sports

Anyone who knows sports, knows that betting on them has been something people all over the world get a kick from historically. With changing laws in the US meaning legal sports betting is available in many states now, wagering on games is only likely to become more common in general. It goes without saying of course that certain sports have always been popular for bettors – with the NFL being a superb example.

Football is a massive sport on a global scale and has millions of fans who love to follow every NFL season. With top franchise like the Patriots, the Rams, the Bears and the 49ers, the appeal is easy to see. Many of these fans also love to bet on games and look for help to pick the best NFL bets today before putting their money down.

Although some sports like the NFL have been popular with sports bettors for a while, others are somewhat less established. Wrestling for example was not something people used to bet on much but is now a rising market in the industry.

Esports is another niche within sports which has seen an uptake in interest from people looking to get involved in this activity. As the market for sports betting rises in general and the popularity of this activity also rises globally, it is easy to see how new sports are getting attention from gamblers.

Combat sports and Las Vegas

When it comes to combat sports, the relationship with betting and Las Vegas goes way back and plays a huge part in the big purses that some fights bring.

MMA has grown an incredible amount in recent decades, and this means that the relationship between gambling and combat sports has remained strong. The UFC for example holds regular fights in Vegas as well as all of the press and weigh-ins that surround the sport. In addition, they built their UFC Apex Facility in Enterprise, Nevada during 2019. The Apex can host even more shows and has led to Vegas continuing to strengthen its relationship with combat sports.

Historically, there have also been huge boxing matches at Vegas casinos and many of the biggest fights in the history of boxing have taken place at these venues. Bouts like these are a chance for thousands of people to gamble big bucks on the sport.

Gambling all over the world

It isn’t just Las Vegas where gambling has continued to play a huge part in boxing. As more states and countries open up sportsbook markets and allow people to gamble, the relationship is growing even stronger.

In countries such as the UK, sportsbook gambling is already huge, and the big boxing events have helped to further that, especially due to the fact that the UK has a track record of producing some of the very best fighters, including heavyweight boxers and UFC fighters.

The UFC and other combat sports have taken off in a lot of different parts of the world, including Asia, where people are known to enjoy gambling, and it forms part of the culture in some countries throughout Asia.

The impact of the relationship

The relationship between combat sports and sports gambling companies has a direct influence on the sport as shown below:

Increased revenue for boxing through sportsbooks sponsoring fights. .

Increased technology usage from sports betting companies For instance, the ability to live stream the sport all over the world, so everyone can see/bet on events.

Economic benefits which come from the jobs created through sports betting to the revenue live events generate. Combat sport events can also draw economic benefits to the areas in where they are hosted.

Combat sports and betting are intertwined, and this relationship is not going to change anytime soon as more and more people are betting on UFC meets and boxing fights. It is also pretty certain that other sports are on the rise in terms of betting and could well become as popular for gamblers as MMA or boxing.