Thanks to the popularity of basketball star Caitlin Clark, interest in and betting on women's sports is experiencing an unprecedented surge in the U.S. Clark, who made her professional debut with the WNBA Indiana Fever, has been a pivotal player in driving record-breaking betting activity in the NCAA women's basketball tournament. Gamblers are betting big on her pro prospects, indicating a significant trend in sports betting.
However, Clark's influence is just one aspect of a broader movement in the U.S. market. Sportsbook reports an overall increase in bets placed on a variety of women's sports. Expectations are growing for the upcoming Olympics, with the U.S. women's basketball team, historically overwhelmed by seven of the past eight gold medals, expected to attract significant betting attention. Likewise, the U.S. women's soccer team, known for its consistent performance, is drawing strong betting engagement.
a golden opportunity
Meghan Chayka, co-founder of hockey analysis company Statles, quoted The Associated Press as saying, "We have a great opportunity now, so why not set gasoline on fire?" She stressed the importance of maintaining this interest beyond major events, such as the March Madness, suggesting it is a strategic way to diversify our fan base.
Johnny Avelo, director of sports operations at DraftKings, highlighted the increased star power in women's basketball. He noted, "As a new era of stars prepares to enter the league, ticket prices, media interest, and even preseason bets have all gone up." Avelo also pointed out that the WNBA is steadily growing and this season is expected to be especially important.
The impact of this growth is evident in betting statistics. DraftKings reported a 3.5x year-over-year increase in bets placed on its women's college basketball tournament this year, with nearly four times the total amount. BetMGM also saw a 175% increase in bets placed on WNBA futures, which include predictions for league champions or MVP.
the verification of women's sports
Donna Orender, a former WNBA president and former professional basketball player, sees the increase in betting as a validation of the success of women's sports. "The money represents participation," she said. "If people make bets, they're participating. It's good for sports leagues." She recently, along with other experts from the SBC Summit North American Conference, predicted that 2024 will be an epochal year for women's sports in terms of popularity, ratings, and betting activities.
Sid Harris, Betway's head of branding and content, acknowledged his keen interest in Caitlin Clark. "We know that people watch and bet on women's sports. How do you continue if someone comes amid the excitement of March Madness?" According to many top sports books, the answer is to offer the same kind of offer or something for women's sports, known as "offer" bets, as men's sports. For example, many sports books have offered different offers on Clark's debut game, reflecting significant interest.
Despite Clark's challenging debut with a team-high 20 points but 10 turnovers, she remains the MVP's popular bet. BetMGM reported that 68.1% of the total bets and 74.5% of all the money placed on the MVP supported Clark with +1000 odds.
Interest in women's sports is not limited to basketball. Women's soccer, especially the U.S. women's national team, has also garnered significant ratings and betting attention. The trend is expected to continue at upcoming international events. FanDuel's Jennifer Matthews focused on important bets placed on women's hockey during the Olympics and explained her promotions to strengthen audience engagement during the Women's World Cup.
Craig Merklow, vice president of trading at Caesars Sportsbook, reiterated this sentiment, noting the long-standing popularity of the U.S. women's team at the Olympics and World Cup events. "The team's success over the years has led to tremendous interest in other women's sports," he said. With more interest in Caitlin Clark, the momentum is expected to continue through the summer months, when the event is packed with top-notch women's sports events.
Sports betters are increasingly adopting a sophisticated approach to women's sports, treating them with the same analytical rigor as men's sports. For example, betting on Clark's Indiana Fever to finish the season with fewer than 21.5 wins is especially popular in the Fanatics Sportsbook. Donna Orender thinks it's rewarding to see women's sports gain wider recognition. "It's time!" she exclaimed. "Finally, the world is saying, 'We see you and you have tremendous value.' 안전한 파워볼사이트