Today, sports events all over the globe are temporarily suspended and you are probably wondering – what to bet on next? Major betting operators have seen their shares drop with nearly 30% during March and if estimations are correct, they may see their revenue reduced by more than £100 million. To survive they will have to think "out of the box" to find new markets to bet on and the solution may lay in virtual sports betting and eSports. There are some great alternatives in these markets that you may not have noticed before. The coronavirus has canceled or delayed many events across football, tennis, basketball, and soccer, but it has equally given the opportunity for other sports to come out from the shadows and to shine. In fact, sportsbooks have been generating income from minor “forgotten” sports such as darts, table tennis, and even badminton. Offbeat events are gaining popularity at a time when other sports are going offline. Russian volleyball is ongoing and there are many books with betting available.Esports betting online is similarly driving more interest. Cycling and cricket are available here and there, but on the same level, they have been previously. With some dedication, you can still find some betting opportunities, as most sportsbooks display all active events on their front page.
Why bet on these lesser-known sports?
If you are a newcomer to sports betting, you might consider our guide to sports betting, which will give you insight into the workings of placing wagers on sports. Basically, betting on less popular sports competitions is no different than placing a bet on the English Premier League (EPL) or the NBA. The only difference here is that you may not be familiar with the best teams in the Russian Hockey League or Ukraine’s top table tennis players. Fortunately, there is a very quick way to verify this information, thanks to handy world ranking lists found searching on Google. Another big plus of small competitions such as badminton and darts is they are very easy to understand and follow. Most minor sports events usually feature two players in most cases, with some teamwork. The rules are straightforward and after a while, you will be able to appreciate the skill and aptitude that goes into these sports competitions. Another upside of sticking with these sports is they are still streamed and you can watch them as you place your wagers. Naturally, you have to keep in mind that some events may be further suspended. Motorsports have proven resilient to the global shutdown of events and NASCAR and Indy Car are still on track.
What sports markets are left?
To bet on sports outside the mainstream, all you need to do is find competition, and a team or player you want to bet on. You can pick from some smaller, but more familiar markets, such as the above-mentioned sports. There are a few competitions still going on, including darts, volleyball, badminton and, especially eSports. Once you do have a team or player in mind, you can choose from a number of traditional bets. As a sports fan, you can place different types of sports bets:
- Match winner
- Tournament winner
- Under/over
- Proposition
- Handicap
Whether you are betting on unknown sports or leagues, there are plenty of options to enjoy yourself. They are all sports that you might have overlooked in the past but are finally making a return to new found popularity. In the future, sportsbooks might even have more active markets on these “minor” events to offer. There are also more interesting markets to check out. Outside the offbeat events still available, you can also place wagers on cool futures. For example, here is what Intertops Sports has to offer to bettors:
- Cristiano Ronaldo to score in the first official match after the break due to COVID-19
- Which league will resume first?
- Will the Italian Serie A resume before June 1, 2020?
- Will the UEFA Champions League 2019/20 be completed before September 1, 2020?
- Will all 4 Grand Slam tennis tournaments take place in 2020?
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