It’s safe to say that sports gambling has exploded over the past year as the Supreme Court began allowing US states to legalize it.
More than $3 billion has been wagered on sporting events in New Jersey since the legalization of sports gambling in Freehold, NJ, and throughout the state.(1) Not surprisingly, the majority of wagers were placed on major professional sports — the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB — but there’s also a whole lesser-known world of minor, and in some cases, strange sports that it’s possible to bet on.
Believe it or not, the top New Jersey sportsbooks recently took wagers on darts.(2) That’s right: In late July, you could bet on the 2019 Betplay World Matchplay tournament, which brought the top 32 darts players to the UK for a championship faceoff.
Leading up to the tournament, gamblers needed only search the internet to find betting odds and a complete breakdown of the sport to help them place bets.
That might seem odd, but darts isn’t the only outside-the-mainstream sport that people bet on across the globe.(3) Some of these examples might even spark a debate as to whether they’re actually a sport:
- The WWE, or Pro Wrestling
- Video games, or “esports”
- Quidditch, the sport from “Harry Potter”
- Curling
- Cornhole
- Arm wrestling
- Rock, Paper, Scissors
If you’re a fan of daily fantasy sports betting in Monmouth, NJ, or anywhere in New Jersey, you’re probably not surprised. Fantasy sports, which are regulated differently than sports gambling in the eyes of the law,(4) involve imaginary teams made up of professional athletes who play for different teams. Still, they’ve long been a huge revenue generator for the likes of FanDuel, DraftKings and other online sportsbooks.
Anything competitive is bound to draw gambling enthusiasts sooner or later.
What Can’t You Bet On In New Jersey?
It’s important to note that every sportsbook is different and offers its own slate of options. So, you’re unlikely to find every “sport” listed above at every sportsbook.
The only sports you absolutely can’t bet on anywhere in New Jersey are high school sports, although there are also restrictions barring wagers on college sports teams from New Jersey — regardless of whether they’re playing in or out of state.
The Impact on Problem Gamblers
While some people may enjoy the myriad options in sports betting, for those who struggle with a gambling problem, all of these new gambling opportunities may make it more difficult to avoid unhealthy behaviors.
Everywhere you look, there are more and more enticements to bet on sports. If this is affecting you in a negative way, don’t forget that there’s always help available by calling or texting 800-GAMBLER. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline for support and guidance whenever you need it.
Sources: (1) https://www.playnj.com/sports-betting/revenue/
(2) https://www.njgamblingsites.com/22588/odds-bet-on-darts/
(3) https://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/sports-gambling-strange-sports.html/
(4) https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/guides/legal/dfs-and-sports-betting-legal-distinctions/
(5) https://www.legitgamblingsites.com/blog/curling-and-the-most-hilarious-sports-you-can-bet-on/