Jake Yono Sports Betting Must Include Athletics

9/25/24 

JY Journalism

Sports betting has a long history, dating back to horse racing in Europe, where spectators would arbitrarily place bets on which horse they believed would win. The modern sports betting model began in England, focusing primarily on soccer and tennis matches. In these early contests, odds were created based on the skill levels of athletes and teams. Today, Europe’s sports betting system uses extensive data to determine fair odds for both sportsbooks and customers. This contrasts sharply with the early days, when bettors were essentially gambling on unknown horses, making the process far less equitable. 

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nationwide ban on sports betting. Since then, 38 out of 50 states have legalized it. Currently, DraftKings, one of the most active sportsbooks in the U.S., offers betting on 19 different sports. While popular sports like the NFL and NBA have numerous betting options for each moment of the game, others, like badminton and cricket, only offer basic moneyline bets due to a lack of detailed data for more complex wagers. Athletics, or Track and Field, is not typically included in sports betting, and this article explores why it should be. I believe Track and Field is one of the most exciting sports to watch, from the lightning-fast 100m dash to the incredible feats in the Pole Vault. These events push athletes to their limits, creating a thrilling experience for spectators. I’m deeply involved in the world of Athletics; I compete, watch, and analyze it to improve my performance. Despite the sport's appeal, it struggles to gain popularity, particularly in the U.S., due to limited TV coverage. Only major meets like the World Championships, Diamond League Championships, and Olympic Games are televised, while smaller but significant competitions, such as the Diamond League series, USATF meets, and NCAA regional championships, are not. This lack of exposure leaves new fans with little information about the athletes and their performances leading up to major events. This lack of visibility and data makes it difficult for oddsmakers to set accurate odds for Track and Field events, leaving room for potential inaccuracies. There has been some betting on Track and Field in the past, such as during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the upcoming Paris 2024 Games. However, these were limited to simple moneyline bets on who would win each event. There were no prop bets, such as over/under times, placing predictions beyond first place, or bets on individual splits during races. More complex betting options could add a new dimension to the sport, making it more engaging for fans and profitable for sportsbooks. Another reason Track and Field isn’t widely wagered on is the potential for event manipulation. For example, if a top sprinter like Noah Lyles has an over/under time of 9.87 seconds in the 100m dash, he could intentionally run slower or faster to manipulate the outcome for financial gain, either for himself or others. This concern is valid, as similar scandals have occurred in other sports, such as Calvin Ridley in the NFL and Jontay Porter in the NBA. A unique issue in Track and Field is that all results must be verified after the race. World Athletics, the sport’s governing body, checks for false starts, illegal reaction times, lane infractions, and other rule violations. If an infraction is suspected, an athlete may be allowed to compete "under protest." This means their result is provisional and will be reviewed later. This verification process can take hours, and if a disqualification occurs, it can void sports bets placed on that race. For sports betting to thrive in Track and Field, this issue must be addressed. Once a race is finished and reviewed within a short window, the result should be final.

In conclusion, sports betting could be a game-changer for Track and Field. Increased betting activity could lead to better TV deals, increased prize money, and greater exposure for the sport. With declining viewership in the U.S. and other parts of the world, Athletics needs a boost to compete with other rapidly growing sports leagues. Sports betting could provide the necessary support to attract new fans and elevate the sport to new heights.