Sports betting has existed for as long as people have played sports. Playing and participating in sports has long been one of man’s favorite pastimes. Where sports are going on, there are also those on the side watching and willing to place a wager on the outcome.
Historians find it challenging to determine the exact time when sports betting began. Yet, they do know it’s been around for thousands of years.
Whether betting on human-based games and competitions or non-human sporting events like animal fighting or racing, there seems to have always been spectators willing to place a bet on the winner. The landscape of sports betting may have changed and evolved dramatically throughout the centuries, but the basis behind the activity remains the same.
Ancient Gambling and Sports Betting
In the first millennium BC, gambling houses were spread across most cities and towns in China. People would visit such houses to bet on fighting animals, lotto games, card games, or the outcome of a game of dominos. However, there are no official records to verify these gambling activities.
The earliest records of people betting on sporting competitions date back more than 2,000 years. Then, Greece introduced the Olympic Games to the rest of the world, pitting the best athletes against each other in a massive sporting event that attracted many spectators. Sporting contestants participated for prizes, but many of the spectators preferred to add some excitement to the events and place wagers on the outcome of the games.
Ancient Rome was also known for its love of sporting events and athletic competitions. Like their Greek counterparts, Roman spectators were also willing to place bets and gamble on the outcome of events, particularly at chariot races or the gladiator games. The Romans’ love of gambling and betting on the outcome of sporting events or games quickly spread across their empire to other parts of the world.
Biblical Gambling & Sports Betting
There are several references to gambling activities written in the Bible (Psalm 22:16, John 19: 24, and Matthew 27: 35). For example, according to biblical references, soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garments while he was on the cross. Casting lots was an early type of gambling that involved sticks or stones.
Sports Betting Through the Ages
During medieval times religious leaders attempted to forbid sports betting, citing that gambling is driven by greed. Those people who were keen to continue gambling simply moved their activities underground. Underground gambling and betting flourished and grew, especially as new sporting events were introduced around the world.
In early 19th century England, the practice of betting on the outcome of horse races became wildly popular. Commonwealth countries soon followed suit, with Canada, New Zealand, and Australia quickly developing a love for horse racing and sports betting.
History of Sports Betting in the U.S.
Betting on sports was also a popular pastime in America. In fact, the American Revolutionary War was partially funded by taxes imposed on lotteries in the original U.S. colonies. The same lottery proceeds were also used to help fund cities and build universities.
Betting on the outcome of horse races was also a popular form of gambling, with the first racetrack in North America built in 1665 on Long Island. Many taverns and roadside inns would also allow patrons to gamble on dice or card games, which led to numerous card rooms across the country.
By the 1800s, several sumptuous casinos were established throughout the colonies. The slot machine also made its debut just before the turn of the 190th century.
In 1949 Nevada legalized sports betting in land-based casinos. However, due to local laws at the time, a person needed to be physically present and walk into a sportsbook operation to place a bet.
Throughout the mid-1900s, it was considered illegal to place a wager over the telephone or have someone else place bets on behalf of another person. If the bettor didn’t live near Las Vegas, there weren’t always many convenient options available for placing a bet.
The government imposed a 10% tax on all sports bets in 1951, which became a profitable stream of tax revenue. However, the steep taxes stifled profits for sportsbooks. By 1974 the tax rate reduced to 2% tax on all sports bets, which reinvigorated the industry significantly.
Changing the Game with Betting Sports Online
The advent of the internet ushered in a new golden era for betting sports online, increasing the growth of sports betting exponentially. People suddenly had the ability to place wagers anytime from any place using any device connected to the internet. Having access to the internet also meant it became much easier to place bets on almost any event in the world.
By the 1990s, casinos began offering their games to players online, which added sports betting alternatives to the online gaming options available.
Thanks to the internet, players were also able to compare online sportsbooks. As a result, it became easier to determine those with the best track records, the best odds, or a history of taking advantage of sports bettors.
The internet not only makes it much easier for punters to shop around for the best odds but placing a wager online is also significantly more convenient for many people. There’s no need to travel to the nearest casino or sportsbook office to place a wager, as betting sports online makes it easy to place a bet with a few simple mouse clicks or swipes on a smartphone.
The same technology that makes it easier to log into a sportsbook with a few clicks makes it easier for bookmakers to handicap some sporting events when calculating the odds.
In many competitive sports, there is often a difference in the perceived quality of the teams. Sportsbooks and bookmakers interpret those differences and represent them as a handicap that reflects the chances of success for each side of winning. Those handicap differences are displayed as odds, so placing on a team that is statistically more likely to win may also offer minimal returns.
Today there are hundreds of online gambling and sports betting options to choose from. The most popular sport in the world to place wagers on today is football. Whether it’s the global game known commonly as soccer or American NFL or NCAA football, betting sports online is responsible for billions of dollars in bets each year.
While technology has changed the way people place bets, research statistics, and odds, and increased the availability of sportsbooks, the interest in sports betting still has broad appeal in most countries worldwide.
Conclusion
Despite its wide popularity, online gambling and betting sports online remain restricted in the United States. But, of course, just because the U.S refuses to legalize sports betting, it doesn’t stop people from doing it. There are still ways available for people to place bets on sports if they are determined.
It’s your personal responsibility to ensure you investigate the laws and regulations in each state or country to determine whether it’s legal for you before betting on sporting events.