Wrestling is the ultimate amalgamation of sports and entertainment. It is a perfect blend of athletic prowess and theatrical storylines that we just can’t get enough of. And with sports betting getting popular around the country since its legalization in 2018, lots of wrestling fans have become quite interested in betting on the sport to elevate their viewing experience and make every pin count.
However, wrestling betting is a bit more complicated than betting on other sports. This is because it’s scripted, which makes it a bit weird to bet on. It’s also not available in Virginia sports betting due to the strict regulations around what can be wagered in the country. However, you can still bet on your favorite matches using international sportsbooks. But how does it work?
Understanding the Betting Markets
Since it’s scripted, wrestling has unique betting options, although they are still similar to the ones used in other sports.
Match Winner
Even though you can make a good guess of who is likely to win, you are never sure. Well, you may be sometimes, but most of the matches usually have an element of surprise. This type of bet therefore allows you to wager on who you think will emerge victorious.
In the match bet, the favorite will have a positive number while the underdog will have a negative one. For example, in a WWE match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre, Rollins may have odds of -700 while McIntyre has +375. This means that you will need to wager $700 on Rollins to win $100, while you can win $375 by betting $100 on McIntyre.
Prop Bets
Prop bets, or proposition bets, are the other main types of bets in wrestling. These bets allow you to focus on specific events that may happen during the fight, whether related to the fighters or the match itself.
For example, you can wager on how long you think the match will last. Other types of prop bets include a surprise appearance or the number of times a particular wrestler will execute their signature move. These types of bets make watching a fight much more interesting as you will indulge deeper in the action. Using a tips service like Doc’s Sports can be of great help when trying to place the right type of bet.
Balancing Predetermined Outcomes with Probability
The biggest challenge when betting on wrestling is how to balance between the script and the unpredictability that is still inherent in the sport. While all outcomes are predetermined, the decisions don’t usually exit the inner circle. There are also surprises that are thrown around to add intrigue to the sport. So how do you balance this?
Well, the basic start is the storylines. Wrestling is a product of creativity, and it involves a carefully crafted narrative that has character arcs, rivalries, and plot twists. When you analyze what has been happening with a particular story, you can get a pretty good idea of what the organization is trying to achieve. You will also be in a much better position to identify potential upsets, surprise appearances, or plot twists that may influence match outcomes.
But while the story is usually the driving force, it’s also affected by other things such as injuries, backstage politics, and even whether fans are receptive to a particular story arc. This means that you also need to keep up with the latest news on the promotion or wrestlers you want to bet on.
How Sportsbooks Handle Wrestling Betting
Despite its scripted nature, sportsbooks can still maneuver around wrestling betting. The first thing they do is they have specialized oddsmakers who have a deep understanding of the industry. These oddsmakers watch all the shows and then create the probabilities that the odds are based on. However, since wrestling stories are very dynamic, the lines move a lot, which is something you should watch out for.
Besides that, most wrestling matches usually require wagering huge amounts of money if you want to bet on the winner. For example, selecting Roman Reigns to retain his championship and extend his streak can have -25000 odds. This means that you will be pushed towards prop bets, such as the duration of the match, which are more unpredictable. However, you can still get good odds on the winner in matches that are harder to predict, such as Royal Rumble, or matches that don’t have a major storyline.
This means that besides the technicality of being predetermined, you can still have a great time wagering on wrestling matches.
