Betting on Women’s Sport on the Rise Sports Betting

Betting on Women’s Sports Sees Surge in United States

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 29 May 2024

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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According to recent reports, interest in women’s sports has reached unprecedented levels in the United States. Many believe that this has been fueled in part by the performance of basketball sensation Caitlin Clark, who has recently entered the WNBA with the Indiana Pacers. Thanks in large part to her performances for the University of Iowa, betting activity surrounding the NCAA women’s basketball tournament reached record-breaking heights, according to data.

Officials believe that Clark’s influence is just one reason behind the trend that is being seen across the US sports betting market. Sportsbooks have seen a surge in betting across various women’s sports, with anticipation growing for events like the Olympics. The US women’s basketball team is expected to generate a huge amount of betting activity.

Sustaining Interest in Women’s Sports Beyond Major Sporting Events

Meghan Chayka, the co-founder of the hockey analytics firm Stathletes, highlighted the opportunities when it came to women’s sports, and she emphasized the need to sustain interest beyond major events like March Madness.

The Director of Sports Operations at DraftKings, Johnny Avello, also spoke about the star power now being seen in women’s basketball, stating:

Ticket prices, media attention, and even preseason betting are all up as this new era of stars gets ready to enter the league.

Figures and data have also confirmed growing interest in betting on women’s sports. DraftKings reported a huge 3.5-fold increase in bets on this year’s women’s college basketball tournament compared to the previous year, along with nearly quadruple the total money wagered.

BetMGM also saw a huge 175 percent surge in money bet on WNBA futures, including predictions for the league’s champion and MVP.

Representing the Success of Women’s Sports

Donna Orender, who is the former president of the WNBA, said that the surge in betting represented proof of the success of women’s sports. She said it was a reflection of increased engagement, which she deemed healthy for the sports league.

Experts at the recent SBC Summit North America conference mirrored this sentiment, predicting that 2024 would be a milestone year for women’s sports in terms of popularity, viewership, and betting activity.

Officials said that interest in women’s sports extends beyond basketball to soccer, particularly the US women’s national team, which has achieved impressive viewership and betting interest. This trend is expected to continue with upcoming international events, as highlighted by Jennifer Matthews from FanDuel.

Craig Mucklow, the vice president of trading at Caesars Sportsbook, spoke about the growing popularity of U.S. women’s teams in international tournaments like the Olympics and the World Cup. He said that with the added appeal of stars like Caitlin Clark, this surge is set to continue during a summer packed with top-tier women’s sports events.

According to reports, sports bettors are increasingly applying a similar approach to women’s sports as they do to men’s. At Fanatics Sportsbook, bets on Clark’s Indiana Fever to finish the season with fewer than 21.5 wins have increased, with many stating that this reflects the wider recognition that women’s sports are now receiving.