Guide to Winter Sports Betting
Introduction to Winter Sports
Winter sports is the cumulative term we give to sports practised over the colder, snow-filled months. It encompasses ski jumping, speed skating, alpine skiing, slalom, cross country skiing, and biathlon, which combines cross country skiing and rifle shooting.
With skiing or skating the main components of all these sports, the season for winter sports is relatively short, unlike summer sports that can still take place over many colder months. As a result, the winter sports betting season is also shorter. Bettors have less time to learn on the job, so it’s even more important to understand the basics of winter sports before wagering your hard-earned cash.
What Type of Winter Sports Exist?
While many sports are traditionally played over the winter months, some are more confined to this period due to the required conditions. Ice Hockey is a winter sport, but it’s played throughout the year in indoor temperature-controlled facilities.
Here, we focus specifically on outdoor winter sports. Read carefully, as you may pick up some winter sports betting tips.
Main Competitions
While there are many winter sports competitions, the highlight on the calendar is by far the four-yearly Winter Olympics. This global sporting event started in 1924 in Chamonix, France. With the exception of the years coinciding with WWII, it took place every four years until 1992.
At this stage, an International Olympic Committee decision kicked in to separate the summer and winter games by two years. The next Winter Olympics took place in 1994, and it’s continued unabated since then.
Ski jumping and cross country skiing were two of the first sports included in the Winter Olympics. The modern-day biathlon evolved from military patrol, which was also one of the first events. Alpine skiing, incorporating slalom, was added later and quickly adopted as a permanent fixture on the Olympic program.
The Winter Olympics runs over 16 days, and the number of participating countries can run into the hundreds. The scope of the games provides many opportunities for winter sports betting online.
The USA has hosted the event four times and topped the medal table just once in 1932. To date, the best-performing country is Norway who has led the medal tally eight times.
Where to Bet on Winter Sports?
You probably won’t find a ton of markets for winter sports betting all year round, but in the lead-up to the Winter Olympics or any winter sport championships, interest in ski jumping betting and the like increases exponentially.
Any sportsbook that means the business will make sure that the main tournaments and events are represented; there are plenty of serious bookies out there with a broad sports offering.
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You can trawl the internet yourself looking for winter sports betting sites, or you can put your trust in our capable hands. We’ve already done a lot of the groundwork and drawn up a list of legal, reputable sportsbooks with winter sports betting markets.
Before you get down to business, take a moment to familiarise yourself with the betting markets that you’ll come across most often. The best winter sports betting sites should all have these markets available, whether for pre-competition or live betting.
- Event Winner
This market is as straightforward as it sounds. You select who you think will win the event, whether ski jumping, alpine skiing, or any other winter sports, and wager on that competitor. Betting on the event winner is a manageable start for novice bettors. - Top 3 Finish
In this market, you wager on a competitor to finish in the top three places of the event. It’s easier to bet on as there is more room for error but may yield a lower profit should you win. If your pick is disqualified for whatever reason, you lose your bet. - H2H Markets
Another straightforward yet popular wager is the head-to-head market. In a large field of competitors such as you find in many winter sports, a sportsbook pairs competitors up for H2H wagering. You select the pairing you like and wager on which of the two athletes you think will win. It doesn’t matter where the person you back in the head-to-head finishes in the event; it’s only necessary that they place higher than the other person in the pairing. Rules can differ between sportsbooks for this betting market, so make sure you’re familiar with them before confirming your wager. - Winning Margin
A winning margin bet is a wager on the outcome of an event and the margin of victory. For example, you bet on Susan Dunklee to win the Winter Olympic Biathlon event by a margin of 3 – 5 minutes. If she beats the second-placed opponent by a period within this range, say four minutes, you win your bet. Odds vary for the different margins offered, but the winter sports betting sites we recommend will surely have competitive odds for all winning margins.
Why Bet on Winter Sports?
What makes winter sports an enticing option for betting? Take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages that we’ve identified in the table below.
- Exciting live streaming and in-play betting options.
- Lots of different events within each winter sport provide many betting opportunities.
- Because winter sports are seasonal, the build-up creates more anticipation and excitement than other sports.
- Betting on winter sports is less complicated for novice bettors.
- Betting options can vary quite a bit between bookmakers.
- Difficult to forecast due to unpredictable weather conditions.
- Winter sports are seasonal and not available all year round.
Important Factors to Consider
If you want to get the best out of winter sports betting, spend some time researching the competitors and the events you’re considering betting on. You’re unlikely to reap the benefits just by knowing the athletes’ names or their world rankings.
Large events and competitions are newsworthy and attract a lot of media attention in the weeks before opening. By following the news and social media about the event, you set yourself up for a better chance of success on the winter sports betting sites.
If you know the kind of run-up the competitors have had to the competition, you stand a better chance of profiting in your endeavours. The best ski jumper in the world may have had an appalling season plagued with injuries, and a bet on them to win may not be money well spent.
On the flip side, someone further down in the rankings could be having a sterling season and might be worth the risk.
In addition to the current form of the athletes, you should also consider the location of the competition. Athletes who compete on courses that they’ve spent significant amounts of time training on have more of an advantage due to their knowledge of the track and conditions.
The same applies when athletes compete in the area where they grew up and learned their sport.
When you’ve gathered your information and feel comfortable to start wagering, give head-to-head betting a try. The winter sports betting sites do the pairings for you. All you need to do is select one and pick the winner. With your newfound knowledge of the competitors, wagering on the winner shouldn’t be a problem.
The popularity of winter sports is on the rise, and with it comes a higher demand for live betting. Most winter sports betting sites have this option, particularly for sports with a better following like ski jumping and alpine skiing. In-play betting allows you to bet at the right time and adds excitement to your experience.
Winter Sports Facts and History
Long ago, an abundance of snow and ice meant that traditional transport methods weren’t possible. This led to the invention of other modes of transport, such as skis and ice skates, that were more suited to extreme conditions. Over time, people used these to develop pastimes and sporting activities that evolved into many of today’s familiar winter sports.
Alpine skiing has its roots in the 18th century having started as a military exercise in the Norwegian army. The 19th century saw the start of ski jumping, with Norwegian Olaf Rye executing an unplanned, unpractised jump of 9.5m. He survived, and ski jumping developed into a winter sport favourite.
Conclusion
Although winter sports aren’t year-round events, they generate sufficient interest to be a popular addition at the bookies. Winter sports betting may be short-lived, but when the big events come around, we’ll have the best winter sports betting sites for you.
FAQs
When are the Winter Olympics held?
This event takes place every four years, two years after the Summer Olympic Games.
What is a biathlon?
Biathlon consists of two sports. In winter sport, the biathlon is cross country skiing and rifle shooting.
What is the easiest market to bet on for winter sports?
Each sport has a range of markets, but the easiest for new bettors is to bet on the winner of the event.
Can I place live bets on winter sports?
Most winter sports betting sites have an inplay option, although this isn’t always available for each sport or event. Check the sportsbooks in play section to see what’s available for live betting.
Can I bet in advance on the Winter Olympics?
Most sportsbooks have futures markets for the Winter Olympics, but more markets open up as the event date draws closer.
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