Athletics Review

Introduction to Athletics Betting

Athletics is not a major betting sport, and for most of the time, some bookmakers do not offer betting. There is more interest in track and field events during the Olympic Games every four years. Despite live television coverage of some minor events, bettors in the UK show very little interest in the sport. It is different in other parts of Europe where athletics is a more popular sport. There are track and field events for men and women at major championships and one-night meetings in the Diamond League. Punters may have lost trust in the integrity of the sport and don’t feel comfortable betting in events in which some competitors may have an unfair advantage.

Betting Events

Athletics is a global sport which means there are events in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. The sport takes place all around the year, so there is rarely a time when there are no betting opportunities. Track and field are always a major element of the Olympics. There is comprehensive coverage of heats and finals so bettors can build up a picture of the form and likely winners. The European Championships and World Championships get similar coverage, and this increases betting interest. There is a pyramid of non-championship events and the Diamond League meetings are at the top of the pyramid. These events are shown live on television across Europe.

Betting Types

Athletics is a sport in which there are winners of races and competitors who finish in the first three. In major championships, the athletes who finish first, second and third get a medal on the podium. The most popular type of betting is pre-match betting. Some bookmakers offer in-play betting on the longer track events and some of the field events. However, the sport does not lend itself to live betting as there are no significant events that affect the odds. There is some ante-post betting on major track races at the Olympic Games.

Athletics Markets

There is a limited number of athletics markets. The most popular is on the outright winner of a race or field event. Bookmakers accept each way bets and the place terms are usually one fifth the odds for the first three places. The athletes that appear on the podium have made the payout places. There could be forecast betting on the major upcoming races at meetings and championships. Bookmakers offer some specials on the winning time and whether an athlete will break a world record.