A lot has been made about the increasing cost of Premier League match tickets over the last decade or so, let alone how much they cost before each increase.
So, through analysing attendances at top-flight games in the biggest leagues in Europe, we’re going to see if the ticket pricing has had an impact on attendance numbers at the biggest clubs across the continent.
Bundesliga
Germany’s top division boasts the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and the newly emerged team from the east, RB Leipzig.
The Bundesliga regularly averages better attendance at league games than the Premier League or any other of Europe’s elite divisions.
As of 2016, they boast only the third most expensive average ticket price, perhaps lending to their immense and increasing attendance numbers.
La Liga
Some people see La Liga as the best league in Europe because of two reasons: Barcelona and Real Madrid.
These two football powerhouses have been able to flex their financial muscles in the transfer market every year to the extent that even Premier League clubs must bow before them.
However, these two global brands have been draining the rest of the league of television rights revenue for years – to the extent that they’d combine for a third of the total profits from broadcasting services.
This will have influenced La Liga’s standing as the second-highest in average ticket price at £31.40. The disparity between the clubs may have also influenced the dive in attendance numbers.
Serie A
Over the first eight years of attendance numbers taken in this analysis, Serie A experienced a nose dive in attendance numbers.
But, over the last couple of seasons, those numbers have nearly recovered, likely helped by the low average cost per ticket.
Ligue 1
Like Serie A, but nowhere near as extreme, Ligue 1 suffered a downward turn in attendances through the 2008 to 2016 seasons.
However, over the last two seasons, those numbers have rocketed.
Of England, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Scotland, Belgium, and France, Ligue 1 boasts the lowest average price per league game at £17.40.
Premier League
As you can see, Premier League match tickets are, by far and away, the most expensive on average at £44.50. Despite this, the Premier League has experienced a lot of growth in its attendance numbers.
From an average of 35,630 in attendance at each game in 2008, there’s now an average of 38,297 attending each game as of the 2017/18 campaign.
The Premier League boasts the greatest increase in average attendance over the last decade at 7.49%.
So, perhaps the revelry of the occasion, the huge sums of money spent by almost every Premier League club, and the football culture in the UK overrules the negative of lofty ticket prices.
Attendances aren’t as high as he average of 44,646 in the Bundesliga, but those in the Premier League are growing at a faster rate in spite of what many deem to be overpriced tickets.
To celebrate Europe's showpiece club competition making a return, now seems as good a time as any to take a look back and muse over the finest individual Champions League performances.
There isn’t a tournament like the Champions League and its presence on a school night gives football fans the chance to witness Europe's best inspire and thrill whilst all the pressing commitments of a working week are put on hold.
Indeed, the Champions League seems to offer hope to football fans in the northern hemisphere as it arrives at a time when the summer begins to make way.
A Lionel Messi hat-trick and a Tottenham Hotspur collapse.
It is during those weeks that the nights begin to draw in that the Champions League starts to breathe life into the continent of Europe.
So often, the exhilarating Champions League fixtures that bring living rooms to a standstill and stadiums to their feet are down to one individual deciding to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
These are the six most memorable individual performances that have shone brightest in the modern era.
Frank Lampard (CHELSEA vs Liverpool, 2008)
Six days before the second leg of the all-English semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool took place at Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard was to suffer a tragic family bereavement as his mother Pat passed away after a battle with pneumonia.
There were doubts as to whether Lampard would even play, but Chelsea boss Avram Grant made the brave decision to pick the midfielder after he declared himself available to play.
The first leg at Anfield finished 1-1, with the Blues looking on-course to reach their first ever Champions League final. When Didier Drogba opened the scoring on 33 minutes in the reverse fixture, Chelsea fans could be forgiven for looking at the price of flights to Moscow.
However, a cracking sliding finish from Torres on 64 minutes after being sent through by Benayoun was enough to send the game to extra time.
The Heavens Opened
All this time, Frank Lampard had been pulling the strings in midfield and creating chances. Every shot Lampard took was on target and with every touch, he seemed to break away into space and make something happen.
It was in the driving rain in South West London that Sami Hyypia fouled Michael Ballack and Chelsea were awarded a 98th-minute penalty.
Lampard stepped up and slotted home the spot-kick in a moment that must have taken an enormous amount of courage given the traumatic week he had endured.
Thanks to ‘Super Frankie Lampard’, Chelsea would reach their maiden Champions League final.
Ronaldo (Manchester United vs REAL MADRID, 2003)
After Manchester United had gone down 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final showdown with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, there was a desperate need for a big European night under the lights at Old Trafford in order to progress.
It almost seemed inevitable that this would be the case and you have to remember that this wasn't the Manchester United of 2018 -far from it, under Sir Alex Ferguson the impossible became possible on a weekly basis.
When the Red Devils welcomed Real Madrid to Old Trafford on the 23rd of April 2003, there was an expectant feel in the stadium as the players warmed up, which was backed up by an electric vibe in the city during the days that preceded the tie.
Needless to say, there was a clamour for tickets with fans not wanting to miss out on being there to witness one of the great comebacks in Manchester United's history.
As Pierluigi Collina got the game underway, a roar rang out from the Stretford End but it was to be short-lived as Ronaldo ran through on goal on 12 minutes and slid a controlled finish past Fabian Barthez on the Frenchman's inside post.
To the naked eye, it looked like the World Cup-winning goalkeeper should have done better but the replay confirmed it was just one of many thunderous strikes from the boot of Ronaldo that was never staying out the net.
Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed an equalizer on 43 minutes but, before the Old Trafford faithful could blink, Ronaldo had collected a perfectly weighted pass from Roberto Carlos and tapped his finish into an empty net to make it 2-1.
Another blow Ferguson's Manchester United never saw coming and there was a worrying feeling that Ronaldo wasn't finished yet. In true Manchester United fashion, they immediately equalized on 52 minutes and it was game on again.
Ronaldo Brings Old Trafford To Its Feet
However, the knockout blow that sent Manchester United's chances of Champions League glory to the canvas came in the 59th minute.
It was that man again; Ronaldo picked up a ball from Luis Figo on the halfway line and, as the Brazilian turned to run on goal, everyone at Old Trafford shifted nervously in their seats.
Ronaldo let fly from 25 yards and a flailing Barthez couldn't get near it as it rippled the back of the net to an eerie silence.
With three effortless goals, Ronaldo had single-handedly denied Manchester United a chance at a memorable comeback, despite two late strikes by David Beckham to leave the aggregate at 6-5 in Madrid's favour.
On 67 minutes, the fourth official raised the board with Ronaldo’s number on it and, as the Brazilian made his way off the park, everyone at Old Trafford rose to applaud him off in a spine-tingling show of wonderful sportsmanship.
Lionel Messi (BARCELONA vs Arsenal, 2010)
A list of the most memorable Champions League performances over the last 20 years wouldn’t be complete without the name of the world’s finest player on it.
In fairness, you could dedicate an entire piece to Lionel Messi’s exploits in Europe. On this occasion, a trip back to the Nou Camp in 2010, when Barcelona were facing Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, is a good place to start.
Arsenal had managed to secure a 2-2 draw against Barcelona at the Emirates in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and despite having conceded two goals at home, there was a feeling that the first leg had been a good night’s work in north London.
It was to get even better with 18 minutes on the clock at the Nou Camp as Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring to the shock of the watching world.
Viewers around the globe rubbed their eyes and adjusted their TV sets but it was in fact not a technical glitch, Nicklas Bendtner was indeed wheeling away to celebrate a goal against Barcelona.
Messi Shoots Down The Gunners
They say a week can be an eternity in football; it’s even said 24 hours can be a long time in football if it's transfer deadline day.
Well, it’s very seldom said that 22 minutes is a long time in football but, for Arsenal, it was, as Lionel Messi scored a 22-minute hat-trick following Bendtner's opener.
It was a typical Messi hat-trick that comprised a tight finish, pinpoint accuracy from 25 yards and a deft dink that left the goalkeeper and defenders lying helplessly on the floor.
It was carnage and it felt like a hurricane had demolished the Arsenal backline. The little magician wasn’t finished either and added a fourth for good measure in the second half as Barcelona ran out 4-1 winners on the night and 6-3 winners in the tie.
Simply breathtaking from the diminutive Argentine on a night where it would have been easier for the Arsenal players to mark thin air
Roy Keane (Juventus vs MANCHESTER UNITED, 1999)
Controversy seems to have dogged Roy Keane’s career. Even since hanging up his boots, confrontation never seems far away; the bearded Irishman's latest bust-up with Harry Arter illustrates yet again what a fiery character he is.
It’s been a horrendous few weeks for the Irish national team and at 8/1 to win their UEFA Nations League group, their chances of Euro 2020 qualification look remote at best. Many have pinpointed Keane as the man that has brought disharmony to the camp.
Keane’s most recent altercation with a player he is managing has sparked a massive debate, with questions asked as to why the 47-year-old is so confrontational.
Right then - the BIG question of the day...
Who wins in a no-holds barred street fight, Roy Keane or Slaven Bilic?
A range of answers have been forthcoming, but perhaps a look back at a night in Turin during April 1999 may go some way in understanding Roy Keane's uncompromising approach.
1999 was a year never to be forgotten for Manchester United after they won the treble, but how different it could have been but for a selfless performance from Roy Keane in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
Following on from a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, Ferguson’s men needed a result in the away leg and that looked far from likely, especially after Filippo Inzaghi converted two close-range finishes to give Juventus a 2-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Captain In The Cauldron
It really was an utterly desperate situation for Manchester United and the body language of the players suggested their dream of completing the treble had died after 11 minutes of madness.
Just 13 minutes later, though, David Beckham swung in a corner and first to the near post was Roy Keane, who jumped highest to send a glancing header into the back of the net.
It was a moment that galvanized his troops and by 34 minutes, Manchester United had levelled it up thanks to a diving Dwight Yorke header.
Just after Keane scored, he went in hard on Zinedine Zidane as the Frenchman tried to break away and was shown a yellow card, which would rule him out the final.
Keane, with his head to the ground, pulled up his captain's armband and defiantly marched on with his back to the referee.
Over the next 70 minutes, Keane would give everything he had in midfield to ensure his teammates got to the final and it proved to be enough.
If ever you need to understand why Roy Keane is so relentless in his desire to see players go above and beyond, you only have to look back to that fateful Champions League night in Turin to understand why.
Gareth Bale (Inter Milan vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, 2010)
The Champions League has a way of introducing the next generation of world beaters and it was fitting that in 2010 and in one of the cathedrals of European football, a Welsh star was born.
If you had asked anyone in the San Siro at halftime whether anyone from Tottenham Hotspur would cover themselves in glory that night, you would have been met with a resounding no as Inter Milan had raced to a 4-0 lead inside 45 minutes.
It was turning into a catastrophic night for Spurs and to make matters worse, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has been sent off in the eighth minute after a wild lunge on Jonathan Biabiany inside the box.
It was another inexplicable moment for Gomes in a career for Spurs that was blighted by regular howlers.
Needless to say, Spurs were reeling at halftime and weren’t so much on the ropes as they were on the stretcher being carried from the ring.
They had been well and truly beaten up and a second-half mauling looked the only logical outcome. Step up 21-year old Gareth Bale.
Hat-Trick Hero
Over the next 45 minutes, Gareth Bale would wrestle the tie back by relentlessly running and shooting at the Inter defence.
This gangly young man threw off the chains and with nothing to lose, he found the bravery within needed to become one of the world's best players.
The Welshman scored a sensational hat-trick with three almost-identical goals as Spurs eventually lost 4-3; however, they would win the return leg 3-1 after Bale stole the show again at White Hart Lane.
Bale's tag as one of the world's finest players has only continued to gain credence since that coming of age night in the San Siro. In many ways, the Welshman’s career at Real Madrid could just be about to kick off, with Ronaldo having moved to Juventus.
The Miracle of Istanbul would never have been possible if it wasn’t for one Steven George Gerrard MBE. Gerrard’s performance in Istanbul during the 2005 Champions League final will live long in the memories of the neutrals and forever in those of Liverpool fans.
It was a night that changed Gerrard’s life forever and may well be the reason Rangers came knocking on his door when they asked him to be the one to stop years of Celtic dominance.
The Istanbul Miracle really is one of football's greatest tales and considering how high a mountain Liverpool had to climb, it may possibly be the best sporting comeback of all time.
When Paolo Maldini opened the scoring after less than a minute had passed, there was a collective groan on Merseyside. Even with 89 minutes left to go, an AC Milan win looked written in the stars.
More quick interchanges were to follow as this phenomenal Milan side cut through Liverpool at will to reach halftime at 3-0 up after Hernan Crespo added two more goals.
The Reds trudged off after being completely outplayed and the players gathered in a shell-shocked dressing room. It was then that Steven Gerrard asked the coaching staff to leave as he wanted to have a word with his players.
Leader Of Men
Djibril Cisse said that Gerrard's speech will live with him forever, with the Liverpool captain telling his colleagues that he didn’t want to see his boyhood club being humiliated like this.
Gerrard went on to say that if Liverpool scored the first goal in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, they would win.
You can almost say Gerrard’s impact on the game started in the dressing room and his words of motivation were quickly backed up when he met a John Arne Riise cross to make it 3-1 on 54 minutes.
It was an iconic moment: if you watch the game back now, as Risse crosses the ball, Gerrard can be seen pulling his captain's armband up before rising up to set Liverpool on a course with destiny.
Who can forget Clive Tyldesley's reaction to the goal – "Hello, hello, here we go!" – as Gerrard wheeled away to the Liverpool fans and gestured in wild movements for them to keep believing.
His goal would start a six-minute revival that football had never seen before; by the 60th minute, the Reds were all square again. Liverpool would go onto to win the game in a penalty shootout and lift their first Champions League title for 21 years.
Out of all the memorable Champions League performances the world has been treated to, Gerrard’s has to be the greatest, given the stage and the size of the task at hand. Even today, it is a game that raises the hairs on your neck when reflected on.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
European basketball has produced some of the game’s top players, with the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and the Gasol brothers all successfully converting to the NBA and taking it by storm.
Even now, the production line from the continent continues, with the emergence of future superstars Kristaps Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and recent arrival Luka Doncic – the latter of whom is 9/4 with 888sport to win NBA Rookie of the Year.
However, the European game lags behind its North American cousin in almost every way – despite such stunning playing talent and exceptional coaching.
Here, we’ll explore why the chasm between the EuroLeague and NBA remains wider than ever.
The All-Encompassing Presence Of Football
Football absorbs everything and almost everyone around it in Europe. From Sunday league hobbyists to professional football academies syphoning athletic talent from a young age, it leaves little room for anything else.
If a child has any sporting promise at a tender age, the chances are a football scout has looked at them and their athletic path is sealed.
Football is in Europeans’ blood; it dominates back pages, front pages, social conversations and the aspirations of generations of children, who are eager to emulate the stars they see on TV.
It’s a cultural behemoth that will not be moved and encapsulated perfectly by legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly: "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."
Football consumes resources – financial, emotional energy and physical talent – with little left for the same kind of investment in basketball.
Meanwhile, America has traditionally focused on three or four major sports: baseball, ice hockey, American football and basketball.
So, instead of growing up with a ball at their feet like most Europeans, North Americans grow up with a ball in their hands and dreams of the NBA in their heads. No sport dominates like football in Europe, allowing for far greater investment in basketball in the USA.
Although famous football teams such as Real Madrid, who are 4/1 with 888sport to win EuroLeague this season, Bayern Munich and Fenerbahçe also possess basketball sides, investment comes nowhere near the levels of football, nor interest.
North America: The Birthplace Of Basketball
Born of two Scottish immigrants in Canada, James Naismith, the creator of basketball, established North America as the home of the sport from the very beginning.
From its primitive beginnings at Springfield college in 1891, to the global phenomenon it is now, Europe has been playing catch-up ever since.
Meanwhile, the EuroLeague (originally called the FIBA European Champions Cup) was established in 1958. That’s 67 years after Dr Naismith had introduced the game to his students.
EuroLeague basketball may be some way apart from the quality of the NBA, but it’s the closest thing the rest of the world has to challenging the USA’s superiority.
Like almost everything in sport, it comes down to money. The fact is the money just isn’t there for anyone else to compete with the NBA on the court in terms of attracting talent and off it. North America demands elite basketball as one of its major sports; Europe does not.
Talent Migration To The NBA
Coaching in EuroLeague is at an elite level, with managers constantly innovating with plays and styles, focusing on quick, slick ball-movement to run opponents ragged, resulting in easy buckets. Many of these plays end up in the NBA, but so too do the standout players.
There is a magnetism that draws the continent’s best out west and over the Atlantic. If you are the best player in EuroLeague basketball – a true star – you will never be as famous or rich as the best footballers.
Compare that to the NBA, and the sort of fame and fortune a player can achieve is beyond anything that can be offered in Europe.
A parallel can be drawn in the other direction, too. A footballer in America dreams of playing in Europe, a place where the demand for quality play is immense and a fortune can be made playing for the best teams.
Talent retention in European basketball is a problem, but with the sort of money available across the pond, the continent is unlikely to stem the flow.
That being said, there are exceptions to the rule, including the likes of Nikos Galis, Theodoros Papaloukas and Sergio Llull – the latter of whom has repeatedly turned down huge NBA offers to remain at Real Madrid.
NBA's Perpetual Creation Of Competition
For a nation so virulently capitalist, American sports boast a socialist backbone that perpetually creates competition and, therefore, interest.
The draft, in layman’s terms, rewards those sides at the bottom of the table with some of the highest picks in the upcoming draft – a chance for those teams struggling to snare a future superstar and therefore their place at the top of the competitive food chain.
Bag a generational talent and your once struggling side, could transform into title contenders.
Meanwhile, in EuroLeague basketball, if you’re bad, you’re bad. The dream of your NBA side rocketing up the rankings and challenging for a title is a very real possibility and keeps fans hooked.
While, for example, over in Europe, the chance of Montenegrin minnow Budućnost VOLI challenging Real Madrid is very low indeed.
NBA vs EuroLeague Clash
Throughout the decades, these two organisations have pitted sides against each other, the first of which saw defending NBA champions Washington Bullets and Maccabi "Elite" Tel Aviv clash in 1978, with the Israelis coming out on top.
However, since then, the NBA sides have dominated the fixtures, featuring numerous blowouts and vivid displays of quality gap between the two leagues – despite the North American sides frequently treating it as a preseason friendly.
Out of the last eight meetings, the European outfit has won three, perhaps an indication of the two leagues drawing closer in quality? Or, more likely, NBA sides simply failing to take the meeting as seriously as they should.
Reasons To Be Cheerful
It isn’t all doom and gloom for EuroLeague basketball. Yes, the NBA is miles ahead in terms of revenue and talent – but that doesn’t mean basketball on the continent is on its last legs; far from it.
EuroLeague is going from strength to strength and has a bright future, now being seen across 213 countries worldwide, watched by up to 245 million people in China weekly and broadcast on NBA TV in America and Canada.
European arenas are packed with hardcore fans, with anyone who has attended a EuroLeague game knowing the atmosphere created is equal or better to that of any around the world in any sport.
Thanks to increased exposure and money flowing into the league, hopes of retaining talent in Europe has increased and teams are now able to offer multi-million dollar contracts.
In recent years, there has also been a trend for some potential college players to skip a year of non-paid labour at university in favour of playing professionally overseas.
China, Australia and now Europe are all destinations where youngsters can get a taste of grown-up, professional-level competition, while getting paid a year earlier than some of their college classmates.
If this trend continues, TV money will continue to flow into Europe. This should, in turn, allow it to retain more talent, and the considerable gap between the NBA and EuroLeague may shrink. However, at present, it remains large and almost unmoving.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Darko Vojinovic / AP Photo*
With the exception of football, rugby is one of the most popular sports, both in terms of betting and purely watching for enjoyment, in the United Kingdom.
Whether you are a union fan or passionate about league, there is usually some form of rugby on the television on your regular sporting weekend.
Rugby union is arguably the bigger of the two in the Northern Hemisphere whilst league is played mainly in Australia.
However, Super League is growing on this side of the world and it is now potentially the second biggest and most competitive division behind the National Rugby League.
For the purposes of this guide, we are going to focus predominantly on rugby union.
This is the dominant code when it comes to the United Kingdom and it is developing into one of the most popular sports on the planet. And with the 2019 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, this is the perfect time to get involved in the sport.
What Are Rugby Outright Betting Markets?
Without a doubt, the most popular method for betting on any rugby competition is to place an outright bet on the ‘winner’.
Whether you are looking at the Six Nations or Premiership Rugby, punters can find a large number of tournaments that take place on a yearly basis – as well as other competitions, such as the World Cup, that follow a certain cycle.
The Rugby World Cup, hosted by Japan in 2019, takes place once every four years. International fans keep a close eye on the summer tests and autumn internationals but the Six Nations is the priority in a non-World Cup year.
These competitions appeal to most bettors, as those with terrestrial television can follow the results closely, making it very easy to follow the progress of your bet.
You can bet on the outright market of upcoming tournaments but also on long-term rugby events, such as the next British & Irish Lions tour.
In the most recent trip, Warren Gatland’s side recorded a drawn series in New Zealand. These events, as well as Premiership Rugby and the Six Nations, are arguably the most viewed competitions and outright betting is available on all of these.
Outright betting is simple – you predict the winner of a particular competition. In a nutshell, your selection will need to advance through the tournament and emerge victorious in the final for your bet to be a winner.
You will usually find one team will head into major international events as clear favourites but, with both codes getting more competitive, you can find value further down the market.
What Is An Each Way Bet?
Most major tournaments, such as the Rugby World Cup, will offer each way terms of the top two.
Therefore, if you bet on England to win next year’s competition and Eddie Jones’ side reach the final, you are going to have some sort of return on your initial bet.
If England win, you will receive a full pay-out. If England lose in the final, you will be paid at 1/2 of the odds.
In essence, an outright bet at 24/1 will be paid out at 12/1 should your team lose in the showpiece event.
Researching Rugby Betting Markets
The most important aspect of any bet is research. When placing an outright bet, you should be confident in your selection.
New Zealand, currently 11/10 to win the Rugby World Cup next year, have won the last two editions of the competition and that may convince some punters to back the All Blacks.
However, Steve Hansen’s side were recently defeated by the Springboks – who also secured a series victory over England this summer – and that may sway bettors to look elsewhere.
There are so many factors to consider when placing an outright wager. As in most team sports, injuries and squad selection are some of the most important aspects.
Some players will be ruled out of the competition and an influential star out of action can make the world of difference.
For example, an injury to Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton would be detrimental to their hopes of adding a World Cup crown to their 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam. Be sure to commit time and effort to research ahead of such a long-term bet.
In addition, the draw and pooling of certain tournaments can affect betting. Meanwhile, the odds for Six Nations success varies on a yearly basis depending on fixtures.
In 2019, Wales will play at home against England and Ireland but away in the three ‘easier’ fixtures against France, Scotland and Italy.
Beating England and Ireland at home is no easy feat but ask any Welsh fan and they’d rather face both teams at the Principality Stadium than elsewhere.
What Other Rugby Markets Can I Bet On At 888sport?
It isn’t all about outright betting when it comes to rugby, though. There is a range of markets relating specifically to certain matches and tournaments; all of which can be found at the rugby section.
Handicap Betting
One of the most popular ways of betting on specific matches is handicap betting. Domestic fixtures can be quite one-sided at times and punters can enhance odds by looking at ‘to win by x amount of points’ markets.
For example, South Africa were -9.5 on the handicap to beat Australia in their recent Rugby Championship fixture. Essentially, that meant that South Africa needed to beat the Wallabies by 10 points or more for the bet to be a winner.
The handicap also works the other way. If punters fancied Australia to keep the scoreline close or even win the match but weren’t confident enough to back Michael Cheika’s side, they could have opted for +9.5 on the handicap.
If Australia won, drew or lost by less than 10 points, that bet would have also been a winner. It is as simple as that.
Half-time Betting
This is another relatively straightforward market for punters. If you fancy a particular side to make a fast start, you can bet on the result of the first half.
In addition, you can usually bet on over/under a certain amount of tries in the half, handicap betting for the half and the total points in the half.
The chance for bettors to make a judgment on any given match before placing a bet is appealing to some punters and there are a few ways to bet during matches when it comes to rugby:
How To Bet In-Play
Clicking the ‘Live Betting’ button at the top of the page will take you to the events currently available for in-play betting. Simply click on rugby and check out the latest prices available – click a specific match for odds on that encounter.
The majority of markets will relate to points, the number of tries and the outright winner, but you will see some betting options on certain events.
For example, major international fixtures may allow you to bet on cards, specific try scorers or even next try scorer.
As always, in-play handicap betting is one of the most popular rugby markets. Once you’ve decided who is going to win the game and by what margin, you can make your choice on which way to go on the handicap.
Differences To Consider Between Union And League
The main difference is the number of points scored in the two codes. In league, teams are awarded four points for a try, two for a conversion and one for a drop goal.
In union, you receive five points for a try, two for a conversion and three for a penalty or drop goal. This can affect the total points, over/under a certain number of points and handicap betting by a considerable margin.
Furthermore, there are 15 players per team in union compared to 13 in league. The extra space available for teams can help players to exploit defensive units and that leads to higher scoring games in league.
In union, the onus is on using power and grinding out results and that can mean some closer outcomes.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
Speaking exclusively to 888sport Gary Pallister has offered his thoughts on all things United this week; a club he still loves dearly after enjoying nine extremely successful years under the charge of Sir Alex Ferguson in an era that saw the Reds win silverware by the bucket-load.
“I think it’s disrespectful at times if you start mentioning other clubs when you’re actually contracted to the club you’re at. If it’s in your mind I’ve got no problem with that but to put it in print I’ve got a problem with that. At a time when a club is under real pressure to have their leading goal-scorer say he’d like to move abroad – if that’s what he has done – is not the ideal scenario."
And while the towering ex-centre back & four-time Premier League winner may not be presently too enamoured with the club’s Belgian forward the opposite applies to a fellow defender who has dug deep and turned his circumstances around.
“Luke Shaw has had his knockers about his fitness levels and how he looks after himself and taken a bit of stick off Jose along the way as well so a weaker man might have buckled and thought ‘I need to get away’ But he has taken it on the chin, worked hard and got himself a fitness coach during the close season. Now he is reaping the benefits from that.”
“He has been one of our most consistent players so far this season and that’s been rewarded with a new contract. Long may this continue because he was touted as being one of the best left-backs in the world three years ago.”
While Shaw’s transformation is impressive the laws of physics sadly dictates that players can also go the other way, regressing after initially shining so bright. Such is the case of Marcus Rashford whose downturn in form of late concerns the 53 year old.
“He scored in the friendlies during the last international break but at United he has struggled. He’s been in and out of the side. There is a debate whether he prefers to play on the left or down the middle. He gives it everything he’s got whenever he plays but he’s finding the expectation put on him at Old Trafford a little bit too much. He hasn’t looked like the Rashford that burst onto the scene.”
If the youngster’s lessening impact remains a worry that goes double for Alexis Sanchez who has yet to make his mark in Manchester following his January move from the capital. The man known to Reds worldwide as ‘Pally’ admits to being perplexed by the Chilean’s drop-off in performances since leaving the Emirates.
“I was absolutely buzzing when United signed him because his performances at Arsenal showed he was a world class talent. But for whatever reason it has not been working out and I’m sure Alexis will be one of the first to say he has not been producing the form we expected of him.”
“Maybe he doesn’t suit the manager’s style of play. Maybe he hasn’t been hitting it off with the forwards he’s playing alongside. But I think he will turn it around and he will score goals and excite the crowd. It’s about getting the balance right and then we’ll see the best of him.”
Which naturally leads our conversation to the biggest conundrum of them all: the sometimes brilliant, sometimes underwhelming, but always talked about Paul Labile Pogba.
“At times he can look a little bit lackadaisical with the ball but at other times he can light up the whole stadium. The latter is what people at Old Trafford want to see: I mean that ball he played for Fred against Wolves was a moment of absolute genius. He saw the pass, he executed it, and it was right out of the top drawer and he has the ability to do that god knows how many times in a game.”
“When we’re out of possession people look at Paul and think he could give a little bit more for the team. And that comes from being a £95m player and being talked about as one of the best players in the world.”
The French midfielder’s mixed displays have been mirrored by his team this term and with United languishing outside of the top six eight games in that has inevitably led to loud murmurings of crisis with manager Jose Mourinho’s job very much on the line. Indeed at the half-time interval against Newcastle United a fortnight ago it was impossible to imagine United’s situation getting any worse trailing as they were by two cheaply conceded goals.
A stunning second half comeback however not only spared the club further apocalyptic headlines but also acted as a reminder – not that one was needed – to Pallister and others that attack was often the best policy for a side with adventure running through its history and veins.
“I’m not saying you should go for the jugular when you’re playing Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City because they’re teams who are performing at a higher level at the moment. But against sides like Newcastle and especially at Old Trafford teams should be intimidated about going there and for a long time now that hasn’t been the case. That’s something that the players have to deal with and make it a difficult place to come to again.”
“They need to put teams on the back foot and take the game to them from the first five minutes: let them know they’re in for a really tough afternoon. It’s a collective thing and the manager and players are all in it together so they have to find a way between themselves to turn this very average start to the season around.”
Beginning perhaps with Stamford Bridge this Saturday and the unenviable task of besting a Chelsea eleven that is full of confidence right now and unbeaten heading into autumn. Pallister however remains defiant.
“A win at Chelsea will send out a big statement because people have been looking at Manchester United as a club that’s in trouble. Chelsea have hit the ground running and Sarri has brought a real attacking style of football to Stamford Bridge. It’s given them a real fast start and if we can win and take some of the steam from that it would send out a statement that the worst of the troubles are behind us and the players are united in a team looking to move forward.”
The latest round of UEFA Nations League fixtures is here – and we’ve got a tasty four-fold for punters to get stuck into.
Unfortunately, our accumulator opens with an England defeat at the hands of Spain; not the ideal result for Gareth Southgate’s side after drawing against Croatia in Rijeka on Friday evening.
Spain can make it three wins from three Nations League fixtures on Monday night and they may prove too strong for the Three Lions in that encounter. Without further ado, here’s our 13/1 four-fold ahead of this week’s international fixtures…
SPAIN vs England
With six points from their opening two Nations League fixtures, Spain are sitting pretty at the top of Group A4. Luis Enrique’s side were ruthless against Wales in their friendly clash on Thursday night, putting four goals past Ryan Giggs’ men in Cardiff.
For England, this is about building momentum. The Three Lions were arguably the better side on Friday night in Rijeka and Southgate will be demanding more of the same. This one could be an entertaining watch if England go for the jugular.
TIP: Over 1.5 Spain goals @ 3/4
PREDICTED SCORE: Spain 2-0 England (Priced at 13/2 with 888sport)
FRANCE vs Germany
The 2018 World Cup champions battled from two goals down to draw with Iceland on Thursday night; France were lucky to avoid defeat in that clash. Didier Deschamps may wring the changes ahead of Tuesday’s encounter in Paris.
Joachim Low is a man under pressure and Germany’s 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday will do the 58-year-old no favours whatsoever. Another embarrassing loss could signal the end of his tenure as Germany head coach.
TIP: Over 1.5 France goals @ 8/11
PREDICTED SCORE: France 2-1 Germany (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs WALES
Ireland were second best for large parts against Denmark on Saturday evening and Martin O’Neill will be demanding an improved effort from his side. They haven’t had much time to prepare for Wales and backing a home win may be unwise.
Gareth Bale will miss Wales’ trip to Dublin and the Real Madrid man will be sorely missed on Tuesday night. Giggs had hoped that Bale would pass a late fitness test but the 29-year-old will not feature; making this one rather difficult to predict.
Opting for both teams to score at a very appealing 23/20 might be the way to go. Wales were second best against Spain but managed to get on the scoresheet whilst Ireland will fancy their chances on home soil – this could be surprisingly exciting.
TIP: Both teams to score @ 23/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Ireland 1-1 Wales (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)
UKRAINE vs CZECH REPUBLIC
Ukraine snatched a positive result away at Italy on Wednesday evening in a friendly match and the hosts will be hoping to build on that draw here. After winning both Nations League fixtures so far this year, a third win will put Ukraine firmly in control of Group B1.
In a surprising turn of events, the Czech Republic claimed a 2-1 win away at Slovakia at the weekend – a massive result for the visitors. Despite being outplayed for most of the night, the Czech Republic hung in there and scored when it mattered most of all.
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
British Champions Day at Ascot is now billed as the finale of the European Flat racing season and has been running for eight years. It is the richest raceday in the British racing calendar and some of the finest horses around battle it out at the Berkshire track.
As the culmination of the QIPCO British Champions Series, this raceday features the end-of-season championship races for five racing divisions: Ten-furlong horses (The Champion Stakes), Milers (The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), Sprinters (six furlongs), Long distance horses (two miles) and Fillies and Mares (one mile and four furlongs).
Here is a brief guide to what you can expect on the afternoon of October 20th:
QIPCO Long Distance Cup
The staying stars are the first to take to the track in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. In 2017 Order of St George gave Aidan O’Brien his second victory in the race.
Owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen has confirmed his million pound star Stradivarius will line up in the race as long as the conditions are not too testing.
Joining him in the line up could be Aidan O'Brien's Irish Leger winner Flag Of Honour after he was recently pulled out of the Arc.
Race Trends
13/15 – Raced within the last 5 weeks 12/15 – Won at Listed or better class previously 12/15 – Winning distance – 1 ¼ lengths or less 11/15 – Aged 5 or older
QIPCO Champions Sprint Stakes
The sprinters take centre stage in the £600,000 Champions Day Sprint, one of the most hotly contested races on the card. Last year Librisa Breeze flew home to take home the spoils under Robert Winston and is an 8/1 shot with us to do so again this time around.
In fact, the past two winners of the Champions Sprint, The Tin Man and Librisa Breeze both feature among the remaining entries for the race.
Other possible contenders Brando, Limato, Tasleet, and the recent ParisLongchamp scorer, Mabs Cross.
Race Trends
15/15 – Won over 6f previously 14/15 – Raced within the last 6 weeks 14/15 – Raced at least 4 times that season 14/15 – Returned 12/1 or shorter
QIPCO Champion Fillies And Mares Stakes
The top female stars of the turf will battle it out here for the £600,000 end-of-season climax.
The first three home in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes from last year – Hydrangea, Bateel and Coronet – remain on course to meet again.
St Leger runner-up, Lah Ti Dar is the current market leader, with horse racing odds of 6/4.
Race Trends
6/9 – Rated 110 or higher 5/9 – Favourites placed 5/9 – Aged 3 years-old 5/9 – Won their last race
QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Some of the best horses in training line up to contest Europe’s richest mile race, with an impressive roll of honour which includes Solow, Minding and Frankel.
The Karl Burke-trained Laurens holds an entry in the Champion Stakes but is very likely to be supplemented into this race.
The daughter of Siyouni will be bidding for her fifth Group One success of the season.
Race Trends
15/15 – Returned 7/1 or shorter 15/15 – Raced at least 3 times that season 15/15 – Aged 3 or 5 years-old 14/15 – Had won a Group 1 or 2 race previously
QIPCO Champion Stakes
Europe's richest ten furlong race was won in scintillating fashion by Cracksman in 2017. Can the son of Frankel win again in 2018? We make him a 2/1 chance to do so again.
Just edging out Cracksman in the horse racing betting is Roaring Lion who has enjoyed a magnificent campaign, completing a Group One hat-trick with victories in the Coral-Eclipse, the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes.
The race looks like being the one of the showdowns of the season.
Race Trends
14/15 – Finished in the top 3 in their latest race 13/15 – Won over 1m2f previously 13/15 – Won a Group 1 or 2 race previously 11/15 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
Balmoral Handicap
The £250,000 Balmoral Handicap brings down the curtain on QIPCO British Champions Day and always attracts a bumper entry.
A maximum field of 20 will line up for the Ascot finale which is Europe’s richest mile handicap. Last year all bar three of the runners had an official rating of at least 100 so it certainly attracts some top-rated horses.
Despite hanging left on his last run, he quickened nicely to beat Ripp Orf, who is also in the field and is rated a 12/1 chance.
David O’Meara, who trained Lord Glitters to win the race last year, is likely to be represented by Waarif, Firmament, eighth and third in the past two runnings of the Balmoral Handicap, and Escobar.
Race Trends
Just 4 previous runnings 3 x 5-year-olds, 1 x 4-year-old have won All 4 previous winners draw 10 or lower 3 previous winners ran at Newmarket last time out and one at Ascot
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
All 20 Premier League clubs have the same managers they started the season with.
Sure, that might not seem an achievement given that it’s only mid-October and we are only eight matches in, but clubs have shown in seasons past that they are not afraid to pull the trigger early.
Rumours of managerial change, for the most part, have been rare this season. That might just be because most teams are playing somewhere near expectations.
The sides that have struggled are the ones we all expected to struggle. The top six, with one notable exception, have been around par.
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are the obvious exception. Mourinho has led the sack race betting for the majority of the season after a rocky summer.
Comments criticising his superiors during preseason were followed by indifferent performances and it looks/looked like Mourinho was in third season mode.
Rumours circulated last Friday that Mourinho would be sacked over the weekend whatever his result was against Newcastle.
He did not get sacked. Maybe he would have been had Manchester United not completed the dramatic comeback against Newcastle. We might never know the answer to that.
What remains to be seen, though, is whether this is a turning point or a false dawn for Manchester United.
Manchester United's decision to extend Jose Mourinho's contract until 2020 was a stroke of genius.
Mourinho is still the very short 3/5 favourite to be the next manager to go. It’s surprising the odds aren’t a bit longer, but that’s understandable considering Manchester United are already five points off the top four.
It was a throwback to the Alex Ferguson years as a poor first half was corrected with bold second half attacking and a cinematic win.
Their victory came from a do-or-die display against a struggling team. It’s not unreasonable to expect Mourinho to revert to tactical type, which would see the same problems arise.
The victory will have earned some credit for the once Special One. More dropped points and limp performances, though, will see that credit vanish quickly.
Mourinho is out alone atop this market. Three managers, however, sit on 6/1. Neil Warnock, Rafael Benitez and Mark Hughes have combined for one win in 24 Premier League matches this season.
Benitez is extremely unlikely to get the boot, but his tetchy relationship with the Newcastle hierarchy could see him leave the position.
At this point, it seems improbable that would happen before another Premier League manager departs. Newcastle have had a rough start to the season. Given their fixture list and squad, few would have done much better.
Warnock is under greater pressure than the former Real Madrid boss. Cardiff have been poor this season and are bottom of the table. The question for the board at the Premier League’s solitary Welsh club, though, is whether they have the talent in the squad to do much better.
Mark Hughes has picked up 33 points in his last 38 matches as a Premier League manager.
Cardiff’s summer business was clearly insufficient at the time. Several matches they have dropped points in have been a result of a lack of quality as much as anything.
Warnock, you would imagine, would point towards a tricky fixture list, having played Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham in their last five matches.
Hughes kept Southampton up last season. It was done with a degree of fortune and little sense that this was the beginning of a long tenure.
As clubs almost always do, though, Hughes was handed a longer deal at the club. His record for the final 18 months of his time at Stoke and now at Southampton is abysmal.
Saints are on just five points. Recruitment has taken a downturn at St. Mary’s in recent seasons, and maybe any manager would struggle to stay away from the bottom three with this squad.
As has riddled Hughes’ managerial career, when his teams are bad, they tend to be dreadful. The second half collapse at home to Brighton was a clear example, as was the 2-0 away defeat to Wolves.
Manchester United and Mourinho could go almost any direction from here. The damage might be done already, but the Old Trafford decision makers will have more patience than many other clubs.
Hughes is the value option in this market. Southampton will make changes if they think it’s necessary. The former Stoke manager might be handed his P45 if he doesn’t win either of his next two (away to Bournemouth, home to Newcastle).
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
Too Darn Hot versus Sangarious will be the hors d'oeuvres on offer before the Cesarewitch that takes place 40 minutes later.
Held over the straight 7 furlongs of Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, the Dewhurst Stakes generally shows us who is the best two year old colt in Britain and Ireland and the race tends to give us a few clues for the following year’s 2,000 Guineas and Derby.
The Group One feature has produced no end of future stars, with Dawn Approach, Churchill, US Navy Flag and Frankel all stamping their authority on the race in recent years.
Trends And Statistics (Based On The Last 10 Renewals)
Seven winners had won over seven furlongs or beyond.
Six favourites have been successful but three winners have been returned between 20/1 & 33s.
Eight winners made their debut after April.
All ten winners had raced at least three times.
All ten winners ran in a Group race on their preceding start.
Six winners won their preceding start, nine finished in the first four.
Three winners were unbeaten.
Five winners had won a race at Group Two or above and all bar one of the exceptions had been placed at Group Two or above.
The brother of Lah Ti Dar and So Mi Dar is impeccably bred and his season has gone from strength to strength, most recently when he claimed his third victory from as many starts by taking the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month with relative ease.
The son of Dubawi is a short favourite to round off an unbeaten juvenile campaign on the Rowley Mile and will more than likely be made the ante-post favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas if he does so.
Naturally something will have to give on Saturday afternoon and one of those unbeaten colts will have to blot their copybook.
Well regarded at home, Sir Michael Stoute’s Sangarious looks the most likely candidate choice to give Too Darn Hot a race on Saturday.
The son of Kingman made a successful racecourse debut at Newmarket in August before stepping up to Listed class to win the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster.
Already well fancied next year’s 2000 Guineas, Stoute’s two-year-old should be able to serve it up to the favourite in this small, but competitive field.
Having missed taking up his entry in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last weekend, it appears that firing on all cylinders is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck.
Anthony Van Dyck, second in the National Stakes to Quorto last time out, looks to be Ballydoyle’s number one in this field and hails from a stable that boasts six previous Dewhurst winners, including the last three.
As always it would be complete folly to rule out any Aidan O’Brien horse in a big race and as well as holding a leading chance with Anthony Van Dyck, he also sends out Mohawk and Christmas.
Mohawk was victorious in the Royal Lodge last time but gives the impression that his distance is at a mile plus and may be a bit tapped for toe in this field.
Christmas is a likeable sort and came third in the National Stakes last time out. However the suspicion is that he will be used to set up the race for Anthony Van Dyck here.
With the emphasis being firmly around the two unbeaten colts and the O’Brien runners the Meade horse could quite easily get overlooked in the betting and could be really good value come the off.
Richard Hannon’s Kuwait Currency completes the field. Winner of his last two races at Lingfield and Salisbury, the Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah will significantly have to step up yet another notch to trouble the market leaders here.
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
The world of motorsports is vast and exciting, and like any sport, there are betting markets for those in the know to win some money on.
Whether it’s Formula One, MotoGP, Nascar, rally racing, speedway, or supercars, there are markets for every motorsports fan to delve into and potentially win big.
In this motorsports betting guide, we’re going to be breaking down all the ways in which you can place a wager on the many popular motorsports from around the world.
Whether you want to bet on the outright winner of a race season or some of the intricacies of race day, we’ll show you how to make the most of your motorsports mind.
What Can I Bet On In Formula One?
In Formula One betting, there are many outright markets that you can back. The most popular is for the Drivers' Championship outright winner.
This market is won by betting on the racer who will come out on top of the standings at the end of the season. For 2019, the favourite is Lewis Hamilton at 3/4, with Sebastian Vettel just behind at 6/4.
Then, of course, there is the other world championship decided by the final points tallies of the Formula One season: the Constructors’ Championship.
With the car, naturally, having a major impact on the eventual winner of the Drivers’ Championship, it makes sense for fans to be able to be on which constructors will come out on top.
In the Constructors’ Championship Winner odds, Mercedes lead the way in 2019 at 1/4 to Ferrari’s 11/4.
As Formula One is so popular, other outright markets have emerged as popular ways for fans to predict the events of the season.
In the season specials markets, bettors can back which driver will finish higher in the standing out of Charles Leclerc and Kimi Raikkonen, as well as if either of those two will win a race or claim a podium finish before the end of the campaign.
While shooting for the end of season predictions in outright betting is popular, it’s the race day betting that frequent watchers of the sport like to load up on.
What Race Day Grand Prix Markets Are Available?
Coming into any race day, fans all over the world begin debating which driver will come out on top. Backing the race day’s GP winner brings up two options. First, the bettor can back a driver simply to win the race, such as Hamilton to win the Russian Grand Prix at EVS.
Or, motorsports punters can give themselves some wiggle room or back a dark horse to make it to the podium by betting on the Grand Prix winner 1-3 odds – which simply means that your selection can finish first, second, or third for you to win at the odds given.
For example, if Max Verstappen lands a first, second, or third-place finish and you backed the 1-3 market, you will get returns of 6/4 on your bet.
Closer to the start of each Grand Prix race day, more markets open up, such as the drivers fastest in practices and qualifying. On race day, you can often find odds for finishing positions and other more intricate betting markets.
What Can I Bet On In MotoGP?
Motorcycling’s fan base continues to grow, leading to even more fans wanting to place some bets on the biggest championships and race days.
As for outright betting, it’s not just the MotoGP Championship that motorcycling fans can bet on, as there are also markets for the winner of the Moto2 Championship and Moto3 Championship.
In Moto3, you can bet on which racer will finish in the highest position come the end of the season, with Jorge Martin leading in the odds at 1/6.
In Moto2 and MotoGP, you can also back which of the selected riders will have the best finishing division, with Andrea Dovizioso leading the odds at 2/5 to Jorge Lorenzo’s 7/4 in the MotoGP Championship 2018 Winner markets.
If you’d rather take the season one race at a time, there is also the option to be on the individual Grand Prix.
What Race Day Markets Are There For MotoGP?
If you have a hunch for the winner of the next MotoGP Championship Grand Prix, then get into the individual race markets. Here, you’ll be able to find the long list of riders vying to win the race, which can often produce some titillating odds.
Take the Aragon GP as an example; despite Dovizioso being ahead of Lorenzo in the MotoGP Championship 2018 Winner odds, he sits behind his foe at 7/2 to Lorenzo's 2/1 to win the Grand Prix at hand.
What Can I Bet On In NASCAR?
With such a competitive field of drivers and cars in Nascar, the outright winner market has become very popular with patrons of the sport.
By entering the Winner (Monster Energy Nascar Cup Championship 2018) market, you can back the driver who you think will come out on top when the season finishes.
With favourites Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Martin Truex Jr at 5/2, 3/1, 17/4 and 17/4 respectively, someone with the inside scoop could certainly capitalise on the long odds offered.
If it’s the upcoming race that’s got you pumped up and wanting to back a winner, then turn your attention to the individual race day markets.
What Race Day Markets Are There For NASCAR?
Much like in Formula One betting, fans of Nascar can bet to call the winner of the bet as well as drivers who they think will come in the top three.
On each Race page across the Nascar season, bettors will see two columns, one headed ‘Winner’ and the other headed ‘(1-3)’. If you feel strongly about a driver finishing first, you can take the greater odds for them to win the race.
However, as anything can happen on race day, sometimes it’s smarter to take the odds in the 1-3 markets as insurance.
As shown in the odds for the Federated Auto Parts 400, Kevin Harvick was the second-favourite at 4/1 to win the race, but also had nice odds of 3/4 just to finish 1-3.
What Can I Bet On In Rally Racing?
When it comes to rally racing, the eyes of fans is captured by the motorsport’s premier event, the World Rally Championship. So, to enhance the thrills of the season, fans turn to the outright market to back the eventual winner of the 2018 World Rally Championship.
This season, the WRC 2018 seems to have swung in favour of Thierry Neuville with his odds of 17/20 to win it all. But, that’s not to say that Ott Tanak isn’t in with a chance at 2/1.
What Can I Bet On In Speedway Racing?
Not to be confused with a single race, the Speedway Grand Prix 2018 is the much-loved season of speedway racing. You can find markets for all of the potential winners of this year’s season with Tai Woffinden set as the near shoo-in to claim the title at 2/5.
But, you can also get a head start and take advantage of the early odds for the 2019 Speedway Grand Prix season. As it stands, you can get Janusz Kolodziej to finish above Antonio Lindback and Niels Kristian Iversen at the conclusion of next year’s season.
Not to be forgotten, you can also find odds on the winner of the coveted Sweden Elitserien 2018 speedway season. Including the results of the playoffs, you could find team Eskilstuna Smederna at 17/20 to come out on top over the 9/10 rated Dackarna.
Furthermore, speedway racing fans can also add another dose of excitement to watching the upcoming stars of the sport compete in the U21 World Championship and betting on the winner.
The 2018 Championship has a clear favourite in the odds, with Maksym Drabik at 1/7. As is the case with most motorsports and their betting markets, you can also place your bets on individual race markets.
What Race Day Grand Prix Markets Are Available For Speedway?
Races within the Speedway Grand Prix season get their own Grand Prix market for fans to test their knowledge with.
Given how competitive the races are, there are some very good odds to take advantage of here. For the German GP, both Jason Doyle and Bartosz Zmarzlik stood as the favourites at lengthy odds of 5/1.
What Can I Bet On In Supercars?
Down under, one of the most popular motorsports is supercars, with the Supercars Championship standing as the premier Australian touring car competition.
Fans in Australia and all over the world flood the betting markets for the Drivers’ Championship winner of Supercars 2018, with Shane van Gisbergen standing as the consensus 1/2 favourite this season.
Also in the sport of supercars, bettors can wager on the duo who they think will come out on top in the Enduro Cup – the endurance competition of supercars.
The duo of Van Gisbergen and Bamber are in the running at 7/4 to win the Enduro Cup in 2018, with Whincup and Dumbrell leading the odds at 5/4.
The Enduro Cup also yields individual race markets for fans to back and follow over the course of the tournament.
What Race Day Markets Are There For Supercars?
As it is with the other calendar-circling race days of Formula One and Nascar, the race days of the Enduro Cup in supercars get two lots of winner markets.
First is the outright winner, often at fairly long odds, as well as the to finish 1-3 odds. These odds are shorter but, as seen in the Bathurst 1000 markets, even the favoured Whincup and Dumbrell are at 17/20 to land a top three final placing.
So Much Motorsport Action To Bet On
As you can see, all of the most popular motorsports and the biggest events within boast markets for outright winners of the tournaments.
Many sports cater for fans who wish to back race winners and even just racers to finish on the podium on each race day.
