This year, the online betting industry is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and a growing appetite for diverse and sophisticated betting options. Bettors are no longer content with traditional markets; they are increasingly looking for more nuanced, complex, and potentially rewarding ways to engage with sports betting and other forms of wagering. In this context, advanced betting markets are gaining popularity, offering seasoned punters and newcomers alike a massive range of new opportunities to test their insight, strategy, and luck.

One of the most intriguing developments in this space is the proliferation of offshore betting sites. These platforms often operate outside the regulatory frameworks of many countries, which can afford them the flexibility to offer a wider array of betting options and more competitive odds. While the legal and ethical considerations surrounding offshore betting sites are complex and vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another, there’s no denying that they have become a significant part of the online betting ecosystem. For bettors seeking advanced markets, these sites can be a goldmine of opportunities, providing access to betting options that might not be available through domestic bookmakers.

1. In-Play Betting

In-play or live betting is not new, but the depth and variety of markets available in this category continue to expand. Beyond predicting the outcome of a game, in-play markets allow bettors to wager on events within the game in real-time, such as the next team to score, the outcome of the next play, or even player-specific achievements. This form of betting demands quick thinking and an intimate knowledge of the sport and the teams involved, making it an exciting option for those looking to elevate their betting experience.

2. Esports Markets

Esports has surged in popularity over the last decade, and with it, the betting markets associated with competitive gaming events have also grown. In 2024, betting on esports is not just about predicting the winner of a match or tournament. Advanced markets now include wagering on specific in-game events, player performances, and even strategic choices made during gameplay. The dynamic and rapidly changing nature of esports games makes these markets particularly challenging and engaging.

This is a place where offshore betting sites are making a big impact. Betting on esports might not be available at your local bookmaker yet, as it’s still a pretty niche industry. However, offshore sites generally have hundreds of markets available on all kinds of sports from all over the world, and esports are no exception. You can bet on international competitions where the top teams battle it out for millions of dollars in prize funds, or follow smaller matches with players competing in your favorite video game title. 

3. Player Prop Bets

Proposition bets, or prop bets, have been around for a while, but the granularity and variety of these bets continue to increase. In the realm of sports betting, player prop bets are particularly interesting, allowing bettors to wager on specific aspects of a player’s performance in a game, such as the number of touchdowns a quarterback will throw (will it be more or less than the current average of 4.69 per game?), the number of three-pointers a basketball player will score, or the number of strikeouts a pitcher will achieve. These bets require a deep understanding of individual player capabilities and game conditions, offering a nuanced betting experience.

4. Exchange Betting

Betting exchanges represent a departure from traditional sportsbooks by allowing bettors to set their own odds and bet against each other rather than the house. This peer-to-peer model can offer more competitive odds and provides opportunities for “lay” bets, where you bet against a particular outcome. This added dimension of strategy, where bettors need to consider both the likelihood of an event and the behavior of other bettors, introduces a whole new level of complexity to betting.

5. Fantasy Sports and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

Fantasy sports betting, particularly DFS, has transformed the betting landscape by merging the traditional elements of sports betting with the skill-based nature of fantasy sports leagues. Bettors create their own teams based on real players and score points based on those players’ performances in real games. 

The short-term nature of DFS contests, often lasting just a day or a week, allows for rapid turnover and multiple betting opportunities, with a variety of complex strategies coming into play.

Much like real sports betting, the DFS industry is booming. As of 2022, there were close to 30 million fantasy football players in the US alone, making it the country’s most popular fantasy sport.

6. Political and Entertainment Betting

Beyond the realms of sports and esports, advanced betting markets also extend to global events, including politics and entertainment. From predicting election outcomes to betting on award show winners, these markets require a different kind of expertise, blending knowledge of public opinion, cultural trends, and even geopolitical developments. The unpredictable nature of these events adds an extra layer of excitement to the betting experience.

 

Sports is one of the most rewarding industries in America, so Athletes are often high earners. But the high salaries have not stopped them from trying to earn more through gambling. Some notable gambling athletes are also among the highest earners in their field. 

The news about gambling athletes often involves their rising gambling debts. We rarely get reports of how these athletes got lucky and went home with larger payouts than their salaries. This does not mean it doesn’t happen. Punters tend to lose more than they win, but it does not mean they don’t have lucky days. Let’s take a look at the highest casino winnings by professional athletes.

Where Do Professional Athletes Gamble?

Athletes have similar recognition to media celebrities, influencers and politicians. This makes it hard to imagine them enjoying regular activities like everyone else. However, even the most influential athletes gamble in the same places as their fans. They use two popular gambling options:

• Land Based Casinos
• Online Casinos

Land-Based Casinos

These are traditional gambling establishments with defined locations. These casinos are available in most states, but Las Vegas, Nevada, has become the gambling center of the United States. While several athletes and celebrities have racked up debts indulging in Las Vegas’ luxuries, others have built their fortune in Sin City.

In some cases, the Land-based casino might be an exclusive club. Unlike popular expectations, exclusive clubs are not always secret locations for debauchery. They are similar to regular clubs but allow athletes and celebrities to gamble without prying public eyes. 

Online Casinos

Online casinos are web-based casinos. They include websites that fulfill the punters’ gambling needs. These gambling sites provide optimum gaming experiences by offering extensive game selections. While they maintain the regular casino gaming options, Online casinos have larger gaming lobbies than most land-based casinos. What’s more, toppcasinonorge.com covers adequate reviews of the best online casinos based on their customer requirements, like their casino bonuses and gaming collections. The game collections often include countless slot games, table games, and live dealer options. 

Pro athletes also select online casinos for their security. The need to avoid public scrutiny has reduced celebrity presence in land-based casinos in favor of online casinos. Some gambling sites allow their patrons to play without providing personal information. Most players use muchbetter casino as their secure payment option because it allows for seamless and safe transactions.

The Biggest Casino Wins By Professional Athletes 

Athletes are stellar examples of regular individuals that achieved big things. They also provide quality examples of how high we can earn from gamble. And how not to gamble. Let’s explore three professional athletes that won big while gambling:

Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

Floyd Mayweather was a multimillionaire when he retired in 2017,  but he did not give up on making money. The world boxing champion started to dabble in other things like NASCAR, fashion, and gambling.

Mayweather had been gambling before he retired from boxing. He even racked up considerably large debts, but Floyd “Money” Mayweather always pays his debt. We may never know how much Mayweather has lost to gambling. Even his winnings are pretty elusive.

Mayweather won over $10 million from sports betting between 2016 and 2018. He also won over $100,000 from placing Poker bets at Duke’s in 2018. Mayweather’s betting gains are nothing compared to his losses, but he is still one of the wealthiest athletes in America.

Michael Jordan

Photo source: Unsplash

Michael Jordan’s gambling addiction is a well-known secret. The NBA legend spends several dollars on odd gambles, including golf shots. Some reports claim that Michael Jordan bets up to $300,000 on golf shots and even higher on NBA games.

Besides his devotion to sports betting, Michael Jordan loves table games and Blackjack. The two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame star bets up to $20,000 on each Blackjack round. But he has also won up to $1 million in the same game.

Charles Barkley

11-time NBA All-Star Charles Barkley broke the news when he claimed to have lost over $2.5 million within 6 hours while gambling. His debt history and struggle with gambling addiction resulted in over $30 million loss. 

Despite gambling challenges, Charles Barkley made some impressive wins in the game. He once won over $700,000 in a single game. Although he soon lost the entire money during the weekend. 

Conclusion

Most Pro athletes are sitting on huge fortunes from their sports. They can afford to make huge gambling commitments and come out unscath. Most of us don’t have that soft landing option. Gambling offers exciting options but it is best to recognize your limit. May the odds be in your favor. 

Author’s Bio 

Mila Roy is a respected Content Strategist. Her job is to evaluate casino sites and recommend operators with the best promotions to Canadian players. Additionally, she gives other advice regarding gambling in general. Aside from her job, one of her greatest passions is cooking.