Sports betting has changed professional and college leagues over the last decade, and football is no exception. Sportsbooks sponsor major leagues across the globe, and bettors wager hundreds of millions of dollars on them each year. While betting on non-professional and junior leagues is not allowed, the sports betting industry still has a massive impact.
Below, we will examine the positive and negative impacts the growing industry has had on grassroots leagues worldwide. Since we are a glass-half-full kind of site, let’s start with the positive!
One way sports betting has positively affected grassroots football is by continuing to generate interest from fans around the world. The sport is already popular, but the ability to wager on games is helping to bring in even more fans. That helps to generate interest in local grassroots clubs, where fans can catch exciting action without the high-ticket prices standard for pro leagues.
Like video games, sports betting also encourages some customers to try football out for themselves. They sign up for grassroots leagues, which allow them to play competitively based on their skill level. This has led to a spike in demand and even more funds for local organizations.
Aside from generating interest in sport, some sportsbooks are looking to partner with grassroots leagues and clubs to help raise funds. Money is one of the key obstacles for many grassroots football organizations, but sportsbooks are getting creative with solutions to overcome financial hurdles.
BettyBetBet is an excellent example of a sportsbook actively looking to partner with grassroots football leagues. The company allows customers to create a custom link to its sportsbook, which they can share with others. Much of the revenue generated from bets placed using the link will go to the cause or organization the customer chose.
Some have concerns over this form of fundraising, but the games offered on the BettyBetBet platform limit how often you can wager. Wagers can usually only be placed once a week and do not have free bet offers or promotions, helping to ensure problem gambling does not taint the effort to raise funds. This makes the approach more similar to a raffle than a traditional sportsbook.
While the above has positively impacted on grassroots football, sports betting has also had some negative effects.
Betting on these leagues is illegal, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. The growth of sports betting around the world has also boosted the business of illegal bookmakers. That includes local bookies as well as offshore sportsbooks. Neither is subject to industry regulations, leading to wagers on far more non-pro sports leagues than are found on legal sportsbooks.
We have seen angry bettors take aim at players they believe are responsible for a lost wager. Grassroots football players are amateurs and lack the security that professional players enjoy. This makes them an easy target for those seeking revenge for their misfortune.
While the above danger is a problem for any sports league, it is especially concerning junior grassroots football. Most people wouldn’t usually imagine harassing a kid during a football match, but that can change when money is on the line. Some even question the morality of using gambling to raise funds for junior sports, saying it sends the wrong message to young players.
Additionally, unregulated sportsbook operators create the possibility of a grassroots player or official taking money to affect the outcome of a game. This is far more common in pro leagues, but a bribe can also tempt unpaid amateur athletes. Given that grassroots leagues and clubs don’t have the resources to investigate this kind of scandal, it can be an easy way for players, coaches, or officials to bring some extra money.
As with all sports, betting has positively and negatively impacted grassroots football. While the industry does present some dangers that could affect a small percentage of leagues, the interest and funds it generate are having far more of an impact.
Grassroots football is important to the communities they represent and the sport. Finding the funds to run these organizations has been a persistent problem, but sports betting is helping to solve it. If the negative effects of sports betting can be controlled, it seems the industry and grassroots football can thrive together over the coming years.
