In the eyes of many, sports betting is a relatively new phenomenon. A lot of people associate sports betting in general, with digital or online wagering. To an extent this makes sense. Online bookies first appeared in the 1990s, and only got popular recently, in the 2010s.
The Success of Online Sports Betting
It was during the 2010s that online security advanced rapidly, and sportsbooks could provide impeccable standards for safety and online security to their customers. Not only that, but online sportsbooks today bring you the latest betting odds quickly and conveniently. It is no wonder the scene is such a success.
However, the success of online sports betting has created the illusion that sports betting is a new phenomenon. In fact, the opposite is true. Sports betting, as a hobby, dates back to some of the oldest human civilizations. In this article, we would like to go over its history.
The First Evidence of Betting
The oldest recorded evidence of sports betting come from Ancient Egypt, 5000-6000 years ago. These records suggest that Egyptian men would gamble on games of chance, such as dice, games of skill, and various sports.
The most popular sport in Ancient Egypt was chariot racing, and it was also the one that attracted the most bettors. While this conclusion is based in conjecture, it is a pretty solid assumption, based on our recorded evidence.
However, chariot racing was not the only sport in Ancient Egypt. Apparently, the residents also enjoyed wagering on fencing, boxing, and various athletic performances.
Betting in the Ancient World
Another notable example of betting in the ancient world comes from Ancient Greece. Plenty of historical texts suggest that between 800 and 600 BCE, bettors would wager on the Olympic Games. The tradition exists to this day, of course, as both Summer and Winter Olympics are two of the biggest athletic competitions in the world, and draw an incredible amount of punters.
The Romans were also no strangers to betting. They adopted many of the favorite sports from Greece and Egypt, and thus enjoyed chariot racing, boxing, fencing, wrestling, and more. Of course, the Romans are best-known for their gladiatorial battles, which also drew in a ton of wagers.
Betting in the Medieval Era
The most popularly given example of betting in the Medieval Era is the example of cricket. Today, cricket is one of the most popular games around the world, with 2 billion fans across the globe. However, in the 14th century, the game was relatively new, having only recently been created in the North-western parts of England.
When local lords caught wind of the game, they quickly became fascinated and began organizing local cricket teams. They would travel the land with these teams, sponsoring them to play against other local lords. Of course, the lords would also engage in friendly wagers, betting for their home team.
Today, cricket remains one of the most popular sports to place bets on. No matter what bookie you’ve selected, it is almost a guarantee that they will feature cricket odds, and different options for wagering on England’s national sport.