Horse Racing and Basketball: What Are The Similarities in the Betting Markets?

Basketball and horse racing are two of the most popular sports to bet on in the United States. Action in both is evident throughout the year, with NBA matches played daily throughout the regular and post-season.

Similarly, horse racing is also in operation throughout the season, with no off-season for trainers and jockeys with major meetings taking place every weekend.

However, there is always some kind of racing to get stuck into daily, with other nations such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and France presenting racing fans with an opportunity to put their money down. But, what are the biggest similarities when it comes to betting on basketball and horse racing?

Moneyline Betting

The most popular betting option for many when gambling on basketball comes in the form of the moneyline. Here, the better will need to predict the winner of certain match, regardless of the winning margin.

That is also the case when it comes to horse racing, as the win market is the most popular. Here, returns will be awarded to the bettor if they correctly predict the winning runner in the race.

Both markets are identical in the general principle, with the winning selection seeing returns being awarded, regardless of the difference in quality between the selections.

Spread/Winning Margin Betting

While a difference in name, the general aim for the spread and winning margin betting markets is very similar in basketball and horse racing, respectively. To cover a spread in a basketball bet, the winning selection must win by a required number of points.

For example, if you had the Detroit Pistons (-2.5), then the selection is a winner as long as the Pistons win the game in regulation time by at least three points. Winning margin betting is similar when it comes to wagering on horse racing.

Here, according to TwinSpires, a bettor can predict a horse to win by three or more lengths, and the returns are awarded should the official decision state that this distance or bigger is the winning margin between the first two horses past the post.

Both markets have a slight element of risk added to them, as they go further than the moneyline and win bet options. However, it could add further value to the selections, as the returns will be enhanced.

Ante-Post Betting

One of the most exciting aspects for all basketball fans at the start of the season comes when assessing the pre-season tournament odds for NBA glory in the forthcoming season.

Horse racing also offers the opportunity for bettors to gamble on outcomes of some notable races on the schedule before the main season kicks off. Ante-post rules are more dangerous when it comes to betting on horse racing, as stakes will be lost if the selected runner doesn’t even line up in the race.

Therefore, there is typically better value in the betting due to the element of risk that is attached. However, these markets remain open until the week of the race where the official field is announced. Ante-post betting is most popular in the world of horse racing when it comes to gambling of world-leading events such as the Grand National and Kentucky Derby.

Prices change throughout the year, depending on how horses are running. Outright betting on the NBA can also be done as soon as the previous season has ended, and this is often the best chance to get value before any big trades impact the market. Like racing, the outright NBA market stays open throughout the season, with selections removed once teams are unable to reach the playoffs.

Markets Revolve Around Major Events

The basketball and horse racing markets largely focus around major events on the calendar, which then en-capture mainstream attention with newcomers looking to place bets on the events.

For basketball, that largely revolves around the season-ending NBA Playoffs, which are unmissable for fans as the tournament in the post-season heats up before the NBA Finals. During this time, betting on the sport increases, and fan engagement it at a season-high level.

Unlike basketball, given that horse racing is a global sport, there are many major events that shape the betting practises. In the United States, the first major event that captures mainstream attention is the Kentucky Derby, which is quickly followed by the remaining two legs of the Triple Crown in the forms of the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

However, the two biggest racing days of the season come later in the campaign, as the season-ending Breeders’ Cup attracts international attention. The standout race of the final flat meet of the season is the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is one of the biggest social events on the racing calendar. Racing also has a global reach, with American fans typically placing wagers on events outside of North America such as the Cheltenham Festival, Melbourne Cup, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.