Athletics is sport at its purest. It’s a collection of events that distil sport down to its essentials – running, jumping, throwing, physical excellence, endurance and competitive spirit. Athletics is an ancient practice (over 4,000 years old), and it’s not hard to see why it’s still so popular today.
As well as the excitement it offers, athletics provides a wealth of betting opportunities. Athletics encompasses a wide range of disciplines, whilst athletics events are held almost year round, including the Diamond League and national meets. Betting on athletics is the perfect way to add to the thrill of watching it, and can be a great way for you to take advantage of your knowledge of the sport.
Here we explain how to bet on athletics and how athletics betting odds work. We’ll look at what athletics events to look out for and highlight athletics betting opportunities.
How Do I Bet on Athletics with BoyleSports?
You’ll find a wealth of athletics betting options right here on this page for major athletics meets and competitions. The most popular athletics bets you can place include:
● To Win: Bet on an athlete to win their race or event.
● To Place: Bet on an athlete to finish first or second in their race or event.
● To Show: Bet on an athlete to finish first, second or third in their race or event.
● Exacta bet: Bet on two athletes to finish first and second in a race or event, in an exact order.
● Trifecta bet: Bet on three athletes to finish first, second and third in a race or event, in an exact order.
To bet on athletics with us, first create your BoyleSports account. Once you’re registered with us, you can select athletics bets right here on this page.
Find a bet you want to place, then click on it to add it to your betslip at the top right of this page. Add your stake (the amount you want to wager) in the box next to it. Once you’ve added stakes to the bets on your slip, you’ll see your Total Stake wagered at the bottom. Click on the button below your betslip to place your bets.
To keep betting on athletics enjoyable, make sure you bet responsibly. Before you start betting, set yourself a limit and stick to it, and only bet with money you can afford to lose.
How Do Odds Work on Athletics?
As with our other sports betting markets, you’ll see the odds for each athletics bet written as fractional odds. An example of this is 10/1. Ten to one odds (10/1) means you’ll earn back ten times your bet if you win.
For instance, if you were to bet £1 on an athlete to win the 100 metres at 10/1, and your bet comes in, you’ll win £10. You’ll have your £1 stake returned too, for a total of £11.
Take a look at these other examples of fractional odds and payouts to make sure they’re clear to you:
• With a £1 stake at 10/1 odds, the winnings are £20, plus the £1 stake returned, making the total winnings £21.
• With a £1 stake at 5/3 odds, the winnings are £6.67, plus the £1 stake returned, making the total winnings £7.67.
• With a £1 stake at 9/3 odds, the winnings are £2.33, plus the £1 stake returned, making the total winnings £3.33.
• With a £1 stake at 11/20 odds, the winnings are £0.90, plus the £1 stake returned, making the total winnings £1.90.
• With a £1 stake at 7/9 odds, the winnings are £0.83, plus the £1 stake returned, making the total winnings £1.83.
The odds given for any athletics bet are an estimation of how likely that event is to happen. Those odds will depend on various factors, like the current form of an athlete, their previous history in that event, and even their past performances at that type of competition. The odds given by a bookmaker are their best judgement of the likelihood of that event, but of course, bookies don’t always get it right.
Bet on Major Athletics Events with BoyleSports
You can bet on all the major athletics events around the world with BoyleSports, including:
● The Olympic Games: The pinnacle event in athletics and athletics betting, featuring competitors from over 200 nations participating every four years across more than 400 events to bring home Olympic gold.
● The Commonwealth Games: Held every four years with 72 nations and territories competing.
● World Athletics Championships: Held every two years and representing the highest level of international athletics outside of the Olympics.
● The Diamond League: Made up of 14 to 15 international track and field events held throughout the year at different international locations, usually comprising more than 30 events.
Tips for Athletics Betting
The following betting tips should help you make the most of your wagers when betting on athletics:
● Understand the event you’re betting on: Make sure you’re clear on the details and the rules of the event you’re betting on.
● Understand the bets you’re placing: Ensure you understand every bet you place. You can click on the i icon above each of our bets for a simple description of it. Check our explanation of fractional betting odds above to be sure you understand how to read them.
● Research form and history of athletes: Look at recent performances and past results for athletes in the events you’re betting on. You may see someone performing better than their odds suggest.
● Watch qualifying rounds: Early rounds can reveal under-the-radar athletes who may perform well in the finals, or favourites who are struggling.
● Follow news and rumours: Gossip can pay in athletics betting, especially if there are rumours of injuries and performance issues for big name athletes.
● Diversify your bets: Try a mix of different betting options, such as outright winners, podium finishes, or time-based bets, to make sure you bet on both long odds and short odds.
● Manage your bankroll: Set yourself a betting limit and stick to it.
Betting on Athletics with BoyleSports
With so many events to pick from – including athletics meetings held across the world most months, plus the excitement of the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the World Athletics Championships – athletics offers so many exciting betting opportunities.
With our comprehensive athletics betting markets and great value athletics odds, make BoyleSports your home for athletics betting. Create your BoyleSports account today to get betting on athletics online.
