WNBA's Powerhouse Teams Spark Rise in Wagers
The two standout teams in the WNBA, the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, are drawing more attention from sports bettors. This growing interest could surge even further with both teams competing in the league's semifinals. BetMGM, a major online sportsbook operator, has seen a 27% annual rise in active WNBA bettors. The betting frenzy may continue as the WNBA playoffs progress towards the championship matches.
"The dream matchup for the finals is the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, which could attract a lot of interest," said BetMGM sports betting trader Seamus Magee. "It would be disappointing if anyone other than the two clear favorites wins the title." Handle, or the amount wagered, is steadily growing as the playoffs progress.
The Aces, under the leadership of coach Becky Hammon, have secured 39.6% of bets for a potential repeat title win, while the Liberty have received 23.2% wagers for the championship. The popularity of the two teams could partly be due to their locations - they're two of the 10 WNBA teams in territories that allow mobile sports betting.
A Rise in Women's Sports Betting
Data shows that more women are engaging in sports betting. Bettors often place wagers on their mobile devices before reaching a retail sportsbook.
According to BetMGM, there's been a 40% surge in bets on women's golf and tennis compared to last year, outpacing the 18% and 25% growth in handle of MLB and the NHL. The expansion of sports betting legalization in the US and the WNBA's most-watched regular season in almost two decades are contributing factors.
Included in the increasing interest in women's sports is the recent Women's World Cup. It was the most-bet-on women's tournament in BetMGM's history. Bettors are also delving into women's college basketball.
"The 2023 NCAA women's basketball tournament earned considerable betting interest, with a 30% rise in handle compared to the previous event," noted BetMGM. "The number of active bettors increased by 22%. For the first time, women's college basketball betting action matched an NFL game."
Liberty Need to Step Up for Gamblers
Differing from the NBA's best-of-seven playoff format, the WNBA has best-of-five semifinals. To help realize BetMGM's dream matchup, the Liberty need to advance further. They're currently tied 1-1 with the Connecticut Sun, with the third game scheduled in Connecticut on Friday.
The Aces have easily won their three playoff games so far, with victories of at least 14 points each. Las Vegas' WNBA team is owned by Raiders owner Mark Davis, who bought the franchise from MGM Resorts International in 2021.
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Source: www.casino.org
