BetMGM Reports a 27 Percent Year-Over-Year Increase in WNBA Betting Handle
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Wagering on women’s sports has significantly increased this month as the WNBA playoffs heat up. BetMGM Sportsbook made a recent announcement celebrating the news and highlighting this continued interest.
As of MGM’s most recent figures, women’s sports betting is outpacing betting growth in markets such as the MLB and NHL.
WNBA Betting Contributes to Rise in Women’s Sports Betting Interest
BetMGM revealed in a press release this week that its sportsbook has seen a 27% increase in active WNBA bettors compared to last year. This spike in popularity is expected to sustain itself through the league’s championship which begin this October.
The majority of BetMGM bettors (39.6%) have their money on the Las Vegas Aces to win the 2023 WNBA Championship. The New York Liberty sits at a somewhat distant runner-up, with 23.2% of bettors raising their torch for the team.
BetMGM Sports Trader Seamus Magee is looking forward to seeing the finale play out. He noted in the release:
“The New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces is our dream matchup for the finals and could generate some serious action. The worst outcome is anyone besides the two clear favorites, the Liberty and Aces, winning it all.”
As for the reason behind this surge in betting popularity? Magee says it boils down to two main elements: more access to legal sports betting and more interest in WNBA basketball.
“The expansion of legalized sports betting and the WNBA’s most-watched regular season in over two decades are definitely key factors driving the increase.”
WNBA Playoff Schedule
WNBA Playoff play has dwindled to four remaining teams. The New York Liberty looks to best the Connecticut Sun in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces are battling the Dallas Wings for a spot in the finals.
The 2023 WNBA Finals begin Oct. 8 with a best-of-five series between the two remaining victors.
Users who sign up for a new BetMGM Sportsbook account can lock in a special $1,500 welcome bonus to use on the WNBA Finals or any other sporting event. Use the BetMGM bonus code “LINEUPS” and follow the link below to snag the offer.
Women’s Sports Betting Has Seen Year-Long Increase in Popularity
This increased interest in women’s sports betting didn’t begin with the WNBA season, though. Betting on women’s sports is a trend that’s been popular all year.
Women’s college basketball played rise to the first major increase in interest this past March. BetMGM reported a 30% annual boost in betting on the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Moreover, the number of active bettors wagering on the tournament rose by 22% — comparable to the amount of users betting on any given NFL game.
In August, the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup broke records at BetMGM and beyond by becoming the most bet-on Women’s World Cup event in history.
BetMGM also reported a whopping 40% overall year-over-year increase in women’s tennis and golf betting.
Betting on men’s sports hasn’t seen nearly the same uptick. For instance, MLB and NHL betting saw 18% and 25% betting growth.
In addition to the WNBA Playoffs, sports bettors have additional opportunities to wager on women’s sports this fall as women’s soccer continues and women’s college basketball gets underway.
