Unique Sporting Events

I’ve seen sports books offering to take bets on a wide range of sports besides the big money stuff like NFL or Premier League. Things like badminton or lacrosse. But I’m wondering if there are places where you can bet on the really weird niche stuff like snail racing or Fat Bear Week.

If there was an unusual thing I would guess you could bet on someplace (and I would bet on it myself!) it's hobbyhorse equestrianism. They do that in Finland and it has been catching on in other places.



It's pretty cool. It's like you're riding a horse, but you're also the horse, but you still have a horse. And you do the horse things with the horse, but you're doing them and not the horse. But you still have a horse.

Does that make any sense?

No. But neither did curling the first dozen times I watched it. For that matter, my wife still, after 47 years in the US, still can’t believe football has any rules that make sense.

I can't think of any sport that changes its rules as much/frequently as football.

Quote: gordonm888

I can't think of any sport that changes its rules as much/frequently as football.
link to original post

I assume you mean American football, as opposed to soccer - and, in fact, it is the only NCAA sport where its rules committee has to meet every year, as opposed to every other year.

In fact, the CFL has just announced a number of rules changes to be implemented over the next two years, to make it more like American football while still keeping it unique (it will still have 12 players on the field per team, a 65-yard-wide field, and 3 downs instead of 4 to get 10 yards).

Quote: gordonm888

I can't think of any sport that changes its rules as much/frequently as football.
link to original post

I don't know this to be true so my assumption would be most revolve around safety and
conduct due to the amount of players on the field and the violent nature of the game.

Quote: rainman

Quote: gordonm888

I can't think of any sport that changes its rules as much/frequently as football.
link to original post

I don't know this to be true so my assumption would be most revolve around safety and
conduct due to the amount of players on the field and the violent nature of the game.
link to original post

Since 1960: the length of the season has gone from 12 games to 14 to 16 to 17
The rules for pass interference have changed multiple times to help the passing game.
The rules for a kickoff have greatly changed multiple times.
The rules for personal foul against a quarterback have changed greatly to protect the quarterback
The rules for an onside kick have just changed greatly, dependent upon the amount of time left in the game.
Targeting has become a new foul involving suspension.
The 10 second run-off after an offensive foul in the last two minutes of the game has been created.
Celebrating by players is now allowed, as long as it is not excessive or taunting.
Time outs can now be declared to be only 30 seconds by the referees dependent on . . . what?

I imagine there are more rule changes; these are just the ones off the top of my head.

Quote: gordonm888

Time outs can now be declared to be only 30 seconds by the referees dependent on . . . what?
link to original post

I always thought each team could designate a timeout as 30 seconds, but I looked it up in the rules; a timeout is 30 seconds if it is not also a "TV timeout." There is nothing in the rules that indicate how many TV timeouts per quarter there are; that may be up to an agreement between the league and whoever is broadcasting the game.

I’m surprised there are none of the major sites that cover PBA bowling.

Quote: linksjunkie

I’m surprised there are none of the major sites that cover PBA bowling.
link to original post

I think it’s occasionally on Fox Sports? The top 20 earners on the PBA tour last year earned less combined than the 250th highest paid NBA player. (The 174th highest paid NBA player makes $10,000,000)

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: linksjunkie

I’m surprised there are none of the major sites that cover PBA bowling.
link to original post

I think it’s occasionally on Fox Sports? The top 20 earners on the PBA tour last year earned less combined than the 250th highest paid NBA player. (The 174th highest paid NBA player makes $10,000,000)
link to original post

There is a lot of money bet on the PBA but it seems more internal. When the Garden City Bowl had a stop on the pro tours, there were big money games set up alongside the official tournament.

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: linksjunkie

I’m surprised there are none of the major sites that cover PBA bowling.
link to original post

I think it’s occasionally on Fox Sports? The top 20 earners on the PBA tour last year earned less combined than the 250th highest paid NBA player. (The 174th highest paid NBA player makes $10,000,000)
link to original post

Yes. It is on TV regularly once the season gets going. Just a little surprised none of the gambling sites have any kind of action on the sport.

Yes I know many don’t consider it much of a sport. But trying throwing 40-50 games over a 3-4 day period and see how you physically feel. These guys are definitely athletes.

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: rainman

Quote: gordonm888

I can't think of any sport that changes its rules as much/frequently as football.
link to original post

I don't know this to be true so my assumption would be most revolve around safety and
conduct due to the amount of players on the field and the violent nature of the game.
link to original post

Since 1960: the length of the season has gone from 12 games to 14 to 16 to 17
The rules for pass interference have changed multiple times to help the passing game.
The rules for a kickoff have greatly changed multiple times.
The rules for personal foul against a quarterback have changed greatly to protect the quarterback
The rules for an onside kick have just changed greatly, dependent upon the amount of time left in the game.
Targeting has become a new foul involving suspension.
The 10 second run-off after an offensive foul in the last two minutes of the game has been created.
Celebrating by players is now allowed, as long as it is not excessive or taunting.
Time outs can now be declared to be only 30 seconds by the referees dependent on . . . what?

I imagine there are more rule changes; these are just the ones off the top of my head.
link to original post

I think this is true of pretty much every sport, and you seem to be mixing college and pro together. (number is games clearly refers to the NFL, not that that's really a rule of the sport, while targeting clearly refers to NCAA since there is no such thing in the NFL).

I'm sure that a fan of any sport could list a lot of rule changes in their sport since 1960 (that's really a long time ago). For example, in the NHL:

- elimination of the 2-line pass
- making a race for icing a race to the faceoff circle rather than a race to the puck
- addition of the trapezoid
- addition of the instigator rule
- elimination of the 3-fight rule
- addition of the embellishment rule
- addition (and subsequent elimination) of the stick-curve-measuring rule
- addition (and subsequent elimination) of the toe-in-the-crease rule

And that's all since 1990.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

Quote: gordonm888

Time outs can now be declared to be only 30 seconds by the referees dependent on . . . what?
link to original post

I always thought each team could designate a timeout as 30 seconds, but I looked it up in the rules; a timeout is 30 seconds if it is not also a "TV timeout." There is nothing in the rules that indicate how many TV timeouts per quarter there are; that may be up to an agreement between the league and whoever is broadcasting the game.
link to original post

I would agree that there are contractually a set number of TV timeouts.

What I've seen at NFL games is that there is a guy on the home team sideline who wears what looks like day-glow orange oven mitts. I assume he is with the broadcast team, or at least gets his cues from them.

After every score/change of possession, the ref will glance at the oven mitt guy who will either cross his arms over his chest, signaling a TV time out, or he will give the 'windmill' signal with his arm, signaling no TV timeout.

Quote: SkinnyTony

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: rainman

Quote: gordonm888

I can't think of any sport that changes its rules as much/frequently as football.
link to original post

I don't know this to be true so my assumption would be most revolve around safety and
conduct due to the amount of players on the field and the violent nature of the game.
link to original post

Since 1960: the length of the season has gone from 12 games to 14 to 16 to 17
The rules for pass interference have changed multiple times to help the passing game.
The rules for a kickoff have greatly changed multiple times.
The rules for personal foul against a quarterback have changed greatly to protect the quarterback
The rules for an onside kick have just changed greatly, dependent upon the amount of time left in the game.
Targeting has become a new foul involving suspension.
The 10 second run-off after an offensive foul in the last two minutes of the game has been created.
Celebrating by players is now allowed, as long as it is not excessive or taunting.
Time outs can now be declared to be only 30 seconds by the referees dependent on . . . what?

I imagine there are more rule changes; these are just the ones off the top of my head.
link to original post

I think this is true of pretty much every sport, and you seem to be mixing college and pro together. (number is games clearly refers to the NFL, not that that's really a rule of the sport, while targeting clearly refers to NCAA since there is no such thing in the NFL).

I'm sure that a fan of any sport could list a lot of rule changes in their sport since 1960 (that's really a long time ago). For example, in the NHL:

- elimination of the 2-line pass
- making a race for icing a race to the faceoff circle rather than a race to the puck
- addition of the trapezoid
- addition of the instigator rule
- elimination of the 3-fight rule
- addition of the embellishment rule
- addition (and subsequent elimination) of the stick-curve-measuring rule
- addition (and subsequent elimination) of the toe-in-the-crease rule

And that's all since 1990.
link to original post

regarding the "targeting rule" it was first adopted by the NFL in 2008; college football subsequently adopted it. The NFL targeting rule has continued to change; incidental contact to the head is now no longer considered targeting. College football continues to interpret contact to the helmet as targeting, I believe.

I no longer follow the NHL so I found your list of rule changes interesting. I would hope others might provide lists of rule changes for baseball and basketball, golf, etc.

The reason I included the addition of more games in an NFL season is because it makes seasonal accomplishments almost meaningless; such as rushing yards in a single season.

Quote: linksjunkie

Quote: SOOPOO

Quote: linksjunkie

I’m surprised there are none of the major sites that cover PBA bowling.
link to original post

I think it’s occasionally on Fox Sports? The top 20 earners on the PBA tour last year earned less combined than the 250th highest paid NBA player. (The 174th highest paid NBA player makes $10,000,000)
link to original post

Yes. It is on TV regularly once the season gets going. Just a little surprised none of the gambling sites have any kind of action on the sport.

Yes I know many don’t consider it much of a sport. But trying throwing 40-50 games over a 3-4 day period and see how you physically feel. These guys are definitely athletes.
link to original post

I wonder if the issue is that a sport based on individuals, rather than teams, would be too easy to fix. The same could be said for golf but I would guess that the players can win so much prize money that it wouldn’t tempt them to throw a match. I assume pro bowlers don’t make nearly as much as the golfers do.

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: SkinnyTony

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: rainman

Quote: gordonm888

I can't think of any sport that changes its rules as much/frequently as football.
link to original post

I don't know this to be true so my assumption would be most revolve around safety and
conduct due to the amount of players on the field and the violent nature of the game.
link to original post

Since 1960: the length of the season has gone from 12 games to 14 to 16 to 17
The rules for pass interference have changed multiple times to help the passing game.
The rules for a kickoff have greatly changed multiple times.
The rules for personal foul against a quarterback have changed greatly to protect the quarterback
The rules for an onside kick have just changed greatly, dependent upon the amount of time left in the game.
Targeting has become a new foul involving suspension.
The 10 second run-off after an offensive foul in the last two minutes of the game has been created.
Celebrating by players is now allowed, as long as it is not excessive or taunting.
Time outs can now be declared to be only 30 seconds by the referees dependent on . . . what?

I imagine there are more rule changes; these are just the ones off the top of my head.
link to original post

I think this is true of pretty much every sport, and you seem to be mixing college and pro together. (number is games clearly refers to the NFL, not that that's really a rule of the sport, while targeting clearly refers to NCAA since there is no such thing in the NFL).

I'm sure that a fan of any sport could list a lot of rule changes in their sport since 1960 (that's really a long time ago). For example, in the NHL:

- elimination of the 2-line pass
- making a race for icing a race to the faceoff circle rather than a race to the puck
- addition of the trapezoid
- addition of the instigator rule
- elimination of the 3-fight rule
- addition of the embellishment rule
- addition (and subsequent elimination) of the stick-curve-measuring rule
- addition (and subsequent elimination) of the toe-in-the-crease rule

And that's all since 1990.
link to original post

regarding the "targeting rule" it was first adopted by the NFL in 2008; college football subsequently adopted it. The NFL targeting rule has continued to change; incidental contact to the head is now no longer considered targeting. College football continues to interpret contact to the helmet as targeting, I believe.

I no longer follow the NHL so I found your list of rule changes interesting. I would hope others might provide lists of rule changes for baseball and basketball, golf, etc.

The reason I included the addition of more games in an NFL season is because it makes seasonal accomplishments almost meaningless; such as rushing yards in a single season.
link to original post

But there is no "targeting" in the NFL. At least it's not called targeting like it is in college.

In college there are actually two types of targeting (which is confusing) but the penalties are the same. One is against a "defenseless player"; the other is against any ball carrier.

Against a regular ball carrier, targeting is specifically a hit that's initiated with the crown of the helmet (it has to be the crown). This is similar to the old "spearing" rule in the NFL. I'm not sure if that still exists in the NFL; I haven't seen it called in probably 20+ years.

Against a defenseless player, any forceful hit to the head is targeting. This is also a penalty in the NFL but they bundle it into unnecessary roughness; it's not a separate penalty like it is in college. You could argue that this is just semantics though.

RE: hockey, specifically the elimination of the 2-line pass significantly changed how the game is played. I would say that it's at least as major as the NFL introducing the 2 pt conversion; maybe more so.

FWIW most leagues have added more games over time. More games = more money. Way back in the day, the NHL season was 40 games; now it's 82. Also, one major one that I forgot to mention in the NHL is that they eliminated ties in favor of shootouts and started awarding one point for an OT (or shootout) loss. This vastly changes single-season team point totals (ties were common, because OT is only 5 minutes, unlike in the NFL where it's an edge case). They also made regular season OT 3-on-3 which is the worst rule ever. It would be like having NFL OT be decided by 7-on-7 flag football.

I'm sure that a lot of baseball fans feel similarly about the automatic base runner in extra innings and the limitations on defensive shifts.

The football rules change that I inadvertently left off my list is OVERTIME.

In the NFL: originally a TIE game had no overtime. Then they administered a single 15 minute period, with winner being first team that had a lead. Then they changed it so that a field goal on the initial possession was not sufficient to automatically win. Recently they reduced the length of the overtime period to 10 minutes.

In college, the changes have been more radical. Originally, no overtime. Then they instituted the system with short overtime periods in which each team had one possession starting on the opponent's 25 yard line. Now only the first two overtime periods are like that; starting with the third overtime period each team runs one play from the opponent's two yard line, similar to a two point conversion attempt.

Quote: gordonm888

The football rules change that I inadvertently left off my list is OVERTIME.

In the NFL: originally a TIE game had no overtime. Then they administered a single 15 minute period, with winner being first team that had a lead. Then they changed it so that a field goal on the initial possession was not sufficient to automatically win. Recently they reduced the length of the overtime period to 10 minutes.

They changed it again this year. Now a TD on the first person is also not sufficient to win. They have been doing this for the playoffs for a few years now but they are doing it like that for the regular season.

I think my point is just that every sport changes their rules pretty often; I don't think football is exceptional here.

One that I forgot for hockey is the automatic delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass.

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

If there was an unusual thing I would guess you could bet on someplace (and I would bet on it myself!) it's hobbyhorse equestrianism. They do that in Finland and it has been catching on in other places.

It's pretty cool. It's like you're riding a horse, but you're also the horse, but you still have a horse. And you do the horse things with the horse, but you're doing them and not the horse. But you still have a horse.

Does that make any sense?
link to original post

Thats kinda creppy bro.

Would it be more or less creepy if, instead of young girls, it was old farts competing?