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Gambling has taken over the world of sports. As states across the country have begun to legalize gambling, leagues are now partnering up with major Canadian betting sites, broadcasts include information about odds and markets, and the influence of the sports betting industry has expanded rapidly. Almost every major league has begun to focus on the revenue that can be generated from betting, and one league looks poised to add itself to the ranks of those focusing on sports betting.
The WWE, or World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., has announced that they are looking into ways to integrate gambling into wrestling. Considering that wrestling is a scripted sport, this will pose unique challenges. But executives seem set on involving gambling in wrestling, and they don’t want to miss out on the massive amount of revenue generated by this burgeoning industry. The question many fans have is, how will this change the sport? Let’s look at some key ways gambling in pro wrestling could change the game.
More Money
In a recent deal, where WWE was sold to the parent company of the UFC, WWE was valued at $9.5 billion. This is a huge amount for the entertainment company, but if gambling becomes involved, the league could be flushed with more cash than ever. Forming partnerships with major betting brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, or Bet365 is a hugely lucrative opportunity, and many different leagues have seen substantial revenue growth thanks to their promotion of sports betting. If the WWE can manage to create a situation where legal gambling is possible, the league could have a bigger budget than ever.
In-Match Gambling Content
If you watch a sporting event in a market where gambling is legal, you might be surprised to see how the broadcasts promote betting. Broadcasters will openly discuss the odds on games, graphics will display markets and betting information, and it overall feels like part of the sport. This could become true for the WWE. Announcers will discuss the betting odds before major bouts, and graphics will show which bets have been cashed throughout the event. It will become part of watching major wrestling matches. While it won’t upstage the excitement, it will be a component of the biggest matches.
Different Storyline Processes
While there is some mystery about how the WWE scripts the biggest matches, things will have to change if gambling becomes legal. For regulators to approve legalized gambling on a scripted event, the WWE will have to embrace change. This change could generate a ton of money for the league, so there is plenty of incentive. The most likely change to the scripting process is that scripts for big events will be finished months in advance. These scripts might need to be seen and approved by regulators and kept highly secure. Betting could take place leading up to the event as the scripts are kept hidden away.
Wrestlers Will be Less Informed
The biggest concern for regulators might be who knows what leading up to a match. If the wrestlers are informed well in advance that they will win a match, what’s stopping them from telling a cousin back home who can place a $10,000 bet on a guaranteed outcome? That means the flow of information to wrestlers will have to be tightly controlled. Executives have said that wrestlers will only be informed of the winners of matches very close to when the match begins. This might lead to a less precise and controlled match, with more margin for disorder.
More Attention for the Sport
Gambling is a huge industry, and there are millions of people around the country that wager on a relatively consistent basis. While the WWE is not starving for attention, integrating sports betting into the league could provide a boost to viewership. There is something very novel about betting on a scripted event, and it would contribute to making the WWE a show unlike any other. If the league can pull it off, they might find themselves connecting with new demographics. At the very least, adding sports betting to wrestling will certainly be a trendy news talking point.
A New Element for Fans to Fixate Over
The WWE has a ravenous group of fans that pay attention to every storyline, every match, and every character’s death. It is a blend of reality TV and sports that is beloved by millions around the world. It is certain that if sports betting is added to wrestling, fans will certainly be paying attention. This will become a new thing for wrestling lovers to focus on. Seeing the release of the favourited wrestlers for the next Wrestlemania will become a tradition, and it is highly likely that sports betting will be mentioned and play a role in storylines. It will add a fun and engaging new element to the sport.
