There’s a reason why NASCAR bosses are thrilled that fans are betting more than ever before on their favorite drivers and teams. And no, not because they are making any money off it directly.
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In fact, that’s a strict no-no. NASCAR rules prohibit drivers from participating in betting activities. It also doesn’t allow teams or drivers to be sponsored by offshore or illegal sports betting entities either.
That doesn’t mean fans can’t have a flutter. And clearly, they’ve been waiting for an opportunity to have a go. After the US Supreme Court made gambling a states’ issue, 38 states and the District of Columbia legalised sports betting.
And every state which made sports betting legal has seen a huge increase in betting on NASCAR events. States like Mississippi, Nevada and Illinois tripled their NASCAR betting volumes year on year. North Carolina, which has a huge NASCAR fanbase, saw NASCAR betting grow 50% in just the first two months after it made online betting platforms legal last year.
And NASCAR is thrilled with this. It is hoping to turn the increased betting interest into better TV ratings and a larger audience for the sport. In a recent interview, NASCAR President Steve Phelps touched on how betting benefits the sport.
“I think betting is a good thing for our sport because it makes it stickier, right? So, if someone has a stake in the game, if you will, or the race… whether they’re betting live or they’re betting ahead of time. I think having skin in the game allows someone to feel part of it. I think that’s what sports betting does,” Phelps said on CNBC.
Joe Solosky, NASCAR’s Managing Director of Sports Betting, admitted last year that they haven’t yet figured out the correlation between betting, TV ratings, and audience count. However, they’re working on several initiatives to establish a connection and take things forward from there.
And it’snot just the sport’s bosses who are excited. Drivers are thrilled too, and for the same reason.
Kyle Busch and Joey Logano extend support to legal sports betting
Kyle Busch stated in an interview last year that sports betting increases the attention on NASCAR and that it’s beneficial for the sport.
“The opportunity for people to go out there and place bets on their favorite drivers or their favorite scenarios throughout the week… I think it’s really awesome. I think it brings more attention to our sport,” Busch had said.
Joey Logano, the defending Cup Series champion, also spoke up on similar lines. However, he urged fans to be cautious too, and be responsible when betting, understanding the risks involved in it.
“I can see how it definitely grows our sport and others. I think that’s why you see it exploding. It’s part of the evolution of sports,” said Logano.
The question now is how the promotion is going to grow the sport by taking advantage of the extra numbers involved in betting while not compromising on its traditions.
