Colorado Rejects Claim about Contemplating Professional Wrestling Betting
In a shocking twist, pro wrestling may soon collide with legal sports betting! While wins and losses in the ring are pre-scripted, the WWE is reportedly entertaining the idea of letting fans bet on major matches. Sources close to the proceedings claimed that the WWE has met with gambling regulators in Michigan and perhaps Colorado to make this a reality.
Imagine placing a wager on Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the Universal Title at WrestleMania! If successful, this venture would open the door for fans to bet on scripted television events, like who'll take over Waystar Royco in the finale of Succession.
However, the Colorado Division of Gaming has squashed these rumors, stating that they have not considered or discussed allowing sports betting wagers on WWE matches. Michigan, on the other hand, already allows betting on award shows, presumably paving the way for WWE's proposed venture.
But here's the intriguing part - If WWE receives the green light, they intend to utilize accounting firm Ernst & Young to manage the results. The wrestlers themselves would remain in the dark about who'd claim victory until the hours leading up to the matches. Sounds a bit like the enigma Ernst & Young poses when it comes to keeping award winners under wraps!
As of now, WWE and its partners have yet to respond to requests for comments. The Michigan Gaming Control Board, too, has been tight-lipped about the matter, though they do maintain a publicly available Sports Wagering Catalog.
While the notion of betting on a scripted TV show may seem ambitious, with the right mechanisms in place, who knows what the future holds? Stay tuned for updates on this intriguing development!
(Some insights from enrichment data: Michigan is one of the U.S. states that has legalized online sports betting, with several licensed sportsbooks operating there such as FanDuel and Fanatics Sportsbook. In general, legal sports betting in the U.S. is state-based, so WWE or other sports organizations would need to work with state regulators individually to offer legal betting options)
- bookmaker: If WWE receives the green light, they could partner with a bookmaker to manage bets on major matches.
- favorite: As the Universal Title match between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes approaches, fans may start to speculate about the favorite contestant to win.
- sports betting: The sports betting industry could be set for a new turn with WWE's proposed venture in legal sports betting, allowing fans to wager on scripted television events.
- politics and general-news: The future of sports betting in WWE and its impact on the wider television industry might become a hot topic in politics and general news discussions.
