Women's College Basketball Witnesses Increased Betting Interests; NCAA Tackles Gambling Issue
Basketball fanatics, especially those who root for long-range shooters, are absolutely hooked on high-flying players like Steph Curry and Caitlin Clark. This obsession doesn't just stop at casual fans staring at their TV screens, but extends to sports bettors as well.
The fascination with Clark's record-breaking shooting abilities and electrifying offensive skillset has ignited a fire among viewers. And as more people flock to catch her in action, betting operators are jumping on the bandwagon. Betting platforms like BetMGM and Caesars have witnessed a staggering increase in wagers on women's college basketball games this season - a whopping 190% increase according to Caesars Sportsbook!
With star players like Clark and powerhouse teams such as Iowa, South Carolina, and LSU taking center stage, sportsbooks are predicting a massive interest in this year's women's NCAA Tournament. In fact, South Carolina, boasting an impressive 32-0 record, is currently the odds-on favorite to bring home the trophy. LSU, the defending champion, and Iowa are both +700 on the money line. UConn, while still a contender, has +1700 odds.
While Clark's dominance on the court has earned her the spotlight, South Carolina has proved to be the most well-rounded team all season long. That said, betting operators are not only focusing on the scrappy Hawkeyes and their sharp-shooting star, but also tempting fate by offering props on when Clark might break her record 538th three-pointer.
DraftKings, for instance, has listed a multitude of props for Clark's three-point tally in the NCAA women's tournament. The odds for when Clark might make her 18th three-pointer in this year's tournament are:
- Clark doesn't break the record: +220
- Elite Eight: +220
- Sweet 16: +330
- Final Four: +550
- National Championship: +1400
Clark averages an incredible 5.2 made threes per contest.
However, the NCAA is walking a fine line with the increasing interest in college sports betting. While sportsbooks are offering props on players in states where it's legal, the NCAA has been pushing states to ban these types of wagers. The NCAA worries about the potential for increased harassment of athletes who miss their various points, assists, or rebounds totals.
States like Ohio, Vermont, and Maryland have legislation in place that bans bettors from wagering in the state if they're found harassing players, coaches, or officials. Similar bills are being considered in West Virginia. Given the potential pitfalls of college sports betting, the NCAA has launched its "Draw the Line" social media campaign to educate student-athletes about the potential impacts of sports betting.
"Sports betting is everywhere - especially on college campuses - so it's critical [that] student-athletes get the real story about how it can impact them and their ability to play," NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a press release. "We know some bettors are harassing student-athletes and officials, so that's why we are advocating for policy changes at the state level and launching monitoring tools around championships to refer serious threats to law enforcement."
While the NCAA is making an effort to better educate players about sports betting, concerns persist about the potential for abuse. Recent events, such as the firing of Alabama baseball head coach Brad Bohannon for passing along insider information, and questionable investigations into college athletes in Iowa, underscore the challenges facing the NCAA as it tries to balance the growth of sports betting with the well-being of its student-athletes.
- The increasing fascination with Caitlin Clark's record-breaking shooting abilities has led to a surge in prop bets on her three-point tally in the NCAA women's tournament, with DraftKings offering various odds.
- Betting on women's college basketball games has spiked this season, with a 190% increase in wagers on BetMGM and Caesars platforms, driven largely by the performances of players like Clark.
- South Carolina, with its impressive 32-0 record, is the favorite to win the women's NCAA Tournament, according to sportsbooks, while LSU and Iowa both have +700 odds on the money line.
- The NCAA, despite the growing interest in sports betting, is concerned about the potential for increased harassment of athletes due to missed points, assists, or rebounds totals, and has launched a campaign called "Draw the Line" to educate student-athletes about the implications of sports betting.
