Legal to bet Wimbledon 2024? Gambling on tennis responsibly
Published:
Jun 28, 2024
The third Grand Slam of the tennis season is already upon us, running through July 14, and the iconic grass courts of the All England Club in London make Wimbledon one of the most iconic sporting events. It also makes it a popular one to wager on, so we’re here to discuss the legality and how to do so responsibly.
How to bet on Wimbledon tennis smartly & responsibly
As mentioned, Wimbledon is such an iconic event that there are sure to be sports fans looking to wager on the event. To help do so smartly and responsibly, we’ve shared a list of tips to keep in mind:
Set limits: It all starts by setting aside an amount of entertainment funds as your bankroll that you are comfortable risking. From there, a general rule of thumb for a responsible unit size, or amount placed on each individual wager, is 1-4% of that amount.
Understand the game: In order to smartly bet on any sporting event, it’s important to understand the rules of the game on which you are wagering. That means the overall format, how it is scored and the variables that can impact results.
Sports betting is a form of entertainment: At the end of the day, sports betting should not be viewed as a method of income, but rather a form of entertainment. Just like paying money to go to a sporting event, sports wagers should be seen in the same light.
Don’t gamble under the influence: Like many things in life, sports betting under the influence of drugs or alcohol should be avoided. Avoiding placing wagers based on emotion is difficult enough, let alone when judgment may be impaired.
Don’t chase losses: No matter how much one understands a sport, losses are inevitable, but it is important to have the mental fortitude not to chase those with emotion in hopes of winning back what was lost. Do not let losses change your strategy from the tips above.
Where can I bet on Wimbledon in the United States?
Location Restrictions
Wimbledon may be a sporting event in England, but we’re here to inform you with where fans are able to wager on the matches in the United States. There are currently 38 locations that have some form of sports betting, with 30 of those offering legal online/mobile sports betting. Those are the following:
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wyoming
With those 30 taken care of, there are still eight states that offer in-person, or retail, sports betting. Those are:
Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin
There are 12 remaining states that don’t offer sports betting of any kind, whether online/mobile or in-person/retail. We’ve listed those here:
California, Texas, Idaho, Utah, Minnesota, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Alaska and Hawaii
Age Restrictions
Along with location restrictions to keep in mind, there are also age restrictions. Most of the 38 locations with some form of legal sports betting have an age requirement of 21 years old, but there are a few in which there are 18- or 19-year-old minimums. Those include:
Kentucky, Montana, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming
While those are notable, that does not mean that 18-year-olds can wager in those states no matter what. For example, some operators within those states may still have an age requirement of 21 years old for their specific platform.
It is also important to keep in mind that even if you are 18, 19 or 20 and from the locations listed above, you will still need to follow the age requirements of other locations should you be there when looking to place wagers.
Is tennis a popular betting sport in the USA?
With Wimbledon being a marquee sporting event in England and three of the four Grand Slams being located outside the United States, tennis is not the most popular sport to bet on the U.S. However, it is also not at the bottom of the list.
As of July 2023, a survey performed by Statista demonstrated that 21.1% of sports bettors preferred to wager on tennis, which trailed only basketball, soccer, football and baseball. For perspective, as of more recently in January of 2024, 60% of sports bettors in England were found to have bet on tennis at least once a month.
Dangers and risks of betting on Wimbledon tennis
As betting on tennis tournaments, such as Wimbledon, grows in popularity, it is vital to understand the risks involved. Of course, wagering on any event comes with inherent risks, but large tennis tournaments only amplify them.
First and foremost, the sheer volume of matches taking place increases the opportunities, which begin with the fact that there are qualifying matches before the true tournament has officially begun. Similarly, Wimbledon is a Grand Slam, which means that the men’s side has matches that are five sets rather than the customary three.
This presents not just more games, but more opportunities to bet live during matches. When it comes to live betting, odds move extremely quickly, which creates far more human error when trying to place wagers.
Furthermore, with Wimbledon occurring in the heat of the summer sports calendar, that means major U.S. sports like the NFL, NBA and NHL are in the midst of the offseason. Their void can generate a desire for sports fans to want to fill that absence with something just for the sake of it, which is not a responsible way to bet, and ties back to our tip about understanding the game.
Problem Gambling Help & Care Resources
Birches Health is here to help those either dealing with addiction or potentially at risk, and is able to offer services remotely through telehealth treatment. The large nation-wide team of licensed professionals can provide their expertise based on the patient’s specific needs and schedule availability.
There are many options for taking an initial step toward help and recovery with Birches Health:
You can also simply call 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com to get in touch directly with the Birches team.
Sources:
Most popular sports to bet on US 2023 | Statista
Statistics & Facts on the Tennis Industry | Statista.
Tennis umpire gets 10-year ban for betting, data manipulation - ESPN
