WNBA betting the rage, with viewership, wagering on the rise

If you thought that sports betting was bad for sports, think again.

The WNBA has seen a 27 percent increase in betting year over year (YoY) at BetMGM Sportsbook, substantially larger than MLB, which came in at just 18 percent.

Sports leagues are constantly looking for new ways to engage fans in their respective sports.

It seems as though betting is becoming a new route to do so.

Women’s tennis and women’s golf also saw big increases, 40 percent YoY, in betting on these growing sports.

Basketball saw that growth translate directly to viewership, as the 2023 NCAA women’s tournament drew nearly 10 million viewers for the final game between Iowa and LSU—up 103% from the previous year, according to Nielsen.

Betting saw a similar increase, although not quite as large, as MGM reported a 30 percent increase in handle compared to last year’s tournament. Active bettors made a jump to 22 percent.

Of course, none of this would be a reality if not for Iowa star Caitlin Clark.

Clark unapologetically pulled up for transition 3’s at will during her tournament run, averaging 31.8 points, 5.3 3-pointers made on 42.7 percent shooting

Clark is eligible for the 2024 WNBA Draft, in which she figures to be a top draft pick.

BetMGM also reported that The WNBA has seen a 27 percent increase in betting year over year (YoY) at BetMGM Sportsbook, substantially larger than MLB, which came in at just 18 percent.

On Tuesday, the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart won an extremely tight WNBA MVP award.