Gaelic Games and Betting: How Tradition Fuels Passion
Sports and betting have gone hand in hand for many a year. In Ireland, horse racing is one of the most followed sports in the country and has also resonated especially well with sports betting right up until the present day. The concept of the bookmaker was created at a horse racecourse in Newmarket Heath, England, back in the late 1800s, but Ireland arguably houses the finest stables and trainers in the whole horse racing industry.
However, while the likes of Willie Mullins, Aidan O’Brien, and Jessica Harrington command the greatest respect in that sport, another Irish pastime is still drawing droves of fans to stadiums, parks, and pitches all around the country. The Gaelic games is a collection of sports Irish people hold very close to their heartsand draws the greatest passion out of them.
While the Gaelic games, including Gaelic football, hurling, Gaelic handball, and rounders do not hold the same acclaim as other sports such as football, rugby, tennis, or basketball, the Irish are supremely proud of these sports that are woven deeply into Irish tapestry. The fire and passion displayed by fans of teams across all Gaelic games can be followed in Ireland mainly on RTE and TG4 but there is another medium that is providing an increased amount of Gaelic games coverage, and it is one that is already close to the hearts of many sports fan around Ireland.
Continuation of a favoured pastime
Sports betting is nothing new to the Irish. From horse racecourses to high street bookmakers, Irish sports enthusiasts have long been putting their money where their mouths are and backing their team financially. This is not just a coup for the sports betting industry, but the Irish economy too. It is labelled as tradition to bet on Gaelic football and hurling events, and the betting aspect only adds more fire to the passion displayed in the stands or down the pubs by fans egging their team on to victory.
Greater access to online bookmakers
This activity has gained a greater presence over the past years, with more advertising of online casinos and online bookmakers creeping onto half time television breaks and sponsorship. However, the presence of betting on Gaelic games has also increased massively on online bookmakers. Sports betting on Dolfwin.com highlights how many betting markets on Gaelic football and hurling are covered and displayed to users worldwide nowadays.
Whether it is the All-Ireland Football Championship, Munster Hurling Championship, or the Connacht Club Football Championship, there are markets covering all these competitionson online bookmakers, which also allows Irish sports bettors to place bets quicker and more conveniently. Many online bookmakers are exploiting advances in coding to produce apps for smartphones, which is leading to more fans placing bets even at a live match.
A unique passion for unique sports
Despite the increased presence on online bookmakers, the Gaelic games are very much an Irish sport with little export to the rest of the world. This should not be seen as a negative though. For Irish Gaelic games fans, this aspect only makes the traditional pastime more unique to them. Coupled with another traditional facet of Irish culture, sports betting, the two continue to fuel the passion of sports fans in Ireland and will continue doing so for years to come.