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繁體中文The History of Sports Betting
People have bet on contests for as long as contests have existed. This guide gives a brief history of sports betting up to the online era.
- Wagering on races and athletic contests dates back to the ancient world, where spectators bet informally on competitors.
- Organised fixed-odds bookmaking developed around horse racing and grew into the modern sportsbook, with a margin built into prices.
- It brought sportsbooks online and added in-play betting and cash out, letting people bet during events with constantly updating odds.
Ancient contests
Wagering on races and athletic contests dates back to the ancient world, where spectators bet informally on competitors.
Fixed-odds bookmaking
Organised bookmaking with fixed odds developed around horse racing and grew into the modern sportsbook, with the margin built into prices.
The online era
The internet brought sportsbooks online, then added in-play betting and cash out, letting people bet during events with constantly updating odds.
Integrity and regulation
As betting grew, so did focus on sporting integrity and regulation, to keep events fair and players protected.
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FAQ
Wagering on races and athletic contests dates back to the ancient world, where spectators bet informally on competitors.
Organised fixed-odds bookmaking developed around horse racing and grew into the modern sportsbook, with a margin built into prices.
It brought sportsbooks online and added in-play betting and cash out, letting people bet during events with constantly updating odds.
Last updated: 2026-06-15