Jeff Newman of the MARS Maryland 5 Star presented on the impacts of sports betting on the sport of eventing at the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention. He believes that introducing sports betting at the upper levels of the sport can make a significant difference, citing the growth of sports betting in the U.S. and the potential for incremental revenue for states.
Newman highlighted the benefits of sports betting in attracting new attendees to equestrian events and increasing event awareness. The MARS Maryland 5 Star was the first three-day event in the U.S. to offer sports betting, following FEI guidelines and working with state regulations to ensure compliance. The addition of sports betting also drew more media coverage and created more awareness for the event and the sport.
Diarmuid Byrne of EquiRatings emphasized the importance of fan engagement in eventing, suggesting that sports betting can help increase interest and involvement in the sport. He noted that eventing can improve in areas such as creating rivalries, making the sport easy to follow, and providing engaging content. Overall, offering sports betting can enhance the spectator experience and bring new fans to the sport of eventing.
