New Study: More Women Are Betting On Sports

Back in the day, the man of the family would sit back in his recliner on Sunday afternoons and watch football. Meanwhile, his wife worked in the kitchen preparing Sunday dinner. Those days are long gone. Not only has watching football become an activity that both men and women enjoy, sports betting is increasing in popularity with both genders. Why? Well, it doesn't hurt that sports betting has become legal in more than 30 states. Furthermore, betting on sports has become easier with plenty of different apps to choose from. In fact, a new study reveals that more women are betting on sports. Of course, that's good news for Las Vegas casinos.

In 2022, Global World Solutions conducted a study on the rise in popularity for sports betting in America. In effect, their research shows that the addition of legalized gambling in many states is increasing sports betting. Furthermore, the advent of wagering apps on smart phones and computers has led to a surge in the number of women betting on sporting events.

As a matter of fact, "more than 4.6 million women joined sportsbook betting apps in 2021, with female user rates growing 115% over 2020." That's pretty astounding, even though "the number of male users still exceeds females by 250%." Those figures are per the 2022 study which you can find on GWSolutions.com.

Moreover, the data goes on to show that the demographic with the largest rate of sportsbook betting app usage is 25-44 year-olds. Unfortunately, none of the Las Vegas casino betting apps were in the top three in new subscribers during 2021. Specifically, FanDuel brought in the most new women subscribers in 2021. DraftKings comes in second. Then, BetRivers, along with their New Jersey outlet SugarHouse, rank third.

Incidentally, the number of sportsbook betting app users almost doubles during every NFL season, according to the study.

If you are one of the many women who have joined in on this latest trend, then best of luck with all of your wagers. Game on!

(Updated 1/9/2024)

There are a few things that simply go hand-in-hand with the Thanksgiving holiday. Obviously, there's turkey, eating until you need stretch pants, and football. To celebrate the many Thanksgiving football traditions across the country, we've ranked the five most common games you will find.

Before we start, let's be clear: any football on Thanksgiving is acceptable. The game serves as the pre-meal event and the post-meal "I need to sit down and not move for a little bit" time period. However, even before Thursday, the holiday often kicks off with a football game. Whether you are in your hometown or watching a prime-time game on TV that is taking place across the country. On Thanksgiving week, one thing about the sport is for certain.

For those who celebrate with friends or family, the Thanksgiving holiday often means a return to your hometown. Many regions have capitalized on this and scheduled their big market football game to take place either Wednesday or Friday night in order to make it available to all those in town.

On the collegiate level, it's common to find a few major in-state rivalry games that take place as the Thanksgiving game. It's one of the more intense battles of the year, given all the fans have such respect for their home state but despise the school there that they did not go to.

Then, there's the NFL. You always know the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are playing on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions will get the day going with the early game, and the Cowboys always get that late afternoon game that is often accompanied by a power nap. Nowadays, we get also get a nightcap game that alternates teams each year.

Still, with all the football fun already mentioned here, there's another Thanksgiving game that sits above the rest. So, let's dig in. Here are the most common Thanksgiving football games ranked down from five to one.

Bear with me here. The challenge with this game is that the Cowboys rarely have a great matchup on Thanksgiving. For example, last year they played a mediocre (at best) New York Giants team. This year, they play the Washington Commanders, who are currently 3-5. Leon Lett's infamous snow fumble vs. the Miami Dolphins may still be the most memorable Cowboys Thanksgiving Day football moment. That was 1993.

When you come home from college for the holiday the first public appearance you can't wait to make is at your alma matter high school game. Often this matchup is against a local rival or bordering town. The game might even be one-sided but it signifies being home, roaming your old stomping grounds, and seeing people you haven't connected with in long time. Maybe you don't even pay attention to the game, but it is still the place to be in town.

In certain college markets, college football reigns king. Granted there is no NFL team in the state, but nonetheless, certain games mean more than others regardless of your record. Ole Miss vs. Mississippi is one of them. This has become one of college football's great traditions where these two major programs face off on Thanksgiving Day. They switch each year who serves as the host. Bragging rights and massive amounts of pride are on the line. This year, the game takes place in Starkville (Miss. State) at David Wade Stadium. It has a lot to live up to, with last year's battle being a 24-22 game, that saw the Bulldogs beat the Rebels (both with a 8-4 record).

Because Barry Sanders. That's why. For years, this game was the one opportunity for the world to see #20 do what only #20 could do. Spin, flip, and dance his way through tackles, causing defenders ankles to roll all over Ford Field. Sanders tapped out of football early. He rarely got the chance to be on national platform due to the team being so poor. However, on Thanksgiving, on a national broadcast, Sanders (sometimes at the call of John Madden) would wow us all. Now, another inspiring personality in coach Dan Campbell is the face of the Lions. Campbell represents hard work, grit, and the American Dream that all deserve to be inspired by on Thanksgiving Day.

Much of this feature focuses on high-profile games that include professional players. Nowadays, even some college players are branded as millionaire entertainers and influencers. However, that traditional pick-up game you play within your own community takes our number one spot. Whether you are returning to the town you grew up with to play an annual game of two-hand-touch, or forming a new game in town you just moved to, there's something unspoken and special about neighborhood Thanksgiving football game. You hop a rusty fence wearing an oversized jersey down to your knees. Either your teams are set way in advance or they are spur-of-the-moment, decided by a quick game of rock, paper, scissors. Then, you're either covered in dirt or sliding all over the grass because you wore sneakers. You never know who is going to win, but you do know, you will be laughing from start to finish.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

Follow us: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram