History
Trace the rich history of sports betting from ancient civilizations to the modern regulated industry we know today.
Showing 97-120 of 140 topics
The Affordability Check Controversy
Explore the history and significance of The Affordability Check Controversy in the context of sports betting.
The Rise of Offshore Sportsbooks (1995–2018)
The **Rise of Offshore Sportsbooks (1995–2018)** describes the migration of US sports betting demand to Caribbean and Central American jurisdictions in response to the internet boom and the federal prohibitions of **PASPA**. **Key phases include:** * **The Antiguan License (1990s):** The first fo...
The Pay-Per-Head (PPH) Infrastructure
Explore the history and significance of The Pay-Per-Head (PPH) Infrastructure in the context of sports betting.
The Rise and Fall of 5Dimes
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The WTO Dispute: Antigua vs. United States
Explore the history and significance of The WTO Dispute: Antigua vs. United States in the context of sports betting.
Transaction Laundering and Payment Processing (2006–2015)
Explore the history and significance of Transaction Laundering and Payment Processing (2006–2015) in the context of sports betting.
Black Friday (2011) and the Poker Crackdown
Explore the history and significance of Black Friday (2011) and the Poker Crackdown in the context of sports betting.
The National Continental Line (The Wire Service)
Explore the history and significance of The National Continental Line (The Wire Service) in the context of sports betting.
The Rise of Offshore Sportsbooks (1995-2018)
The **Rise of Offshore Sportsbooks (1995–2018)** represents the era of "grey market" dominance, where internet technology allowed operators to bypass US federal prohibitions on sports betting. Triggered by the internet boom and the restrictions of **PASPA**, operators established themselves in Carib...
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) as a Regulatory Trojan Horse
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) served as a **Regulatory Trojan Horse**, allowing operators to penetrate the US market and acquire millions of customers prior to the legalization of sports betting. Leveraging a carve-out in the **2006 UIGEA** intended for season-long fantasy, companies like **DraftKings*...
The Psychology of the 'Near Miss' in Betting
The **'Near Miss' Effect** is a psychological phenomenon where a loss that closely resembles a win activates the brain's reward pathways (specifically the **ventral striatum**) similarly to an actual victory. Historically rooted in **operant conditioning**, this mechanism is pivotal to sports bettin...
The Role of Official Data Rights Monopolies
Explore the history and significance of The Role of Official Data Rights Monopolies in the context of sports betting.
The Price Per Head (PPH) Industry
Explore the history and significance of The Price Per Head (PPH) Industry in the context of sports betting.
The Rise of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) as a Regulatory Loophole
The rise of **Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)** represents one of the most significant examples of **regulatory arbitrage** in gambling history. Born from a specific exemption in the **UIGEA of 2006** intended for season-long hobbyists, DFS operators compressed the fantasy cycle into a single day, creati...
The Failed DraftKings-FanDuel Merger (2017)
Explore the history and significance of The Failed DraftKings-FanDuel Merger (2017) in the context of sports betting.
The Fantasy Pick'em War: Prop Betting in Disguise
The **Fantasy Pick'em War** represents a critical regulatory clash between licensed sportsbooks and **DFS 2.0** operators (e.g., PrizePicks, Underdog). The conflict arises from the "Pick'em" game mechanic, where users predict **"Higher/Lower"** on athlete statistics against the house, a format mathe...
Peer-to-Peer Betting Exchanges
Explore the history and significance of Peer-to-Peer Betting Exchanges in the context of sports betting.
Skin Betting and Virtual Economies
Skin Betting (c. 2013–2016) was a phenomenon where virtual in-game items from Valve Corporation games (primarily *CS:GO*) were used as a de facto unregulated cryptocurrency for sports betting and casino gaming. Leveraging the **Steam OpenID** and **Web API**, third-party operators built automated bo...
The Evolution of Same Game Parlays (SGPs)
The **Same Game Parlay (SGP)** represents a paradigm shift in sports betting, transforming a wager historically banned due to **correlation risk** into the industry's primary profit engine. Historically, bookmakers rejected single-game combinations (e.g., QB yards + WR touchdowns) because standard p...
The Nevada Monopoly Era (1949-2018)
The **Nevada Monopoly Era (1949–2018)** defines the period where Nevada was the primary, and later the sole, jurisdiction for legal single-game sports betting in the United States. **Key phases include:** * **1949–1974:** Legalization of off-track betting via standalone "Turf Clubs," hampered by...
The Computer Group (1980s)
Explore the history and significance of The Computer Group (1980s) in the context of sports betting.
The Invention of the Point Spread
The **Point Spread** was invented in the 1940s, primarily credited to Chicago mathematician and bookmaker **Charles K. McNeil**. Before this innovation, sports betting relied on fixed-odds moneylines, which stifled liquidity on lopsided matchups. McNeil's system replaced adjusting the *payout* with ...
Key Numbers and Push Frequencies in NFL Betting
Explore the history and significance of Key Numbers and Push Frequencies in NFL Betting in the context of sports betting.
The History of the 'Middle' and Arbitrage
The history of **Arbitrage** and **Middling** in sports betting traces the industry's evolution from manual intuition to high-frequency algorithmic trading. **Key Historical Phases:** * **The Physical Era:** Exemplified by the **1979 "Black Sunday" Super Bowl**, where manual line movements allow...