One-X-Two, often abbreviated 1×2, is an expression used in bookmaker jargon to denote an odds selection on a single event in a sports match. For example, it might be used to place a bet on the final score, or the total number of goals scored, in the Football European Championship. In all probability, you’ll hear this term bandied about when reference is made to football matches because most bookmakers consider football to be the biggest sport in the world. In truth, however, the expression is just as applicable to races involving horses or dogs, or any other event that is popularized by sports betting companies. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll use football as an example throughout this article.
Why Are Bookmakers So Interested In Football?
It would be disingenuous to claim that sports betting companies don’t prefer to wade into other areas of sports entertainment, such as baseball or basketball. For that matter, you’ll find many booksmakers offering both American football and soccer (or football, as we know it there) odds. Nevertheless, football, or association football as it’s more commonly known, is by far and away the most popular sport in the world. According to the International Federation of Football Associations (more on this organization later), there are around 284 million active members in roughly 203 countries around the world. That’s roughly 77% of the total world population. Compare that to 125 million members in the U.S.A, which is almost half of the total population. Or to put it another way, more people play football than any other sport in the world. It would seem, then, that sports betting companies see a lot of potential in the world of football. Perhaps it’s because most sports fans are already familiar with the rules of the game, or perhaps it’s because the sport is so popular worldwide that there’s a steady stream of potential customers waiting to place bets on the outcome.
The Evolution Of Sports Betting
For most of the 20th century, sports betting was considered taboo, especially in the United States. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, enacted in 1968, made it legal for bookmakers to operate in the U.S., but it wasn’t until the 1970s that things really started to change. Prior to that, the majority of sports books were found in American casinos, and they generally dealt with American Football and Basketball. It wasn’t until the growth of the modern-day bookmakers that European and other international sporting events started to gain popularity, and today football, or soccer as we know it, is undoubtedly the most popular sport among them all. For decades, only the most avid of sports fans took the time to follow sports outside of their home country. It was only once international television started beaming football matches live around the world that the sport exploded in popularity. Prior to that, most people only followed sports that were played in their home country. It wasn’t until the early 1970s that Mexico (then the runner-up of the World Cup) shocked the world by winning the Cup. Since then, international football has become hugely popular, especially as it became apparent that a few lucky bets could turn a profit.
The International Football Association
In 1921, 11 sports clubs from England, Scotland, and Wales formed the Football Association. One of the main purposes of the organization was to create an internationally-based championship that would be open to all countries. For the next 82 years, the English, Scottish, and Welsh clubs dominated the organization, with the Football Association itself, originally based in England, controlling the rules and regulations of football around the world. In the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, a flag bearing the image of the Football Association was flown alongside the Olympic flag. The International Football Association became the International Federation of Football Associations in 1927, and since then it’s been actively pursuing the development of football worldwide. In fact, the organization’s headquarters are currently located in Zürich, Switzerland.
The Role Of Technology In Modern-Day Sports Betting
For the majority of the 20th century, sports betting was considered an “inexact science,” and it was believed that only the most experienced and skilled sports handicappers could make accurate predictions. It wasn’t until the dawn of the 21st century that things started to change. Today, technology plays a crucial role in all sports, not just football, and it’s altered the way people think about sports betting. For one thing, sports betting companies are able to keep close tabs on the odds of all major sporting events, thanks in part to technology. It also allows them to provide customers with a greater degree of confidence in their predictions. After all, if they can access the odds of an event, they can at least attempt to predict the outcome with a degree of accuracy that would make even the most experienced and skillful of handicappers proud.
Bookmakers Vs. Tote Board
In most cases, a bookmaker and a tote board operator don’t really have too much in common. Typically, a bookmaker is in the business of taking bets from individuals, while a tote board operator generally handles races and acts as an agent for various horse racing organizations. However, there is one major area where they are similar: they both need favorable odds to make a profit. The chief difference is in the way that they make that profit. A bookmaker typically takes a commission for placing a bet, while a tote board operator generally charges an overhead fee for providing the betting services. It’s no wonder, then, that many bookmakers have started to experiment with tote board technology, and in some cases, have even fully integrated it into their businesses. The fact that many bookmakers have started toying with the idea of providing betting services through a mobile device, such as a smartphone, only serves to highlight how technology has changed the way customers want to do business with brands.
It’s also important to note that in some parts of the world, the law prohibits bookmakers from operating, so mobile sports betting may be the next best thing. In the U.S., for example, bookmakers are currently facing legal challenges from various racing organizations, as well as state governments, who are arguing that the industry has a built-in advantage over the average Joe, and that the industry itself is ripe for corruption. In Germany, the DFB, or Deutscher Fussball Bund, a German-based organization that promotes football throughout the world, recently passed a law banning professional football betting, effectively barring bookmakers from operating in Germany. It’s yet to be seen how the law will play out, but it won’t be long before German bookmakers, like their English and Swiss counterparts, start looking into mobile sports betting, as a way to stay in business.
Some History
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and revisit some of the biggest events in football history, and how they may have influenced the future of sports betting. The first major international football tournament was the 1890 World Cup, which was won by England. That was 47 years before the first modern-day bookmaker opened its doors. Back in those days there were no computers, and the world of football was entirely different. Playing the match was the only way to find out who was the best, and the best way to find out was by watching and following the results. It was only until the early years of the 20th century that things started to change. In the 1910s, radio broadcasts of football games grew increasingly popular, leading to the formation of the Football Association in 1921. That was 65 years after the first major world championship tournament, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that things started to really take off. Prior to that, most people didn’t have access to a television set, and relied on radio broadcasts, which were often heard, but rarely seen. International competition started to become popular, mainly because of the increasing number of teams, and the way that the games started to grow in popularity, due, in part, to the rise of professional sports leagues.
What Does The Future Of Sports Betting Hold?
In 2018, the sports betting industry was valued at around US$16 billion. That’s an increase of almost 41% from 2016, and it seems that the future of sports betting is very much alive and well. More and more people are taking the time to follow sports, especially football, and as a result, the industry is growing rapidly. Whether it’s the NBA, the NCAA football, Australian Rules Football, or even cricket, being a sports fan today is very much acceptable, and even fashionable. In many cases, being a fan has become a way to identify with a team, and follow their fortunes, regardless of whether you actually like the game or the sport.