You might be familiar with sportsbooks, which are places you can bet on sporting events such as football, basketball, and baseball. However, there is another type of betting that you may not have heard of – hilo betting. This kind of betting is only available at a select few casinos and has been around for a very long time. It is also one of the most popular types of betting in Asia.
History Of Hilo Betting
Hilo betting actually has a long and storied history that dates all the way back to the 1500s, when it was first developed in Japan. Back then, the practice of hilo betting was used as a form of entertainment at the exclusive Yoshiwara Pleasure District in Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Visitors would place bets on the outcomes of fights, sumo matches, and even ninja battles! The practice eventually made its way to Europe, where it was renamed “Horse-racing” and legalized in 1867.
In the middle of the 20th century, hilo betting in Japan and other parts of Asia fell out of favor as people started to pursue other interests. However, the practice continued to gain popularity in the region, particularly in Macau, which at the time was under British rule. In 2003, a group of entrepreneurs saw the potential for growth in the hilo betting market and opened the first ever legal Chinese sportsbook, called “Dajiǎōrĭ (“Big Leader”). Since then, the popularity of hilo betting and the Dajiǎōrĭ sportsbook have soared, as shown in the graph below.
Key Facts About Hilo Betting
Here is a brief list of some of the things you need to know about hilo betting: