We don’t want to upset anyone with our definition of fringe sports. We appreciate that most sports, however minor, will still have thousands of fans who will argue until they’re red in the face about how impactful their sport is on the global stage.
So, for the sake of this argument, we’re going to define fringe sports betting options as anything outside the most-watched sports in the US – football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and MLS – and other sports that have significant international audiences – combat sports, rugby, cricket, and tennis.
That’s right—we’re going to explore the niche options and find some of the most unusual fringe sports on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
These range from the more popular fringe sports to those on the periphery of sporting culture in the US, to some that you may have never heard of before.
Table of Contents
Fringe Sports on DraftKings
There are all sorts of weird and wonderful sports out there, sociologists believe that there are thousands of individual sports worldwide.
Let’s explore some of DraftKings’ lesser-known markets and select some of their quirkiest picks and niche offerings.
Cornhole
Although cornhole is pretty popular in the US, it’s not widely known outside of the country. As well as being a fringe sport in America, it is a far lesser-known sport further afield.
The ACL Pro Cornhole Series is the highest level of the game in the US, and you can find outright markets for singles and doubles games in this popular lawn game.
While it might not have the depth of some of the more prominent sports, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cornhole market on many other sportsbook sites – even some of the competitor platforms. So, if cornhole is your game, DraftKings have got you covered.
Jai Alai
Similar to squash and other indoor racket games, Jai Alai is a sport many Americans probably don’t recognize or may have even heard of. Do not worry; DraftKings has and offers several Jai Alai betting markets.
You can bet on the World League matches, including ancillary markets ranging from the correct score to set an outright winner.
Cycling
Yes, we know cycling is something hundreds of millions of people do. However, the actual sport itself, aside from the Tour De France, is the very definition of a fringe sport.
There’s also a much smaller number of people who actually place a wager on cycling. It’s one of many markets that sees a spike in activity during the Olympics, but over a calendar year, it’s unassuming and flies largely under the radar.
It’s not the only cycling betting market on DraftKings, though – the La Fleche Wallonne and the Giro d’Italia also feature. Cycling markets differ from many other sports, with most sportsbooks offering outright race winners – and that’s what DraftKings offers, too.
Snooker
In the US, more people prefer billiards and 8-ball pool rather than snooker, which is traditionally viewed as more of a British or European-style game.
Snooker wouldn’t be considered a fringe sport in the UK as it attracts audiences in the millions and has allowed the rise of some of the top sporting personalities that have ever emerged from the UK.
There are still plenty of markets to be found, though. The World Championship, which takes place every year at the Crucible in Sheffield, England, is the main snooker betting market. However, you can access many bets, ranging from frame props to match props and futures.
Darts
Another UK sport that gets people out in their thousands to stadiums all over the country. It’s slightly different in the US, as we know, and the markets on DraftKings are the UK markets, such as the PDC World Championships.
Darts betting markets are varied, and with match props, 180 props, checkouts, and futures to check out, it’s a fringe sport that’s on the up in the US, and for those who do watch it and would like to place a wager, there’s a broad selection at DraftKings.
Lacrosse
There are certainly more lacrosse players in the US than there are cornball or darts players, but that doesn’t mean it still isn’t eclipsed by the titans of American sport.
It is particularly popular in the Eastern states, with many recently changing their laws and allowing DraftKings and other sports betting platforms to set up their sportsbooks within state lines online for the first time.
The College Lacrosse League and the Premier Lacrosse League are the two prominent lacrosse betting markets at DraftKings.
Volleyball and Beach Volleyball
During the Olympic year, especially in beach volleyball, we can see heightened interest. This is down to more people watching the sport on TV as part of the world’s greatest athletic showcase.
Volleyball is far from a fringe sport globally speaking. However, in the US, it lags behind a lot of other sports—but there are outright markets you can find at DraftKings if you’re a fan of the sport.
Important Info When Betting On Fringe Sports
Although DraftKings has extensive sports betting markets, you shouldn’t bet on any sports you don’t understand or at least have a basic knowledge of.
We’re not saying you need to be an expert diehard fan of every single sport you bet on, but if you get into the habit of placing wagers on sports you don’t watch, this can be the beginning of a slippery slope.
Sticking to markets you understand will help you manage your betting more accurately. Don’t randomly select wagers and lose your money on games, tournaments, and sports you don’t understand; education is essential in all walks of life, not just in sports betting.
Ensuring you are equipped to deal with the basic terminology and rules of a sport before you place a bet should really go without saying.
Responsible gambling can take many forms, but failing to put practices into a place where you don’t stick to monetary or time limits or at least sports you understand are all areas of concern. If you begin to exhibit any other signs of problem gambling, you must seek help from a professional.
Seeing gambling as a source of income, constantly thinking about gambling, and spending money you cannot afford to gamble are all classic signs there’s a problem. It can have devastating, life-changing consequences if you don’t do something about it.
Final Thought
Digital sportsbooks compete with each other constantly, and there is only a finite number of sports that they can offer as betting markets. However, there’s also a balance to be found – if you have markets that are too niche, then it’s not cost-effective to host them on the platform.
DraftKings has a whole host of other markets. Of course, we’ve just covered some of the main fringe sports betting options and some of the more obscure ones.
Understanding the sport is vital, though; you shouldn’t bet on a sport solely because you think it’s an intriguing-looking market or because you haven’t come across that betting market on another platform before – keep your betting light, informed, and within spending limits.
Likewise, take a good bit of time to see what sportsbooks offer and whether there are markets for niche sports or general events that you presumed didn’t exist, like a few of the ones we touched on today.
