Betting on Drone Racing
In the world of betting, things are constantly changing and developing. In case you’ve missed it, drone racing betting has been gaining popularity lately. More and more online bookies are picking up on this new craze. Pinnacle is one of the first companies offering odds on drone racing for bettors from the UK.
This article explains everything for everybody wondering what drone racing is and how to bet. Like with all new stuff, this can be a great opportunity for all the bettors who get in on the ground floor. Many will seek to take advantage of the trend while it’s still in its infancy and hopefully profitable.
Drone racing betting may be new, but it seems it won’t be long before it hits the mainstream. At that point, those in the know will have the upper hand to rake in some nice money.
What is Drone Racing?
These mechanical robots come in all shapes and sizes, are usually remotely controlled, and can be flown around as you like. Some do it just for fun, and others have found more useful applications like filming terrain from the air. Recently, a growing number of people have also gotten involved with drone racing.
With drones being so popular, it didn’t take long for someone to race their drone against someone else’s to see who gets across the finish line first. What started as a small-scale competition among friends quickly became large gatherings at “race tracks.”
These games are now receiving a formal framework and have spawned drone racing tournaments across the globe. Drone owners will gather with their drones and goggles at designated locations, allowing them to see everything from the drone’s perspective (FPV; first-person view). They’ll try to navigate their robots faster than other participants in the race to reach the finish line first.
What Bookies Offer Drone Race Betting?
As of right now, Pinnacle is the only bookie offering odds on drone race betting. The betting giants like Ladbrokes and Paddy Power offer odds on pretty much anything you can imagine, but not drone racing.
It seems they’re staying clear of drone racing for now, but you have to imagine it’s only a matter of time until they catch on. If you take look at our 2023 best Sports Betting Apps guide, you’ll see there are 30 sports covered in general, and that number is always growing.
Uncertain Rules & Regulations
The biggest holdup resides with the fact that is a very new market, and bookies are pretty much in the dark about the finer details of this discipline. Just like you may be wondering how to bet on drone racing, bookmakers are uncertain on how to set the odds.
While it may seem that the bookmaking business is all about gambling it up, these companies are in it to make money, and they can only do this by carefully exploring their options and crafting their offers. It is very hard to do in a discipline with no clearly defined rules and regulations and no real professional teams. Of course, things have been changing and the likes of Ladbrokes are looking into adding drone race betting to their offers.
Pinnacle Offer Odds on DRL
At the same time, Pinnacle seems to be on the other side of the argument. They obviously want to seize the market while it is still fresh, and that’s why they are the only bookmaker around that’ll give you odds on some of the biggest drone racing events.
The bookie is still playing it safe with what events are available for betting, but all the discipline fans out there can find something to get their blood pumping at Pinnacle.
What Drone Racing Events Currently Exist?
Although Drone Racing is a new discipline, there are already quite a few official competitions and tournaments for all enthusiasts to get involved with.
Drone Racing League
The Drone Racing League (DRL) is the most popular formal competition for all drone racers. Hosted by Allianz in cooperation with the likes of Sky Sports, ESPN, and Prosieben MAXX, these events will receive much mainstream coverage. The Allianz World Championship will see six races occur globally, with 16 of the best drone pilots competing for the prestigious title.
Drone Championship League
The Drone Championship League (DCL) is another prestigious series of events for all drone racing aficionados.
In addition to these big leagues, numerous events occur in the UK scattered throughout the year. These attract drone racing enthusiasts from all over the country, eager to compete against the others and see how their metal pets compare when put to the test.
Betting on World Drone Racing Championships
As mentioned, the DRL is the biggest and most recognised competition in the world of drone racing. As such, this was the only event that Pinnacle offered odds for all those looking to bet on drone racing. This year, this will probably be the first event that Pinnacle will also accept bets on.
If you’re wondering how to bet on drone racing and what options will be available, here are some highlights from last year’s offer.
Due to factors already mentioned (a new discipline, many unknown factors), Pinnacle only offered odds on straight-up winners last year. Luke Bannister (Banni UK) was the favourite to win, with odds at 1.95. Zachary Thayer (A_Nub) represented an excellent betting opportunity at 3.46, but with serious potential to threaten Bannister’s dominance. Others included in the offer were Vladimir Meshcheriakov and Dino Joghi.
Pinnacle hasn’t announced plans for betting on drone racing this year, but we expect they will announce it soon. So, if drone race betting is your cup of tea, stay on the lookout as the DCL is just around the corner.
Drone Racing Alternatives
Betting on drone racing is still in its earliest stages, as the sport is only beginning to grow. If you find that there aren’t enough events to watch or bookmakers that cover the sport, there are other options. Given the futuristic nature of drone racing, people betting on eSports can enjoy similar types of events. With much of the action being viewed online, esports adds a wider scope of games and events to bet on.
If racing is the real interest to you, then betting on horse racing or motorsports could also be a great choice.
Writer and betting expert with over 7 years of experience in the industry. Focused on analysis, predictions, and betting strategies when it comes to sports wagering. A big cricket fan in his spare time.