As eSports betting continues to change the betting scene, one niche that is slowly picking up speed is the betting on iRacing. Reputedly a “virtual NASCAR” in their character, iRacing provides a massive-scale, accurate simulation of traditional motorsport, rendering in-the-wild vehicle operators, venues, and decorated racing types. However, can you bet on iRacing at the various online sportsbooks? Let’s break it down.
What is iRacing?
iRacing is one of the most sophisticated racing simulators on the planet, played by casual gamers and professional drivers alike. The game hit its stride during the real-world NASCAR and IndyCar event cancellations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with top-tier drivers racing each other virtually. In the years following, iRacing has cemented a stable niche within the esports environment.
The races are super realistic with recreated tracks and physics. Those taking part are often professional drivers or able sim racers, which gives it credibility (and adds to excitement) for bettors.
Is iRacing Betting Legit?
Yes! You can 100% bet on iRacing at certain online sportsbooks. While perhaps not as popular as League of Legends or Counter-Strike betting, there are iRacing markets currently being offered through the bigger esports-focused betting platforms and even some traditional sportsbooks. There are iRacing betting markets from some big-name sites, including DraftKings, BetGM, and FanDuel, which offer a range of wagers from single races to series futures. In addition, esports betting sites offering odds on your favorite games have expanded their coverage to include iRacing events, giving fans even more options to get involved.
What Types of iRacing Bets Are Available?
The equivalent of motorsport betting is to be found in whatever you fancy betting on live in reality, with iRacing offering a handful of bet types, followed by;
- Race Winner – Pick the winner of a race outright.
- Podium Finish — Wager whether a driver will earn a top 3 finish
- H2H – Pick who will place higher of the 2 drivers
- Top 5/Top 10 Finish — This is whether a driver will finish Top 5 or Top 10 in their car, respectively.
- Championship Futures – Bet to win a certain league or series.
They are similar to NASCAR or Formula 1 betting markets, so they should be relatively easy to extrapolate for racing fans and traditional sports bettors alike.
Why Bet on iRacing?
Realism: iRacing events are realistic enough that betting on them visibly feels real. You aren’t just playing the odds on RNG — tangible racing skill, tire wear, weather conditions, and pit strategies drive these races.
Betting Edge: With iRacing betting still in its infancy, sharp bettors can often have the edge when they do their research on drivers, track records, and the small nuances of sim-racing that oddsmakers may miss.
Seasonless: iRacing holds events and series year-round, which means that bettors do not have to wait for offseason races.
Be certain that the platform you choose has a license where you are, and be aware of whether betting on iRacing is legal in your area. Legalities are based on location. iRacing bets may also be included with motorsports betting, and U.S. betting laws vary by state.
Final Thoughts
Betting on iRacing has yet to hit its peak, but we look at the types of betting lines available now and why it makes for an exciting niche for betting fans in all kinds of motorsports and esports. Now is a good time to catch a piece as the texture of competition becomes real, events happen all year, and more online sportsbooks come through to support it. Whether you have a burning love of motorsports or are simply seeking another wagering avenue to fill the peculiar void in your heart, it seems time for iRacing to find a lane in the betting space.
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