The most unusual online sports bets

Usually when you think of sports betting, you think of wagering on popular mainstream sports like

football, horse racing, basketball, or tennis. But the world of sports betting is much bigger and wider than that – and sometimes a little stranger too!

That’s because all around the world, bookmakers offer odds on some of the most unusual sports, turning even the quirkiest competitions into thrilling betting opportunities. If you’ve never heard of cheese rolling or ferret legging before, then you’re in for a wild ride – because we’re about to take a look at some of the more bizarre sports you can actually bet on.

1. Cheese rolling

We weren’t joking – betting on cheese rolling is a real, actual thing. If watching people sprint down a hill after a 9lb wheel of cheese sounds exciting, then get ready to start placing your bets – because

that’s exactly what happens at the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in Gloucestershire, England.

Featuring a treacherous incline, large wheels of cheese and brave competitors (who more often than not end up going head over heels), cheese rolling is exactly what it sounds like – people chasing after giant rounds of cheese in a race to the finish line. It might not sound particularly glamorous, but it’s certainly thrilling – and it’s become one of the latest crazes in online sports betting. Look out for bookmakers taking bets on the race winner – you’ll see odds fluctuating based on past performance, running style, and sheer fearlessness. If you’ve got the guts, you can bet on your own cheese rolling winner – and maybe celebrate with a square of cheddar or Brie afterwards!

2. Ferret legging

If you thought betting on cheese was unusual, then things are about to get a whole lot weirder! Brace yourself for ferret legging – a bizarre endurance sport originally from Yorkshire, England, that involves competitors placing live ferrets inside their trousers and seeing who can last the longest without removing them.

As with all sports, ferret legging has its own rules: ferrets must be fully trapped inside the participant’s pants, and competitors cannot wear underwear or tie off the legs of their trousers. It’s a niche event, to be sure, but it’s also one gaining traction in the sports betting world, with bookmakers offering odds on world records and unofficial competitions. So if you’re looking for a break from your usual online sports bets, ferret legging could be just the alternative you need!

3. Wife carrying

From ferrets up legs to wives on backs, and the internationally recognised sport of wife carrying! Coming to you from Finland, wife carrying is exactly what it sounds like – male competitors carrying their wives (or a helpful stand-in) through an obstacle course with the ultimate goal of being first past the finish line. Obstacle courses are tough enough on their own – add the extra challenge of carrying someone on your back while completing one, and you can see where the thrills (and spills) come in!

Of course, if a sport exists then a betting market does too, which is why if you want to place your bets on wife carrying, then you’re in luck! Many bookmakers now offer bets on major wife carrying events, including the World Wife Carrying Championship (which is legitimate thing), with odds based on past winners, fitness levels, and various carrying techniques (such as the popular Estonian carry, where the wife hangs upside down on the husband's back). On your marks, get set, carry!

4. Bog snorkelling

Why go snorkelling in crystal clear Caribbean waters when you can dunk your head into a murky, muddy bog instead? That’s the sport of bog snorkelling for you – one of the world’s more unusual underwater sports involving a peat bog, a snorkel, and some very enthusiastic participants!

Welcome to the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, an annual event held in Wales that sees contestants making their way through a 120-yard stretch of dense bog water using only a snorkel and flippers. And just to make things more interesting, no traditional swimming strokes are allowed! If betting on bog snorkelling is your vibe, you’ll be able to wager on outright winners, fastest times, and even weather-related odds affecting visibility and water conditions. Here’s hoping no one gets stuck in the mud!

5. E-sports for non-traditional video games

E-sports betting has become increasingly popular over the years, with games like Valorant, CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends and more drawing millions of bets and sky-high engagement. In 2024, the market was valued at a colossal $2.2 billion, with projections estimating a growth of up to $3.2 billion by 2027. All of which makes e-sports one of the world’s biggest betting markets, with no signs of slowing down.

But it’s not all first-person shooter games and multiplayer online battle arenas. Video game tournaments focus equally on more niche games as well, giving bettors an alternative to the usual crowd-pleasers. So if betting on a professional Farming Simulator or Goat Simulator tournament is more your thing, consider yourself in the game! Look around and you’ll find a variety of online sportsbooks covering these lesser-known e-sports events, offering odds on individual players, high scores, and unexpected in-game occurrences too. Ready player one? Let’s go!

6. Extreme ironing

If there’s one task that’s mind-numbingly boring to the extreme, it’s ironing. But now this household chore is getting an adrenaline-fuelled makeover in the form of extreme ironing – and it’s one that you’ll find anything but dull.

Forget ironing in the living room in front of the TV. With extreme ironing competitors go to great lengths to iron in the most bizarre and dangerous locations possible. Think mountains, cliffs and underwater as well, all while making sure clothes are neatly pressed. If you’re into ironing as a spectator sport then this one’s for you! Popular novelty bets include wagers on where the next extreme ironing record will be set or who will claim the title in major competitions. And if you manage to pick up some actual ironing tips along the way, that’s what we call a win-win!

7. Competitive eating contests

As a sport, competitive eating is nothing new. You’ve probably already heard of pie-eating competitions or similar, or maybe you’ve even seen the famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest televised, where participants compete to eat as many hot dogs as they can within a set time frame. It’s exhilarating to watch, but we always wonder, where do the contestants put all that food?

Now something else to wonder about – what type of bet will you place on the outcome? That’s right, competitive eating has become hugely popular with sports bettors over the years, with bookmakers now offering odds on outright winners, over/under lines on how many hot dogs will be eaten, and even prop bets on whether a contestant will get disqualified or not. From burgers and tacos to pies and oysters, there’s every kind of food you can think of, and every kind of bet too. Bon appétit!

8. The Rock, Paper, Scissors World Championship

That’s right, there’s even a championship for simple childhood games too. If you’ve always wanted more of an edge in your Rock, Paper, Scissors games, that’s what the World Championship is for – the ultimate stage on which this game of chance is played.

Is it all about luck though? It would seem not, as many competitors study actual psychological tactics and probability theory to give themselves the edge. To them it’s not about the luck of the draw – there are actual patterns behind it, and whether or not you believe this, it makes watching the sport all the more interesting.

Of course, something as niche as the Rock, Paper, Scissors World Championship hasn’t escaped the attention of bookmakers, which is why you’ll find betting markets that include match winners, total rounds played, and even unusual props like whether someone will throw five consecutive ‘rock’ choices in a row. Also, fun fact, the South Korean group BTS is the official ambassador for the World Rock Paper Scissors Association! The more you know…

9. Quidditch

It’s not just part of the Potterverse, it’s a real live sport too! It’s quidditch, and it’s the game inspired by the Harry Potter series. Get ready for broomsticks, full contact and huge excitement as well, because quidditch is now in the real world, and it’s here to stay.

No need to be a wizard to play – actual official quidditch leagues exist, with the game having become a global phenomenon. And of course, along with its new-found popularity, new betting markets exist too. Whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or just curious about quidditch, you’ll be able to bet on major tournaments, including the Quidditch World Cup, and wager on match outcomes, total goals scored, and even snitch-catching success rates as well. Accio sports bets!

Different online sports bets, the same big thrills

As you can see, there’s more to online sports betting than cricket, rugby or football. There’s wife carrying, extreme ironing and cheese rolling too – not to mention bog snorkelling and ferret legging as well. More than that, there a wealth of other unusual sports to bet on beyond those that we’ve highlighted here (rabbit jumping or underwater hockey, anyone?). All of which just goes to show how rich, varied and exciting the world of sports can really be.

So no matter what your favourite sport is or how eclectic your tastes, know that there’s more than likely a bookmaker out there offering bets on it. Making every day another opportunity to enjoy premium sporting and betting action!