Surprisingly, gambling on the presidential debate in the United States is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to the rise of online gambling platforms that allow betting on a variety of topics.
The site BetUS offered various odds on the debate, such as viewership, the first topic to be debated, and even which state would be mentioned first by the candidates.
When it comes to odds, a negative score indicates a higher likelihood, while a positive score indicates a lower likelihood. For instance, BetUS predicted viewership for the debates to be over 80.5 million with odds of +110 and under 80.5 million with odds of -150.
There are also bets available on what type of tie the candidates might wear.
Although political betting is not legal in any U.S. state, the internet has made it possible for people in countries where it is allowed to participate in betting on various aspects of U.S. politics.
Dr. Timothy Fong, Co-Director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, noted that our society is attracted to drama and conflict.
“The intensity of this election cycle is due to the high stakes involved,” Fong explained. “These two men represent complete opposites, and our society is drawn to conflict and confrontation.”
Fong highlighted that we are drawn to the “absolute,” pointing out that the debates have evolved into political theater, especially in recent years.
Experts studying this trend suggest that while gambling on politics may seem lighthearted, it could have serious implications for the way political discourse progresses.