Sunday, June 21, 2026

Betting on Alternative Sports

Drone Racing League

The next off-major sport has hit the betting market.

Bettors can now wager on the Drone Racing League, following its success as a free-to-play pool at the beginning of the pandemic. DraftKings offered the aerial sport during the league’s final races of its season over the weekend, and will have exclusive rights in the future.

According to DraftKings research, 70% of drone racing fans don’t follow the big five sports leagues, but are three times more likely to bet than fans of major sports leagues.

Nontraditional sports shouldn’t be underestimated.

Table tennis, for example, has been among Colorado’s top-five most-bet on sports for several months, jumping to No. 3 in November. But the bulk of bets are still driven by traditional sports.

Colorado saw $231.2 million in total November wagers.

  • NFL: $88 million
  • College Football: $22 million
  • Table Tennis: $12.4 million

Similarly, in New Jersey, $433.3 million of the record-setting $931.6 million bet on sports in November was on football.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Kalshi's logo is displayed on a smartphone placed on a reflective surface onto which a betting curve is projected in Creteil, France, on March 9, 2026, during a major scandal and a $54 million lawsuit concerning bets related to recent strikes in Iran. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE

Kalshi’s Tarek Mansour Talks Giannis, Don Jr., Supreme Court

The Kalshi cofounder discussed critics, CFTC rulemaking, and more.

Why U.S. Open Host Sites Are on a 25-Year Plan

The U.S. Open has already picked out 22 future sites through 2051.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) listens as Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) speaks during a hearing on the “Protect College Sports Act” before the Senate Commerce Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 3, 2026.

Ten Pro Sports Unions Criticize Bipartisan College Sports Bill

“The bill further silences college athletes’ voices on the job,” the AFL-CIO said.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation With WNBA Expansion Team Portland Fire’s GM Vanja Černivec

0:00

Featured Today

Wisconsin Badgers forward Laila Edwards, left, and defender Caroline Harvey celebrate after Edwards scored against the Minnesota Gophers in the first period in a game Saturday, February 8, 2025, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.

Two Rookies Are Rewriting Women’s Hockey Stardom

Their platforms are a mutual boon for the PWHL and its players.
Ai sports slop
June 5, 2026

How Sports Became Ground Zero for AI Slop

The category is the perfect breeding ground for AI content churn.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group A - Germany v Luxembourg - Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - October 10, 2025 Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann
June 4, 2026

‘Weird Corners of the World’: How to Find a World Cup Coach

National associations look for a winning record—and also hope for serendipity.
June 3, 2026

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Switzerland chose schools as their tournament base camps.
Frances Cabral-Delaney
May 29, 2026

How Arsenal Fandom Went ‘Manic’

“People do not become Arsenal fans because it’s easy,” says Zohran Mamdani.
Reuters FILE PHOTO: Kalshi logo appears in this illustration created on April 22, 2026.

Kalshi CEO Downplays Polymarket Rivalry

Tarek Mansour says Polymarket’s scandals risk sullying the entire industry.
Courtesy: Jake Epstein
June 10, 2026

Knicks Run Is New Front in the Kalshi-Polymarket Marketing War

Prediction-market platforms have capitalized on the Knicks’ Finals run.
In this photo illustration, a mobile device displays the Kalshi logo while a laptop displays the webpage of the prediction market platform in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 10, 2026. (Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto)
June 11, 2026

CFTC’s Proposed Rules Won’t Quiet Prediction-Market Critics

Markets tied to physical altercations or referee decisions would be flagged.
Sponsored

Midge Purce Sounds Off on the Trinity Rodman Rule

Midge Purce discusses the Rodman Rule and the future of NWSL.
Fanduel
June 8, 2026

FanDuel Is Latest Gambling Company to Cut Jobs

Sources tell FOS a few hundred people were laid off last week.
Reuters FILE PHOTO: Kalshi logo appears in this illustration created on April 22, 2026.
June 1, 2026

DraftKings Cofounder ‘Loves’ Prediction Markets Despite Attacks

Matt Kalish credits Kalshi with fighting legal and regulatory battles for the entire industry.
May 26, 2026

Trump Decries Prediction-Market Detractors As ‘Scum’

The president’s son is an investor in Polymarket and an advisor to Kalshi.
May 24, 2026

Sportradar Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Illegal Gambling Ties

The suit alleges investors were harmed by shady overseas business conduct.