The international sailing competition SailGP will return to New York Harbor to host the Mubadala New York Grand Prix, where this edition will witness a historic breakthrough—ticket holders will be able to legally bet on the event on-site for the first time. For this purpose, SailGP has reached cooperation agreements with two mainstream sports betting companies, DraftKings and Bet365, to further expand the influence of sailing sports in the sports betting market.
This is also the first time in the United States that live spectators are allowed to legally bet during the SailGP competition. Although betting odds were provided in Los Angeles and San Francisco previously, due to the legal restrictions of sports betting in California, betting has never been legalized.
New Zealand leads the odds for the championship, with Australia as the biggest favorite
According to data released by the DraftKings platform, the New Zealand team's odds of winning this competition are +300, ranking second. In last June's New York event, the New Zealand team stood out in a complex competition environment and achieved a key victory. Sailing champion Peter Burling once described the race as "unpredictable like a game of snakes and ladders," but this did not stop him from leading the New Zealand team to five victories in the 2024 season, becoming the biggest dark horse of the year.
This year, the Australian team is considered the biggest favorite to win the championship, with DraftKings giving it odds of +250. In the entire season's futures market, Australia also leads the odds, followed by the UK (+300) and New Zealand (+350). Last season's champion, the Spanish team, ranks fourth with odds of +400.
The home team, the USA, is listed as an underdog, with championship odds of +6000, reflecting the market's cautious attitude towards its chances of winning.
SailGP enhances data support, may open in-race betting in the future
SailGP was co-founded in 2018 by Oracle co-CEO Larry Ellison and sailing legend Russell Coutts, gathering top sailing teams from four continents and 12 countries. The competition uses F50 high-speed catamarans, which can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. The event has a grand background and rich prizes, with the total prize money for the 2024-25 season expected to reach $12.8 million.
To strengthen its cooperation with the betting industry, SailGP has also partnered with London-based data company Abelson Sports to ensure that the odds design in the betting market is comprehensive and accurate. Abelson will assist in establishing standardized betting types, including race champions, event matchups, and final qualifying teams.
It is worth mentioning that although the event has a wealth of real-time data support—collecting 270,000 data points per second, DraftKings currently does not offer an "in-race betting" option. A spokesperson stated that although the possibility of opening in the future is not ruled out, given the rapid changes in wind force, direction, and boat speed in sailing competitions, the real-time trading system needs to face significant technical challenges.
Wind determines fate, high risk brings high odds
The uncertainty of SailGP sailing competitions stems from their high dependence on natural conditions and rapid tactical adjustments. For example, on the eve of last year's finals in San Francisco, the Australian team's wing sail suddenly broke, causing it to withdraw from the race and miss the championship. Although there were no casualties, the incident fully demonstrated the unpredictable nature of sailing events, also posing higher risks for bettors.
In strong wind weather, teams need to enhance control to cope with high-speed sailing, while in light wind weather, higher demands are placed on the operation of hydrofoil boats. These complex factors bring more betting variables to SailGP betting, also adding tension and excitement to watching the competition.
Betting promotes a new viewing experience, SailGP expands its fan base
SailGP General Manager Andrew Thompson stated that introducing legal sports betting is an important measure for the league to attract more new viewers. "We hope to provide a new way for audiences to participate and immerse through the betting market, while enhancing the event engagement of existing fans," he said.
This cooperation with DraftKings, Bet365, and Abelson Sports not only marks a new stage in the development of sailing sports but also lays the foundation for the future commercial development of SailGP. With the official start of the New York event, this competition that integrates speed, strategy, and luck is gradually entering the vision of more sports betting players.
