Retail Betting – How it Works and Where to Do it

To modern gamblers, retail betting is something we can afford to live without. Thanks to the internet, of course. Why opt for retail sports betting or playing the lottery in a designated shop?

When it can be done quicker and more conveniently from an internet-connected device, the advantages of visiting a brick-and-mortar establishment to bet feels rather… pointless.

Still, not everyone would agree with that statement. There are some perks to gambling offline, albeit not enough to convert me back to the old ways. I’m more than content with the top US betting sites providing all my online betting needs.

I’m going to answer a few questions for you guys about what this ancient practice entails. For example, you might have been dying to ask, “What is a retail betting shop?” or “What is retail sports betting?”

If you never quite managed to get your response, today is the day you find out.

Retail betting is not some fancy terminology or esoteric language hiding revelatory information from Joe Public.

It is as it sounds. It involves betting offline, usually at a land-based sportsbook or betting shop. In the United States, there tends to be more of the former. However, if you’ve spent time in Europe or Asia, you might have come across some of the latter.

The same applies to anyone who has enjoyed a flutter on the horses at a racetrack. If you’ve bought a ticket at the likes of Churchill Downs or Belmont Park, congratulations. You’ve engaged in retail betting. Decided to pick up a lottery ticket or scratch card at the gas station? You guessed it.

Essentially, retail betting is when you gamble at premises that are licensed for wagering purposes.

Heading over to Uncle Steve’s in Oakland to throw five dollars down on the Bills to beat the Saints? Not exactly. Unless Uncle Steve has a Californian Gambling License, that doesn’t count.

At this point, you should have a basic idea of what the in-person experience entails.

How would you do it if I handed you twenty bucks and asked you to wager on Liverpool to beat Manchester City in soccer? That depends, doesn’t it? In a country so vast as the US, many people are so far away from a land-based betting operation that it would take hours to do the honors. 

Let’s not forget that not all US states have legalized gambling. Even if you wanted to put that bet down for me, you might have no means of doing so. 

Distance and legality aside, let’s pretend we’re all in the same boat. Here is a reminder of where you can engage in retail gambling.

You might wonder what retail sports betting offers customers now that online sites cannot. Well, something to consider is the social aspect of retail betting.

I know the opportunity to rock up to a sportsbook with my buddies is appealing. Sometimes. For example, the chance to grab a couple of frosty ones and sit back in those comfy leather couches sounds like a great way to kill an hour or two when I’m on vacation.

Again, not everyone will have that choice. To get a clearer picture of your options, here’s a table detailing US states that do and don’t offer retail betting.

Obviously, if you are not within a reasonable distance of a land-based sportsbook or betting shop, perhaps your only option is to play online. And let’s be honest here; there are worse choices!

Not sure about gambling laws where you’re located? Check out this guide to gambling laws and regulation in the US.

As a European, my early exposure to sports betting would have been a bit more “full-on” when compared to the average American.

Growing up, the presence of betting shops on street corners was as natural as the lampposts right above them. Casual betting was super normal, too. Everyone from young men to old ladies would enjoy the occasional flutter.

During our lunch hour, I even placed bets on the Grand National as a 15-year-old with my school friends. That’s not something that would happen today, however!

For the older generations, betting shops were a place to enjoy themselves. For example, my grandfather was a big fan of horses and used to frequent the bookies now and again to place his bets. He was super active for his age and would enjoy the trip.

Before you ask, it’s a no. It wasn’t this absolute legend!

When he would arrive at the betting shop in Dublin, he’d run into some of his friends. They would discuss everything from the trainers at the meeting to the merciless banalities being spat at the screen by legendary pundit John McCririck. 

One of the things those old boys picked up from such conversations, and merely the exposure to the environment, was the complexities of sports betting. These things were learned way back, eventually becoming second nature as they got older.

As retail betting begins to fall into obscurity, is there a danger of this practice dying out? Absolutely not. These days, some educated pundits and tipsters are more than happy to provide you with solid information. Such as what you can read up on in the following article!

7 Tips to Make You a Sharp Sports Bettor

Ever wonder how to become a sharp bettor? Before we answer that question, we have to examine the meaning of a sharp bettor. Sharp bettors are professional bettors who are capable of moving betting lines with their wagers. These people are much different from...

Read More

What is retail betting offering the average customer? That’s the question here. 

The smokey betting shops I remember peeking into as a youth have disappeared faster than a five-dollar note in a sketchy coin dispenser. Society has evolved to a point, especially in places like Europe and Australia, where that social aspect has gone with it. 

I do see some benefits to visiting some sportsbooks, such as those in Vegas. But for the most part, online gambling beats retail betting in almost every aspect you can think of. 

If a picture paints a thousand words, a good table with comparisons does it tenfold.

It should be abundantly clear to all that betting online is much better than doing so in person. If I had to choose one to stick to for the rest of my life, would you really expect it to be anything retail sports betting?

Here’s a thicker rationale to explain things. 

You might have found this article having Googled “retail sports betting meaning.” But you’re still here.

That means there is a chance you are weighing up your options. Having covered the good points and the not-so-good, I’m sure you don’t need me to review everything again. Instead, I will give you some important reasons why online betting beats doing it in person.

Those points above essentially sum up why I will rarely bet in person.

If it’s a social thing, or I’m vacationing, I might drop into a sportsbook or shop for the novelty factor. But you can be sure I’m not walking around looking to place my bets when I can get it done within seconds from my phone. 

There are just too many advantages to betting online these days that there is little need for land-based outlets. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that everything can be done from the comfort of your home and much more efficiently. 

Hate me if you want, but the old-school bookie shops are long gone anyway.

Perhaps the only reason I want to see any brick-and-mortar place survive is because of the staff. But if numbers at land-based casinos are dwindling, you know what’s coming next.

As top sites like BetUS continue to grow, it’s tough to see longevity for the average betting shop. I mean, check out the range of odds and markets on their site and tell me how long it takes to find a wager.

I promised you answers to questions. I want to think I delivered.

We covered everything from “What is retail betting?” to “Are betting shops classified as retail or leisure?” Having weighed up the pros and cons of both sides, it’s clear that there can only be one winner.

If I were to offer sports betting tips on the invariable outcome, I’d recommend backing the favorite.

With all we’ve talked about today, would the idea of “land-based” sportsbooks or casinos make a comeback sound ridiculous?

You’ll notice that I put that I added quotation marks to emphasize a point. No, the traditional brick-and-mortar days are long gone. But pretty soon, we could all walk to sportsbooks and casinos inside the metaverse. That’s if this next evolutionary step in gambling takes off.

Check it out.