Sports Betting and Inflation – What Every Bettor Needs to Know in 2025

Inflation has to be one of the most commonly used words in 2025. Prices are up, budgets are tighter, and the cost of living seems to climb month after month. That said, inflation doesn’t just affect essentials; it also impacts how people spend their leisure money. This includes sports betting.

We at Nostrabet.com believe that wagering on your favourite team is more than a pastime – it is a thrill. It can also be a habit, and some people may use it as a side hustle. Sadly, some people are not sure what to do when the prices are soaring and believe that bookmakers could change their behaviour in response to it.

While this is true up to a point, this article will focus on the relationship between inflation and sports betting. Let’s analyse how it affects your bet size and everything else you need to know.

What is Inflation and Why It Should Matter to Bettors

Regardless of what you do, inflation is one of those things that affects you one way or another. But what is inflation actually? 

• Inflation is a general increase in the prices of goods and services over a specific period of time. In other words, your purchasing power decreases. You simply need more money to be able to afford the same items as before.
• Even if you haven’t paid any attention to inflation in general, you have noticed that some prices are much higher than before. There are countless examples of how inflation works in practice, and it definitely affects our everyday lives.

Since people have to spend more money on their day-to-day life, inflation also has an effect on their leisure activities. Betting falls in this category because many sports bettors are forced to reduce their spending in this department to have more funds for other things. This often happens when people’s income can’t keep up with inflation.

The Real Cost of a Bet – Then vs Now

As mentioned, inflation hurts almost everything people do, including their hobbies, such as sports betting. In fact, every bettor can take a step back and compare the value of a $10 bet 2-3 years ago and today.

• Those who’ve wagered that amount of money before on high odds could potentially win a reasonable amount of money that could allow them to get something they want.
• Nowadays, the amount they could win will remain the same, but due to inflation, the prize won’t be enough to get the same as before. Consequently, bettors are forced to wager more money if they want to win more while playing. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible.
• Since inflation shrinks disposable income, this has a direct effect on the amount of money people use for sports betting. As mentioned, punters must increase the amount if they wish to get better returns, but not everyone can do that.

Many sports bettors adjust their risk tolerance to compensate for the lack of disposable income, but not in a good way. Instead of being more cautious, many start taking extra risks and choose markets with high odds to compensate for the small amounts used for placing the bet.

Changes in Betting Behaviour During High Inflation

The high inflation has been around since 2020, and it has caused noticeable changes in people’s betting behaviours. 

• There are countless examples of how inflation impacted sports betting, one of which is the lower number of casual bettors. Since people have fewer spare funds to use, many simply gave up on sports betting in general and decided to focus on something else.
• While some bettors started taking more risks, others did the opposite. Instead of choosing riskier markets, they began looking for value betting options and implementing low-risk strategies. Some only bet on “sure things” (although there is no such thing), whereas others will only punt on the favourites.
• Since people are trying to maximize their money, a lot of them started relying more on different sports betting tools. Modern bookmakers started providing things like bet calculators, bet builders, cash out, and more.
• Aside from that, punters also use specific strategies, such as arbitrage. Sadly, the latter is not allowed on most sites, so bettors must be careful.

How Bookmakers React to Inflation

For better or worse, inflation not only affects sports bettors but also has an impact on bookies. Every brand reacts differently to inflation, but we have been monitoring some of the leading sites, and here’s what we’ve noticed:

• Odds Margins Adjustments – A lot of bookmakers are adjusting their odds margins so that they can protect their profits. In other words, people may have access to slightly worse odds now than before.
• Shorter bonus lifespans – If you like bonuses, you probably know bookmakers will provide a wide array. Several years ago, most bonuses were available for around a month after getting them, but this is no longer the case. Today, most sports betting promos will be available for a couple of days.
• Tighter retention campaigns aimed at loyal customers – Most bookmarks have some kind of loyalty/VIP program focusing on regular clients. While those offers continue to be available, brands seem to have tighter retention campaigns. 
• Microbetting options – An interesting change we’ve noticed is that many bookmakers have started offering more microbetting options. Those things are designed to increase bettor engagement, allowing people to place more bets. As you know, more bets mean a higher chance for bookmakers to profit.

Online vs Retail Betting During Inflation

While it’s true that inflation does not have a positive effect on sports betting, retail companies are suffering way more than online operators.

• Since people cut entertainment spending and stay at home more, many turn to online sports betting platforms. These sites have always been popular, but have even more fans now. Physical betting shops simply have fewer clients than before.
• Since online platforms are thriving, they have also begun focusing on what people are interested in. This list includes better mobile options and adds crypto betting. Although not everyone is interested in the latter yet, some people see crypto betting as a way to hedge against inflation.

Inflation’s Effect on Different Markets

Inflation is a global phenomenon affecting people worldwide. Yet, there is no denying that it has a “harder” impact on people from emerging markets than those in the developed world. We can clearly see that in the sports betting industry.

• Countries with rampant inflation are usually worse than those with more stable currencies. Currency depression makes it really hard for people to enjoy what they like.
• Local inflation impacts international bookies, which explains why some try to provide unique deals to these clients. Turkey and Argentina are examples of countries with high inflation, so some of the big international brands will often provide exclusive deals to users from those countries. This allows them to attract more people.

How to Adapt During Inflation – Tips

Unfortunately, inflation is one of those things that we can’t control ourselves. It is here whether we like it or not, so we have to learn how to adapt and use it as much as possible.

Since many of us have been betting for years, we have developed a few strategies to deal with inflation. We think that they should help you have an easier time, so here’s what you need to know:

• Set a strict bankroll – Knowing how much of your disposable income you will use when betting is key during inflation. Don’t be tempted to bet as much as you’d want because you may spend way more than you wanted to.
• Compare odds across many bookies – Doing this will help you reduce margin impact. Every bookie uses a different margin, so comparing the odds will let you pick the more appropriate option.
• Focus on better-researched bets – It is advisable to focus on specific types of bets instead of punting on multiple options.
• Leverage different betting tools – As mentioned, modern bookmakers will offer you a variety of betting tools. It’s a good idea to leverage things like odds aggregators, bonus trackers, cashbacks, and other handy features.
• Stay emotionally detached – People who learn to stop chasing their losses during tough times will do much better during inflation than others.

Inflation and the Future of Sports Betting

Since the sports betting industry is on the rise, we expect more people to start playing, despite the record-level inflation. People will try to find ways to overcome the problem, such as using automation, AI, and placing bets with alternative assets. We can already see that in the crypto gambling space.

Inflation affects everything in our financial lives, including sports betting. Understanding what’s happening will help you protect your funds, avoid too much risk, and make more calculated betting decisions. In a world where everything goes up in price and your income is unlikely to keep up with inflation, it pays to know the value of your bet.