In this article WagerWire cofounder Travis Geiger explores the relationship between pseudoscience and sports // accurately predicts the NCAA Champion using astrology // and announces WagerWire’s new “AstroBetting” initiative

[best read in the voice of Michael Kane]

Yesterday’s eclipse was a beautiful reminder of the grandeur of our universe and our humble place within it…

So why all that apocalypse fuss?

I believe it was driven by the same thing that underpins how and why we bet on sports: human nature.

• The desire to predict outcomes
• Participation in something greater than oneself
• The search for and application of meaning

In Silver Linings Playbook, a die hard Eagles fan played by Robert De Niro believes he must hold a handkerchief in his left hand the entire game or the Eagles will lose. In astrology, die hard Aquarians believe their fate is tied directly to their celestial coordinates.

So where exactly does De Niro’s left hand stop and Orion’s arm begin? Are “luck” “juju” and “fate” actually all part of the same invisible force?

Star-crossed victors

When choosing a winner for last night's NCAA Championship Game I may well have flipped a coin - but considering it was the first to occur on the day of a total eclipse, I opted to instead consult the horoscopes of the starting 5 players on each team.

The stars were shining on UConn. Cam Spencer celebrated his 24th birthday 2 days ago. Cam turned 24 in the year 2024. The eclipse occurred in his ruling house of Aries the day of the championship, supercharging his aura. Plus his teammates all have star signs known to be intense, dedicated and committed. That all proved itself out on the court as UConn dominated from wire to wire.

The astrological profile of Purdue was that of a team out of whack. The Boilermakers’ two Leos - Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn - were unbalanced and actually thrown into Retrograde (along with Mercury) the day of the game. The Taurus in Zach Edey was set up for failure. As far as the zodiac was concerned, the Huskies would win the day.

Here’s what we posted on X and Instagram before tip off:

More science than pseudo?

Studies of the effect of moon phases on the body have concluded that the moon’s position has a direct effect on the human body. The same gravity that controls the tides, pushes and pulls on us humans who are 60% water ourselves.

A 2013 study concluded that humans were more physically efficient during full and new moons, while a 2018 study evaluated “whether short-term explosive performance can be influenced by the different phases of the lunar cycle.”

Karma plays heavily in sports. It can come in the form of a make-up call from a referee, in the form of a “revenge game,” in the form of the player celebrating too early dropping the ball on the one yardline. Karma is an expression of Vedic astrology - and it's worth taking a moment to acknowledge how ancient and cross-cultural astrology truly is. Now back to the future…

The Sports Betting Zodiac™️

Last year our data team started to explore a very trippy question: Is there a provable correlation between the star sign of a bettor and their betting success?

Other questions followed: Does the phase of the moon have an effect on MLB night games? Do characteristics of a player’s zodiac manifest themselves in their gameplay?

The answers so far have been inconclusive … but wildly entertaining.

In pursuit of this forbidden knowledge we grouped WagerWire users into data sets based on their star signs, analyzed their behaviors and applied AI to create the world’s first Sports Betting Zodiac.

Depending on your star sign our Zodiac offers predictions on which bet types you will have the most luck with, which to avoid, how many legs you’ll likely average across your parlays, and your comparative luck to the other zodiacs. It also generates a corresponding tidy horoscope.

As SiriusXM fantasy hosts Glenn Colton and Rick Wolf can vouch - these horoscopes came out surprisingly accurate. I did a reading for their guests live on air and felt like '98 Miss Cleo.

The Sports Betting Zodiac not so subtly suggests that the mysteries of the universe and the unpredictability of sports share a common thread, inviting bettors to explore this connection further.

Astrology, like marketing, is all about tapping the collective unconscious

Horoscopes represent a new creative way to get non-bettors in the door. Gambling is all about applying knowledge and feeling into a choice. Who cares if you’re looking at a depth chart or a star chart to decide?

Let’s quickly examine two marketing personas: Stock Market Bro and an Astrology Girl.

Astrology Girl firmly believes her bad luck is being caused by the planet Mercury; Stock Market Bro firmly believes Dogecoin will hit $.42 after the SpaceX Mars launch.

If you think I’m making this up, it’s already been meme’d.

This year, betting companies used the eclipse as a promotional tool.

But PrizePicks was the one who leaned in the hardest, taking it beyond social posts with bonuses on teams playing in the path of totality. While it’s still unknown if this proved a profitable promotion for them - it's a clear example of how the most street-smart brands are beginning to incorporate astrology into their marketing. It made specific sense to PrizePicks, a company who has already incorporated the paranormal concepts of demons into their UX.

The eclipse promotion, while specific in its execution, serves as an example of how brands can harness universal curiosities and cultural moments to deepen the engagement with their products and services, inviting bettors to consider the influence of the stars on the unpredictable nature of sports.

As a marketing concept, incorporating astrological events into creative efforts highlights a broader trend towards innovative engagement strategies.

This approach suggests a shift in how sports-related companies are thinking about connecting with their audiences beyond the traditional point of interest, exploring the intersection of personal beliefs and sports enthusiasm.

WagerWire is proud to be leading the charge into this odd future and equipping our bettors with tools ranging from the practical to the metaphysical.

After all, WagerWire is building a marketplace for sports bets, and the free market is the ultimate invisible force.

There’s much more to come on our AstroBetting initiative. Our data team has just started tripping down the rabbit hole.

🚨 Pluto has left Capricorn and entered Aquarius.

The stars have literally realigned. Everything, including sports betting, seems to be entering a brand new paradigm.

Aquarius is a symbol of innovation, advancement in technology and originality. In the new age, free thinkers and spiritualists will thrive. Pluto will remain in Aquarius until 2043.

Do with that information what you’d like.

©️ Wire Industries Inc, 2024