7 Clues How To Gamble On the Highland Games (And Survive)

1. Don’t Make Jokes About The Kilt

They’ve heard them all before. No, really. All of them. So no one will laugh. Any good natured comments, therefore, may well be met with a certain quantity of equally good natured violence. So, this is the first rule of learning how to gamble on the Highland Games. Keep your silly jokes about skirts and dresses to yourself. Partly because it’s polite cultural sensitivity. Mostly because it’s awfully difficult to collect your winnings with both your arms ripped out of their sockets. 

2. Stick With The Caber Tossers 

Discovering how to gamble on the Highland Games will probably begin here. Those who already like to bet on sports in the UK should have no real issue here. It’s a tree trunk 19ft 6ins long, weighs 12½ Stone and they’re trying to throw it end over end. This is an event where the stocky do fairly well. A lot of the power is in the legs. So they should tip you off when placing a bet on the Highland Games Caber Toss. Stick with those chunky of thigh and broad of back on this one.

3. Rock The Stone Put

One handed with a 13kg rock in the nape of the neck this is pure arm muscles. Those seeking to know how to gamble on the Highland Games successfully, take note. This is where technique will separate the winners from losers. Mere power is not enough. Look for those who’ve a good grasp of either the “glide” or “spin” throwing style. The former is slightly less mobile so requires less footwork. The latter possibly provides for greater distances but this is still greatly debated.

4. Nail The Scottish Hammer Throw

This differs from the Olympics. The hammer is a ball of 22lb on the end of a four foot stick. Spun around the head over the shoulders it’s all about the revolving footwork. So, those wishing to know how to gamble on the Highland Games successfully should look at the shoes. The more serious competitors will wear bladed footwear that counters the centrifugal forces at play. If you’re taking advantage of UK gambling laws at the games these are the guys to back in this.

5. Look For Technique In The Sheaf Toss

Getting a 16lb bag as high as you can with a pitchfork, essentially, this is a bit of a sore subject. Many argue this is not a real highland event. The discussion can get quite heated. So do not, under any circumstances, get drawn into this debate. Just look for the competitors with broader shoulders than the rest. If you want to know how to gamble on the Highland Games successfully they’ll be your winners in this event. Competitor height can also be a good indicator as well. 

6. Avoid The Maide-leisg

7. Watch The Weight Throw

Likewise, the Weight Throw is probably best just watched rather than wagered upon. It’s a good rule of thumb for those learning how to gamble on the Highland Games. Online betting sites in the UK like Bet365 can offer you far better opportunities. It’s not that the event isn’t very well-established. It is. But the difference in weights from competition to competition can make it all but impossible to accurately assess. Just sit this one out, it’s simply not worth the bother either.

We offer up our seven tips for those learning how to gamble on the Highland Games.