Local Sports and Odds: Can You Bet on Mongolian Wrestling or Horse Racing?

Mongolia is well-known for its rich heritage and strong cultural traditions. Nadaam, Mongolia’s national festival, celebrates three primary disciplines: wrestling, archery, and horse racing. Horse racing and wrestling are not simply cultural spectacles but monumental, high-octane sports millions nationwide enjoy.  

As more people start using online betting services, the popular question of ‘Can I bet on Mongolian wrestling or traditional horse racing?’ has circulated. Companies such as MelBet, which service international and regional markets, are beginning to broaden their offerings. The only dilemma left is how homegrown sports fit into that paradigm.

Betting Meets Tradition

Online sportsbooks have traditionally focused on international sports: football, tennis, basketball, and, more recently, eSports. However, as the demand for localized content grows, platforms are starting to adapt: for example, now you can bet on traditional sports through online platforms like MelBet Mongolia, and watch how technology is bridging the gap between heritage and modern sports gaming.

Mongolian bettors are particularly interested in events that reflect their own sporting culture. Wrestling and horse racing aren’t just pastimes—they are seasonal and regional events that attract enormous crowds and carry major national significance. Platforms like MelBet, which already offer localized interfaces, Mongolian currency support, and region-specific promos, gradually introduce odds on domestic competitions, especially when those events attract media attention and formal tournament structures.

Wrestling: Can It Be a Betting Market?

Wrestling, or bökh, is perhaps the most iconic Mongolian sport. With centuries of tradition behind it, it remains the centerpiece of major national festivals. However, organizing wrestling into a formal league system—something more commonly seen in football or MMA—is challenging due to its format and irregular schedule.

In recent years, there have been efforts to standardize wrestling tournaments and bring in more digital coverage. While you’re unlikely to see daily odds on local matches, larger tournaments during Naadam or championship-level events may appear on betting platforms when broadcast and structured with brackets. MelBet occasionally lists regional wrestling events during festivals, especially if results are tracked live or televised. These listings may appear under “specials” or “regional sports” within the platform.

Can You Bet on Mongolian Wrestling?

Horse Racing: A Growing Betting Opportunity

Horse racing in Mongolia is both historic and dynamic. Races happen throughout the country, especially during summer and regional festivals. Unlike Western horse racing, Mongolian races are often long-distance, feature child jockeys, and occur across open steppes rather than fixed tracks.

This unique format has, until recently, made integration into online betting platforms difficult. However, televised and live-streamed events are gaining traction, and betting companies are noticing. MelBet already offers extensive horse racing markets globally—from the UK and Japan to Australia and South Africa. Local Mongolian races may follow a similar path as they become more formalized and televised.

How Betting on Local Sports Could Grow

Sports generally need a few things to be included on major platforms like MelBet: an official schedule, a governing body or federation, reliable scoring/reporting, and market interest. Both wrestling and horse racing in Mongolia are on the verge of meeting those requirements. Technology also plays a role. With drones, mobile live streams, and improved media coverage, remote events are easier to follow and record than ever before. As more data becomes available, odds can be generated more reliably, and betting becomes viable.

For users in Mongolia, supporting local sports through betting could offer a fresh way to engage with the traditions they already love. It’s also an opportunity for betting platforms to grow by providing content that no international competitor currently covers in depth.

What’s Needed to Enable Widespread Betting on Local Sports

• Consistent tournament scheduling
• Official rulebooks and ranking systems
• Livestream access for broader audiences
• Transparent scoring and result reporting
• Strong market demand from bettors

What MelBet Already Offers Mongolian Users

Though wrestling and local horse racing are nascent betting markets, MelBet Mongolia has already provided a well-localized service. The site supports the Mongolian language, accepts MNT (Mongolian Tugrik) for deposits, and features popular sports in Mongolia, such as football, MMA, basketball, and boxing.  

They can also place wagers for international horse races, giving users a taste of the format while waiting to add local races. Another is virtual horse racing; the computerized tracks are a constant source of entertainment, and their frequent, fair-play-certified racing provides an alternative experience with clear odds. Traditional sports Lovers can now bet on “specials” listed on MelBet, which include political outcomes, award shows, and cultural competitions, proving the platform is more than just standard sports betting.

Local Culture, Digital Future

Bringing traditional Mongolian sports into the world of online betting won’t happen overnight. But the demand is there. As the country digitizes and interest in online gaming grows, so does the appetite for culturally relevant options. With platforms like MelBet already engaging Mongolian users and adapting their services locally, it’s likely just a matter of time before you can scroll through your favorite sportsbook and find odds on the next big wrestling match—or your region’s fastest horse.

Final Thought: Betting with Local Pride

For Mongolian bettors, the future isn’t just about placing bets on faraway leagues. It’s about finding excitement and value in the sports they’ve grown up with—whether it’s a horse galloping through the Gobi or a wrestling champion lifting his arms in victory at Naadam. MelBet may not yet feature every local event, but it’s showing a clear direction: more local options, cultural relevance, and ways for Mongolian users to bet on what matters to them. And that makes betting not just entertainment—but a connection to tradition.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff Chief editor

Bernard Van Isacker is the Chief Editor of Side-Line Magazine. With a career spanning more than two decades, Van Isacker has established himself as a respected figure in the darkwave scene.

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