Are sports your obsession? Then why not make sports your career? No, we’re not talking about strappin’ on your helmet and going to an NFL tryout—not unless you’re so athletically inclined. No, there are lots of ways you can turn your sports knowledge and enthusiasm into money.
Here are five ways to make money as a sports fan.
Create a Sports Blog
One of the easiest ways to make money on your sports obsession is to start a sports blog. Nearly every sport has a passionate fanbase, so you’ll have an audience. Choose an easy-to-use blogging site where you’re able to customize your template, or you can even create your website. Be sure to have a social media presence—you’ll be able to promote your blog on the social media pages of whichever teams or sports organizations you’re covering.
If you’re able to get enough traffic, advertisers may pay you to either advertise their product or feature their ads on your site. It can be a lucrative way to earn extra money or even a living.
You could also start a vlog on a video streaming website. On sites like YouTube, you can earn money if you get enough views on your video. You get excellent vlogging equipment, like a high-quality mic and headphones.
Bet on Sports
If you’re a high-roller, you might be able to make some money gambling on sports. This is more of a high-risk way to earn money, and you should exercise caution, so you don’t wind up in a huge financial hole. Abide by the golden rule: never bet more than you’re willing to lose.
There are several ways you can bet on sports. First, you can bet online—the internet is one of the few places where you can gamble legally, but this is only available in some states. Check out the best online sports betting in your location in the US.
Otherwise, you’ll mostly have to do your sports betting in select locations. Most states have casinos where you can bet on sports, but there may be other betting venues, like horse racing tracks, that you can find in some places.
Use your sports knowledge and intuition to make the best bets possible (the data revolution in sports makes it easier to make precise betting decisions). Also, make sure you research the earnings minimum to file taxes—the IRS may require you to report your gambling winnings.
Play Fantasy Sports
You can also make money by playing fantasy sports. Fantasy Football and Fantasy Baseball have a massive base of players willing to pay large buy-ins for competitive leagues. These leagues offer extremely lucrative prize pools for the winner.
If you’re consistently a fantasy sports champ, you might consider joining a league with a significant buy-in so you could potentially get a big payday for winning. Like with betting, be sure to use your sports knowledge to build a good team and set a successful roster each week.
Sell Sports Memorabilia
Another great way to earn money on sports is to sell sports memorabilia to collectors. There are plenty of sports collectors who are willing to pay top dollar for particular items. Often, these items include signed memorabilia, like signed photographs, jerseys, and gear.
However, collectors might also be seeking specific memorabilia associated with a great player or a great moment—like a jersey worn during a memorable game or even a ticket stub to a legendary event. If you’re a big sports fan and constantly going to significant events, you might even have some of these items in your own home.
Do Sport Photography
If you love being behind a camera, you could make a lot of money by doing sports photography. There’s a huge market for sports photography, from minor league teams to high school and college teams to professional sports. Shooting photography for sports is a whole different beast because most marks are very fast, making it more challenging to capture high-quality still photos. But with a bit of practice, you could be taking some amazing images that people are more than willing to pay you for.
They say that if you do what you love for a living, you’ll never work a day. So turn your sports obsession into cash today!
