News
5 of the most popular sports betting markets

Sports betting is big business! There is a long history of being able to bet on the outcome of your favorite sport. The great changes that we have witnessed in technology mean that being able to do it is as easy as it has ever been. Not so many years ago you would need to see a bookmaker in person. Now, with the rise in online betting, you can bet on any event in any part of the world, no matter where you are.
This has seen new and exciting betting markets opening up, but when you look at what are the most popular, it seems that there is perhaps a touch of tradition with punters sticking to all-time favorites. Here’s a look at the 5 most popular.
Football
As the most popular game on the planet it is perhaps unsurprising that football is one of the most popular betting markets. When you take a look at great clubs such as Manchester City and consider any Premier League current match, it is easy to understand the excitement that the sport brings and why people are keen to place their bets.
In the UK alone, there is over £1 billion spent on football bets. Considering the popularity of the English Premier League and the fact that games are streamed worldwide, the total amount that is bet is bound to be much much more. That’s before you even consider the numerous cups and tournaments that can be bet on too.
Horse racing
When you mention a bookie the chances are that horse racing is one of the first sports that springs to mind. Although betting on this market may not be as popular as football, there is still a staggering £100 billion wagered every year around the globe. Online betting has opened up this sport to so many people and helped to increase its popularity.
While horse racing may have an obvious association with the UK (the likes of the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival), it is a sport that is popular the world over. As well as a loyal UK following, those in Japan and Australia are also big fans.
Tennis
This one may be a bit of a surprise to many, but betting on tennis has seen real growth over the last few years. While the sport itself has long been popular, at one point the betting market was fairly restricted. The truth was that the sport had been dominated by great names for the last 20 odd years and so betting on an outcome was hardly exciting.
That has all changed now with the introduction of in-play betting. Punters are able to wager what they think is going to happen in each game and each set. They can also look for any potential upsets and move their money to bet on a surprising outcome too. This has made betting on tennis matches so much more enjoyable.
Golf
Golf is hardly a fast-paced game and often you are waiting 3 days or more to finally see the outcome. That being the case, what makes it a popular sport to bet on? When you take a look at the likes of the Ryder Cup, typically you will have 70-80 players teeing off. This means that there are so many betting combinations that there is enough to keep everyone interested.
Punters can bet on an array of outcomes. There are so many variables, odds, and potential winners that it really is an exciting sport to bet on.
Esports
The fastest-growing sports betting market has to be esports. Bookies have long looked at the likes of virtual races, but from around 2020 the popularity of virtual sports exploded. Punters are able to look at games such as FIFA and bet on the outcomes. Alongside sport-based games, there are also titles such as Counter-Strike and League of Legends to consider.
The growing popularity of esports has seen a great deal of money going its way. Prize funds for winners run into millions and this has really led to an increase in competition. This makes it a great sport for punters to bet on.
Affiliate Success
First iGB Affiliate Manager Academy to shine a light on effective AI-Driven affiliate recruitment strategies

Organisers of July’s edition of iGB L!VE – the first to be held in London – have announced the launch of the AI focussed iGB Affiliate Manager Academy which will be held July 1 as part of London iGaming Week.
The training and mentorship program which is being curated in partnership with Affiverse, founded by veteran affiliate marketer Lee-Ann Johnstone – and which guides businesses on how to launch, scale and grow successful affiliate programs, has been designed to help organisations of all sizes understand how to leverage new tactics and simple AI tools to recruit, retain and activate affiliates more effectively.
The Academy will offer a mix of practical learning, tactical assessments and personalised coaching providing affiliate managers with an invaluable opportunity to learn from industry leaders. Each unique session will include topical insights drawing on the dominant trends in the market.
Looking ahead to the Academy Lee-Ann Johnstone said: “I’m delighted that Clarion has invited Affiverse to develop a bespoke training academy specifically for iGaming Affiliate Managers.
“In an industry that’s constantly evolving, and which is powered by the early adoption of new technologies, businesses and affiliate managers have to keep learning in order to remain competitive. The only way we get to understand the affiliate space and all the complexities it entails is on the job – from others!
“It has always been important to me that those who have knowledge pay it forward and I’m really excited to be given the task of leading the curation of this unique event bringing the best of the best together in order to teach, train and coach affiliate managers as we move forward.
“The gap between AI-empowered affiliate managers and those relying solely on traditional methods is widening every month. The iGB Affiliate Manager Academy will provide the bridge to ensure businesses are on the right side of that divide.”
Reflecting on the importance and objectives of the iGB Affiliate Manager Academy, Global Portfolio Director Naomi Barton said: “Our live events are all about delivering real value to our international community of stakeholders. Lee-Ann and her team at Affiverse are spearheading the academy syllabus and content stream alongside IGB’s events production team to provide tailor made training and mentoring for new and existing affiliate managers as well as those who want to learn and scale their affiliate programs faster.
“The workshop will provide insider access to the exact AI-driven techniques that are assisting brands to deliver real results. Most significantly this isn’t just theory — instead it’s a hands-on expert-led roadmap focussing on immediately implementable tactics that will transform your program performance.”
Awards
MightyTips is nominated for Affiliate of the Year at the AffPapa iGaming Awards

MightyTips has received a nomination for “Sportsbook Affiliate of the Year” at the prestigious AffPapa iGaming Awards 2025. MightyTips hopes to follow in the footsteps of its parent company, SEOBROTHERS, which won the Affiliate Agency of the Year award at the 2023 ceremony and has received another nomination this year.
MightyTips’ nomination follows a year of expansion for the brand, which increased its portfolio of multilingual sites to 19. In addition to continuing to provide free daily football betting tips and in-depth bookmaker reviews, MightyTips also launched the MightyQs interview series, which spotlights some of the most exciting partnerships between online sportsbooks and high-profile sporting franchises such as Juventus and the UFC.
Held at Hacienda Nadales in Malaga, Spain, the fourth annual AffPapa iGaming Awards will take place on May 28th, 2025. The awards celebrate and recognise affiliates, operators, and B2B providers for hard work and innovation within the iGaming industry and commend those who are constantly pushing the boundaries and setting new standards.
One of the most notable and respected ceremonies on the industry calendar will be hosted as part of the iGaming Club Conference, a two-day networking event that will welcome over 1,200 industry delegates. Voting is open to the public and will close on May 11th.
Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR at SEOBROTHERS, said: “We’re overjoyed to hear that MightyTips have been nominated for these prestigious awards. It’s fantastic to be evaluated for our hard work over the last twelve months, and everyone involved should be extremely proud of their efforts. This is a huge professional achievement for the brand.”
Awards
Slotsjudge Receives Double Nomination at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2025

We are delighted to announce that Slotsjudge received two nominations for the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2025. Milestones like this highlight our team’s dedication and strong position in the iGaming industry.
Slotsjudge was nominated in two key categories: “Rising Star Affiliate of The Year” and “Slots Review Affiliate of The Year.” The first nomination recognizes our fast growth and impact in a competitive market, while the second one emphasizes the quality and reliability of our game reviews. We highly value the trust our audience places in us as a credible and influential voice within the industry.
What sets Slotsjudge apart is our honest, straightforward content. Our team creates reviews that players can rely on, helping them make informed choices. We actively encourage community engagement and user-generated content, ensuring our reviews reflect real player experiences. Our approach combines simplicity, transparency, and a direct connection with our audience. We believe that this strong content strategy and dedication to genuine player feedback are the reasons behind these nominations.
“We are very grateful and proud of these nominations,” said Jekaterina Dubnicka, Head of Marketing and Communications. “It is exciting to see our team’s hard work acknowledged. We appreciate our users and partners, whose support has been key to our success.”
The AffPapa iGaming Awards ceremony will take place online on June 20, 2025. Slotsjudge looks forward to attending and celebrating with the industry. We thank the jury for their recognition, and we are excited about the future, continuing to grow alongside our valued community and partners.
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