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
ReferOn Wins Prestigious “Best Affiliate Software 2025” at SiGMA Central Europe B2B Awards
A milestone achievement as ReferOn continues to impress
ReferOn, the next-generation affiliate management platform, has taken the title of “Best Affiliate Software 2025” at the SiGMA Central Europe B2B Awards, held in Rome.
The award recognises ReferOn’s rapid growth in becoming a leader in iGaming. It distinguishes the platform for its cutting-edge architecture, exceptional product innovations, and measurable impact on affiliate operations.
Redefining Affiliate Management
In a short amount of time since its inception, ReferOn has become one of the most recognised names in affiliate technology, leading the way by creating user-centric features that help the real needs of affiliate managers.
The platform recorded rapid adoption, supporting an influx of tens of thousands of affiliates and millions of clicks while continuously evolving and growing with new features and refinements. The platform’s approach to innovation and user-facing experiences is its new living interface, Refie. Refie brings awareness and human-like interaction to the platform, helping make affiliate operations more personable and accessible.
Building Beyond the Standard
Alex Bukin, General Manager at ReferOn, commented on the win, “This award is more than recognition. It empowers and validates our team, encouraging us never to stop building. At ReferOn, we always aim to shape how affiliate marketing should work. At its core, it should be simple, transparent, and powerful. Every new integration and feature comes from a team that deeply understands the product and what real affiliate managers need. This helps us refine our platform to be the best it can be. And we’re only getting started!”
Continued Momentum
ReferOn’s win at SiGMA Central Europe marks another significant achievement. In 2025, the platform conducted multiple migrations and released groundbreaking features to transform affiliate operations. Its sights are set on 2026 — a year that will be focused on product refinements, sustainable growth through key industry partnerships, and delivering more key solutions for real affiliate managers.
Affiliate Success
Casino Guru secures SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards’ Best Affiliate 2025 distinction
Casino Guru has won the “Best Affiliate 2025” category at the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards, distinguishing the company’s efforts in delivering the best online casino database and guiding players to the safest casinos of their choice.
Via Tuscolana hosted the ceremony on Tuesday, November 4, in Rome, Italy, distinguishing a number of companies, among which was Casino Guru, which secured the landmark accolade for itself.
Commenting on the win, Casino Guru’s Head of Casino Research, Matej Novota, said: “Winning the Best Affiliate 2025 award at the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards is a meaningful milestone for us as we approach the end of the year. At Casino Guru, we are honored to be recognized in this category. Our mission has always been to build the world’s most comprehensive online casino database and to offer impartial insights that empower players to make informed decisions. This award strengthens our resolve to continue serving as a trusted bridge between players and operators, while upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and fairness in everything we do.”
Casino Guru has been awarded for its unflagging commitment to providing players with the most reliable up-to-date information about casinos and bonuses.
At its core, Casino Guru is committed to making the gambling industry safer and promoting best practices in Responsible Gaming. The company plays an active role in shaping these standards, drawing on its extensive experience, expertise, and firmly held values of fairness, integrity, and transparency.
Platforms such as the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative and Casino Guru Academy have been created to foster a better understanding of Responsible Gambling and how players and industry professionals can leverage it to their benefit.
Notably, the Casino Guru Awards have become a trend-setter in actively encouraging change on the part of industry stakeholders, and distinguishing deserving individuals and companies across numerous categories, such as Rising Star in Responsible Gambling, Most Impactful Social Responsibility Initiative, Fairest Bonus Policy, Industry Culture Shaper, and more.
Casino Guru has worked tirelessly, developing the world’s most complicated ranking system, the Safety Index, which carefully examines each casino’s offer, focusing on criteria favored by players, and issues an objective score that is also regularly updated.
Besides the Safety Index, Casino Guru has launched and maintains a world-beating independent adjudication service, the Complaint Resolution Center, which has returned more than $50m to players, including closing cases that involved more than $1m disputed by a single player.
Casino Guru is proud to receive the latest accolade from the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards, celebrating the company’s commitment to making gambling safer and better for everyone out there.
Conferences
Palms Bet Takes Center Stage as General Sponsor of the EEGS Affiliate Conference
The Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) is proud to announce Palms Bet as the General Sponsor of this year’s Affiliate Conference, taking place alongside EEGS 2025 – where innovation, regulation, and strategic collaboration converge.
As one of Bulgaria’s leading gaming and entertainment brands, Palms Bet has played a pivotal role in shaping the local and regional iGaming landscape. Its continued investment in digital innovation and affiliate partnerships reflects a deep commitment to responsible growth and industry excellence.
The Affiliate Conference at EEGS will gather affiliate leaders, operators, digital marketers, and regulators to explore the evolving landscape of player acquisition, data-driven marketing, and compliance in regulated markets.
Through its support, Palms Bet reinforces the mission of EEGS — to create a dynamic space for learning, networking, and advancing the future of the gaming and affiliate ecosystem across Europe.
🎯 Save the date:
🗓️ 26 November 2025
📍 Inter Expo Center, Sofia
Join us for an inspiring edition of EEGS and the Affiliate Conference, powered by Palms Bet!
Let’s shape the future of iGaming together – where innovation meets collaboration, and affiliates lead the way!
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