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.