What are the Most Popular Betting Sports in the World?
Sports are an integral part of culture and society. There is no culture in the world that has not created its own sport, and there is certainly not a single one that has not been participating in sports for the entirety of their existence. From athletic competitions to full-blown team games, sports are a staple of human civilization.
The Teams at the Top
Of course, where sports are being played, sports are being wagered on. Those who are fans of sports often enjoy the thrill of adding some extra risk. Indeed, one of the biggest gambling industries is based around sports betting odds . With this in mind, we are curious to examine the most popular sports to bet on around the world.
Football/Soccer
Association football, or simply football or soccer, is without doubt the most popular sport in the world. There are currently over 3 billion people who call themselves fans of the sport, and quite a lot of them enjoy wagering. Therefore, it shouldn’t shock anyone to find that football is the most popular sport to bet on.
If we take a look at the total amount of wagers on the European national soccer leagues in 2021, we will find that upwards of tens of billions of Euros go into these leagues alone. That does not even account for the amount wagered on international competitions like the Champions League or the World Cup. It is also worth noting that the statistics are three years old, and football has only grown more popular.
Basketball & Cricket
The second most popular sport in the world, as things stand right now, is basketball. However, the ball game is in constant competition with cricket, and often they’ve been interchangeable in terms of popularity. In either case, both cricket and basketball are immensely popular sports, and both attract a ton of bettors.
In the realm of basketball, the NBA and the FIBA are the two biggest organizations. The National Basketball Association is largely responsible for elevating the popularity of basketball worldwide, so it is no surprise that most people from around the globe wager on NBA games.
On the other hand, cricket is most popular in England and South-east Asia. India, specifically, has an incredibly deep passion for the sport. Therefore, it shouldn’t shock anyone to learn that the Indian Premier League refers to the national cricket league, and it is the biggest cricket league in the world, which also means it attracts the most punters.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world, so it is quite impressive that it is as popular as it is today. While most don’t watch horse racing for fun, betting on it is a time-honored tradition in countries like the USA, England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. The sport is also huge in the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and China.
Betting on the ponies is so popular, that even many countries that ban sports betting have made exceptions for horse racing. The most popular horse racing competitions to bet on are the Triple Crown competitions, the Grand National, and the Dubai Derby.
18.05.2024