Betting on sports is one of the most popular pastimes for many people around the globe. But different regions have very different habits and preferences when it comes to what sports they bet on and how permissive betting on sports can be.
People all over the world have enjoyed betting on sports for generations, and while some sports, like horse and greyhound racing, have long and storied histories of betting, they aren’t necessarily the favorite sports for betting all over the world. Different regions of the world have their own preferences and habits when it comes to sports viewership and popularity, and these preferences are typically mirrored in terms of which sports are popular among bettors in those regions.
Let’s take a closer look at the most popular sports betting options across different regions of the world.
Soccer Leads the European and South American Market
You would be hard-pressed to find a more global game than soccer. From Europe to Asia to South America, soccer is watched by millions of people all over the world annually. With such high numbers for viewership, it should be no surprise that soccer is also one of the most popular sports betting options for many people around the world as well.
Particularly in Europe and South America, no other sports really come close to the sorts of betting numbers that soccer sees. The big leagues, Serie A, La Liga and the English Premier League are huge draws for fans of the sport, and see betting activity not just in their home regions, but from fans all over the world.
Soccer, as a global sport, also has a large number of international competitions and tournaments, which help to drive interest and betting volume. The FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League are great examples of sports betting hothouses, with hundreds of thousands of bets placed on every game.
In the countries where soccer is at its height, such as Brazil, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Argentina, betting on soccer is often considered a natural part of viewership.
The NFL and NBA in the US
While they might not have the same global appeal as soccer does, the NFL and NBA from the United States are both big draws for sports betting fans. The landscape of sports betting in the United States has, over the last decade, changed dramatically as well, which has allowed these sporting codes to grow in popularity among bettors.
While the NFL regular season has betting and viewership that is mostly restricted to the states, betting volumes have been rising year on year as betting becomes more accepted across different parts of the US. When it comes to the playoffs and Super Bowl, some international excitement is generated and betting on totals, player props, and point spreads is very common.
Basketball is much more globally popular than American football, and the betting figures on the game highlight this popularity. The regular NBA season has a very large number of games compared to some other sports, so individual games might see less betting action than some other sports, but fans of the game have plenty of opportunity to engage in a very active betting market across the season.
Honorable mentions should also go to baseball and ice hockey, which are also very popular in the United States, in terms of viewership and betting numbers.
Cricket is Big in the UK, India and Australia
While the other sports we’ve mentioned have some large fanbases outside of the countries where they are most popular, the same is not true of cricket. Cricket is really only popular in Australia, India, Pakistan and the UK, as well as a few other nations. But despite being restricted in viewership and popularity to those regions, it is still one of the most bet on sports in the world.
The countries that engage in cricket have long histories with the game and strong cultures surrounding the playing of it. The big competitions, such as The Ashes, ICC Cricket World Cup and the Indian Premier League, see huge betting volumes from their regions, and other regions where cricket is popular.
Cricket offers sports betting markets that have somewhat unique options compared to other sports, simply as a reflection of the unique qualities that the game provides. Bettors can place wagers on match winners, but also on the top batsman, total runs and also session length. Uniquely among the sports we’ve mentioned, cricket matches can last for exceptionally long periods of time, so the game lends itself to in-play betting as well.
For sports fans in India, cricket is by far the most popular sports betting option. Fans in Australia and the UK enjoy betting on cricket as well, but those regions have other sports with high levels of popularity, which is not as much the case in India.
Horse Racing Adds a Touch of Class
While it might not be as globally popular or draw as much attention as some of the other sports we’ve mentioned, horse racing is still one of the most popular sports betting options around the world. For centuries, horse racing has been synonymous with betting, and that holds true today.
Particularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, big horse racing festivals draw plenty of betting attention. The Grand National, Cheltenham Festival and the Melbourne Cup are all examples of big horse racing events that see some of the most sports betting action of any single event in any sport. Even people who don’t typically wager are likely to be comfortable having a flutter on a big horse race.
Final Thoughts
Different regions have different habits when it comes to sports viewership, and those habits typically translate to the popularity of those sports for sports betting as well. Soccer is by far the most globally bet on sport, with its main supporting regions being Europe and South America. The NFL and NBA are growing in popularity in the wider world, but are dominant in the United States betting markets. Cricket has huge numbers of supporters across the UK, India and Australia, and horse racing still manages to draw large amounts of interest as well.
