What are the Most Popular Sports to Bet on in the UK?
Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, June 28, 2024
The UK is home to one of the most mature and lucrative sports betting in the world. In fact, 2021 saw the nation hold 23% of the total sports betting market in Europe, ahead of France (20%), Italy and Spain. In financial terms, the UK sports betting market was worth around $5.4 billion at the end of 2021, while it continues to increase incrementally year-on-year.
But have you ever stopped to wonder what the most popular sports are among bettors? Certainly, some are more popular than others on these shores, with football and horse racing accounting for more than 80% of the region’s total sports betting yield. So, let’s take a closer look at the disciplines and leagues that dominate sports betting volumes in the UK!
1. Football
Where else to start but with football, which is the most popular sport in the UK (among both spectators and punters alike). Overall, some 45% of active bettors on these shores place wagers on football, with most involving top-tier competitions such as the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Betting is certainly an increasingly popular pastime among football fans. In fact, it’s estimated that some 76.8% of the football audience in the UK like to bet on matches and tournaments, which also at least partially explains the rising prevalence of in-play wagering. Of course, it also helps that punters can now livestream matches through many of their chosen sportsbooks, making it easier to gauge the ebb and flow of games and make informed decisions in real-time.
Interestingly, most licensed sportsbooks now publish betting lines and markets across a huge array of international competitions. These include domestic leagues in regions such as Argentina, Poland, Uzbekistan and Moldova, so there’s an opportunity for informed punters to access the best value markets and maximise their bankroll over time.
2. Horse Racing
As we’ve touched on, horse racing is the next most popular sports to bet on in the UK. In fact, an estimated 37% of gambling respondents in YouGov’s most recent study had wagered on horse racing during the previous 12 months, with the so-called “sport of kings” providing high-profile events and meetings all year round.
Intriguingly, an estimated 97.4% of horse racing fans like to bet on individual races, suggesting that wagering is an integral part of the overall viewership experience in this sport. This is a discipline that also attracts professional and seasoned bettors, due to the prevalence of form metrics and resources that can aid informed analysis.
Highlights of the horse racing season include flat meetings at Goodwood and Royal Ascot, alongside National Hunt events like the Cheltenham Festival and iconic Grand National. However, there are much smaller meetings hosted daily across the length and breadth of the country, unlocking a diverse selection of markets and betting opportunities.
3. Golf
There’s no doubt that football and horse racing dominate the sports betting landscape in the UK. This trend is unlikely to change anytime soon either. However, other disciplined also retain a cult following of punters, including the similarly traditional and widely broadcast sport of golf.
9% of bettors regularly wager on golf tournaments, primarily the four Major events (the Masters, the US PGA Championship, the US Open and Open). Interestingly, the iconic Masters event (which is the first major of the year) is the most popular golf tournament to bet on, with outright markets and round betting dominant overall.
Golf is also a sport with a highly engaged audience of bettors. In fact, 81.1% of self-confessed fans regularly bet on individual events, both before and during specific tournaments. There’s also no shortage of betting lines in golf, while outright tournament markets are usually competitively priced due to the sheer number of competitors.
The emergence of the breakaway LIV Tour in Saudi Arabia has created even more tournaments and markets, so golf betting will arguably become even more commonplace in the future!
4. Boxing
At number four on our list is boxing, which is yet another sport that’s deeply embedded and integrated into our culture and viewing habits. An estimated 8% of sports bettors regularly wager on boxing matchups , with the most popular markets including moneylines, method of victory and ‘round’ wagering.
Like with golf, the rising influence of Saudi money has further popularised boxing and boxing betting in recent times, leading to a higher number of premium bouts (including the recent undisputed heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and the outstanding Oleksandr Usyk). While some have questioned the ethics and integrity of Saudi’s growing influence in the sport, it has created huge opportunities for fighters, fans and punters alike!
An estimated 86.4% of boxing fans regularly wager on bouts too. This highlights the highly engaged nature of bettors in the sport, while suggesting that in-play boxing wagering has become increasingly popular online. Once again, some sites will livestream fights to encourage the placement of live bets.
5. Tennis
Last, but not least, we come to tennis. This is fifth on the list, with approximately 8% of British gambling respondents betting on this sport during the previous 12 months. Like horse racing, this discipline from a constant slew of events, including the four Grand Slams, Masters Events and even the Olympics in 2024!
In fact, there are over 10,000 matches each season across the ATP and WTA Tours, while these unlocks moneylines, spreads and set betting markets to help create diversity for punters. Moneylines are particularly popular when betting on tennis, as the draw is eliminated as a potential outcome and your chances of winning are greatly increased.
81.1% of tennis fans also wager on matches and tournaments, so betting is clearly a key part of the overall experience. It’s also arguably that ATP Tour matches are the most popular, with global stars like Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and newcomer Carlos Alcaraz recognisable throughout the world!