Sports and betting have been a popular pastime for people for thousands of years. Since the racing and gladiatorial events of Ancient Greece and Rome, people have enjoyed watching athletes compete to their fullest, and placing bets on who they think would win the competitions.
Today, sports betting is more popular than ever before, but the question we are posing is, what are the most popular sports to bet on around the world. In this article, we are going to look at different countries (and continents) and talk about the most popular sports in the regions.
The United States – the Major League Sports
The United States of America distinguishes itself from the rest of the world by not being hugely into soccer (though it is one of the most practiced sports in the country, in terms of watched sports it lacks behind). Instead, Americans seem to prefer spending their time on the Major League Sports, namely American football, basketball, ice hockey, and baseball.
In terms of betting, online betting sites the ones found on www.betstation.com in America have noted that no sporting event draws as big of a crowd as the American Super Bowl. Apart from that though, baseball is a massive draw for both fans and punters. The NBA Finals and NHL events are also a huge attraction in the American betting market.
However, the four major league sports are not the only betting attractions in the States. Bowling, darts, NASCAR, boxing, golf, and horse racing all draw in a huge crowd of punters, who follow the sports closely and participate in the betting scene.
South Asia – Cricket, Field Hockey & Football
During the 1800s, the United Kingdom spread their culture widely across the world. This led to the colonized people of the world to adopt the UK’s most popular sports, football and cricket, which are still popular today. In South Asian countries, like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, cricket is by far, the uncontested, most popular sport, both in terms of betting and viewership. The Indian cricket team is one of the most beloved national teams, and one of the most successful in the scene. Some of the best cricketers come from South Asia as well, especially from India and Pakistan.
But it isn’t just cricket that thrives on the Indian subcontinent. Football is another sport that has garnered a huge amount of popularity in the region. In India and Pakistan, the sport is especially popular, and it is also one of the most practiced sports in all South Asian countries.
Apart from the two, field hockey is hugely popular, especially in Pakistan where it is considered the national sport. Pakistani children watch and practice the sport from a very early age, and the Pakistani team is ranked 17th in the world.
Africa – Football, Basketball, Boxing
Football is the most popular sport in the world, and the most popular in every single African country. It was first introduced to Africans in the 1800s, and has since spread all over the continent, as one of the most beloved pastimes. Apart from football, Africans also seem to love to watch and bet on basketball, boxing, and quite a lot of motor racing events.
