Anyone who has ever placed a bet on sports, whether it was a simple ‘toss a coin’ wager or a more sophisticated proposition involving odds, has been inundated with information about bets, winnings, and losses. If you’re reading this, it’s most likely you’ve either (a) experienced the pain of losing a wager you believed was in your favor, or (b) are looking for an edge in your next bet, particularly where sports are concerned.
Even if you’ve been around sports for your entire life, there are still a few things you may not know about wagering on sports. Here, we’re going to take a look at some of the interesting facts and figures surrounding sports betting and try to give you a better understanding of why sports betting is such a popular pastime.
Sports Betting Is A Global Pastime
Depending on which country you’re in, you’ll probably find that the most popular sport to bet on is Soccer (or Football, as it’s commonly known). However, the world of sports betting is significantly more international than the world of sports itself. Overseas sportsbooks, or offshore books as they’re commonly known, have been a way of betting on sports for international travelers for many years. Additionally, the internet makes it much easier to place a bet from the comforts of your home. In the past, placing a bet on sports would usually mean physically going to a bookmaker’s location; nowadays, all you need is a computer and an internet connection.
Most People Bet On Sports To Cheer Their Teams
While there are certainly individuals who bet on sports for fun and recreation, most people seem to have their hearts in the right place when they bet on sports. When your favorite football team is doing well, you’ll probably want to root for them in the hopes that they’ll keep on playing and performing well. In most cases, you’ll need to find a way to support your team whether it wins or loses, but at least you’ll know that you’re doing the right thing by backing them.
There are many different sports and betting variations to choose from depending on what kind of cheer you want to give your team. If you’re a huge Denver Broncos fan, you could bet on their next game or on the over/under total for their next game. Whatever it may be, find a way to support your team and enjoy the excitement of the game without risking too much money!
Sports Betting Is Popular Because Of The Excitement Of The Game
Whether you call it adrenaline junkie behaviour or it’s a passion for the game, there’s a certain thrill that comes with placing a bet on sports. The same can be said for people who watch games as well. To a degree, anyone who’s watched a professional sports game knows what we’re talking about here – it’s that feeling you get when a player does something amazing or a game-changing event happens and you want to jump out of your seat and shout ‘Woo!’, or when the other team does something surprising (and often times, dirty) and you want to throw a hissy fit because they ruined your perfectly laid plans for the game.
The excitement of a sporting event is what makes it popular for betting, but it’s not the only reason. Depending on what sport you’re betting on and where you are, the outcome of the game may be uncertain – there’s a lot of room for error. This makes it perfect for those who love the thrill of taking a risk and gaining some extra money (or goods) if their prediction comes true. For example, if you have a passion for boxing and you’re betting on that passion, you’ll want to make sure that the chosen boxer wins the match. If you lose, it may be a heartbreaking blow to your pride.
Most People Bet On Sports For Fun
While there are certainly individuals who play sport for the excitement of placing a wager on (or attending) a game, most people seem to experience it as a way of having fun. If you’re walking down the street and you see someone jogging or playing sports, it’s very likely that they’re having fun – even those who work hard at physically demanding jobs may have moments of fun when their team performs well or wins a game. These moments are what keep them going back for more, and it’s what makes sports betting so much fun!
Sports Betting Is Popular Because Of The Entertainment Factor
Whether you’ve had fun and exciting experiences wagering on sports or not, it’s likely that you’ll agree that there’s something exciting about betting on sports. For those who have, it’s likely that this is a pastime they look forward to enjoying and that helps make up for the long hours at work or school. For those who haven’t, it’s still likely that they’ll appreciate the opportunity to bet on sports and enjoy the fun that comes with it.
The entertainment factor is key here. Whether you prefer to place a wager on sports because of the adrenaline rush that comes with taking a risk or because it’s an opportunity to watch an exciting game, you’re bound to have fun. Plus, there’s the element of surprise when your favorite team pulls off an upset win; it can be a thrill to see patterns emerge from seemingly uncategorizable teams and players – a thrill that sports betting provides.
The Most Popular Sports To Bet On
Based on the number of people who engaged with us on social media and the relative volume of email traffic, here are the most popular sports to bet on as of September 2019:
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Golf
- Hockey
- American Football
- Baseball
- Boxing
- Motorbike Racing
Obviously, this is just an estimate based on our analytics and a fraction of our overall email traffic, but it does give you an idea of the popularity of these sports. Keep in mind that some of these sports are played at a professional level, so unless you’re a fan of a particular team, you may want to stay away from betting on them. In the case of boxing, for example, most people who engage with us are interested in placing bets on upcoming matches, but they’re also often asked about previous matches so people can see how the odds changed as a result of certain fights.
One more thing worth pointing out is that the most popular sports change from year to year. In 2018, for example, there were a lot of bettors who jumped on the World Cup — Uruguay’s victory over Argentina in the final generated massive interest and support among our readers. Just like that, within a matter of weeks, soccer became the number one sports bettor’s choice.
The Most Popular Sports Betting Variations
While we’re on the subject of sports betting, let’s take a quick look at the most popular variations. As you’d imagine, the most popular sports betting variations are those associated with the most popular sports. In other words, if you’re a huge fan of a sport, it’s most likely that you’ll find a way to incorporate that sport into your betting options.