Sports betting is big international business, and by big we mean astronomical! The estimated global income for the sports betting industry is between $700 billion and $1 trillion annually. A record $4.68 billion was wagered in Nevada sports betting alone in 2017!
What is everyone betting on? Which sporting events bring the most money into the world of sports betting? Let's take a look at some of the most popular sports in the world and find out how much money is being wagered.
The FIFA World Cup
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in the world, and it makes sense that it brings in the most money. Football is estimated to account for 70% of the above trillion dollars every year!
The FIFA World Cup is the ultimate tournament in the football calendar and takes place every four years. Despite lasting just one month, the World Cup offers a huge number of betting opportunities.
The competition starts with 210 countries taking part in the qualifying rounds, which then goes through several stages to make it to the final 32. Gamblers from all over the world can place bets at every stage. While there are no official figures on how much is wagered worldwide during the tournament, it is estimated to be over $260 million.
The Super Bowl
If we focus on the American scene, the National Football League is the master. Betting on the NFL makes up nearly half of all sports bets placed, with the Super Bowl being the most popular betting event during the sports year. The 2018 Super Bowl LII, which pitted the Eagles against the Patriots, brought in a record $158.6 million in Nevada sports betting wagers. This staggering amount broke the record of $138.5 million wagered during last year's Super Bowl LI.
Of course, these are only the official (legal) numbers. According to estimates by the American Gaming Association, the actual total bet was likely $4.76 billion.
March Madness
The NCAA Tournament is one of the highlights for sports fans and bettors. 68 teams compete in seven knockout rounds over a month to become national champions.
Figures from the American Gaming Association (AGA) predicted that over $10 billion would be wagered in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Only a fraction of that amount (3%) was likely used legally.
However, given that gambling is only legal in one state, a $300 million total bet on a sporting event is insane!
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most important horse races in the United States and is, in fact, one of the longest running sporting events in the country. The event takes place on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs Track in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Grand National
In keeping with the equestrian theme, The Grand National is Britain's horse racing extravaganza. It is said to be one of the most challenging horse races in the world, with two laps of a racecourse that is 4 miles 514 yards (6,907 km) long and includes 30 jumps.
It is a hugely popular event attended by members of the royal family and other A-list celebrities. Together with horse racing enthusiasts and betting professionals, it attracts more than 600 million viewers, making it the most watched televised event in the world.
Sports Betting is a Lot of Money
The sports betting numbers are staggering to say the least. Bet big or bet small, it all adds up to a multi-million-dollar industry. Of course, there are those professional bettors who seem to live by the motto "Bet big or go home". Discover here the greatest players in history.
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