The sports betting industry is as big as the gambling industry. It depends on who you’re asking. But it’s no surprise to anyone that the online betting industry is a trillion-dollar industry.
If you’re new to sports wagering, you might wonder which are the most popular events with the highest number of bettors. After all, that’s where all the action is going to be.
That’s why we’re going to talk about the most prominent competitions where a large number of punters stake their money. Let us begin.
What Is Betting Volume?
The concept is simple enough that even beginners can understand it. When a high-profile match takes place, the number of bets placed on it is more than what you’d typically expect. Apply this same thing for a sporting event, and you have your betting volume.
It shares a linear relationship with the popularity of the sport. As for the sports that see such a high number of punters, it comes down to the region and the game in question.
For example, in the US, the NFL has a huge following. In the US, the Super Bowl is an example of high betting volume by sport. Similarly, in Europe, where football is incredibly popular, tournaments like the Premier League or UCL see plenty of bettors.
Some competitions are very popular throughout the world. The FIFA World Cup is a prime example of this.
Popular Events with Best Betting Volume
As we’ve had the opportunity to understand what betting volume is and how different sports see a rise in punters, let us start discussing some of the most popular high volume sports betting tournaments.
The Super Bowl
The National Football League is perhaps the most popular thing when it comes to sports in the US. And the Super Bowl is the culmination of games held through the season that decides the next champions. It is also the day when bettors place the highest number of wagers.
The first instance of wagering for this event goes back decades, with the first Super Bowl held in 1967. It has been a regular event at land-based sportsbooks and online bookmakers. Interestingly, the latest Super Bowl 57 is the first one that was held in a state where gambling is legal.
FanDuel, a popular US-based sportsbook, has stated that this was the peak NFL betting volume for any Super Bowl. According to their records, the number of bets placed went up to 50,000 per minute.
And if that’s not enough to convince you of the event’s popularity, the largest payout from Super Bowl 57 was $2.68 million to a single winner for staking it all on the Kansas City Chiefs.
The FIFA World Cup
Football betting fans across the world eagerly look forward to the FIFA World Cup. It’s the grandest stage where the best teams in the world go head-to-head for weeks of non-stop action. The high volume betting for this tournament makes sense, as it’s held every four years.
The odds for the different matchups and teams are revealed once the competition is over. In fact, with the recent 2022 FIFA World Cup behind us, the forecasts for the next one are already out.
Bettors looking to prepare for the upcoming event should keep an eye on these statistics starting now. As teams undergo changes until the event begins, the odds will also shift forcing you to adapt your prediction to the situation.
To give you an idea about the betting volumes of football, we want to turn your attention to a verified bookmaker in New Zealand, TAB NZ. During the Qatar 2022 World Cup events, the sportsbook has paid out around $22 million to winning bettors.
According to the sports betting site, Argentina and France were the favorites from the get-go. Other than the outright betting market, the Golden Boot winner outcome was also popular and saw the most action.
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky is known not just for its fried chicken. This state also hosts the longest-running horse race in US history. On the race day, you can expect to see anywhere around 150,000 viewers. And this number doesn’t even count the thousands of punters wagering on their favorite horses online.
The event takes place annually on the first Saturday of May at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville. Out of all the racing competitions held in the US, this is the one that has the largest betting volume.
In the 144th Kentucky Derby that took place in 2017, we got to witness a record for the highest betting revenue with $209.2 million. This is a huge milestone for a one-day event. It also shows just how popular the race is among sports bettors.
Finishing Up
These games are just some of the most wagered sports online. In addition to the abovementioned tournaments, this list also includes UEFA Euro, the 17th edition of which will be held in 2024 in Germany.
We advise paying attention to this football championship if you are looking for events with big betting volumes. Also, don’t forget to check out our recent article about EURO 2024 favorites and the main contenders for gold.
As we’ve said, the events can vary depending on your location. But overall, we found these to have the largest sports betting volume by far. Start looking into them today if you want to bet on them the next time they roll around.
FAQ
Where to Check the Odds for Different Sports?
Online bookmakers will show you the odds directly on their platform. But if you want to do some of your research, bookmaker traders like OddsChecker are perfect for different major events.
Is It Worth Betting on Sporting Occasions with High Bettor Volume?
Sports with high volumes generate huge revenues for bookmakers. It’s also the ones that pay the most. If you’re in it to win it, then it’s worth placing bets on famous sporting events like the Super Bowl or FIFA World Cup.
