Top 10 Best Sports to Bet On

1. Football

There’s no better place to begin this list than with football, arguably the most popular sport in the world. A fan favourite, it is also the most popular betting sport around. Football stars are not the only ones chasing viewers’ attention, as there are many competitive odds to stake on from hundreds of games and markets. 

Football betting is almost a science, and there is a surprising amount of depth to be uncovered before you become a pro punter. It is also a hugely popular and widely available market, so finding something worthwhile to bet on should be easy. On the flip side, the abundance of choice can be pretty overwhelming. 

Some of the best things to bet on with football are:

• Double Chance: There are three game outcomes in football; win, draw and lose. Double chance markets let you pick two out of the three, which significantly improves your chances of winning.
• First Goalscorer: This is exactly as the name implies; a market that lets you choose which player will score the first goal. It’s an exciting market that has high risks and great rewards, especially in derby matches.
• Both Teams to Score: instead of risking it all on who wins the match, this market lets you pick the option of both teams in a match scoring. It doesn’t matter what the game outcome is, as long as both goalies had to pull the ball out of their net at least once.

2. Tennis

One of the greatest sports to bet on is the game of tennis. Whether it’s one-on-one or two-on-two, tennis competitions are highly regarded as one of the most exciting sports ever. And in all fairness, very little can match the action of a keenly contested tennis match. Placing a bet only takes the tension and excitement up a notch, especially as you can bet on every point, set and game. Granted, it may not pull as much as football regularly does, but with Grand Slam events like Wimbledon or Roland Garros, tennis has some great betting periods. Also, thanks to less strict licensing rules, live streaming events is a fantastic way to catch up. 

Here are some factors that make tennis one of the best sports to bet on:

• Placing a bet on tennis increases the excitement of an already thrilling sport.
• Live coverage capabilities are amazing.
• There are lots of available markets, as tennis betting splits the game into different segments.

Of course, if you are not a fan of the sport, it will be a tough sale to you as a punter, too. It can be a bit of an acquired taste, but don’t let that stop you from benefiting from one of the most exciting sports betting markets.

Speaking of markets, some interesting ones in tennis betting are:

• First set winner: this is a bet on who will win the opening set of the match.
• Handicap betting: sometimes underdogs face top talents in gruelling matches, especially in the big tournaments. To even things out, tennis betting has handicaps similar to football, except instead of goals, games or even sets are given.
• Totals Betting: one of the best things to bet on is how many games will be won in total by both players. You might be familiar with its other name, the over/under markets. Again, it’s a similar concept to football betting, but instead of betting the total number of goals, you are betting on games instead. The main thing to remember is that you will win if the number of games is over or under a number given by the bookie, depending on how you placed your bet. If the match somehow ends with the exact number of games given by the market, the stake is refunded, and no one wins.

3. Horse Racing

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports to bet on. Thanks to “best odds guaranteed” promotions, it offers some genuinely fantastic odds on specific matches.

The widely available coverage makes the betting experience personal, even if you can’t watch the games live. Sure, horse racing is very different to other sports on this list, but the wide range of markets and possibilities makes it the best sport to bet on for many punters. 

Here are some advantages of horse race betting:

• It is one of the most popular sports in the betting world.
• It has great live coverage.
• It features many unique promotions.

The one issue new punters may have with horse racing bets is that horses can be unpredictable, and it’s difficult accurately predicting placements, even with clear favourites. It takes an experienced punter to know all of the factors affecting horses and their riders, giving the best chances of making accurate predictions.

Notable Markets:

• Win: This is a bet on a horse to win, as the name implies.
• Place: A bet that a horse will finish in first or second place.
• Show: A bet placed on a horse to finish first, second, or third.

4. Cricket

There are few games that you can lose yourself in like cricket. This is a great sport to bet on, with numerous markets and variations,  from the Twenty20 game to Test Cricket.

Even better? All good cricket betting sites let you choose what type of cricket match or game you want to place a bet on. Cricket betting raises the stakes on an already dynamic game, pushing the excitement to the next level.

Cricket betting has depth unlike any other, a fantastic market selection and the ability to help people understand the beautiful game better. One notable con is that cricket games tend to last for a long time, which may try the nerves of impatient punters.

Notable Markets:

• Innings Runs
• Team of the Top Bowler
• Coin Toss Winner

5. Rugby

It might not be the most popular sport, but it is undoubtedly one of the best sports for betting. Rugby countries are extremely passionate about the sport, and it’s easy to see why. There is something for everyone, from the diehard expert fan betting thoughtful stakes to the newcomers placing heartfelt and straightforward bets. One problem is a lack of coverage compared to some other sports. On the other hand, rugby betting has many over/under markets and rich tournaments to bet on.

Notable Markets:

• Tournament Top Scorer
• Winning Margin
• Team To Score the First Try

6. Boxing

Boxing is kind of the black sheep here, in the sense that there really isn’t a fixed calendar for the fights. Despite this, it is arguably the most profitable sport to bet on. You never know where or when it’ll happen before it’s announced, but when a fight is scheduled, it’s an exciting time for both betting and boxing fans.

Big fights usually mean big promotions, with operators trying to outdo each other with lucrative offers. Considering how exciting boxing already is as a sport, and you’ve got a recipe for a fun night, except when live streaming limitations come in.

Notable Markets:

• Method of Victory: This is a simple bet that tries to guess how the fight will end – through a KO, TKO, or a point-based victory.
• Round Group Betting: A bet on how many rounds the match will last.
• Go The Distance: a betting option for if you think the fight will go all the way.

7. MMA/UFC

One of the best things to bet on is mixed martial arts. Thankfully, just as the sport features many more moves than boxing does, so too can you find a lot more markets and coverage.

MMA has everything from huge fights and major events to competitive odds and big promotions. It also has a much more consistent schedule, allowing you to bet on fights regularly. That also offers plenty of avenues to conduct research on fighters and events. This is something that betting experts can easily take advantage of.

The major drawback of MMA are the high pay-per-view costs.

Notable Markets:

• Method of Victory: Same as in boxing.
• First Round Victory: MMA fights ending in the first round.
• Draw No Bet: if neither contestant comes out as a winner, the draw option is nullified, and it’s almost as if you never made a bet.

8. Esports

Thinking outside the box can often be the best way to bet. And there is nothing as out of the box when it comes to sports as its newest addition:  eSports. 

Esports offer one of the largest ranges of betting markets, with numerous games offering bets on everything from the number of goals scored in sports games to the first kill in a multiplayer shooter or the first team to win a match in a team-based objective-capture game.

The only con to esports is that the odds are a little less competitive than traditional sports.

Notable Markets:

• Map Winner: Which team will win the map that’s currently being played.
• First Blood: Who will make the first kill in a first-person shooter game.
• Handicap Bets: These work like handicaps in other sports, giving advantages to those who choose to bet on the underdogs.

9. NBA

As the most prominent basketball league in the world, NBA basketball is one of the best sports to bet on. 

Everything with basketball happens so fast, and this lightning-fast pace is what makes it exciting. It also makes it a fantastic option for prop and live betting. And if you’re a punter who relies on stats, you’re in luck – NBA’s teams are very established and play each other regularly, so there is plenty of information to base your strategies on.

Notable Markets:

• Race To 30 Points: Pick which team will be first to reach 30 points. The number here can be anything; 30 is just an example.
• Quarter Winner: Pick the winner of a single quarter in a game.
• Conference Winner: Place a bet on who will win the eastern or western conference.

10. American Football

Much like rugby, American Football is one of the most exciting and easiest sports to bet on.

In addition to the vast betting opportunities the NFL has, there is a similarity with the NBA, in that the teams are well-established, play each other regularly and have created a shared history. The cherry on top would be the Superbowl, a truly unique sporting event. Limited coverage may have been a hamper in the past, but these days many bookies include NFL options, making it easier than ever to get in on the action.

Notable Markets:

• NFL Draft Specials: Features bets on players who will become NFL Draft picks.
• Superbowl Winner: The name says it all – you bet on the Superball winner here.
• Over/Under Points: Predict the number of points in total at the final whistle. This is exactly the same bet as the ones we previously covered for other sports.