The Best Sports to Bet On

What Are the Best Sports to Bet On?

Sports betting offers a thrilling mix of risk and reward, but not all sports are equal. Here’s a brief look some of the top sports in the US. 

(Note: The popularity of each sport is based on a 2023 report from Statista. The percentage represents the number of respondents that have placed wagers on said sport in the past 6 months.)

The depth of the betting markets, the types of bets you can make, and the pros and cons differ with each sport. Check out the following summaries of the most popular sports to bet on.

American Football

With its unique combination of physical prowess and strategic planning, American football is sometimes likened to human chess. This blend makes for some unique betting opportunities, such as point spreads, over/under totals, and a host of unique prop bets, like player achievements such as touchdowns and yards thrown.

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Soccer

The world’s most popular sport is catching on fast in the USA, too. Soccer provides all sorts of betting opportunities, including money line, spread betting, BTTS, guessing correct scores, accumulators, and live/in-play bets like who will score the next goal. The English Premier League, La Liga, and Major League Soccer are popular to bet on alongside tournaments like the Champions League and World Cup.

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Basketball

Fast-paced with frequent scoring and infamous highlight-reel athleticism, basketball is one of the best sports to bet on. Point spreads, over/under totals, money lines, props, parlays, and live bets all make for exciting betting opportunities. The NBA is still the biggest league to bet on, but NCAA college basketball is also hugely popular with bettors.

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Baseball

Even with a more leisurely pace, baseball provides plenty of betting action over its nine innings. Popular wagers include moneyline bets, over/under totals, run lines, prop bets like No Run First Inning (NRFI), and futures such as who will win the World Series. The U.S.-centric leagues like MLB still dominate, but international events like the World Baseball Classic are gaining traction with baseball bettors.

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Hockey

Fast-paced, thrilling, and renowned for bust-ups between players, hockey is a wild ride. Standard moneyline bets can be made alongside props like the number of saves a goalie will make, and puck line bets to wager on the margin of victory. The NHL, AHL, and KHL games are popular to bet on, with huge events like the Stanley Cup often ushering in special promos from sportsbooks.

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MMA

MMA is one of those sports where a single lucky punch or kick can change destinies. Therefore, it’s great if you like to bet on the underdog. MMA also offers unique prop bets, such as the method of victory or what round the fight will end in. The UFC, Bellator, and ONE Championship still dominate the betting markets, but smaller promos are making inroads.

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Boxing

Like MMA, anything can happen in boxing, and everything can change in a split second. Traditional organizations like the WBA, WBC, and IBF still organize the biggest fights, but there’s increased competition from Most Valuable Promotions and others arranging celebrity fights. You can bet on every fight on the card with a parlay, or place simple moneyline bets on the winner.

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Golf

The four championships attract the most attention, but others, like the Ryder Cup, are also hugely popular with bettors. As well as the usual bets, golf offers some unique ones, like Each-Way bets on a golfer to win outright and in the top five, or Head-to-Heads, where you bet on one golfer to finish higher than another.

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Other Sports to Bet On

The most popular sports to bet on (listed above) attract the most attention but don’t overlook some of the less popular ones. Some of these more niche sports offer great betting value and are exciting to wager on, too.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is one of the most popular racing sports to bet on. Big races in the US include the Triple Crown and Breeder’s Cup, while international races like the Epsom Derby and Melbourne Cup are also popular. You can wager Win, Place, Show, as well as riskier wagers like exacta, trifecta, and superfecta.

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Motorsports

When it comes to motor racing, F1 Grand Prix and NASCAR events like the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 dominate. You can bet on outright winners, Head-to-Heads between drivers, and prop bets like fastest lap times. Motorcycle racing is also quite popular, with events like Moto GP making big waves in the UK.

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Wrestling

Despite being scripted, you can bet on WWE wrestling since the outcomes are closely guarded secrets. As well as money line bets, WWE offers unique bets, such as how storylines will progress, surprise appearances, and more. You can bet on match outcomes in RAW and SmackDown, but the big events like SummerSlam, WrestleMania, and the Royal Rumble are where the real betting action happens.

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Table Tennis

Ping Pong sees more betting action than you might think. Big events like the Olympics, World Table Tennis Championships, and the ITTF World Tour are all popular to bet on. There aren’t many unique bets on table tennis, but you can wager on outright winners, point spreads, over/under totals, and prop bets like the exact score.

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Badminton

Huge in Asia, badminton is catching on with international bettors. You can bet on who will win matches or sets, total points scored, and props like the total number of sets in a match or achievements like perfect serves. Events like the All England Open, the BWF World Championships, and the Thomas and Uber Cup are popular badminton events to bet on.

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Volleyball

Volleyball and beach volleyball are gaining ground with bettors. You can bet on set and match winners, total points and point spreads, the outcomes of major leagues and tournaments, and props like the number of blocks, aces, or attacks. The big events like the NCAA Championship and the Olympics draw the most attention, but the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) provides plenty of ongoing betting action.

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Cricket

Complex and strategic, cricket can seem slow-paced to outsiders, but to fans, it’s riveting. As well as betting on matches and tournament outcomes, cricket offers some unique bets like total runs, top batsman/bowler, and props like whether a century will occur. The Indian Premier League (IPL), The Ashes, and the ICC Cricket World Cup are the biggest cricket events to bet on, but there are plenty of others.

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How to Choose the Best Sports to Bet on For You

Each bettor is unique, and what one person likes to bet on won’t necessarily work for another. The following are some criteria you can use to narrow it down and find out the best sport to bet on for you.

Amount of Betting Coverage

Are you the type who wants to bet every day or week, or do you prefer a flutter a few times per year? Think about the types of wagers offered as well as the number of games and events surrounding each sport. Leagues like the NBA and NFL have a vast wealth of props and traditional wagers available, while sports like table tennis don’t have as much variety.

Sportsbook Odds

Your job as a bettor is to find value. Compare sportsbooks and see if the odds they offer are similar or whether they diverge significantly. You might find that value on NASCAR odds is much better than the MLB. If you’re interested in betting for profit, sometimes you should expand your horizons and look at sports you don’t normally watch.

Promotions and Popularity

Sports betting sites are more likely to offer promos on popular sports like soccer, basketball, and MMA. You won’t necessarily score a free bet on Ping Pong, but you might on soccer as the World Cup nears. Look at the promos offered by each site.

Number of Leagues

How many leagues and events does each sport have? Is it a small scene (Pickleball) or a huge one (Soccer), and what does that mean for you? There’s regular action on most sports, but the major ones will have more leagues and events to bet on and deeper betting markets with more varieties of bets available.

Extra Features

Some betting sites offer extra features linked to specific sports. Live streaming, expert commentary, and features like early cashouts on bets are more likely available for popular sports with lots of demand.

Expert Tips

Now you have some idea of the best sports to bet on, it’s time to get some advice from our experts. These sports betting tips can help you make better decisions and avoid pitfalls.

What is the best way to make money betting on sports?

Answer

Taylor Smith,

Unlike casino games of pure chance, sports betting involves some skill. The more you know about a sport, the more you’re likely to make intelligent bets. Utilize information such as historical stats and your own intuition to make better bets. Also, use free bets and other such promos to boost your bankroll.

Is sports betting rigged?

Answer

Taylor Smith,

The bookmaker always sets odds in such a way that he’s virtually guaranteed to make money. This doesn’t mean you can’t win, just that whatever happens, he’ll come out with a profit. Sports betting is not rigged, per se, but you’ll never meet a poor bookmaker.

Understanding vigorish (‘vig’ or ‘juice’) can help you identify which wagers are most profitable for the sportsbook. You want to steer clear of wagers with high vig.

Is sports betting illegal?

Answer

Taylor Smith,

Some U.S. States have legalized sports betting, while others have left it unregulated. It’s rarely illegal to bet on sports, and even in the handful of states where it is, prosecutions are unheard of. Players in states without legal sports betting can use offshore sites to place wagers with total peace of mind. Check out this page on USA sports betting for more information.

How to Get Started on Sports Betting

If you’re ready to make some wagers, there are a couple of steps left to complete.

First, you might want to read our sports betting guide for beginners. It will walk you through any remaining questions, such as how to make a bet online and common mistakes to avoid.

Second, you need to sign up on one of the top sports betting sites. Many of them offer free bets and promos to get you started, and the wagers they offer can vary greatly, so be sure to assess your options. 

You can learn more about how we rank the top betting sites here.

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Responsible Gambling

Sports betting is supposed to be a fun pastime. It is not a reliable way to make money or resolve financial problems. If you feel you have a gambling problem, please utilize the following resources to get help urgently.

• Gamblers’ Anonymous
• 1-800-GAMBLER

Best Sport to Wager on Summary

Some of the most popular sports to bet on include American football, basketball, soccer, and baseball. More niche sports like motor racing, table tennis, and wrestling also provide some betting value if you’re an astute gambler. 

As you start your sports betting journey, remember that you should always back up your wagers with a bit of research. Choose a sport you’re familiar with to give yourself an edge. 
Picking a high-quality sports betting site is also crucial to your success, as they have a wide range of competitive wagers, bonuses, and betting data to put you on the right track.