Betting is often misunderstood and even demonized. Of course, betting addiction is a real thing that can ruin people’s lives. Those with addictive personality traits or other predispositions should definitely stay away from it.
However, as the sports betting statistics that we prepared for you will illustrate, most people can have a more casual relationship with betting. Some can even turn it into a relatively stable source of income.
So, without further ado, let’s start with the fascinating stats and facts about sports betting.
The Top 10 Sports Betting Statistics and Facts
- The annual worldwide gross gambling yield is higher than $400 billion.
- Betting generated the equivalent of $3.36 billion in Great Britain in 2020.
- Close to 50% of adults in the US made a sports bet at least once in their life.
- Sports betting is 30% and 40% of the worldwide gambling market.
- A third of the global gambling gross win comes from Asia.
- In 2018, sports betting was legalized by the US Supreme Court.
- In the US, the sports betting revenue forecast for 2021 is $2.5 billion.
- CS:GO accounted for 53% of total esports bets made in 2020
- In 2017, football was the sport with the most placed bets in the United States.
- The online worldwide gambling market amounted to over $40 billion in 2016.
Impressive Global Sports Betting Statistics
Betting is a popular form of entertainment worldwide, and the statistics below prove just how lucrative it is.
1. Sports betting numbers reveal that the annual worldwide gross gambling yield is higher than $400 billion.
(Statista)
The gross yield is the money gambling establishments receive from consumers as bets, minus the amount they have to pay out as winnings. It’s true what they say, the house always wins, and these sports betting industry statistics are the proof.
2. Around 33% of the entire gambling gross win comes from Asia.
(Statista)
This is not surprising, considering that sports betting statistics show that Asia is the largest sports betting market globally. This is partly due to the sheer number of people living there.
Most of their other industries are also currently booming, which reflects on the amounts of money people are willing to spend on betting.
3. The online worldwide gambling market amounted to over $40 billion in 2016.
(Statista)
The amounts of money that get cited in online sports betting statistics didn’t get that high overnight. The numbers gradually grew over the years.
In 2009, this market was valued at approximately $20 billion. Most likely, it will only increase in value in the years to come.
Furthermore, it is expected to go to about $100 billion by 2026.
4. About 50% of adults in the US placed bets on sporting events at least once in their life, as per sports betting stats.
(Statista)
In the US, you need to be 18 or 21 years old to be eligible for sports betting, depending on the state.
There are many countries without such age regulations, where even minors can bet on sports events. However, there’s not much available information on these sports betting demographics.
5. The worldwide online gambling market is expected to reach a value close to $93 billion by 2023 as online betting rates continue to rise.
(Statista)
In 2019, the market was valued at nearly $59 billion, meaning that this forecast predicts a truly impressive growth. Besides sports betting, the online gambling market also includes casino games, poker, etc.
Nonetheless, the already insane sports betting trends are only expected to get crazier with time.
6. In 2017, football was the sport with the most placed bets in the United States.
(Statista)
Statistics on sports betting by Statista from 2017 tell us that a whopping 77% of respondents stated they had placed bets on football at least once during their life.
Football is a real obsession among sports fans in the US and about 30% of the population watches football.
Other sports don’t really come anywhere near it, with basketball coming in second place with 24% and horse racing third with 20%.
7. In 2020, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive sports betting rates accounted for 53% of total esports bets made that year.
(European Gaming Congress)
Esports betting statistics are often disregarded, but esports are rapidly becoming as popular as traditional sports, and so is betting on them.
Other games that attract a lot of attention are Dota 2, with 35% of the total share, and League of Legends with 7% of the claim.
8. League of Legends recorded the highest average bets for esports with $39.
(European Gaming Congress)
Speaking of esports betting volume trends, the other previously mentioned games, CS:GO and Dota 2, had low bets overall, both averaging around $25.50.
The highest winnings from a single wager came from betting on CS:GO, where one lucky winner got nearly $8,000, only investing about $25, with the odds of winning of 327 to 1.
9. In 2020, the betting market generated the equivalent of $3.36 billion in Great Britain.
(Statista)
Sports betting statistics for 2020 clearly show that the betting market is a critical piece of the gambling industry. Even so, it was more profitable in 2019, when it was valued at around $4.57 billion.
A considerable drop was expected due to the global pandemic, but the difference is still too big.
10. In 2020, the gross gambling yield of remote and online gambling amounted to $8 billion in Great Britain.
(Statista)
Do you think it’s a coincidence that online betting trends thrived in these harsh times? Well, the answer is no.
Compared to 2019, unlike offline betting, the remote segment grew by about $600 million. In just four years, the number of newly registered online bettors in Great Britain has quadrupled.
11. In the US, the forecast for revenue from sports betting for 2021 is $2.5 billion.
(Statista)
The sports betting statistics for 2021 could turn out to be different, but it’s almost certain that the future looks bright. According to Statista, the industry revenue forecast for 2025 is dazzling $8 billion, and that’s just in the US.
Sports Betting Facts Everyone Should Know
Betting on sports can be a lot of fun. The facts below show just how entertaining and widespread it really is.
12. Sports betting makes up between 30% and 40% of the entire worldwide gambling market.
(Statista)
It’s difficult to calculate this market’s exact value due to inconsistencies in the regulations in different countries. This means that there are many potentially interesting facts about sports betting that we simply have no way of finding out.
As we already mentioned, the remaining 60% to 70% percent of the gambling market is divided between casinos, lotteries, poker, and other gambling types.
13. Some of the leading sports betting services include Bet365, Bwin, Betfair, Ladbrokes, Unibet, and many others.
(Statista)
These platforms can turn quite a profit. For example, William Hill had an impressive $2.37 billion sports betting revenue in 2015. The total amount that was staked or wagered with the company that year was much higher, close to $13.3 billion.
14. In 2018, sports betting was legalized by the US Supreme Court.
(Statista)
Online gambling companies have since been a growing part of the sports betting segment and gaining more prominence in sports betting statistics.
Companies that were quick to take advantage of the new status of online sports betting include Paddy Power, William Hill, 888 Holdings, and Ladbrokes Coral Group.
15. Thinking that betting at high odds brings the most profit is a common misconception, and statistics about sports betting confirm this.
(GamblingSites)
For the uninitiated, betting at high odds makes sense when they see the potential payout—however, the chances of payout drop drastically with higher odds.
That’s why professional bettors prefer making many smaller and safer bets to going all out. That way, they can stay in the black, or even profit, by winning just over 52%–53% of their bets.
16. One of the most widely spread false online sports betting facts is that online betting isn’t safe.
(GamblingSites)
A lot of people don’t trust online betting sites, even the best ones. Online betting is still relatively new, even though it has been around for about two decades.
It’s not surprising that people were wary of online betting back in the day. However, nowadays, online betting is much better regulated. Money transfers are safer, and any would-be scammers are quickly exposed.
FAQ
What percentage of sports bettors win?
Even the most experienced sports bettors only have a 55% win rate at best. More commonly, they win 53% or 54% of the time. You’d think the numbers go up to at least 60%, but that is simply not the case in the long term.
(ProffesionalGambler)
What is the hardest sport to bet on?
According to GamblingSites.org, the hardest sport to bet on is baseball. The reason for this is the unpredictable nature of this beloved American sport. Furthermore, the game seasons are too long, the players’ performance varies a lot, etc.
(GamblingSites)
Is sport betting profitable?
The short answer to the question is yes, sports betting can definitely be profitable. However, the long answer is very complex.
In short, sports betting can be lucrative if you’re smart, patient, and have a lot of experience. Even though luck still plays a significant role, this type of betting is much more skill-based than, for instance, casino betting.
(LiveAbout)
What is the most profitable sport to bet on?
It’s the million-dollar question, and the short answer would probably be football, but there’s more to it.
In the US, sports bettors and just about everyone else are passionate about football. When people are very invested in a sport, they keep learning about it. Therefore the most profitable sport is the one you’re most familiar with.
For some, it’s football. For others, it’s basketball, and for Europeans, it’s soccer. You get the gist.
(USBettingReport)
Conclusion
While sports betting statistics can also be interesting to people who are not huge sports buffs, they may still seem a little extreme.
Professional sports bettors take betting very seriously and base their decisions on the available stats and their experience. As such, they are a great source of information on the subject.
If you are a casual player who just wants to have some fun without getting in too deep, take advice from the professionals. They meticulously follow the latest sports betting trends and charts. The key is to avoid high odds, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
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