The United States is a nation that loves its sports. Across the country, viewers watch in their millions as the biggest events play out live. This is also a major destination for top athletes, and that lift in quality helps to boost sporting interest here.
Since 2018, the rules on sports betting in the USA have been relaxed, leading to more options for bettors to get involved. But which of those sports do US citizens like to bet on?
Table of Contents
State of the Nation
As more States look to follow in the footsteps of New Jersey and come on board in 2024, it’s easier to stake on the markets than ever before. As we move through the New Year, more states such as California will continue to get involved in an industry that pours millions of dollars into state coffers.
Some regions remain firmly closed to the practice, while more are beginning to realize that the best approach is to legalize and regulate sports betting. It’s now become a popular option for many sports lovers who place a wager ahead of watching their favorite games.
In the legal states, there are a variety of online sportsbooks to choose from offering lots of promotions and bonuses for punters to redeem on their first bets placed. Some states may only allow a couple of sportsbooks to operate in their area, like Florida which has allowed Hard Rock Florida sportsbook to be the main online betting provider to punters in the Florida state.
The Big Leagues
Whenever anyone assesses sports leagues in the United States, reference is always made to the big four leagues. NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB cover American football, hockey, basketball, and baseball.
These are the most popular sports across America, both from a viewing and betting standpoint. Football is a distinctively American pastime in terms of participation, but it does attract a global audience.
In terms of all four disciplines, each is the biggest of its kind in the world. All four have large followings inside the USA, but the reach of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey extends far beyond.
Remember that Americans also like to bet on professional sports and the college game. The best sportsbooks offering services to the USA will make sure that college sport has extensive coverage.
Bubbling Under
Behind America’s most popular sports, many bettors also like to follow soccer. This attracts the most interest among the wider, global betting community, and there are many from the US who stake in games.
The United States has its own professional competition, Major League Soccer, but fans like to follow big leagues from all over the world.
Tennis and golf are also attractive to American viewers and bettors. The PGA Golf Tour is the biggest of its kind, and it attracts the best players. A high percentage of top tennis players are also American, and that helps to drive added interest.
Other sports tend to be more niche, but sportsbooks will also list motorsport, volleyball, darts, winter sports and much more.
What to Look for
Sports have become popular among bettors for two reasons. Firstly, there must be interest as a spectacle, and those sports that attract the most viewers will also offer a big draw for the betting community.
It also helps to attract more bettors if the event has a good mix of bet types. In team sports, bettors can stake on the result, but they have more scope to consider additional side bets, known as ‘props.’
There is total betting which relates to the number of points, goals or runs scored in the game. It’s also possible to stake on individual performances including which player will score the first goal in a soccer match or the first touchdown in a football game.
The wider availability of different bet types also helps to make these sports more popular within the betting community in the United States.
An Industry Success Story
Global revenue from the sports betting industry continues to rise, and it traditionally performs well, even when the overall economy is weak. In the United States, the sector is on track to complete another record-breaking year, with figures at $7.2 billion for the first three quarters of 2023.
Those numbers have already matched the entire USA betting industry revenue from 2022, and that’s a clear indication of how popular sports betting is here. The figures have grown steadily since new legislation was introduced by the US Supreme Court in 2018, and the addition of new, accessible states helps revenue increase.
On a global scale, growth is steadier, but revenue from the sector continues to build year-on-year. It means that the United States is a big driver of that increase, and it will be fascinating to see if the numbers start to slow down now that more states have opened up to sports betting.
Whatever the picture may be in the years that follow, favorite sports across the country are unlikely to change. Americans favor football, hockey, baseball, and basketball, and these will always draw the biggest audiences. Tennis, golf, soccer, and horse racing are also popular, and these are all set to remain the biggest sports to bet on moving forward.
