The Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Europe in 2023

Options such as live betting and bet builders are surging in popularity, something which was just a pipe dream to players just a decade or two ago.

04:17 28 March 2023

Sports betting has never been more popular. The boom of the smartphone has opened up a wealth of possibilities to online bookmakers, and they have taken full advantage, providing their customers with more options than ever before to bet on. Options such as live betting gand bet builders are surging in popularity, something which was just a pipe dream to players just a decade or two ago. 

Football 

Football is one of the oldest sports and the most popular in Europe. It has a huge fan base that stretches across the continent and beyond. Thus, making it the number one sport that people bet on in Europe. During the football season, the excitement and the anticipation reach huge heights, and bookmakers are busy taking bets on different games. The most popular leagues to bet on are the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, and the Italian Serie A, just to name a few. 

Nowadays, modern bookmakers allow players to bet on just about anything in the planet’s global game. Gone are the days of simply betting on a team to win, now players can bet on the total number of cards and corners, as well as interval markets — where one would bet on a certain action taking place throughout a designated time frame. And that isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. 

Tennis 

Tennis is another sport that is increasingly popular with European bettors. With the advent of technology, tennis games happen frequently, and there is always a good betting opportunity for every game. Betting on tennis is not only about a particular player winning a game but also includes other bets such as the number of sets played, the total number of games, and the first set winner. Tennis offers a lot of flexibility, which is why it is rapidly becoming another favorite sport to follow.

Cricket 

It might surprise you, but cricket is another popular sport to bet on in Europe, primarily thanks to the English's love of the 'Gentleman's Game'. Although not as popular as football, cricket offers the avid gambler a chance to watch a high-scoring sport that can result in significant wins. Betting on cricket includes common bets like match winners, totals, and handicaps. There are also more niche bets like the coin toss, first-over runs, and player stats.