With betting becoming legal in different countries, there has been a new interest in worldwide sporting events. On the one hand, fans are eager to support their favourite teams and players, along with the opportunity to make money. On the other, governments have realised that legalising betting can result in high revenues. Countries such as Canada and the UK have been leading this trend and have a well-organised legal network of betting options that have been profitable for the punters and the respective lawmakers.
When we look at sports betting from the viewpoint of a newcomer, there are two ways to go about it. Either a bettor can merely follow a team they support, in a sport they know about. Alternatively, they can do some research and indulge in different games throughout the world to increase their chances of winning big. Before placing a bet though, it is essential to review the best online sports betting sites. These reviews not only help the bettor know more about the various sign-up bonuses, but also the advance odds, customer service, mobile app availability, and live betting options that are on offer.
Once you have the bookmaker you want to work with all set, it is best to spread your bets across various sports to aim for maximum earnings. Here are five options that top the charts in popularity and money-making.
Soccer
As the most watched sports in the world, soccer is also among the most lucrative for betting purposes. Football matches happen throughout the year in various leagues, most of which bookmakers cover. With the betting industry trades going into the trillions, it is no surprise that 70% of this income is from soccer. The cherry on the football cake is the FIFA World Cup which takes place every four years but still manages to accumulate the maximum number of bets.
Boxing
For a beginner, boxing is relatively more comfortable to bet on. Unlike team sports, the punter can focus on just the two boxers and analyse their past performances to get a reasonably good idea of who will win. However, it is pertinent to note that most sporting events have the basic winner bet, but for a bit more fun it is also possible to bet on other aspects of the game. For example, in boxing one can set a wager on the total number of rounds the fight will go on for, or if there will be a knock-out or not.
Cricket
Even though gambling is still illegal in many countries that play international Cricket, money changes hands quite frequently whenever there is a significant tournament. From the Cricket World Cup to the phenomenon that is the Indian Premier League, if you know the basics of cricket, you will see that it makes for a perfect betting-worthy sport.
Ice Hockey
Even though a few countries play ice hockey, its popularity is immense. Although fans follow both domestic and international games, it is the World Championships where betting is at an all-time high. Knowledge about the game and the team you plan to bet on can be quite favourable in this case. If you are unsure, the best way to go about it is to place your bets on a few top teams.
Horse Racing
The sport with which betting is synonymous, horse racing is ideal for novices as well as professional gamblers. Newcomers will be happy to note that most races have many types of bets available from selecting the winner to picking three horses who might score a ranking. You can typically bet as low as you want or as high as your budget will allow. As a result, horse racing is a very versatile sport that is also thrilling to watch.