The United States is known far and wide for their incredibly popular sports leagues. Any fan of basketball has watched, or at least heard about the National Basketball Association. On top of that, the NFL, the NHA, and MLB are all incredibly popular. Unsurprisingly, all of these leagues are incredibly popular to bet on. However, the question is what are the most popular betting sports in the USA? In this article, we are going to find that out.
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Football (Pro and College)
In the United States, football is, by far, the most popular sport. The sport originates in the 1900s, and is likely inspired by rugby and soccer. Football is so tied to the American national identity, that to the rest of the world it is known as “American football,” though this could be to distinct it from soccer.
Of course, the most popular football league is the National Football League. Watched by millions of Americans annually, the NFL has fans all over the country. The Super Bowl is one of the most anticipated and beloved events in the world of sports, watched even by people who don’t usually watch football.
However, what is impressive is that college football is, in some ways, just as popular as the NFL. Americans take college ball very seriously; the scene can lead to a lot bright futures for many players. It is, therefore, not surprising at all that college football rivals the NFL in many ways, including betting. Many sportsbooks provide exciting NCAAF betting lines and offers. On top of that, if you find quality sportsbooks, they will undoubtedly come with good odds, and even some extra promotions.
Baseball (MLB)
Often called “America’s favorite pastime,” baseball is just as much a part of national identity as apple pie. The history of the sport is quite murky, however, most agree that it was created in the mid-19th century. Very soon, it won the hearts and minds of most Americans.
Today, baseball is one of the most popular betting sports. Websites offer plenty of favorites and picks, and cover games extensively. Indeed, the game has garnered a lot of attention within in its country of origin. Unlike football, however, baseball has also attained some international fame as well.
Countries like Japan, South Korea, China, many parts of Europe, and even some African countries have a vibrant baseball culture. International baseball is incredibly popular, with a lot of following, and plenty of betting options, both online and offline.
Basketball (Pro and College)
James Naismith, a Canadian-American physician and educator, was looking for a way to get his students interested in sports. To do this, he created his own sport, which involved shooting a ball through a basket hoop. Naturally, he named this new game basketball.
Since Naismith, basketball has taken a life of its own. It has especially become popular in Eastern European countries, including Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and more. However, though FIBA may have gotten a lot of acclaim, the NBA remains the most popular basketball league in the world.
Obviously, the National Basketball Association is the biggest draw in the United States, basketball-wise. Naturally, the NBA also draws in the most amount of bettors. Both the Eastern and Western Conferences are incredibly popular among betting sites. However, just like football, the college basketball scene is also incredibly popular.
Soccer (MLS)
To many people, the four big leagues in America are the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. However, recently, Major League Soccer has overtaken the National Hockey League in terms of popularity and enjoyment. Naturally, with the growth of soccer in the USA, a lot of Americans are becoming more interested in the sport.
Many might know that soccer is, undoubtedly, the most popular sport worldwide. There are over 3 billion fans around the globe that passionately follow all of the games and leagues in the world. And though the MLS is only recently growing in popularity, it has already become a fan favorite among football fans.
If you have any interest in betting on football, we would recommend giving Major League Soccer games a try. However, if you would prefer to try out other leagues from around the world, the most popular ones are the following:
- The English Premier League
- The French Ligue 1
- The Spanish La Liga
- The Italian Serie A
- The German Bundesliga
Boxing
For most of human history, fighting has been a staple of every culture. Different cultures have developed different martial arts, combat techniques, and fighting styles. However, all of these can be traced back to two originators: boxing and wrestling.
Boxing is the prototypical “striking” combat system. It was first mentioned in the written records in 6000 BC, more than 8000 years ago. However, many historians believe it dates much further back than that. Whatever the case may be, its endurance is certainly proof of its incredible popularity.
Sportsbooks now cover boxing competitions from all over the world. The sport has recently gotten a whole new bump in popularity, in large part thanks to influencer boxing events like Misfits, Creator Clash, and more. Naturally, a lot more people are betting on the sport now than ever. Not only that, but boxing has also led the way to other combat sports, most notable of which is mixed martial arts.
Honorable Mentions
Apart from the five sports we’ve discussed in this article, Americans love betting on a wide variety of different sports. Before we close off this article, let us discuss some of the other popular games that Americans love to place bets on.
- Hockey
For a long time, the NHL has endured as one of the most popular sports in the country. Though it has largely been overtaken recently, it remains an incredibly beloved game.
- Golf
Surprisingly, golf is also quite popular. One of the reasons for golf’s popularity is that it is an all-year round sport. Much like the next entry.
- Tennis
Lastly, tennis remains one of the USA’s favorite betting sports. The US Open is one of the most beloved tennis tournaments in the world.
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