The world of online betting gives players the chance to bet on just about anything and everything they can think of from politics to TV shows. However, the real stand out avenue of choice is undeniably sports betting. Sports betting has arguably been around since the days of the ancient Greeks but formed in the way we are familiar with in 1876. It has grown exponentially since then to become the dominant force in the betting world.
Want to know
how to bet on American football? Or, how about finding out
how to bet on darts? Online bookmakers offer their punters a diverse array of different sports betting options from boxing, athletics, tennis and golf to football, horse racing and rugby. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to what you can place your bets on when it comes to sporting events. Bookmakers will also offer sports betting odds on the more obscure sports to punters with a taste for the truly different.
Betting on sports in this day and age can be difficult to find what sports are the best to bet on, what sports are most profitable and what sports offer you the best chance for success. As such, we will take you through all the things you need to know when approaching the world of online sports betting.
Our top picks: Best sportsbook sites for beginners
1.
BetMGM UK Sports Bonus
Bet £10 Get £40
Highlights
- Huge sports coverage
- Competitive odds
- Live streaming
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x Free Bets: x1 £10 Football, x1 £10 Acca, x 1 £10 BetBuilder, x1 £10 Horse Racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. Exclusions Apply. T&Cs apply.
2.
10bet Sports Bonus
100% up to £50
Highlights
- Plethora of betting markets
- Great odds on popular events
- Live streaming feature available
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+
3.
Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
Betfred Sports Bonus
Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
Highlights
- Incredible 400% Welcome Bonus
- Wide Choice of Markets
- Clear and great structured Page
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.
4.
Bet £10 and Get a £10 Free Bet
bzeebet Sports Bonus
Bet £10 and Get a £10 Free Bet
Highlights
- Limits for all
- Great market coverage
- HD streams
5.
Ladbrokes Sports Bonus
Bet £5 Get £20
Highlights
- Good design makes the website simple to use
- Excellent range of sports and betting markets
- Good mobile site and apps available for both iOS and Android
New UK+IRE customers only. Promo code: 20FREE. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
Understanding the Range of Sports Betting Options
With so many different sports to choose from, it is important to note the differences between them. You may be a fan of a particular sport and as such may not choose to venture into anything different. However, should you choose to expand your sports betting portfolio, you will need to know what sets certain sports apart from one another.
You may for example, be a fan of strictly placing your bets on football matches such as the English Premier League or the Bundesliga. UK sports betting is particularly invested in football wagering. Football is a team sport and is vastly different from say golf or tennis. This means that not only is the sport different but the way in which you bet on that sport is too. Football will offer betting types such as “first goalscorer”, “last goalscorer”, “halftime score”, “full-time score”, “scorecast”, “correct score” and “total goals”. There are of course additional types of combined bets and asian handicap bets you can place but in terms of how the sport allows you to bet, this is what you will find.
A sport such as tennis will have its own types of betting that may in some instances be similar to football betting. Tennis is an individual sport that will share a handful of betting types with football, however these betting types are inherently different due to the differences in the sports. Tennis will offer betting types such as “correct score”, “score after first set”, “outright winner” or “over/under”. While they are similar to the football betting types, they are referring to things like “set scores” and the “total number of sets played”. In this guide you can learn how to make the “best Tennis Predictions“. Markets you can bet on even go as far as how many winners will be hit or how many unforced errors will be made.
When going forward with your sports betting endeavours, it is always important to note the differences in the types of bets pertaining to contrasting sports. Should you be looking to branch out with your betting, make sure you understand these differences.
Favourite Sports to Wager On
The popularity of certain sports will of course not influence what you as the punter enjoy betting on. You may be a fan of the more obscure sports but it is still worth knowing what the most popular sports are. The current state of popularity in the sporting world would indicate that the most popular sport is far and away football. Not to be mistaken with American football, football (or soccer) receives by far the most sporting bets annually because it is beloved on a global scale by millions of people.
While football dominates the sports betting world there are several other sports that deserve an honourable mention for the amount of bets they receive. Horse race betting was one of the original sports to be bet on and has remained a constant in the online betting industry with horse racing events taking place all over the world.
Boxing has also grown into a global brand over the years, in particular with the heavyweight bouts that take place. It is a tenacious and vicious environment that excites people and as such entices them into betting on who they believe will win the fight.
Another sport that has grabbed the interest of sports bettors alike, is tennis. Tennis has several famous names such as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic that have attracted the attention of millions of people and as a result many sports betting fanatics. The betting can be tricky as the quality of world class tennis players has increased, making the choice of outright winner quite difficult.
As we have mentioned, at the end of the day it comes down to your own preference when it comes to what sports you decide to bet on.
Which Sports Offer the Most Profitable Returns?
Nailing down what exactly the most profitable sport for betting is can be a difficult ask. However, it is easy to see what sports on average pay out the best winnings. In this case, football is not only the most popular but also on average the most enticing for sports betting odds. This is undoubtedly as a result of its global appeal, as online bookmakers will have greater capacity to offer better odds. The sport itself can also be unpredictable, making an underdog win more likely than in perhaps American football or rugby.
In terms of the biggest payouts, we would be remiss not to mention horse racing as it will oftentimes pay out massive winnings. It may not be as popular as football, but horse racing can at times offer incredible odds on races that give punters the chance of enjoying substantial wins off the back of one race. In this case, the underdog can run an unexpectedly excellent race.
Your Most Commonly Asked Sports Betting Questions
Sports betting can be exhilarating at times but not everyone is clued up about what sports betting entails. There are many things to look out for and many questions that need answering for newer punters that are venturing into the world of sports betting. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions to get you started:
Quite simply the answer is no. However, when it comes to betting in general, no matter what the event or sport is, it will only serve you to have a better understanding of what it is you are betting on. Increasing your base knowledge of a sport you are interested in will aid you in being more successful with your betting. You may also want to start your sports betting journey on a sport that you are already familiar with.
And remember, we’ve got plenty of guides to help you along your betting journey. From
how to bet on golf
and our
wrestling betting tips
to many of the more niche sports out there.
There is really no correct answer here, despite it being a question that is so frequently asked. It comes down to your own interests in certain sports and what sport you have the most knowledge of. Stick to what you know best and what interests you the most.
There are many paths you can take to increase your ability to place smarter bets. For example, it is a good idea to consult best sports betting strategies or a sports betting guide for whatever sport it is you have chosen to place your wagers on.
Sports betting online can absolutely be safe but it is up to you to make sure you at least do some research on the online bookmaker you are interested in before signing up. Most online bookmakers are absolutely safe and we go to great lengths to feature these here on Betastic, but if you need more assurance there are plenty of reviews out there for you to read on what bookmakers you should be avoiding.
Final Conclusion- Choosing Your Best Sports Bet
As you can see, sports betting has many facets to consider when it comes to the different sports, betting types and what the most profitable sports are. All of these factors need to be considered to some degree when you are starting your sports betting journey. At the end of the day, it is completely up to you as the punter to decide which sport interests you the most and what sports you are most knowledgeable in.
Sports betting online can be a fun and exciting experience, as long as you have chosen a quality, trustworthy bookmaker to wager your bets with. Once you have done this, there is nothing stopping you from potentially winning big on the sports that you love. Want to know
how to bet on basketball? We’ve got a guide for that. Maybe you’re after a guide on
how to bet on baseball? We’re here to help!