Sport is part of daily life in the UK: it sparks conversations at work and home; fixtures and seasons give our weekends and years shape; and for many people, their favourite sport is entertainment at its finest. During every match and event, many people are betting on the action. But which are the most popular sports among bettors?
Horse racing
People have bet on horses almost as long as they’ve been racing them. Events like the Grand National, Royal Ascot and Cheltenham Festival are closely watched, even by many who don’t have an interest in racing otherwise. Races are over in a flash, but much of the sports coverage revolves around betting and predictions. Ahead of Cheltenham Trials Day, for example, pundits were doubting the favourite Grey Dawning and Spillane’s Tower. Many horse racing fans view betting as a fundamental part of the sport. Anyone considering betting should remember that it’s hard to beat bookmakers consistently: they have access to teams of experts, machine learning models, and extensive historical data that allow them to set odds with a high level of accuracy.
Football
Football is the most widely followed sport in the UK, as it is across much of the world. The Premier League is closely scrutinised with fans continually demanding new signings, new managers, and better results. It also gives supporters a wide range of markets to bet on, from which side will have the most corners in a game to the Premier League top goalscorer.
This season, title favourites Arsenal have no clear choice for their number 9 position. Mikel Arteta has a selection challenge with Gabriel Jesus returning from injury, Viktor Gyokeres struggling for goals, and Kai Havertz able to provide more of a playmaking option. Despite the relative lack of goals from up front, Arsenal are considered not only favourites for the Premier League but also one of the main contenders in the Champions League. Fans considering betting may want to read Oddspedia’s guide on the Bet365 bonus code available in the UK to see the pros and cons of the offer.
Golf
Golf is another popular sport and, like football, has its own dedicated major TV channel in the UK. Scottie Scheffler, favourite for each of the majors this year, made a quick start to the season, shooting nine-under 63 in the first round in California. Performances in these early tournaments sometimes shape expectations among fans. Golf bettors consider factors like player consistency and course conditions.
Motorsport
Formula 1 and other motorsports are also closely followed. Ahead of the 2026 F1 season, Ferrari made headlines with its SF-26 car. Lewis Hamilton gave the car its track debut, with team principal Frederic Vasseur saying it was a result of a “tremendous team effort”. Ferrari were only third favourites for the Constructors Championship before the first race in Australia, with Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc both considered outside bets for the Drivers Championship. George Russell is a slight favourite ahead of Lando Norris.
Cricket
Cricket gets plenty of attention too, particularly during competitions like The Hundred and the County Championship. International series featuring England also draw focus and a larger volume of bets, with the Ashes a pinnacle event. The slower pace of the sport and its calendar allows for in-depth discussion and analysis between matches, and often during matches. Bettors are faced with different challenges compared to a sport like horse racing and naturally there are more in-play options.
Tennis
Tennis draws the most news during Grand Slams, with Wimbledon the favourite among people in the UK. Last year’s men’s final was historic for a few reasons: Jannik Sinner became the first Italian player to win the title; he ended Alcaraz’s 5-0 record in Slam finals; and it was only the third time since ATP rankings began in 1973 that the World No. 1 and 2 had contested three major finals in a single season (the pair then met in the US Open final too).
Tennis odds tend to be more clear cut than those of some other sports: sportsbooks are generally confident who the favourite is. Compared to a team sport such as football, there are fewer variables: fewer players to potentially get injured or go off form, no substitutions affecting momentum, and fewer outside factors like outgoing coaches and new signings.
Technology has changed how fans bet
Advances in technology have changed the way people follow sport. Online platforms, streaming services, and mobile apps make it easier to access live events and updates. Data and statistics are more readily available, allowing for detailed analysis of recent performances. There are hundreds of news articles every week, covering squad changes, injuries, form, and selection issues, which shape how audiences engage with and bet on sports. Meanwhile, technology has also improved the accuracy of bookmakers’ odds, so the advantage isn’t necessarily with the bettor. One way technology has benefited customers is enhanced security – payment processors, websites, and apps are more secure than in the early days of the internet.
Takeaway
There are keen bettors in several sports, and unsurprisingly the national sport – football – ranks highly on sportsbooks. Golf, motorsports, tennis, and cricket are also closely followed. Online platforms also offer a wide range of slightly more niche sports, including bowls, MMA, sumo, and volleyball.
