Key points:
- The Grand National was the most popular betting event globally
- Euro 2024 dominated in volume, with England matches accounting for half of the top ten events
- The Super Bowl and US Masters were the only other non-football (soccer) events in the top ten
- NFL events comprised 22% of the top 50 betting events, led by the Super Bowl at second place
The Grand National has maintained its position as the world's most popular betting event, according to recent data released by Entain.
The iconic horserace outpaced even the Super Bowl and the Euro 2024 final, highlighting its enduring appeal among casual bettors.
Good to know: Notably, 82% of UK bets on the Grand National were for £5 ($6.28) or less, emphasising the race's popularity with recreational players; high-stakes wagers were rare with less than 1% of bets exceeding £20
While the Grand National was the overall leader, the Euro 2024 tournament dominated in volume, with England matches comprising half of the top ten betting events. Spain's victory over England in the final ranked third in overall bets.
The Super Bowl, featuring the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, claimed the second spot and was one of only two other non-football (soccer) events in the top ten, the other being the US Masters, which ranked sixth.
The European Football Championship emerged as a dominant force in betting activity, with England matches accounting for half of the top ten most bet-on events. The tournament's final between Spain and England ranked third in overall betting volume, while various England matches throughout the competition featured prominently in the rankings.
Interestingly, no Premier League fixtures made it into the top 50 betting events, with the FA Cup being the only domestic UK football competition represented. Instead, 60% of the top 50 events came from the Euros, while NFL fixtures – including the Super Bowl – accounted for 22%.
Other notable entries included the Cheltenham Gold Cup (16th), Scottish Grand National (34th) and the high-profile boxing bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul (36th).
Commenting on these findings, Greg Ferris, Managing Director of Sports at Entain, noted: “Watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the Grand National’s popularity and ability to capture the attention of casual bettors remains undisputed, according to our global sportsbook.
“It was the Euros that really captured the imagination of viewers this year though, with England games still proving a huge draw for recreational betting.”
