The NFL is the most popular sport in America and the one that most Americans bet on more than any other sport. According to data collected by CRG Global for Variety Intelligence Platform back in October 2022, 81% of bettors that were 18 or older placed NFL wager. The next-closest sport, the NBA, came in at 54%.
NFL
A big factor in the popularity of the NFL derives from our childhoods, in which football always seemed present, whether you played on a team or the street in your local neighborhood. This sport has been incredibly ever-present in our lives; visually, it’s one of the least complicated sports to follow as a fly-by fan.
Reasonably new on a mass scale. Nevada introduced legalized sports betting to America first in 1931. Still, it wasn’t until 2018 that Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia started a rush that now equates to 33 of the 50 states offering it.
Betting on the NFL on the top sports betting apps continues to reign supreme. While there are plenty of sports to bet on here in America, there is one that reigns supreme.
Why Is the NFL The Sport Americans Bet On Most?
Everyone has their toes in the water when betting on the NFL. As mentioned earlier, fantasy football and the weekly pick-em pools exist, but there is so much more to it.
The prop betting market for the NFL has become an entity within itself, and the amount of coverage and research done is going to extraordinary levels. Since the NFL season is much shorter than other sports, the urgency of each game also adds to the intensity.
This makes for an incredible viewing experience, stating that a direct correlation exists between placing a bet and watching the game.
What Other Sports Do Americans Bet On Most?
While America has numerous sports to bet on, we have concluded that the NFL is king. However, once the NFL blows the final whistle on its season, a new wave of sports enters the picture.
As previously stated, the NBA came in second (at 54%) amongst the most bet-on sports after the NBA comes to MLB (44%), college football (34%), soccer (28%), NHL (26%), MMA/UFC/Boxing (26%), and golf (15%).
While soccer is the fifth-most popular sport to bet on in America, it is trendy worldwide.
Sportradar stated in 2022 that soccer betting markets comprised 70% of the global market. Numerous countries worldwide feature soccer as their primary sport, so the NFL needs to improve its luster in those parts.
Summary
While the NFL reigns supreme in the hearts of American bettors today, the ever-changing dynamics of sports popularity and betting laws could paint a different picture in the future. What remains constant, however, is the American enthusiasm for sports betting, a pastime that is becoming an increasingly integral part of the national sports culture.
