What are Some of the Most Popular Betting Sports in Europe, 2023?
Top Sports for Betting in Europe 2023 | Unfolding Trends

2023’s Top Sports for Betting in Europe: A Comprehensive Guide
Throughout history, whenever people have played sports, the bettors have not been far behind. Whether we are talking about chariot races, gladiatorial combat, or even the early cricket games sponsored by local lords, gambling and sports have been intertwined since the very beginning.
In 2023, sports wagering remains an incredibly popular form of gambling. Fans of most sports love to put down money on their favorite team, player, or club. However, the question we want to ask is this: What are the most popular betting sports in the world right now? In this article, we take a look at the events that receive the most attention from the betting scene.
Football/Soccer
Very few people will be surprised to see association football on this list. In 2023, football is the most popular sport on the planet, with close to 4 billion fans around the globe. With that much support, it is not shocking at all that most bookies pay very close attention to all of the major games in the sport.
The most popular football event is, of course, the FIFA World Cup. Held every four years, the World Cup attracts a huge amount of fans and bettors, who ordinarily would not be interested in the game. For example, the 2022 World Cup attracted over two billion fans, many of who stuck around for the seasonal league games.
And speaking of seasonal leagues, let’s take a look at the most popular national leagues in the world of Soccer today.
• The English Premier League
The EPL continues to dominate as the most popular national league. With twenty of England’s best teams vying for the title of champion, it draws attention worldwide. For those new to football, the EPL is likely already a familiar term. For those intrigued by the prospect of participating in EPL wagering, consider exploring various gambling websites which offer extensive coverage of all sports.
• The German Bundesliga
Another incredibly popular league, the German Bundesliga is the main tournament for one of the world’s most accomplished teams, Bayern Munich. The league also attracts millions of fans, not just from Germany, but from all over the world.
• The Spanish La Liga
As things currently stand, the most popular football club is, undoubtedly, Real Madrid. And Real Madrid’s home is in the Spanish La Liga. What the SLL is most known for is the bitter, long-standing, and historic rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona. And though Real Madrid might be a lot more popular, Barca continues to remain in the lead, in terms of games won.
Cricket
The origins of cricket are quite fascinating. The sport has its roots in West England, where boys would play a cricket-like game. Pretty soon, the game became popular among adults, and finally, lords embraced it, sponsoring local teams and even placing bets on their sponsored players.
Cricket is England’s national sport and one of the biggest in the world. In fact, it is only recently that basketball overtook the stick-and-ball game as the second-most popular sport in the world. With just over 2 billion fans, cricket still remains a massive draw for fans and bettors.
The game is especially popular in Southeast Asia, and many of the region’s countries are currently considered the top cricket countries. Of course, India is a dominant force in the ICC, holding a top-three position in all three cricket formats. The Indian Premier League is also the most popular and watched cricket league in the world.
Other notable cricket events include:
- Australia’s Big Bash League
- England and Wales’ T20 Blast League
- The Bangladesh Premier League
- South Africa’s Ram Slam T20 League
Motorsports (F1, NASCAR, etc.)
There is no denying that we, as a species, have a fascination with fast cars. Whether we want to watch them, own them, or drive them, fast cars awaken something within many people around the globe. This means it shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that motorsports are some of the most popular betting sports in the world.
When it comes to worldwide popularity, Formula 1 is the undisputed king. It has the fastest cars, the most popular drivers, and certainly some of the most exciting tracks. Not to mention, the popularity of the sport has certainly been boosted by the various Netflix documentaries regarding notorious F1 drivers.
If we take a look at the United States of America, however, we will find NASCAR dominates the motorsports circuit. Fans of auto races love placing bets on the latest race. However, if you are a newbie, you might need some help. And if help is what you need, why not learn from the best? If you are an experienced bettor, however, you already know what makes NASCAR betting so exciting.
Basketball
Finally, basketball continues to reach new heights. In 2023, the sport overtook cricket as the second-most popular sport in the world, behind only football. The National Basketball Association is among the most successful sports organizations in the USA. FIBA is behind only FIFA in terms of international success. And of course, football games draw huge crowds all over the world.
The most popular events in the world of basketball include the NBA playoffs, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the basketball Olympic games. If we tally all the numbers of these games together, we can see that basketball has fans numbering over 2.5 billion.
Final Thoughts
The four sports discussed on this list are among the most popular. However, that doesn’t mean they are leagues ahead of other beloved athletic competitions. For example, golf games tend to draw in a large crowd of bettors, in large part because the game is an all-year-round sport. There are notable golf games being played almost every day, and bettors jump on the opportunity to place a wager.
The same is true of tennis. Tennis competitions happen all year round, allowing fans to bet more often. With that in mind, it makes sense that these two games are quite popular in the betting world.
Are you ready to explore the vibrant world of sports betting? Stay informed, make your picks from the most popular sports of 2023 and be a part of the action. Start today and elevate your betting experience with PointSpreads Sports Magazine.