The global sports betting industry has exploded in recent years as more countries legalise and regulate betting markets. This has opened up new opportunities for bettors to wager on sports from anywhere in the world. However, each country has its own unique betting landscape shaped by local laws, taxes, odds formats, sports popularity, and more.
This article will provide an overview and comparison of major international betting markets to help identify the best opportunities. We’ll examine key factors like regulation, odds, sports coverage, promotions, restrictions, and taxation in markets like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and France.
Understanding the key differences can help savvy bettors find the most favourable conditions for their wagering style. With the right information, bettors can choose markets that offer the best odds, most betting options, and the greatest convenience. Let’s explore some of the world’s top betting destinations.
United States
The United States sports betting market has grown significantly in recent years after the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting in 2018. Since then, over 30 states have legalised sports betting to some degree.
Some key facts about the US sports betting market:
- In 2021, over $57 billion was wagered legally on sports in the US. This is more than double the amount wagered in 2020.
- Football, basketball, and baseball are the most popular sports for betting. American football accounts for over 30% of the handle.
- 18 states now offer full-scale legal sports betting, while 5 more have passed laws to allow it but have yet to launch. Other states allow more limited sports betting.
- The largest legal sports betting states are New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois in terms of revenue.
- Most sports betting happens through mobile apps versus in-person. Over 80% of bets are made online.
- The US sports betting market is dominated by a few large companies. FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and BetRivers control over 75% of the market share.
The US sports betting industry is still growing rapidly and is expected to reach over $8 billion in revenue in 2022. As more states legalise sports betting, the market size will continue expanding over the next several years.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a long tradition of sports betting and gambling. Betting shops can be found on most high streets across the UK. Major bookmakers like William Hill, Ladbrokes, Betfred, and Bet365 are household names.
Horse racing is incredibly popular in the UK, with events like the Grand National being major cultural and betting events. Football (soccer) betting is also huge, with punters able to bet on matches across the Premier League, Champions League, and other competitions and leagues.
The UK betting market is fully legal and regulated. The Gambling Commission oversees all betting in the country. Betting ads are common during sports broadcasts. Most major bookies offer online betting alongside their retail shops. Popular betting options include win-draw-lose, over/under goals, first goalscorer, and more.
While traditionally focused on horse racing and football, UK bookmakers now offer odds on a wide range of sports including cricket, rugby, golf, boxing, MMA, and US sports like basketball and American football. Bettors can also wager on non-sporting events like politics, TV shows, and novelty bets.
With a mature betting market and lots of competition, UK punters can find very competitive odds. Many leading bookies offer promotions like free bets, odds boosts, and refunds to attract customers. The UK provides a legal and well-regulated environment for sports betting fans.
Australia
Australia has a large and well-established betting market, with thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing being extremely popular. Sports betting is also hugely popular, especially on sports like rugby, cricket, Aussie rules football and soccer.
Some key points about the Australian betting market:
- Total betting turnover is estimated to be over A$30 billion per year, with over 80% coming from sports betting. Racing accounts for most of the remainder.
- There are a large number of land-based betting shops and racecourses, but most betting now takes place online or via mobile apps. Major corporate bookmakers like Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and BetEasy dominate the online market.
- The Northern Territory licenses online betting sites and hosts the computer servers for most of Australia’s corporate bookmakers. This allows them to offer their services nationwide.
- Betting on sports and racing is legal across the country. The minimum gambling age is 18 except in Queensland where it is 21.
- A point of consumption tax on betting was introduced in 2019. This places a 15% tax on operators’ net betting revenue generated from Australian customers.
- Betting promotions and advertising are widespread, especially during major sporting events. Critics argue this normalizes gambling in society.
- Problem gambling rates are an ongoing concern. Various responsible gambling measures have been implemented such as voluntary opt-out schemes and spending limits.
Overall, Australia has a mature, innovative and highly competitive betting industry catering to a nation of sports and racing enthusiasts. Regulation aims to balance consumer enjoyment with responsible gambling practices.
Canada
Canada has a complex history with gambling and sports betting legislation. While most forms of gambling are regulated at the provincial level, the Criminal Code makes most types of gambling illegal unless exceptions are made. This has resulted in a patchwork of laws and regulations across the country.
The main forms of legal gambling in Canada are lotteries, casinos, horse racing, and some sports betting. Lotteries and casinos are operated by provincial governments, which use revenues to fund programs and services. Horse racing and some sports betting, like parimutuel wagering, are also provincially regulated.
Single-event sports betting has historically been prohibited, with the exception of horse racing. However, after a long effort to legalize it, Bill C-218 was passed in 2021, allowing each province to regulate single-event sports betting at their discretion. As a result, many provinces are now moving to establish their own sports betting frameworks.
Online gambling falls into a legal grey area in Canada. While residents can access offshore online sportsbooks and casinos, these are not provincially regulated. Some provincial lotteries offer limited online sports betting, but no comprehensive framework exists yet. Establishing a well-regulated online gambling environment remains an ongoing challenge.
Overall, Canada’s gambling landscape is gradually expanding, particularly with the new opportunity for provinces to regulate single-event sports betting. However, the decentralized approach to gambling regulation makes the market complex for both operators and consumers. Efforts to establish a more unified national framework may help strengthen the Canadian betting industry in the future.
Germany
Germany has a large and well-developed sports betting market, with annual revenues of around €5 billion. Sports betting is legal and regulated, with licenses issued by each of the country’s 16 states.
The main sports that Germans bet on are football, motorsports, tennis, basketball, ice hockey and handball. Football is by far the most popular, accounting for around 75% of the total sports betting market. The main leagues that attract betting are the Bundesliga, Champions League and international competitions.
Most betting in Germany is done online or via mobile devices. There are around 20 major licensed betting operators, with bwin, Tipico and Bet365 among the market leaders. Land-based betting remains popular, with around 8,500 betting shops across the country.
German bettors enjoy competitive odds and a wide range of betting options. Football match odds are generally around 95-97%, while tennis and basketball can be 90-93%. Live in-play betting is also widely available and popular.
The minimum betting age is 18 and operators must verify the identity and age of all customers. Responsible gambling measures are in place, including deposit limits, cooling off periods and voluntary self-exclusion. Overall the German market provides a mature, well-regulated environment for sports bettors.
France
France has a long tradition of horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting. While gambling was prohibited in France for many years, online betting sites based overseas made betting easily accessible to French citizens. In 2010, France opened up its online gambling market and began issuing licenses to operators. Today, France has a regulated sports betting and online poker market.
The French gambling regulator ARJEL oversees licensing and regulation of online gambling sites. There are strict rules about who can advertise and restrictions on bonuses. Most major international betting sites now hold a French license, including Bet365, Unibet, Betclic, and Winamax. These sites offer betting on all major sports and leagues around the world.
Horse racing is extremely popular in France, with major events like the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe attracting huge betting volume. Greyhound racing and cycling are other popular French pastimes that generate substantial betting activity.
The French enjoy betting on their national soccer league, Ligue 1, along with international matches. With high taxes on operators, French betting sites tend to have tighter odds margins than other regulated markets.
While the current regulatory framework provides French citizens with safe access to online betting, some politicians still aim to tighten gambling advertising laws. Overall, France offers a mature betting market with plenty of choice, competitive odds, and exciting wagering opportunities.
Comparison of Betting the Main Global Markets
When comparing international betting markets, there are several key factors to consider including regulation, market size, and offerings.
Regulation
Regulation varies widely between countries. The UK market is fully regulated with strict licensing requirements. Australia also has thorough regulation. The US has state-by-state regulation, with some states fully regulated like New Jersey, and others with no regulation. Germany and Canada are in the process of establishing regulatory frameworks.
Market Size
The UK is by far the largest regulated market, followed by Australia and Germany. The potential US market is massive but still developing state-by-state. France, though regulated, remains a smaller market limited by laws.
Offerings
The UK offers the widest array of betting options, from sports to horses to slots and table games. Australia also has a robust sports betting market. The US currently centers on sports betting, with a few states offering online casinos. Offerings are expanding in Germany, though sports dominate. France’s offerings are narrow due to strict laws.
Opportunities
When comparing international betting markets, some countries offer better opportunities for certain sports and types of bets.
Horse Racing
The UK is widely regarded as having the best horse racing betting markets globally. With a long tradition and history in the sport, UK bookmakers offer unmatched odds, liquidity, and variety for major races like the Grand National and Royal Ascot. From ante-post futures to in-play betting, the UK horse racing markets lead the world.
American Football
For American football, the US betting markets are unsurprisingly the best option. With sportsbooks competing heavily for customers in states with legal betting, the odds and props offered on the NFL and college football are far superior to those in other countries. From game lines to player props, US-facing sites have the deepest American football markets.
Soccer Futures
When looking at futures bets for soccer leagues and tournaments, European books tend to offer earlier lines and more options than other regions. For example, odds on who will win the next English Premier League season are usually released right after the previous one ends. European books also offer more proposition bets for soccer futures.
Live Tennis Betting
Australia is known for having highly competitive live betting markets for tennis. With tennis being hugely popular in Australia, their sportsbooks have refined in-play betting on matches to an advanced degree. The odds shift rapidly as matches unfold, providing savvy bettors many opportunities. No country can match Australia’s live tennis betting options.
So in summary, specializing on the most popular local sports in different countries can provide advantages. The UK for horse racing futures, the US for American football props, Europe for soccer futures, Australia for live tennis betting – those represent the best markets to find value and betting opportunities. Being flexible across jurisdictions allows capitalizing on these international differences.
Overall, there are many betting opportunities across international markets, but some stand out as particularly lucrative based on odds, variety of sports, and ease of access.
For seasoned bettors looking to maximize opportunities, the ideal approach may be having accounts at leading sites in several international markets. This allows comparing odds and lines and placing wagers wherever the numbers are most favorable. While this involves managing accounts in different currencies, the work could pay off through better odds, more attractive lines, and bonuses for new customers.
With research and care, international markets offer savvy bettors many chances to win. By shopping lines and understanding each country’s sports culture, those willing to look beyond their home market can gain an edge.