Since the 11th century, gambling has been in high demand throughout the world. Many types of gambling have since been created, including sports betting.

General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.
LONDON, ENGLAND: General view inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Since the turn of the century, online sports betting has grown in popularity all around the world. Local and international bookies are actively competing with one another.

Many nations have legalized sports betting in their jurisdictions. Of course, there are certain nations where sports betting is illegal. Because of these limits, there will be fewer overseas bookies and sports betting will be less popular among the general public.

As a result, the limits or legalization of sports betting determines whether or not the practice is popular in the country.

Here are some of the countries where sports betting is the most popular:

China

China, particularly Hong Kong and Macau, is one of the top five countries with a large number of sports enthusiasts. Casino gambling is illegal in this nation, although authorities allow sports betting and other forms of gambling. A large number of Chinese gamers are drawn to sports betting.

In Hong Kong, there are several bookies and casinos, which generate large sums of money for the government. Jockey Club corporations oversee the regulation of sports gambling.

Canada

Sports are extremely popular in Canada. Of course, hockey is the country’s most popular sport. However, the Canadians follow other American sports. NFL games have been streamed on Canadian television for decades. Most Canadian sports fans have a favorite American club in addition to a favorite Canadian Football League (CFL) team.

Sports betting is quite popular in the country, but single-game gambling was not expressly authorized until August 27, 2021. Many Canadian bettors often ended up placing bets with European bookies and other offshore operators.

If you live in Canada, read this Odds Shark Canada review to learn more about the best betting sites to use.

United Kingdom

Sports betting has a lengthy history in the United Kingdom. In the past it was restricted. But since, 2005, it’s been legal to wager on football, rugby, basketball and all other sports.

Some of the world’s largest online bookies are based in the United Kingdom. It is stated that a bookmaker shop can be found on practically every street corner in the UK, with online bookies from the UK leading the way, offering clients numerous creative ideas and methods to wager.

This involves offering odds on every sport, horse racing, and all other types of entertainment on which a client wishes to wager. Furthermore, they provide several sign-up and deposit incentives, making them the world’s most appealing online betting bookies.

The UK’s bookies are among the most reputable in the world due to tight gaming licenses and rigid rules. Add to that, UK gamblers are not to pay tax on any gains from online sports betting.

UK clients and bettors have a highly favorable environment to bet in, which contributes to the appeal of sports betting as a source of entertainment. Today, the sports betting industry in the United Kingdom is valued at £650 million, with 2.1 million customers.

Australia

Many Australians wager on sports. The betting sector has no boundaries since it is the sole constraint on how bookmakers disseminate their commercials. Most Australians wager at virtual sportsbooks (online sports betting sites).

Australian betting enterprises have grown their presence in other nations in addition to their local experience.

France

Sports betting fans, like those in the United Kingdom, do not have to pay taxes when betting on sports, horse racing, or even online poker. The French love to wager on sports, with football accounting for 57%, tennis coming in at 26%, and basketball accounting for 8%.

It is worth noting that, despite the high percentage, football betting did not set a new high, with the FIFA World Cup in 2018 continuing to be the apex of football betting interest, with an incredible 63 percent.

Handball, rugby, and tennis are all popular betting sports in France. The French, on the other hand, can wager on any sport they choose, and the ARJEL has awarded online betting licenses to various online bookmakers in France. This ensures that they are legal and run with complete client fairness.

French online bookmakers also contribute to the growing popularity of sports betting by offering huge incentives for losers: if you lose your first bet, it will be replaced 100%, up to 100€. France is thus one of the top countries for online sports betting.

India

The introduction of online gambling in India has resulted in a surge. Many overseas bookies, who are getting more popular, are attracting Hindus.

Sports betting, on the other hand, is illegal at federal the level in India. As a result, the legality of sports betting in India is determined by regional regulations.

Italy

Sports betting is part of Italy’s gambling obsession. In Italy, people can gamble and bet on any sport except dog racing, which was deemed illegal in 2002. However, the prohibition on betting on dog races had little effect on the popularity of sports betting in Italy.

Sports betting and horse racing betting are expected to account for 14% of the Italian gambling market, which is worth approximately €39 billion per year.

Italy has also made steps to loosen gambling and sports betting restrictions. To aid the expansion of the betting business, the regulatory authority (Amministrazione Autonoma Monopoli di Stato) has begun the process of issuing new betting licenses.

Nigeria

Nigerians only started betting on sports a decade ago. In 2005, the National Lottery Regulation Commission authorized sports betting. Nigeria does not have any restrictions on sports betting, and a large number of online and retail sports bookies have entered the industry.

Conclusion

Betting has become one of the most popular activities in today’s world. Each country has its own set of gaming rules and regulations. While betting and gambling are legal in most countries, they are prohibited in others, and rigorous rules are in place to counter or limit their activities. Some of the jurisdictions where betting is common are the ones listed above.

You can bet online in places such as Canada. All you have to do is register with one of the finest sports betting sites and then make a deposit.