The Best Sports To Bet On — Extensive 2025 UK Guide

Theꦍ added layer of anticipation from placing a sports bet and the potential for a winning payout can increase your enjoyment of watching matches and events. With such a wide range of sports to choose from, you're spoiled for choice when you fancy a flutter. Buckle up as we walk you through the best sports to bet on, and recommend the top operators for each one.

Introducing Our List of Best Sports for Betting

Maximise your betting e🌄xperience by having a punt on sports that gauge your interest. With sports events happening year-round, you can always dip into major tournaments with a calculated punt w൲hile gaining insights into sports and their strategies.

Let's have a look at what we consider to be ꦰthe 10 best sports for betting.

1. Football — Nets Vast Choice of Markets

Football is the most popular sport in the world, both to watch and bet on. Although backing your favourite team seems the obvious bet as you possess knowledge about them, your bets should always be calculated. The biggest mistakes football punters make is not knowing about the opposition, and placing a wager by following their heart or relying oไn gut instinct.

The football market is colossal, with leading bookmakers offering vast variety and many providing livestreaming for top games, which makes it the best sport to bet on globally. It is wise to scrutinise the stats of teams, head coaches, players and even referees before placing any pre-match bets.

Opting for in-play punts will save you from having to research any data because you can watch how the match unfolds over 90 minutes, and respond with a be♓t. The bookies will flash up graphics and stats as the game progresses to help steer you towards making a choice of what to place a stake on.

We provide a wide selection of statistics on clubs, players and referees, which include data-driven predictions, courtesy of Kickform.com.

Notable Markets

• 1X2: This final result bet al𝓀lows you back a single team to either win or draw their match, with three possible outcomes — 1 for a home team win, X for a draw and 2 for an away team victorꦦy.

• Both Teams To Score (BTTS): These bets are unique to football, and are bas🌳ed on both teams finding the back of the net during a game.

• Over/Under Goals: Total goals is the most popular Over/Under football betting market, and bookmakers offer predetermined figures for you to have a flutter on — Over/Under 1.5 goals, 2.5 goals, and 3.5 goals.

TPP’s Recommendation for Football Betting

bet365 is on the ball for football betting with constantly generous prices for a vast selection of markets. There are Bet Builders and an ACCA Boost (up to 100%) available for certain top-club games and internationals. Among their outstanding features for football matches are their livestreaming options and impressive bet365 Match Live service, w🐼hich displays real-time graphics and stats to help make in-play betting straightforward.

2. Horse Racing — Optimism To Back Outsiders

Most horse races tend to be tight, and 🍷there are usually upsets. This makes it exciting to bet on, yet trickier to predict a winner. As ther🦂e are plenty of betting options and fast outcomes, horse racing is suitable for both beginners and seasoned punters who can enjoy livestreaming from top bookmakers.

Beginners tend to bet on individual races by picking a horse to pass the finishing line first. Advanced bettors will place a stake on multiple races and/or outcomes. Our team of reliable horse racing tipsters provide you with knowledgeable insights with their horse racing betting tips.

Before having a flutter, take into consideration the weather conditions on race day and vital information about the horse — age, fo☂rm, weight, and favoured distance. The secret to success is to learn bankroll management, and only place a wager when you have a strong conviction from studying stats and utilising your knowledge of the horses, jockeys, trainers, and tracks.

Notable Markets

• Forecast Bet: Predicti🍸ng the horses to finisꦕh as winner and runner-up.

• Trixie: Comprises three select꧙ions and four bets — three doubles and a treble. A minimum of two selections must win to guarantee a return.

• Yankee: Combination of four selections and 11 betsඣ — six doubles, four trebles, and a four-fold. A minimum of two selections must win to guarantee you a retur✤n.

TPP’s Recommendation for Horse Racing Betting

Ladbrokes offers the best markets and some unique options for UK and Irish horse racing. This includes Best Odds Guaranteed from 8am on the day of the race. If the starting price ꧑is bigger than your odds, then the operator pays out at the higher odds. There is a plethora of betting markets to have a punt on, including each way, race winner, winning distance, and winning jockey.

3. Tennis — Serves Up Shock Results

Tennis always springs up some surprises as it is an individual sport, and each tournament will have vocal courtside fans rooting for their favourites. Researching stats — especially head-to-head data and the type of surface that suits each player — is important before placing any tennis bets, a𝕴nd you may unearth an underdog with generous odds to place a punt.

Take advantage of livestreaming f🧜rom numerous tournaments for in-play betting on individual gameജs, when the momentum could swing from one player to another. There are always plenty of markets widely available.

If choosing an Outright Winner seems risky, you can always bet on who will reach the final at lower od♒ds. This type of wager will maintain your interest in the tournament — unless you pick a player who loses before the final.

Notable Markets

• Match Betting/Match Result: Pick a match🌱 winner from the two opponents. It is best to first check o♚ut their head-to-head results.

• Set Betting: There are two different🌳 formats for set betting, namely the outcome of the number of sets contested and a wager on a player to win a specific set (referred to as a Set Winner bet).

• Tournament Winner: Placing a bet on an Outright Wꦛinner will see the odds dramatically alter as a tournament progressꦍes.

TPP’s Recommendation for Tennis Betting

BetVictor is one of the best p🐠laces to bet on sports. It is really an ace throughout the tennis season for fabulous odds and a vast array of tennis markets. The bookie nets interest in the four Grand Slam events, with Wimbledon attracting the most attention. It regularly offers enhanced odds, courtesy of their Bet Boost, for certain tournaments. BetVictor provides ൲tennis livestreaming, enhanced accumulators and Trending Bets that indicate when prices are changing.

4. Cricket — Substantial All-Rounder

Cricket is a complex sport with numerous betting markets aside from an Outright match, Test series, or tournament winner. A Completed Match bet is about making 🏅a wager on whether the game will be completed on that day, or if it will end in no result, which happens when enough overs don't get bowled to provide a full match. This isn't the same as a tie, where they get the same number of runs.

The Over/Under markets, Most Run Outs🍸, Team of Top Bowler, and Team of Top Batman are popular team punts. Backing who will win the coin toss is more of a gamble, with a 50/50 chance of winning.

Betting on individual players gets you thinking differently about cricket as a player-centric sport instead of team-based. Backing the top batsman (most runs), top bowler (most wickets), Man of the Match winner, and the highest opening partnership are popular wagers. These markets require a keen eye for the fine details and make cricket arguably the best sport to bet on.

Notable Markets

• 1X2: This simple final result w𓆏ager allows you back a team to either win or draw their match, with three possible outcomes — 1 for a home team win, X for a draw, and 2 for an away team 😼victory.

• Top Batsman: Backing who will hit the most runs out. Tricky to predict, but looking at form and a🍌verages can be useful to win this bet.

• Top Bowler: Beಞtting who will take most wickets during a🦂n innings, match, or a Test series. Suited to those who have detailed knowledge of a team.

TPP’s Recommendation for Cricket Betting

Betway is a premier operator when it comes to offering a great range of betting markets on cricket, whether an international competition or a domestic game in England. There are always great offers available on Betway, such as fr💖ee bets on top of excellent cricket betting odds for pre൩-match, outrights, and in-play.

5. Rugby — Tackles Trio of Formats

Rugby is increasing in popularity, both as a spectator sport and among bettors. Both Rugby League (13 players in a team) and Rugby Union (15 players) have similar formats over the 80-minute matches, but there will be different points for conversions, drop goals, penalty kicks, and tries. There is also Rugby Sevens (seven players), with punters interested in the Hong Kong Sevens and World Ru𝐆gby Seven Series.

Like any team sport, there are plenty of betting markets for rugby. It is rare for games to finish in a draw, as it is a high-💫𒅌scoring and intense game that is ideal for Over/Under betting.

Tournaments, like the Six Nations and the World Cup, are when occasional bettors tend to use their heart rather than their head to place a stake on the෴ Outright Winner, Team To Score First Try, and Top Try Scorer.

Notable Markets

• Anytime Try Scorer: Pickin𝔍g a player to score a try during the match. A low odds, low-risk wager.

• First Try Scorer: Backing which player will cr💙oss the try line first, which can offer reasonably higher odds as it꧅ is tricky to predict.

• Half-Time/Full Time: A single bet on two outcomes, which team will be le♔ading at half-time and which side is the winner at the final whistle.

TPP’s Recommendation for Rugby Betting

A huge array of interesting rugby betting markets and consistently favourable odds are delivered with aplomb from sportingbet. Their standout feature for the oval ball game is the intricate details and insights provided for each m😼atch, courtesy of stats and live updates.

6. Greyhounds — Fast Out of the Trap

Greyhound racing brims with excitement, and the final result is determined in a matter of seconds after the race starts. Placing a wager on the winner is the ultimate dog betting market, bu🥀t stats should be studied t🐼o make an informed wager.

You can also🔴 choose a combination f🍎orecast of the first two dogs home in a race. If you are chasing higher odds, then you need to select the correct order of the greyhounds to finish first and second. While it's possible to back a greyhound each-way in every race, bookies usually only pay out at a quarter of the odds on the dog that finishes runner-up.

It is advisable to research the running style, speeღd, stamina, and pre-race stats for eaꦆch greyhound, as well as their favoured traps. There are early pacers (who break fast from the start), middling pace (dogs that avoid initial traffic before going hell for leather), and the stayers (who have strong endurance).

Notable Markets

• Odd/Even Trap: Bet on🤡 the winner c💫oming from an odd or even trap number is a 50/50 gamble.

• Tricast:🎃 Having a flutter on a trio of dogs for a one-two-three finish in any order.

• Place Insurance: This is when you get your stake back if the greyhound you pi𒀰cked finishes second or thirdꦫ.

TPP’s Recommendation for Greyhounds Betting

As Coral sponsors numerous dog tracks, it is no surprise that they offer highly competitive fixed-odd prices for greyhou🎶nd races. Coral provides a v🌳ast variety of greyhound betting markets with daily meetings in the UK on top of global dog races, which include Australia and Ireland. If Coral has the odds for a UK dog race, then they will provide livestreaming.

7. Martial Arts — Punching Chance on Fights

Martial arts betting covers a variety of combat sports such as boxing, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and wrestling. Thorough research𒁏 oꦕn strengths, weaknesses, and recent performances of fighters alongside strategic betting should pay dividends.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights are extremely popular with punters, and the UFC has aꦬ constant flow of combat fights if you fancy a flutter. Just a sing♐le error can change the course of the contest, which makes these fights unpredictable.

Boxing matches are usually high-profile, so betting tends to be about big r✃ivalries, comeback fights, and title battles. It is advisable to study how fighters behave at their press events and weigh-ins. Also consider that the decisions by judges can make or break a close fight.🍃

Notable Markets

• Method of Victory: Betting on the way a fighter tr♎iumphs, because with combat sports there are alwa🐼ys plenty of methods to register a win.

• Outright Winner: Backing which fig𒀰hter will succeed, although odds will be low for the favourite.

• Round Betting: Choosing which rouꦐnd the f🍃ight will come to a conclusion.

TPP’s Recommendation for Martial Arts Betting

The Pools deliver the knockout punch to many online sportsbook rivals for fight nights, including Bet Boosts. Offers consistently competitive odds and superb coverage for a plethora of martial arts betting markꦯets,🥂 including superb MMA/UFC options.

8. Esports — Ultimate for Skill & Strategy

Esports ꧙betting is♛ one of the fastest growing ways to bet on sports, and perfect if you fancy a flutter on the adrenaline-fuelled arena of games. Incredible feats of skill and strategy have attracted a wh🍎ole new legion of fans to sports betting.

 Professional gamers compete in lucrative esports tournaments with prize pools that can run into mu✅lti-millions and billions wagered on the outcome.

It's best to in♋itially stick to familiar esports൩ games that offer cutting-edge action and value bets. The interest in betting options is tailored towards 5v5 gameplay events, which include Dota 2, Overwatch 2, and Valorant.

Notable Markets

• Fantasy Betting: Picking a𓆉 roster and gaining points based on different🦂 achievements.

• First Blood/Kill Betting: Predicting which team will draw the first blood or ma🍰ke the initial kill.

• Map Winner Betting: Choosing ♐which team will win a specified map, 🦂rather than winning the whole match.

TPP’s Recommendation for Esports Betting

Parimatch offers a competitive selection of esports betting options and esports markets — esports games, first person shoot ‘em up gamesꦰ, and real-time strategy/battle arena type games. A key feature of Parimatch is that you can pick from your choice of odds formats to bet on esports that includes American, British, European, Hong Kong, Indonesian, and Malaysian.

9. Golf — Teeing up the Tournaments

Golf offers numerous betting strategies, including head-to-head 🃏match-ups and the outright tournament 💞winner. As so many players are chasing top honours, there are significantly long prices available and the opportunity for an outsider to triumph.

The slow pace of the game allows y♍ou time to sc💛rutinise the readily available stats from bookies (players form, course history, and head-to-head) as golf really is a data-driven sport, and you'll want to identify value bets.

In-play wagers are perfect for golf tournaments as they are generally competed over days, with the wi𒁃nner not decided until the last round has been completed.

Notable Markets

• Leader After the First Round: Wagering on the player who will lead the tournament after the first round, which t🌄ends to offer good odds.

• Outright Winner: Betting on either the winner of a🍎 specific day or the overall tournament champio🍸n, with odds usually being favourable.

• Top Finish: Backing the top finish marke🐷ts offers different variations, such as top 5, top 10, and t﷽op 20.

TPP’s Recommendation for Golf Betting

bwin golf betting markets are vast, and this bookie heavily promotes Outright bets on the winner of tournaments, alongside their wealth of in-play offerings. You can place a wager on smaller events (such as PGA) and t♏he elite events. The scope of their boosts and specials gives them an advantage over rival operators.

10. American Football — On the Ball for Long-Term Bets

Th▨e much-hyped, razzamatazz of the annual NFL Super Bowl is the epitome of American Football. Yet, College Football and the Canadian Football League (CFL) also fea♐ture with top online sportsbooks.

Leading up to the Super Bowl, held every February, there are months of NFL bets on offer with Outrights proving particularly popular for individual matches and long-term punts. Many bets are the perfect way to get you invested in the ent🎃ire series of NFL games rather than only one contest.

There is much more 🏅to NFL bett💛ing than just backing a team to win. As the NFL is a highly tactical league, the bookies provide punters with extensive stats to display vital information on players, teams, head coaches, and form. NFL match betting is ideal for newcomers to the sport, because it is a straightforward punt on which t♒eaܫm will win a game.

Notable Markets

• NFL Match Winner: A wager on one team to win is easy, as draws are scarce until the playoffs. Bookmakers offer an NFL match bet of overt💧ime when the teams are level aft🌸er regular time.

• NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP): Placing a long-term gamble on who win🍰s the MV🌌P at the end of the season.

• NFL Highest Points Scored: Betting on a player to finish with the mos🧸t points from a match, most likely to be a quarterback or a wide receiver.

TPP’s Recommendation for American Football Betting

Matchbook is a betting exꦚchange. This operator puts you in control to set favourable odds and play directly against others in the NFL sports markets, which feature impressive cash-out and in-play options.

There are exceptionally good Podcast Tips for NFL betting, and their customer support is top-notch despite not being availꦦable 24/7.

What Makes a Sport the Best To Bet on?

Sports demand a global appeal, bringing excitement to supporters and ༒bettors. Watching the action unfold through livestreaming offers you the ed꧟ge to identify critical moments during a match to place a wager.

Here are some essential elements we look for when it comes to stra♋tegy and objective for sports betting:

Promotional Opportunities for Sports Betting

Top bookmakers will constantly be trying to attract new players through a bonus and promo. We have exclusive betting offers with our trusted partners of leading online sportsbooks. Always check the wagering requirements in the terms and conditions before you sign up for any betting deals or betting promo codes.

These are the most popular betting offers:

What Makes a Specific Sport Right for You?

Determining which sports are best suited to you depends on a wealth of factors. You must decide whether y𝄹ou want to back adrenaline-pumping sports like football and rugby or can patiently wait for the final result over a long period of time for outcomes from golf and tennis.

🐻 All sports tend to offer markets for both short-term and long-term bets. You should also consider whether you feel comfortable with volatile odds or more predictable odds, which depends on whether you are a cautious bettor.

🐼 Here are some useful questions to guide you:

1. What sport(s) are you most knowledgeable about?

   Being a fan of♈ a certain p🎐layer and/or team has an obvious flaw of bias, but the positive aspect is you are armed with knowledge. You need to do your research about the opposition to make an informed punt. To make your betting experience enjoyable, it is advisable to kick off with straightforward markets.

2. What sport(s) are you most passionate about?

   Sports betting should gauge your interest and be about enjoying 💙your favourites, which will ultimately increase the entertainment value by placing a pun♔t on the outcome.

3. Are you seeking high profits?

   If you are chasing the big bucks of sports that can reap a high profit margin, then you should consider sports that offer higher odds and potential payouts. The winning odds wﷺill always play a big part in your success.

4. What kinds of markets interest you?

   Different sports naturally have different kinds of markets, and there is generally a vast 𝔍variety to tailor you🍬r bets.

5. Local or international events?

   You will wish to know whether the 🏅operator covers your favoured sports in the local and/o♊r international arena.

6. How much does livestreaming matter to you?

   Many leading bookies often offer livestreaming on some sports, with some Pay Per View options for other sports. With livestreaming, operators will most likely display graphics and stats, saving you time from scrutinising data yourself. Many sports are also televised, giving you the chance to e🐽ngage in live betting as the action unfolds.

How To Choose the Best Sport for You To Bet on

Before you dip into sports betting and pick the best sport to place a wager, it is important to determine what your short-term and long-term 🥂goals are.

You may wish to make extra money, feel influenced because frien🐽ds are gambling, or simply feel that having a flutter will hike up the enjoyment of sports betting — especially through livestreaming.

Factors to consider befor🐻e placing a bet include the available markets for certain sports, the popularity, offers, insights, and stats, as well as livestreaming for in-play wag📖ers.

The Importance of Stats for Sports Betting

In-depth data is readily available from bookmakers for most sports. The goal of online sportsbooks 🦩is to come up with accurate predictions to make a healthy profit.

Bookies build algorithms by combining betting transaction data, historic match stats, and statistical analysis. With access to most of this information, this has become a real game-changer for bettors. Properly poring over vital statistics and employing the knowledge from them to make calculated betting decisions increases your chances of scoring a winning bet. It also can eliminate any p♍ersonal bias towards any favourite pla💎yers or teams.

Our football data available on TPP Stats Hub is a valuable tool to analyse performance stats. Mix in your personal knowledge about individual players, teams, head coaches, and officials to enhance your chances of success.

Are Some Sports Easier To Predict Than Others?

The unpredictability of sports is partly what makes it so exciting. Although some sports and their🐈 markets are highly complex, it it is the quality of the bet itself, rather than the sport, that ultimately determines your success.

Team sports can be more predictable due to the varied strengths and weaknesses of individual players, whereas sports like golf and tennis t💮end to be less predictable.

We suggest focusing on specific markets for particular sports to make betting enjoyable and entertaining. It is also advisable to formulate a solid sports betting strategy to identify market opportunities.

Out of Your Comfort Zone: Betting on Multiple Sports

Feel free to explore different bets and sports once you are familiar and confident with what each wager means for your favoured sports betting. To potentially earn higher payouts, cautious bettors may wish to gradually increase the size🌠 of their stake, whereas confident punters could try their luck on an Accumulator or Bet Builder.

💞When you venture out of your comfort zone for sports betti♐ng, any favourable odds can sway your selection process. Always question your pick if your preferred bet is an outsider and there is no evidence to suggest that your wager is nothing more than a long-shot gamble.

The smartest bets devised will be down to knowledge, research and strategy rather than a gut instinct. These factors play a key role in how you shou♐ld choose the 🐻sport to bet on.

The PuntersPage Final Say

Successful sports betting requires knowledge, skill, and strategy, but above all, enjoyment should be your top priority. A well-placed bet adds to the experience and creates a personal investment in the outcome of a match. Whether you prefer regularly backinꦆg heavy favourites or using logic to uncover promising markets and attractive odds from leading bookmakers, the choice is yours.