Sports and sports betting have always gone side-by-side. Fans have always been open to the idea of placing bets on their favourite teams and players so that they can boost engagement and excitement.
Of course, not everyone is a fan of these activities, as they can lead to excess gambling and money loss. That’s the reason why sportsbooks have responsible play programs and limits that you can set to maintain a healthy betting habit.
Reputable Sportsbooks Offer Several Advantages
In the past couple of years, online sportsbooks have become the prime destinations for placing bets. On a global level, the annual growth level of these platforms is around 10%, and it’s expected that their revenue will exceed $150 billion by 2030.
These statistics mean one thing – people like to register on these sites and place bets. The number of sportsbooks that are licensed and active is infinite, and punters love them due to the advantages that they offer. More payment methods, higher market coverage, better odds, and bonuses and promotions are among them.
Take BetMGM as an example. This is one of the world’s most respected bookies. Once you register, you can claim the BetMGM sign up offer on your first deposit and use the bonus funds to place bets. Then, you can withdraw your potential winnings once you meet the terms and conditions.
The Effects of Sports Betting on Sports
Some would argue that the increased accessibility of sports betting means that people are exposed to more risks, but many statistics show otherwise. The increased presence of sports betting has had quite a few great effects on multiple sports across the world.
Higher Fan Engagement and Viewership
Ever since the US overturned PASPA and allowed states to regulate sports betting however they please, statistics showed that sports viewership was up by 10% in the states that allow sports betting. Surveys in the country also showed that sports bettors are twice as likely to watch sports compared to non-bettors.
Increased viewership comes from the money, which is why in sports such as football in Europe, it is highly influenced by sports betting companies. In the 2024/25 season, nearly 300 out of the 442 top clubs in Europe had at least one betting company as their sponsor.
Bigger Revenue via Sponsorships
Many major leagues and teams have signed sponsorship deals with betting companies. These deals are worth billions of dollars. The money is used to promote sports and make them more interesting and competitive. The more competitive it becomes, the more likely it is for its fan base to grow.
Take the UFC as an example. Statistics showed that in 2024, the company’s sponsorship revenue from gambling entities was over $80 million. The money was then used to promote the company and allow more fighters to be added to the roster. More events in different countries were added, and this helped the UFC become a more global brand.
The only exception to this rule is the English Premier League. The government in the UK decided to ban all gambling sponsorships by the end of the 2025/26 season. Regulations regarding the gambling industry in the UK have been quite restrictive. The UKGC also introduced a ban on using credit cards for online gambling back in 2020.
More Tax Revenue for States
Sports betting sponsorships benefit betting companies themselves. They display their logos in front of thousands of people, many of whom are likely to register and bet. More clients mean more revenue, which means that sports betting companies end up paying more money in taxes.
These funds are usually used to fund education, infrastructure, and programs related to helping with gambling addiction. In the US, the total tax revenue across all states that legalised sports betting is around $3 billion per year. In the UK, the annual tax revenue from sports betting reaches around $600 million.
According to the European Gaming and Betting Association, its members (sportsbooks that operate within the EU) paid out around $4 billion in taxes in 2024 alone. Non-EU countries that are in Europe also have millions of dollars in tax revenue. One of those countries is Serbia. Each year, the country generates around $350 million in gambling tax revenue, $60 million of which comes from sports betting.
