The success of online sportsbooks can largely be attributed to the fact that people have always wanted a convenient and simple way to wager. Sports betting is not a new phenomenon. It has been happening for as long as people have been playing sports. And of course, there have always been sports that are more popular to wager on than others.
The Popular Sports
In 2024, we are well aware of the most popular betting sports in the world. Football is, of course, the number one pick for many punters to bet on. It is unsurprising that the most popular sport in the world is also the most popular sport to wager on.
Horse racing is another incredibly popular choice, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom. Basketball and tennis are also top choices at online bookies. But, the success of some sports necessitates that others be pushed to the side.
Unpopular Sports
Just like how there are some sports that attract massive amounts of punters, there are those that don’t really have a huge crowd backing them. The reasons why these sports have failed to become popular may vary. Some don’t have a mass appeal, some are too localized, and some just didn’t have the same opportunity to grow an international audience.
Regardless of the reason, there are definitely certain sports that don’t attract a lot of betting enthusiasts. In this article, we would like to take a look at some of these sports, and shine a light on them. So, without further ado, let us take a look at the sports that don’t attract a lot of punters.
Badminton
Tennis’ younger brother, as it is so often called, badminton is a racket game, where two players hit a shuttlecock from one side of the court to the other, making sure that it never touches the ground. The game follows the same basic principles as tennis, which makes it surprising that it isn’t as popular.
Tennis has over a million followers worldwide, some of the most-watched professional events, and a large betting community backing it. Badminton’s lack of popularity could be entirely luck-based. The game is, perhaps, too similar to tennis – which is why it can never leave its shadow.
Handball
Handball is, in many ways, similar to football. It involves two teams trying their best to score more goals. The difference is, they primarily use their hands. Unlike football though, handball is not nearly as popular, not just at betting sites, but in general.
To be sure, it has its fans. Eastern Europeans, for example, often cite it as one of their favorite sports. However, in general, online sportsbooks have noted that handball bets do not bring in as much fans as sports like basketball, football, rugby, etc.
Wrestling
For a sport that is integral to the martial arts world, wrestling is surprisingly not as popular as one would expect. To be fair, it is heavily integrated in MMA fights, which have become a staple of the combat sport betting world. However, by itself, wrestling does not get a lot of attention. The reason may be that grappling sports, while important, have never been as exciting as striking sports. For that reason, boxing and MMA are more popular.
