What Really Is the Best Sport to Bet on to Make Money?

Legal online Sports betting is currently going through a period of massive growth in the United States. With new sportsbook apps frequently appearing, bettors have never had more options to make money betting online.

As a result, it is easy to bet on sports nowadays, and with the tap of a button, you can place a wager on your favorite teams and competitions. Thanks to the decision of the Supreme Court in 2018, anybody living in a state with a legal sports market can bet on significant events like the Super Bowl with any sportsbook app. Additionally, most operators offer bonuses and promotions such as bonus bets, which can be claimed via sportsbook bonus codes. Thus, it is a great time for punters looking for sports to bet on.

However, one of the questions you may be asking is; What is the most profitable sport to bet on? This is a great question, but there is no clear answer. Different people, and especially betting sites newbies, will have different opinions on what is the best sport to bet on.

Criteria for the Most Profitable Sport to Bet On

There are specific factors that make each significant domestic and international sport a profitable sports betting option, which we will cover in this article. For example, you may want to know statistically what sport is best to bet on, the safest sport to bet on, the best games to bet on, or the best-paying sports. Ultimately, everyone wants to make money on betting sites, and understanding the best sports for you to wager on will be beneficial.

It may seem obvious, but the more you know about any given sport, game, or match, the higher your chances of making a profit. In addition, if you do some research, then you can make an informed bet, increasing your chances of beating the bookie, overcoming the odds, and making some money. With that said, let’s take a look at the best sports to bet on.

Football

Many bettors believe football is the best option when talking about the best sport to bet on to make money. It is undoubtedly the most popular in the US and among the most bet on sports in the world. Betting on the NFL and college football take in the most sports betting handle each year. According to estimated figures released by the American Gaming Association in 2015, $93 billion would be wagered on professional and college football in that year alone. With sports markets becoming legalized since then, that estimate could be even more significant.

The most significant reason football is one of the most profitable sports to bet on is that favorites don’t lose that often. For example, in college football, you can confidently predict three different schools to make the playoffs every year and get generous odds before the season starts. During the season, the stronger schools tend to dominate. Consequently, sportsbooks give them an extremely high spread making underdog betting more profitable. Betting on football has never been easier thanks to a wide choice of NFL betting apps that are now on the market.

Results from the 2020 season reveal that CFB underdogs edged out favorites, winning 50.3% of the time. Additionally, there are numerous betting opportunities for college football with the chance to make big money.

When it comes to the pro game and NFL betting, one of the primary reasons it is profitable to wager on is because it is one of the most popular sports in the country. As a result, there is a plethora of betting information available, and players can easily access betting tips and strategies. Also, if you have some bonus cash to throw on a bet, it may be worthwhile to use it betting on the NFL.

The only downside for sports bettors who want to wager on football is that it is only played over a relatively short period of time each year, which limits your betting opportunities. There are a total of 272 games per season in the NFL, which is considerably more than the 230 games that are played in the NHL or NBA. This means you have far less room for error.

Pros of betting on football:

• Favorites usually win
• Probably have a good knowledge and understanding of the game
• Hundreds of betting markets

Cons of betting on football:

• Not available all year round

Basketball

If you are discussing the best sport to gamble on in the US, basketball has to be in the conversation. It is one of the most prominent sports in the world and can also make bettors a lot of money. However, the timing of placing your wager is crucial.

During the NBA regular season, even the best teams such as the New York Knicks or the LA Clippers could suffer upset defeats at any point. This is emphasized because the Milwaukee Bucks won the most games in the league last season and finished with a record of 56-17. These upset losses typically happen during the beginning of the NBA season.

Players could make a decent profit betting on underdogs at the beginning of the season and then switch to wagering on the favorites during the postseason. As we have mentioned above, there are a total of 1230 total games each season, so you have plenty of time to bounce back if you suffered some losses earlier in the season.

In terms of college basketball betting, it is pretty much the same. The March Madness tournament generates the most money in college basketball wagering. Anyone who enjoys betting on sports tends to have a bet on this event. The American Gaming Association predicted Americans would spend $8.5 billion on the 2019 March Madness tournament.

There is definitely a chance to make a lot of money from this event as upsets happen every year. The NCAA released some data that showed in 28 of the last 35 seasons; there were between ten and sixteen upsets in the tournament. It was estimated that 47 million Americans placed a bet during March Madness, which just goes to highlight how popular betting on basketball has really become. It’s now even easier to wager on the big game thanks to these awesome NBA betting apps.

Pros of betting on basketball: 

• Awesome in-game betting markets
• Hundreds of markets are available
• Teams regularly face up so easy to check the history

Cons of betting on basketball:

• Not easy to watch games live

Baseball

Baseball is a tricky sport to bet on, but some things can make it profitable. First, it is a data-driven league which means you can make informed bets. You don’t have to base your gambling decisions on baseball from predictions; according to Reddit, you can just examine the stats.

For example, baseball bettors can look at stats such as a pitcher’s walks and hits per inning pitched  (WHIP) to gain a clear understanding of how well they keep runners off of the bases. Additionally, they can use tats such as wins above replacement (WAR) to determine how much overall winning value each player has on a roster. It’s easier than ever to bet on the game, especially on your mobile. Now, most sportsbooks have baseball betting apps covering all the major games and markets.

All of these stats can be utilized to get an edge over bookmakers. Additionally, the baseball schedule is packed with each team playing 162 games each regular season, which is beneficial for bettors as there is a lot of margin for error.

Pros of betting on baseball:

• Long seasons
• Clear betting options

Cons of betting on baseball:

• May need a lot of research

Soccer

Soccer is the most popular sport globally and another profitable sport to wager on. International online sportsbooks primarily focus on soccer, which leads to fantastic betting opportunities for players. One clear example of that is that, unlike in American football, you can bet on ties. Many bettors consider soccer to be the safest sport to bet on as there are so many markets available to those looking to place a wager.

It is often the case that odds for a tie are more profitable than odds on either team to win. Of course, there are no guarantees, but having the extra option can make soccer betting more profitable. Most soccer betting apps now cover a wide range of leagues and markets, meaning you can bet on soccer matches around the globe.

Another factor that makes soccer a good wagering option is that numerous well-known clubs play around the world. These clubs play at different points of the year, so if you are a fan of a particular team, you can bet on them all year round. International betting is also popular, with events such as the world cup attracting sports bettors from every corner of the globe.

Pros of betting on soccer:

• Hundreds of markets are available
• Games happening all the time
• Competitive pricing from sportsbooks

Cons of betting on soccer:

• Maybe too much choice for some bettors

Tennis

Tennis is not featured that much domestically, and it doesn’t bring in a lot of bets. However, that isn’t to say it isn’t profitable, because betting on tennis could still make you some big money. For example, you could get plus odds on the best players such as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal if you bet early.

Tennis events occur all year round, so there are plenty of opportunities to bet. This also makes tennis one of the best sports to bet on during the summer. The majors such as Wimbledon and the French Open take weeks to complete, and there is a great chance to make some good money in the earlier rounds.

One of the benefits of wagering in those early rounds is utilizing parlay betting on tennis. The same names usually reach the final stages of each major tournament, so you could create highly profitable parlay bets early on.

So, if it is the football off-season and you are looking for a new sport to try, tennis would be an excellent option. Looking to wager on tennis from your mobile? Then these are the best tennis betting apps available.

Pros of betting on tennis: 

• Events all year round
• In-game wagering is easy to understand and follow

Cons of betting on tennis:

• Not the most popular sport

Boxing

Boxing has suffered somewhat of a decline in popularity in the United States. However, it still remains a very profitable sport to bet on with some unique opportunities. One of the significant reasons that you can make some good money on boxing is that there aren’t many different outcomes in a boxing match. Consequently, it limits the number of decisions that are available and gives you more of a chance to cash in.

For example, you will discover only a few betting lines for each fight on a usual weekend slate. See which boxing betting apps you should be using on our dedicated guide page.

Pros of betting on boxing: 

• Hugely popular events
• Promos for all the big fights

Cons of betting on boxing:

• Unfair judging in some fights

Factors that make a Sport the best to bet on

Whenever you are looking for the best bets to place on specific sports, there are certain factors that will determine your decision. As you can see from the range of sports provided above, there are multiple things that go into ranking our favorites. Below are the most important elements we look out for when creating a strategy for legal sports betting sites.

Availability

Naturally, you want to ensure that the sport you are interested in is covered by several operators. It is no good having an NY sportsbook in mind, for example, then discovering it doesn’t offer odds on the March Madness tournament. Is the sport you want to wager on covered everywhere or will you need to find more niche options? Both can work well for betting, but having your preferred choice available at any bookmaker is the best option.

Competitive Odds

Bookmakers will all offer different odds so shopping around for the most competitive prices is vital before you start your betting experience. In relation to best sport to bet on, we are referring to the generosity of the odds for any given sport. Football typically has good odds, alongside big soccer competitions such as the World Cup.

Promos

Some sports will have seasonal offers to coincide with big events. For instance, you might get on odds boost on an NFL playoff match. With the online betting space being so crowded, bookmakers are keen to ensure they keep their customers engaged and promotions are an excellent way of doing that.

Different Betting Options

When you visit any betting site, whether you are in New Jersey, New Hampshire or New York, you will have several markets to choose from. Unsurprisingly, the sports that get the most attention from a sports bettor also receive the most attention from operators. Any well-known sports betting app, including Caesars sportsbook, BetMGM sportsbook,  DraftKings sportsbook, Fox Bet, Bally Bet, FanDuel sportsbook or Barstool sportsbook want to give their customers what they want. Equally, punters want good variety so they have numerous options and different types of sports bet. This is why any online sportsbook that wants to do well offer an excellent range of betting options on mainstream sports.

This is a huge benefit. In sports gambling, more options mean more opportunities to get some money down. This makes it easier for bettors to be more selective and choose the best opportunities for them.

This is where betting online can be more beneficial than retail sports or visiting Atlantic City to place your wagers. The best sports betting app will have features such as live betting and cash out. These are opportunities you won’t get in person. With the mobile sports betting market being so competitive, when you sign up for an account you will be presented with a raft of wagering options to keep you occupied.

Wagers such as a same game parlay or prop bet bring that added excitement when you watch your team play, whether it is the NFL’s New York Giants, the NBA’s Chicago Bulls or Chelsea from the Premier League.

Best sports to bet on statistically

Some people may believe the easiest sport to bet on is automatically the best choice, however, some may want to look into data and stats to make their choice. Ultimately, although people bet on sports for enjoyment, they do it primarily to make money, and if you can see which bets will give you the biggest return on your investment, that is hugely beneficial. Looking at data tools and data that show the best sports to bet on in terms of ROI is the best metric to use when comparing the profitability of all of the significant sports leagues.

There are some reports out there showing the best sports bets for totals, moneyline and point spreads. The data revealed some insights if you want your cash to stretch that little bit further:

• Baseball has the lowest value among all the bet types
• You will get a far higher return on your investment by betting on college basketball over the NBA
• The NHL and NBA are nearly identical in terms of ROI
• The most valuable bet type across all sports is college football, followed by the NFL

College football is king if you want to maximize your earning potential. Of course, like with all bet types, betting on college football comes with risk, and the football season has fewer games than other sports so you have less room for error.

No matter what, bettors should always go with a sport that they feel comfortable with. If you have no idea how tennis is scored, there is little point placing a live wager on a tennis match for example. You should go with the sport you frequently watch.

Summary

When all is said and done, the most profitable sport to bet on is the sports bettors know well. Because most bettors in the US follow football religiously, it is often considered the most profitable sport. However, other sports such as basketball, baseball, and tennis offer superb value when you place your bets at the right time. Though you must be careful and always consider the risks, as anything can happen. There are lots of successful baseball bettors who will swear by their predictions, but it is also considered one of the most difficult sports to bet on.

Ultimately the more you follow a sport, the more you will know about their teams, so your chances of making money predicting outcomes increases. Everyone starts somewhere, so test the waters out for yourself and see what happens. It is best to begin by placing small-stakes wagers, and when your confidence grows, then you can slowly increase your budget and try to play for bigger rewards.