Sports betting has been around for a long time, with a long history of sports leagues and organizations trying to restrict the practice. In the US specifically, a few notable sports betting scandals restricted sports betting to a few locations, such as Las Vegas, with the majority of the US unable to participate.
That has changed over the past decade, with the Supreme Court overruling an act which made it illegal for states to legalize sports betting. Since that law was overturned in 2018, over 25 states have legalized the practice.
The growth of fantasy sports services, such as FanDuel and DraftKings, has also complimented the legalization of betting in the US. Betting apps now offer a wide range of options for individual players, teams, and ancillary factors in each game, allowing betters to further personalize their bet.
This culture change in the US has been followed by a growing dependence from leagues on the revenue from betting adverts and sponsorship. This is an issue many national and intra-national leagues are facing, as sports betting becomes more embedded into every aspect of the sport.
In the UK, sports betting has not had the same restrictions and several of the big players have been in the market for decades. Bet365 was one of the first to recognize the value of online betting, and is now the lead platform when it comes to in-app sports betting.
There are a few countries which have outright bans on sports betting, one of the most notable being India. It is expected that there will be some change in this law over the next decade, as the Indian Premier League continues to grow in popularity across the country.
We have collected data and statistics on the sports betting market. Read on below to find out more.
Sports Betting Key Statistics
- Sport betting apps in the United States brought in $7.4 billion revenue in 2022, a 71% increase on the previous year
- In the UK, sports betting apps generated £2.36 billion in revenue in 2022
- FanDuel is the most popular sports betting app in the US
- Basketball generated the most revenue for sports betting apps in the US in 2022
- In the UK, football was the most popular sport to bet on, followed by horse racing
Top Sports Betting Apps
| App Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| https://www.fanduel.com/ | FanDuel | The most popular sports betting app in the US, which rode the fantasy sports hype and the expansion of gambling in the late-2010s |
| http://draftkings.com/ | DraftKings | Similar to FanDuel, DraftKings main feature was fantasy sports before it shifted to sportsbook and other gambling services |
| https://www.bet365.com/ | bet365 | The UK's most popular sports betting app, with a growing audience in Spain and the US |
| https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports | BetMGM | A partnership between MGM Resorts and European betting giant Entain Holdings that offers sportsbook and gambling services in the US |
| https://caesars.com/sportsbook-and-casino | Caesars Sportsbook | Another tie-in with a Las Vegas casino, Caesars Sportsbook is another sportsbook and gambling option for US customers |
| https://m.skybet.com/ | Sky Bet | A major provider of betting services in the UK, launched by media conglomerate Sky, which has since divested its stake |
| https://www.williamhill.com/ | William Hill | One of the oldest bookmakers in the UK, established in 1934. It was sold in 2022 to 888 Holdings for £2.2 billion |
US Sports Betting App Revenue
Sport betting revenue in the United States reached $7.4 billion in 2022, accounting for approximately 20% of global revenues.
US sports betting app annual revenue 2018 to 2022 ($bn)
US Sports Betting Revenue by Sport
Sports betting in the US is split quite evenly between two most popular sports, American football and basketball.
US sports betting app revenue by sport 2022 (%)
US Sports Betting Revenue by State
New Jersey has the highest lifetime revenue, at $2.8 billion, however New York is quickly catching up.
US sports betting app lifetime revenue by state ($bn)
| State | Revenue ($bn) |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2.8 |
| New York | 2.2 |
| Illinois | 1.96 |
| Nevada | 1.91 |
| Pennsylvania | 1.85 |
| Indiana | 1.08 |
Note: This is lifetime revenue. Dated to September 2023. Source: LSR
UK Sports Betting Revenue
UK sports betting generated £2.36 billion in 2021, a 10% decrease on the previous year.
UK sports betting annual revenue 2015 to 2021 (£bn)
UK Sports Betting by Sport
Football and horse racing are the two key sports in the UK for betting markets, responsible for over 75 percent of all revenues in 2022.
UK sports betting app revenue by sport 2022 (%)
US Sports Betting App Market Share
FanDuel and DraftKings are in a two horse race in the US online betting market, with the more established casino brands far behind.
US sports betting app market share 2022 (%)
UK Sports Betting App Market Share
Bet365 and Sky Bet were two of the first bookmakers in the UK to focus on mobile, which has paid dividends with their market share in 2022.
UK sports betting app market share 2022 (%)
Sports Betting App Downloads
FanDuel was the most downloaded sports betting app in 2022. Bet365 saw a noticeable growth in US downloads.
Sports betting app downloads 2022 (mm)
| App | Downloads (mm) |
|---|---|
| FanDuel | 5.8 |
| DraftKings | 4.9 |
| Bet365 | 4.1 |
| BetPlay | 3 |
| Caliente Sports | 2.9 |
Source: AppMagic
