Sports betting is an ever-growing industry, and rugby is among the most popular sports for betting. By being one of the most thrilling sports that demonstrates a combination of brains and brawns, rugby attracts sports fans and betting enthusiasts worldwide.
Based on 2019 rugby betting stats, 77% of American bettors placed wagers on this sport. This share is anticipated to grow in the following years significantly. And since the most successful bets come from true sports fans who know the teams and the players, betting is massively helping the rugby industry grow too.
The Rise of the Rugby Betting Industry
The online betting industry is in full bloom. The age of the internet enabled everyone to be able to bet from the comforts of their own homes. You only need an internet connection and a smartphone to access the hundreds of gambling apps and websites available.
Moreover, many online betting apps and sites provide much better odds than betting shops. The licensed websites are also safe to use and offer fast deposits and withdrawals. What more would a person want?
While rugby is not on the list of the top five betting sports in the UK – it's football, horse racing, tennis, cricket, and golf – it's still quickly growing. Some experts even believe that the sport will soon surpass many of its competitors and find its rightful place among the top five.
Betting Sponsorships
Almost 70% of English rugby union clubs have some type of sponsorship from a gambling company. These sponsorships provide financial support and help many teams continue competing. As long as there is interest in the rugby wagering industry, the massive gambling companies will continue investing in their favourite sports teams.
That said, some things may drastically change for UK-based rugby teams. For example, the Premier League clubs are discussing a voluntary ban on betting shirt sponsorships. This may lead to a loss of £5 million to £10 million per season for many clubs.
Rugby Betting Trends
The UK is the home of many sports, as well as many sports bettors. While the lottery is the most popular form of gambling, sports betting is a close second. Wagering on sports also leads to spending money, accounting for over 1/3 of the gambling revenue in the UK. According to some data, punters spend about £35 billion annually.
As for betting trends, the most popular type of bet is matched betting. Same as with other sports, you bet on the team you believe will win the game.
Another popular betting type is handicap betting, or spread betting. With handicap betting, the underdog team is given a hypothetical advantage, or the fan favourite team is given a hypothetical disadvantage. As the match progresses, points are being added or taken from them. This is an excellent choice for competitions where one of the teams is a heavy favourite.
Final Thoughts
Rugby is definitely among the most popular sports in the world. For example, during the last rugby world cup in Japan, there were 850 million viewers globally. This figure is projected to grow considerably in the following years, and one of the reasons for it is online gambling. In fact, the rugby betting industry is one of the fastest-growing industries out there. So if you are looking for an exciting sport to place a wager on, you may want to join the rugby betting fever.
