Ime Ekpon

How well do you follow changes in betting? What in your opinion are the sports betting trends
you need to look out for in 2022?
Sports betting is one of most dynamic and fast growing industries with new technologies and
developments being added to it. And the fact that it wasn’t legal in most countries a few years
ago, but is now legal in almost all the countries of the world is another indication of just how
much this industry has grown and widely accepted it has become.
However, spreading its wings into different corners of the world and evolving to excite a new
generation of fans is not the only new thing this industry managed to pull off. Sports betting
getting into phones and the establishment of reliable betting websites thanks to the internet, are
just some of its other trends that won’t go unnoticed.
So, like we asked what sports betting trends should bettors look out for this year?

We have listed
all of them out below in this article and explained why they are relevant.
Top 20 Sports Betting Trends To Look Out For In 2022

1. Rise of Esports
2. Tracking Players
3. Last Minute Bets
4. Free Bonuses And Bets
5. Big Data Processing
6. Football Supremacy
7. Preference for Cryptocurrency
8. Automatic Bets
9. Online Betting
10. Virtual Sports Betting
11. Betting Exchanges
12. Casinos and Bookmakers Become Solely More Transparent
13. Skill-Based Betting
14. New Additions in Game Design and Betting Markets
15. Convenience for Players
16. Community Growth
17. Microbetting
18. Virtual and Augmented Reality
19. Artificial Intelligence
20. Boxing Betting
21. Rise of Esports
    Esports was introduced around the 2020 pandemic and quickly gained popularity because it
    provided a sustainable way for passionate bettors to bet on sports with stadiums closed. This
    betting style won’t go out of style anytime soon because it is convenient and lets bettors wager on
    live matches from the comforts of their homes.
22. Tracking Players
    AI Technology being incorporated into sports betting, has made player tracking possible, which
    offers you real-time data for when you’re betting on your favorite players. This trend is popular
    because you can easily access player health conditions and fitness levels too. Furthermore, you
    could use this to gauge a team’s strength and winning chances.
23. Free Bonuses And Bets
    The free bonuses and bets you recieve from betting sites should be utilized. This is because they
    help you avoid betting as a new player without any experience, with your own money. Newbies
    especially benefit from this trend.
24. Last-Minute Bets
    Last-minute live betting on matches can help you increase your winning chances. This is an
    advantage because at the beginning of the match you don’t know how a game will play out, but
    last-minute betting helps you make an informed decision.
    Several software available in the market makes this type of bet convenient and a good option for
    new bettors looking to gain experience.
25. Big Data Processing
    Bettors can access updated information concerning the sports world, and professionals analyze
    this data with the aid of Big Data Technology.
    The hundreds of matches and tournaments which attract bettors yearly, help manage large
    amounts of data for players, results, performances, and other metrics that facilitate successful
    predictions.
26. Football Supremacy

Football betting is another trend that won’t be dying out any time soon, as every indication points
to the fact that this sport will continue to be superior to other sports in the betting industry.
Gaming brands also fuel this trend by relying on football to gain visibility in the stadiums with
players’ jerseys, strategic advertising, teams’ official websites, and media recognition too.

7. Preference for Cryptocurrency
   Restrictions and strict conditions on payment methods by some countries, might restrict the use
   of financial instruments from traditional banking systems. These challenges have made betting
   websites to start accepting deposits and withdrawals using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and
   Ethereum.
   Cryptography has its advantages in the sports betting industry, because it maintains anonymity,
   is reliable, aids quick money exchange, and has no complicated measures for digital wallet
   operators.
8. Automatic Bets
   With automatic bets, you can speedily make predictions. The betting experts in charge, utilize
   rule-based strategies to set fixed rates and then automate the whole process. Automatic bets
   prove productive because bets on undetermined odds can be profitable.
9. Online Betting
   In countries where online betting is allowed, a large number of the bets are made through mobile
   devices, as opposed to bookmaker offices. In Nigeria alone, 60% of Nigerians use the internet,
   which is a number that can access internet betting and gambling using their personal computers
   and mobile phones.
   As the digitization of sports betting continues to intensify, everyone from bookmakers, bettors,
   and the state who is involved in this industry, will benefit from it.
10. Virtual Sports Betting
    Virtual sports betting is fast growing in popularity, as a new trend where bettors can wager on
    computer-generated sporting events. Its advantages include you being able to bet on games that
    are unavailable in real life.
11. Betting Exchanges
    In Betting exchanges, you can bet against other bettors rather than against the bookie. This new
    type of online betting provides a good way for you to gain better odds on bets and make bigger
    profits. They also offer an opportunity for you to test your skills while battling with adepts and
    new bettors in the betting community.
12. Transparency Amongst Bookmakers And Casinos
    The scandals and lack of transparency that has riddled the online gaming industry, has shifted
    more focus towards bookmakers and casinos being transparent. As a result, one trend bettors can
    expect to see in 2022 is online casinos and bookmakers with more transparency in how they deal
    with customers.
    This means more lucrative decisions for bettors, bettors having the resources to control their
    funds and stashes, and the curbing of deceiving and stealing from bettors.
13. Skill-Based Betting
    Skill-based betting is a new online betting type that has been welcomed with open arms by
    bettors. Here, you bet on your ability to predict the outcome of events. The advantage of this type
    of betting is that you make profit even when you lose, this is because you are betting against
    other bettors not bookmakers.
14. New Additions in Game Design and Betting Markets
    The growth of online betting is expected to birth more innovation in the game design and betting
    markets. This means bettors can expect to see new games and new ways to wager on them.
    
    This
    development could make online betting more exciting and more profitable.
    The visuals, music, aesthetics, and ambiance game design brings, contribute to the overall
    gaming experience, and novel designs excite casino lovers.
15. Convenience for Players
    In the future, online casinos and bookmakers will be more convenient than they are now for
    bettors. This means there will be more playing and betting options for your favorite games, more
    apps and websites designed for mobile devices, and more depositing and withdrawing options for
    money.

On the other hand, the controls and details will be easy to understand.

Currently, games involve
clicking and momentous winning, although they can’t be easier ways to play. Bettors can still
enjoy convenience and ease.

16. Community Growth
    The growing community of online betting is something that can’t be ignored. More people are
    getting interested in sports betting and on other events.
    As online betting gains popularity, the community will expand, creating more opportunities for
    you to make profits from betting and provide an excellent source of information and advice for
    people new to online betting.
17. Microbetting
    Microbetting or in-play gambling allows you to stake your bets on a range of minute-by minute
    events in a live game, rather than bet only on the winning team or other outright markets. This
    bet causes challenges for bookies, because they must correctly anticipate the chances of small
    bets in real-time and update them throughout the game.
    Bookmakers, however, predict that microbetting will be a future trend, as this industry is
    expanding fast, permitting customers to place modest bets during the duration of a single game.
18. Virtual and Augmented Reality
    Although Virtual and Augmented reality technologies haven’t been fully developed, experts
    predict that they’ll be deployed in sports betting. This means bettors could buy a front-row ticket
    to a live event and attend it from their homes. You could place bets on any events from your
    sofa.
19. Artificial Intelligence
    AI is considered to be a significant advancement in sports betting because it uses data to predict
    the outcome of each match or race and can offer many benefits to bookmakers and bettors.
    Bookies can set more accurate odds and boost their earnings, while bettors can get greater win
    ratio facilitated by data not readily available to humans. AI is expected to reshape the sports
    betting industry.
20. Boxing Betting

2022 had some of the biggest fights in sports history, making this year a great one for boxing,
with world defense titles occuring once a month. Boxing promoters are on the rise and so are
people betting on this sport.
Bettors have taken an interest in boxing, placing bets regularly on the lines, world titles, and
qualification bouts.

Sports betting takes on many forms, but its true nature is the act of predicting the result of a
sporting event. Events people typically bet on include football, horse and dog racing, soccer,
American football, etc. Bookmakers AKA sportsbook are mostly used to place bets, both online
and in brick-and-mortar outlets like casinos.
When it comes to the total amount bettors gamble and the amount a sportsbook earns after
paying out winners, there is a difference. The global sports betting and lottery business was
valued at over $200 billion, but due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, this figure decreased. The
Coronavirus affected the sports betting sector, destabilizing it with the absence of certain
professional sports leagues and tournaments.
When the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States started, the majority of responders decreased
their bets. Prior to the pandemic, the global online gambling industry reached close to $60 billion
in 2019, this number is expected to quadruple by 2023.
The expected growth of the online gambling industry will also pave way for the increase of
sports betting in the future. So, let’s see some of the most famous sports players bet on from
around the world.
8 Most Famous Sports Players Bet On

1. Soccer
2. MMA
3. Horse Racing
4. Basketball
5. Tennis
6. American Football
7. Cricket
8. Golf
9. Soccer
   European football or soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, and one of the most
   attractive for bettors too. Football wagers is mostly a basic affair, as victory or draw is all you
   need to predict or mention the final score. But, experienced bettors have alternative wagering
   options in this game.
   Bets can be placed on the quantity and timing of corner kicks and throw-ins during a match, or
   you could bet on the distribution of yellow or red cards and which players receive them too.

Players flock to this sport because it is complex, and it allows them to bet on the team whose
results are forecasted with proper research. Football bettors typically use past data analysis to get
the most out of their betting processes. Due to the popularity of soccer, the majority of the
bookmakers make provision for players to bet on it, making wagering processes easy.

2. MMA
   Gambling on MMA (mixed martial arts) events carries a lot of thrill and excitement you won’t
   get from football or athletics. Players feel an inexplicable level of thrill and adrenaline rush
   betting on this sport, which is why they do it.
   The dark horse needs just one lucky shot against their rival to win a game.
   
   MMA is new to the
   betting scene, which is why most players can wager on it in different ways. One of such ways is
   through crypto betting, which makes the betting process more enjoyable.
   While bookmakers generate their money through odds, this doesn’t bar bettors from finding
   excellent MMA wagering opportunities or choosing from the variety of betting options available
   to make money. One thing you could do is analyze the props to maximize your winnings.
3. Horse Racing
   Horse racing has become one of the most famous sports bets globally, with millions of fans
   patronizing tracks to place their wagers on their favorite horses. With Internet gambling
   becoming more prominent, horse race betting practice has changed.
   Most players place their bets on events like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Grand
   National yearly. There are several factors like the weather, the ground, and handler’s attitude that
   impacts a horse’s ability to run and win races. One easy strategy you could use to pick a horse
   that wins is to perform your study, and review the most recent facts and expert’s views.
4. Basketball
   Basketball gets lots of attention from players all over the world, even with the National
   Basketball Association (NBA) being one of the most popular leagues in the United States and
   Europe.
   The most common type of wager you’ll find on a basketball game is spread betting.
   
   
   
   In this bet
   you’ll need to forecast how much a team will score over their opponent. Predicting the margin by
   which the favorite will win against an underdog, when they’re playing an away match is one of
   basketball’s most interesting bets.
5. Tennis
   Tennis is another sport with fans globally, and a top one for people to follow because they are
   familiar with it. Being familiar with Tennis means that players can comfortably wager on it,
   because they understand how the game works and which bets will come off.
   Furthermore, the widespread media coverage of Tennis makes it easy for players to keep up with
   which athlete is in form. Plus the buzz for this game is everywhere as there is no tennis off-
   season and matches are played all-year round. This also means that most bettors wager on tennis
   when other sports aren’t available.
6. American Football
   The United States is one of the biggest sports betting countries globally, a characteristic which
   can be attributed to American Football games being featured in American culture.
   The American Football game is the second game that attracts most players globally, thanks to the
   National Football League (NFL) and the people who bet on the US. Super Bowl games, which
   are the yearly highlight of American Football. The Super Bowl attracts bettos from different
   mobile sports betting platforms, and racks in lots of wagers.
7. Cricket
   Although Cricket tournaments attract a large number of bettors, it is only popular in some parts
   of the world. But, with its low popularity, this sport still has one of the biggest betting statistics.
   
   
   
   
   Cricket matches usually happen between big rivals locked in a heavily tensed build-up that
   increases the odds for bettors to back their favorites with wagers.
8. Golf
   Golf is a good choice to bet on because the sport is not popular with other bettors, but it is still
   exciting and pays well. In the UK especially, there are few Golf competitions to wager on, but if
   you find tournaments happening in other places, you could earn from those too.

The sports we’ve mentioned in this article are among the most famous sports bettors wager on,
mainly because they are easy to forecast using past data, and a straightforward betting process.

Why do people bet? Specifically, why do Nigerians bet?


Sports betting is prominent in Nigeria, with Nigerians spending thousands of naira betting on
sports like football and coming in large numbers to offline and online betting platforms.
You see, to understand why people bet globally or why it seems very prevalent in a single
country, you’ll have to look at this topic in all of its entirety.
This means, to consider – how they choose a bookmaker, how is spent on betting, which sports is
bet on more, who is betting more in a particular location, etc.
These questions and more is what this our article on Online Betting Survey 2022: Understanding
Why People Bet seeks to answer in clear terms. For it, we have prepared a list of the top online
betting statistics in Nigeria and global online betting statistics as well.

Top Global Online Betting Statistics

1. Around 1.6 billion people gamble globally, meaning 26% of the world’s population bets.
2. 35% of the total gaming industry is made up of betting.
3. The best bet on sporting events in the world is the world cup.
   
   In 2018, around $136
   billion was placed in bets on the World cup.
4. In 2019, the estimated gambling market size was USD 53.7 billion, it is expected to grow
   to USD 59.6 billion in 2022.
5. The global betting industry’s estimated worth is $450bn.
6. The UK gambling industry’s estimated worth is $18billion.
7. In 2019, Europe dominated the online gambling market with a 41.
   
   0% share. This
   facilitated the legalization of gambling in France, Germany, Spain, Malta, and Italy.
8. Top countries with the highest betting losses per adult are Australia ($1,788), Singapore
   ($1.174), Ireland ($588 ), and Canada ($568).
9. The USA gambling industry’s estimated worth is $240 billion.
10. The USA’s estimated global gross win is $74.39bn.
11. In the USA, billion people gamble at least once annually.
12. 15% of Americans gamble at least once per week.
    
    An approximate of 2-3% of Americans
    fit the group for gambling problems – 6 million adults and half-million teenagers.
13. An approximate of 85% Americans gambled once in their lives, 80% gambled in the
    previous year.
    Credit: (Bettingsites24)

Top Online Betting Statistics in Nigeria
These statistics for the top online betting statistics in Nigeria , combine findings on some key
areas that influence bettor behavior and typically why people bet.
We focused on areas like which age grade bet the most in Nigeria, demographic (gender), and
why Nigerians bet.

1. Sports betting is more prevalent with 60 million Nigerians aged 18 to 40
   ● The 60 million Nigerians that bet the most, bet N3,000 daily.
   ● 77% of Nigerians that bet, admit that betting and gambling are common in their localities.
   ● The South-West geo-political zone had the most bettors in Nigeria with 95% bettors,
   followed by South-South 91%, and North-West with the lowest number, accounting for
   only 57% of bettors.
   ● 36% of bettors agree to actively participating in betting or having a family member who
   does. 55% bet daily, 63% bet occasionally doing so once or twice monthly, and 9% of
   bettors have never won a bet.
   ● Lagos is Nigeria’s largest gambling city, housing 1 gambling facility, 10 table games, 106
   games, slots, and video poker machines.
2. Men have a higher betting rate than women

● Men are usually more passionate about sports than women, and are most likely to take
risks betting on sports.
● Men bet more than women in 2021 and are predicted to do so again in the year 2022.


● Female gambling has grown over the years, despite a higher number of male gamblers.
Women account for over 10.6% of Nigerian internet bettors.

3. Nigeria’s sports betting industry is predicted to grow to a worth of over $750 billion.
   So, who is contributing to this growing amount?
   ● Nigerian bettors spend an estimate of N3,000 daily betting on sports.
   ● Despite having only 3 licensed casinos in 2021, the Nigerian casino gaming industry is
   expected to pull in up to $70 million.
   ● A market study in 2018 showed that Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa pulled in a
   combined sports betting market of up to $50 billion.
   ● An estimated total of $2b is spent on sports betting in Nigeria daily.
4. 40% of Nigerians gamble because they want quick cash
   A 2019 NOI Poll survey of gamblers showed that:
   ● 30% of bettors do so for quick cash. And although this percentage grew over the years,
   the reason hasn’t changed.
   ● 25% of bettors listed Nigeria’s unemployment rate of 7.8%, as the reason why they
   gamble on casino games.
   ● In 2021, people gambled because of money. In 2022, the pattern was repeated.
   ● 85% of people say they bet to increase their wealth.
5. Gambling is prevalent in Nigeria because of access to internet betting and gambling
   ● Up to 60% of Nigerians use the internet, a number enabled by low personal computer and
   mobile phone prices.

● Another factor mentioned for Nigeria’s gambling habit is the unrestricted access to
internet betting and gambling.
● Many Nigerians view gambling as a mild pastime that does no harm, this is why 40% of
Nigerians have gambled and 54% currently gamble daily.

6. 26% of bettors say that timely payment of betting earnings is a major reason why they
   will pick a Football prediction site
   ● Over 14 million bet stakes and payments are made on the internet daily.
   ● Up to 1200 offline visitors monthly, go to bet in an offline betting outlet.
   ● Bet9ja is the second most visited prediction site for football in Nigeria and the first most
   visited online betting website.
   ● Bet9ja’s average monthly turnover is estimated to be over $10 million, while NairaBet
   brings in an average monthly turnover of $3m-$5m, a 20-30% profit margin.
   ● Football trading accounts for over 70% of the sports betting trade.
   Gotten from: (Global Times NG )and (Betting Sites 24)

Sports betting is the most common type of gambling in Nigeria, but casino games seem to be
gaining ground, thanks to more bettors finding high-quality slots on foreign sites. As betting
becomes more normalized, both industries will experience growth.