Africa is a diverse continent, with rich cultures that significantly differ from each other. However, there is one thing that links all African countries; their love and passion for sports and betting. Though you can find fans of many different sports in the country, there are some that stand above the rest. In this article, we are going to take a look at the most popular betting sports in the country, and discuss a little bit about why they are so popular.
Association Football
No surprise, association football (or soccer) is the most popular betting sport in the continent. Most, if not all African countries consider soccer their favorite sport. Nobody will be surprised by the prominence of the game in Africa. After all, soccer is the most popular sport globally, boasting over 3 billion fans worldwide. Naturally, the sport is also incredible popular on various betting websites.
Recently, online sports betting has been growing in popularity in Africa. Not only that, but many African countries are now legalizing the practice. In other words, African fans of sports betting can use bookies online to place bets on football, and many other sports.
Basketball
Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and plenty of other African countries have shown a deep passion for basketball. However, the truth is that basketball is popular all over the continent. With the African Basketball League’s foundation in 2019, the sport has skyrocketed in popularity.
It isn’t just that the people of Africa love watching basketball. They also love betting on the sport. However, their passion for betting on basketball extends beyond the African Basketball League. People from African countries place bets on NBA matches, FIBA matches, and of course, the Olympic basketball game.
Boxing
When discussing martial arts, we can’t ignore the influence that boxing has had. It is one of the two oldest martial arts, along with wrestling, and the basis of all striking combat. Boxing gyms around the world are filled to the brim with people who want to blow off steam, try their hand at amateur tournaments, or even go pro. Understandably, boxing is also incredible popular on the betting scene.
Boxing is incredibly popular across the African continent. Plenty of top tier boxers have emerged from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. However, most, if not all, African countries have a deep passion for the sport. Unsurprisingly, boxing matches draw in huge crowds of punters and fans, and frequently get large pools of money wagered on the outcome.
Auto Racing
Finally, we are going to discuss auto and motor racing. Since the invention of the car, auto racing has been incredibly popular. It is unsurprising then, that in 2023, auto racing is one of the most popular and wagered on sports. That is true, not just for Africa, but for the world at large.
If we focus on Africa specifically, we can take a look at the most popular racing events in the country. We will find that F1 and NASCAR both get a lot of followers and bettors from Africa. However, most auto racing organizations have a large fan base from various African countries.