Leading online sports betting operator Entain has reported a significant increase in the number of NFL bets by players in Ireland and the UK. Data released for bets placed by Irish and British bettors reveal that the sport has never been more popular than it is now.
London Games
Data from Entain’s Ladbrokes and Corals sportsbooks revealed that there has been a 65% year-on-year increase in NFL betting among Irish and British bettors. This also includes a 46% growth in the total money staked and a 60% annual rise in the number of bets being placed.
While the NFL has always had a strong presence in Ireland, the increased betting interest is believed to have been largely driven by the sport's presence in London. The English capital hosted three major games this past year, with all three seeing a huge uptick in bets compared to standard games.
The three games were held at Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Several big-name teams were involved, including the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. These games saw a 51% increase in total stakes compared to 2023.
An International Sport
While the NFL is comfortably the biggest sports league in America, it has taken years of steady growth for it to become a major player in the Irish and British markets. The aforementioned hosting of games in London has definitely accelerated this, with the sport now becoming one of the most popular among bettors in both countries.
Entain’s Managing Director for Sports, Greg Ferris, commented on the data, saying, “During the last twenty years, the NFL has become truly international, with games taking place around the world, helping to grow a global fanbase.”
Ferris added that while the games in London have definitely played a significant part in the increased Irish and British interest, there is also evidence of a committed and knowledgable fanbase in the countries that is continuing to grow.
