Sports betting trends to watch out for in 2025

All bets are off – the sports betting industry will continue to grow and evolve rapidly, with plenty of innovative trends shaping its landscape. 

In a Technavio report published in January 2025, the research company says the global sports betting market will surge by $221.1 billion, at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2024 to 2029. Football, tennis, basketball, cricket and horse racing remain the popular sports to bet on, with online sportsbooks currently dominating the industry. 

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And we don’t need to dive deep into data just to see how interest in sports betting is increasing. By just opening our smartphones and browsing the web, it’s easy to see why. So, what exactly are the reasons that are driving its massive growth?

#1 Favourable regulatory conditions

In our analysis, the favourable market and regulatory environments are the primary reasons for sports betting’s success. There’s a betting boom in different parts of the world, with the United States one of the biggest markets for operators. The US betting industry has gone a long way since the Supreme Court nullified the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Before this landmark decision, the PASPA effectively banned sports betting, except in the state of Nevada and three other states that allow ‘certain betting games’. But today, sports betting is booming, with 32 states, including Washington DC, allowing bets on sports.

We can see the same trend in other regions, including the United Kingdom and many parts of Asia. Gambling and sports remain popular leisure activities in the country, with industries enjoying a symbiotic relationship. 

Gambling activities in most countries are supervised under strict rules and conditions. But as more governments see the industry’s value in boosting tax revenues and spurring economic growth, we can see an even bigger betting market in the next five or 10 years.

#2 Rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are also primary drivers of the rise. AI is redefining sports betting, and many of us aren’t even aware that the technology has become part of our lives. There are three ways in which AI is changing the sports betting industry – in predictive analysis; by personalizing the betting experiences; and in boosting operational efficiency.

First, experts see how AI is helping sports bettors with predictive analysis. Before generative AI came onto the scene, we needed to track stats and information, and crunch these numbers to make informed bets. That’s no longer the case with AI. These modern systems can collect and process huge data sets, including historical scores, players’ stats and even social media sentiment. Thanks to the AI systems' access to this data set, they can come up with more precise and nuanced sports predictions.

Secondly, AI can promote a personalised betting experience. AI systems and machine learning models can analyse a person’s betting behaviour and lifestyle, previous bets, and preferred sports to generate highly specific recommendations.

In short, AI does the work for the sports fans and punters, automating an often stressful and labour intensive process of comparing and analysing scores and trends. Thirdly, generative AI benefits the operators, who work with greater efficiency. For example, sports book operators now rely on AI to analyse and set betting odds in real-time, giving sports fans and bettors more accurate and competitive resources. Meanwhile, the technology can also help in fraud detection, with speed and efficiency. 

#3 Popularity of Micro-Betting and Acca Betting

Betting in sports has become more popular in recent years thanks to the growing number of betting options. And no, we’re not just talking about pre-match and in-play betting, which are now standard offerings in top bookies. New sports fans and punters are now exploring a variety of exciting betting options, including micro-betting and acca betting.

Micro-betting should be familiar to sports fans and punters who have tried in-play betting before. In sports betting, micro bets are your ‘small bets’ you can put on individual events that are already in-play, and often don’t focus on the winners or losers. They’re comparable to your usual in-play bets, but they’re quickly settled. And after the settlement of a bet, new bets are added, waiting for the next round of players.

Then, we have acca (or accumulator) betting. This betting option has been around for quite some time, but its enduring appeal among punters helps propel sports betting to greater heights. In acca betting, you’re combining several individual bets into a single bet. For you to earn a payout, all selections must win. If just one in the selection loses, the entire bet is lost. In addition to combining multiple selections into one bet, acca bets also boost the odds and promise higher payouts. 

As the risks are higher since one pick can spoil the entire accumulator bet, experts often recommend this type of bet for experienced punters and sports fans.

#4 Cryptocurrency betting, anyone?

Crypto betting isn’t just limited to online casinos – even sportsbooks are benefiting from the blockchain and crypto’s mainstreaming. 

Like traditional finance, crypto is shaking up the sportsbook industry in a number of ways. For example, blockchain primarily helps in promoting trust and transparency in sports betting platforms. In traditional betting platforms, punters and sports fans are often ‘left in the dark’ regarding odds selection, payouts, and even game integrity. But the blockchain technology addresses these through smart contracts that automate payouts and make transactions transparent.

The rise of Bitcoin and crypto sportsbooks also offers quick and almost private transactions. Since crypto doesn’t require an intermediary, like a traditional bank, transactions happen between peers, making it faster and convenient. It’s now common for crypto-ready sportsbooks to offer almost instant payments, compared to bank transfers which can sometimes take days. Also, a transaction comes with lower or no fees, and there is no need to share personal information. There are a few sportsbooks with no-KYC offering, making betting more accessible to everyone.

#5 esports betting continues to grow

Esports betting is another trend that’s shaping our sports betting industry. It refers to betting on the results of competitive video games, like Call of Duty, Mobile Legends, and Dota 2. And just like traditional sports betting, you’re betting on both a winning team and players in the game. 

But what makes esports betting exciting is the availability of prop bets that are unique to the gameplay. For example, it’s common to find bets like first kill, total kills, number of maps, and Team A wins map 1, reflecting the nature and objective of a specific game. 

It also helps that game publishers, like Valve and Montoon, are actively participating in the industry by setting up contests and tournaments with lucrative prize pools. For example, Valve’s The International 2024, held from 4-15 September boasted a prize pool of over $2 million (£1.52m). This staggering amount was based on Valve’s contribution, with community contributions. 

In addition, esports betting has a vibrant and highly supportive community, which drives its popularity in the industry.

Unlike traditional sports betting, esports betting primarily appeals to the tech-savvy crowd and a more digital-first audience. Often, esports sites integrate other tech and innovation, including NFTs, crypto and skins, making these a vibrant hub for degens, millennials and Gen Z, and those looking for a more competitive and thrilling betting experience.

#6 Responsible Gambling and betting practices remain

As the sports betting industry continues to grow, regulars keep an eye on responsible gambling. In some regions, the approval of betting licences comes with a requirement to comply with strict regulations to protect players’ welfare.

For example, you’ll find bookmakers integrating a selection of responsible gambling tools, like deposit and session limits, and self-exclusion, in addition to standard tips and resources.

Final thoughts

All these trends and latest developments we’ve covered in this blog reflect the complexity and dynamism of the sports betting industry. Technology and innovation are the primary drivers of growth and popularity, and the trends are focused on convenience, flexibility, and security. We expect sports betting to continue its push onwards, with more sites offering betting tools and resources. 

As growth continues, it pays to stay grounded and remain cautious when betting online. Our safety and protection as bettors should be deemed non-negotiable, and it remains top of mind every time, even in the face of all the attractive innovations happening in our favourite sportsbooks.