Entain reveals the biggest sporting events of 2025

Tuesday 30th December: The Grand National has once again claimed the top spot in Entain’s annual ranking of the world’s biggest betting events, but this year’s list reveals a striking diversity of sporting passions among customers worldwide – from European football finals and US sporting spectacles to South American showdowns.

A Global Mix of Sports and Cultures

Entain’s analysis of its global sportsbook data shows how fans across continents engage with a wide range of events:

• Horse Racing: The Grand National remains the undisputed leader, joined by the Cheltenham Gold Cup (14th) and Coral Scottish Grand National (21st), underlining the enduring appeal of racing traditions. Notably, three races on Cheltenham Festival Friday – including the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (27th) and St James’s Palace Chase (50th) – made the final cut, reinforcing the festival’s status as a cultural and sporting institution.
• American Football: The Super Bowl (2nd) continues as a global betting phenomenon, but noticeably supported by strong interest in AFC and NFC Championship games (4th and 6th). The data also highlights how stand-alone televised games are key drivers of betting activity, whether in the playoffs or prime-time slots like Monday and Thursday Night Football. Notably, two games in the opening weeks of the 2025 NFL season made it into the top 20, reflecting BetMGM’s growing customer base and the NFL's international popularity.
• Global Football: Finals dominate, including the Champions League Final (5th), Club World Cup Final (7th), Nations League Final (9th), and South America’s Copa Libertadores Final (19th). The Europa League Final (15th) also features more prominently , having featured two struggling Premier League giants. Champions League semi-finals and quarter finals appear throughout the top 50, reflecting the tournament’s global appeal.
• Domestic Football: Manchester United vs Liverpool is the most popular domestic fixture in the world, featuring twice in the top 50 (26th and 30th). This was joined this year by only the Premier League fixture on Boxing Day: Manchester United vs Newcastle United. This showcases not only the Premier League's global popularity but also Manchester United's continued international appeal to bettors.
• Golf: The US Masters (3rd) climbed into the top three and beat the Champions League, showing how it is one of the most-followed sporting events worldwide, reflecting its prestige and international fan base, with no other major challenging the top 50.

Greg Ferris, Managing Director, Sports at Entain, said:

“From Cheltenham to the Super Bowl, and from Champions League to the Libertadores Final, this list shows how our customers’ interests span continents and sports. The Grand National and the Super Bowl are cultural phenomena that transcend sports and are annual traditions for recreational customers. Beyond these leading top two events, the diversity in the top 50 of different sports reflects our global reach and the varied passions of millions of fans worldwide.”

The data highlights a clear trend: bettors are increasingly drawn to high-profile, one-off events that combine tradition, global appeal and sporting jeopardy.

Entain’s top betting events of the year:

The Full Top 50 can be downloaded here.

Data is taken from Entain’s global labels, including BetMGM in the US, excluding Australia, Eurobet, CEE, Enlabs and Crystalbet.