Sports Popular Among Australian Gamblers (And Their Global Growth)

Australians are sports fanatics. You probably don't need me to tell you that, as it is common knowledge that this is one of the most popular countries for watching sports, and some of the stadiums see 80,000 or more people pack in to watch sporting events.

Sports that originate down under, or are just very popular in Australia, are also spreading all over the world. We're exploring some of the sports popular with Australian gamblers and fans and how they're becoming more widely known. 

Growing Aussie Influence

Australian sports are growing due to the athleticism and interesting spectacles that they can create. Some sports are evolutions of English sports, while others are completely Australian inventions, but people on other continents are taking note. NRL is even coming to America for live fixtures now!

Aussies are already some of the best athletes in the world and have a good record at the Olympics as well as other sporting competitions. Swimming is popular there, along with loads of team sports.

Rugby

Rugby in many formats is popular down under, and the National Rugby League (NRL) is a staple for Australian sports fans and bettors. You might watch the sport and think it is pretty brutal, and it is known for high-intensity matches and dramatic moments. Rugby Union competitions, including Super Rugby and international fixtures, are similar and showcase the physicality, speed, and tactical depth of rugby, making it a favorite among gamblers.

English people were the first to play rugby on a big scale and it makes sense that so many Aussies are into it due to the huge number of people in Australia that have English heritage.

Cricket

Another English sport that the Aussies have really taken on and become amazing at. Don Bradman, the best cricketer ever, was from Australia. Cricket holds a special place in the hearts of Australian sports fans. Whether it's Test matches and the fiercely contested Ashes Series, One Day Internationals (ODIs), or the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format, cricket provides a lot of betting markets, too. People focus on the strategic nature of the game, coupled with individual player performances, which makes cricket betting quite an in-depth concept. 

The global growth of cricket is clear to see, especially in 2024, when the International T20 tournament is being contested in the USA and the Caribbean. Many purpose-built stadiums have been created to try to boost cricket in the area, and the Major League Cricket tournament has also launched in the US. Participation numbers are booming. 

Australian Rules Football

Watch a game of AFL and you'll see that it is physically demanding, a little confusing, and very Australian. Australian Rules Football, or AFL, is a uniquely Australian sport that has a following across the country and beyond. 

AFL matches have a lot of markets; both individual and team markets are available, along with outrights for the whole season. Commonly, these markets are only available in Australia but some companies are now offering global coverage. 

AFL is played between two teams made up of 18 players on an oval field, which could be a modified cricket ground. Huge cricket stadiums in Australia are sometimes used for AFL as well and can see huge attendances. American football has some similarities, and both games are split into quarters, but the rules take some learning even for NFL fans. 

Players can kick, handball, or tap the ball, and they can tackle (with contact) the players. Kicking for the goal is possible from anywhere within the oval, and players cover some huge distances.

Soccer

Soccer is arguably the most popular sport in the whole world; it's a global phenomenon that has a significant following among Australians. Gambling markets are varied, and a lot of people focus on the English Premier League (EPL), UEFA Champions League, and major international tournaments like the FIFA World Cup. 

Soccer is pretty easy to understand (well, the basics, at least) and provides loads of matches and a wide variety of betting options, from match outcomes to player-specific bets. Australia has its own soccer league, too, which sees a lot of players from all over the world taking part. 

Soccer's growth in the US and elsewhere isn't solely down to the Aussies; they're one of a load of different countries that have embraced soccer as one of the very top sports and watch it regularly. Aussie teams also compete against Asian teams a lot in continental tournaments, which helps to further the reach, and Premier League teams may also tour the land down under. 

Conclusion

Australian favorites are split pretty evenly between sports that have minority followings and huge global sports like soccer and cricket. Americans have had a different set of interests historically, but global sports are becoming more closely linked, and people from all continents are paying attention to Aussie sports and Australian interests.