What Are the Best Sports to Bet On? (2026 Update)

As summer starts to wind down and fall sports begin in full swing, you may be wondering if there are any particular sports you should focus your betting on. In our opinion, the best sports to bet on are those you know well, but if you know a lot of different sports, this isn’t a good enough answer.

In general, the most profitable sports to bet on include NFL Football, Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis. Read on to learn more about the best sports to bet on.

1. NFL Football

There’s no other way to say it, but the most profitable sport to bet on is NFL football. This is because it is the most popular among sports bettors, and tends to have the most money and the best paylines behind it.

That being said, if you are located outside of the United States, you may struggle to find a place that accepts bets on NFL football, and it isn’t the best choice if you aren’t knowledgeable about how the sport works. Additionally, the NFL has the fewest games of all the sports listed on this page per season, meaning there is a high opportunity cost of making a mistake. But if you know and love NFL football, it really is your best “bet” in terms of sports betting because of the huge following behind it.

**Please note that betting on college football can also be profitable, but it will not be anywhere near as profitable as betting on NFL games.**

2. Soccer

Soccer, known as football, everywhere else except the United States, is a close second to NFL football. This is because betting on soccer is typically available everywhere, and you won’t have to travel far in countries like the UK to place your bet. With the largest following globally, football/soccer tends to still have great lines and a large amount of money behind it.

Where soccer falls short is the sheer number of teams. Unlike NFL football, where all bets are funneled into a mere 32 teams (though there are multiple betting options per team), with soccer there are hundreds and thousands of teams globally. This means the “big win” with soccer will naturally be smaller than the “big win” for a bet on NFL football. But if you don’t live in the US, this may be your only option for placing major sports bets.

3. Basketball

In our research on the best sports to bet, basketball popped up repeatedly. Though we don’t personally bet on basketball games, many say it is an easy sport to understand, and unlike soccer and football, which can vary widely due to injuries, coaching, etc., most pros say the disparity between teams in basketball is easy to spot.

Now, you have to remember that the money earned on a basketball bet will likely be less than a football or soccer one, but if it is easier to understand as a bettor, it is likely easier to place good bets that are likely to come to fruition. It’s also easier to line up complicated parlay bets, allowing you to maximize your team knowledge and turn it into cold cash.

Many articles we read specifically mentioned college basketball, but we aren’t so sure about that one. Remember, we only recommend betting on sports you know and understand, as that is one of the only ways to bet wisely.

4. Tennis

Tennis has long been a favorite among sports bettors because it tends to be easy to predict. Unlike every other sport we already mentioned in this post, tennis typically only involves 2-4 players, and it’s easier to analyze their stats and ensure you place a good bet. Not only that, but tennis, despite it being less popular to watch when compared to Football and Soccer, tends to have a large financial backing, meaning large wins are possible.

The issue with tennis is it won’t always have good lines or margins, because while it’s easier for you to predict a winner, so too is it easier for everyone else. But if you know and love tennis, it might be a good sport to jump-start your sports career, especially if you have access to multiple betting websites/casinos to search for the best spread.

5. Hockey

Ice hockey, or just hockey, has one of the largest fan bases in the world, and it continues to grow with every passing year. However, the reason it is fifth on our list and not third or fourth is that it is very difficult to profitably bet on hockey.

While we love hockey, it’s important to know that, unlike other sports, hockey relies heavily on referee calls, meaning even if you know the teams and their stats well, you could still get it wrong if you don’t know how the ref calls. Add in the fact that injuries and goalies have a lot to do with whether a team performs or fails, and this makes it very challenging to place winning bets on hockey.

Previously, we did not recommend betting on hockey due to this inherent instability; however, the popularity (and money) behind the sport has only grown since our last article in 2023. So, if you don’t mind some extra risky betting, it is one of the best sports to bet on because of its wide availability and the slim chance to win very big.

6. Baseball

While the popularity of hockey is only growing, we find the popularity (and money) behind baseball is shrinking. That being said, betting on baseball can be profitable merely because of the sheer number of games they play, as well as the vast difference in performance between players.

In baseball, a single player can make or break a team, and the stats don’t lie—just watch the movie Moneyball, and you’ll see. That being said, because the pro sports bettors also know about the secret of baseball, it can be challenging to find good lines and spreads to bet on. But if you know your baseball, it’s not a bad sport to bet.

Remember, sports betting is risky, and you may lose everything. Only bet money you intend to lose.