From Formula 1 to MotoGP: Exploring the Popularity of Motorsport Betting in Western Europe
No matter whether you have a passion for motorsports or not, the chances you haven’t ever heard of it are minimal. It’s because many globally known motorsports events take place regularly, including Formula 1, MotoGP, WSBK, NASCAR, AMA Pro Racing, IndyCar, and many others.
In some countries like Japan, these events take place all year round without taking breaks, while in others, motorsports races happen once every couple of months or even years.
Considering the popularity of motorsports overall, it comes as no surprise that wagering on this type of sport is also quite favored, especially in Western Europe, where motorsport betting has a special space right next to online pokies and soccer.
That’s why, in this article, we’ll take a detailed look at betting on motorsports and see what is the demand for this activity.
The Motorsport Gambling Market in Western Europe
Betting on motorsport is quite a well-known activity in Western Europe, especially for people with skin in the game. It gives them an opportunity to watch their favorite driver they placed their bets on and cheer them on.
This covers gambling on MotoGP and Formula 1, the two most favored types of motorsports in Europe. What’s notable is the fact that this location hosts some of the leading betting platforms with competitive odds for motorsports enthusiasts which also has the best rating among online casino payouts which includes Luotettava casino and many others. .
However, there are still countless people who like gambling at the local bookmakers. The good news is that the number of available bet markets is not lacking at brick-and-mortar betting venues as well. So motorsports fans can have the same amount of fun regardless of the option they choose to bet – offline or online.
In a nutshell, the popularity and demand of motorsports gambling have steadily increased in the last few years. And it seems like this tendency will change somewhere soon.
First of all, you have many options to bet on your favorite events, making this activity even more thrilling for fans who like to watch races but prefer doing it without leaving home. And stay home, fans of Formula-1 Australia can try themed online slots created in collaboration with the best payout providers.
Moreover, the recent legalization of online bookies in multiple European countries has only added to the growing interest in this activity.
Motorsports Betting
Most racing enthusiasts like to try sports betting as well. This is also true for racing fans in Western Europe. Some do it with the goal of getting cash rewards, while others use motorsports betting as a way to support their preferred driver.
When it comes to betting options for motorsports, you have many choices. For example, you place your bet on the race winner, head-to-head matchups, or make long-term bets.
The Popularity of Motorsports in Western Europe
Who says gambling is mainly popular in the United States? Actually, it’s a global industry and is spread well all over the world, including Western Europe. This includes countries such as:
- The United Kingdom,
- Spain,
- France,
- Germany,
- And The Netherlands.
It’s also worth mentioning that Portugal, Belgium, Monaco, and France are the leading four nations with MotoGP hosting infrastructure. In addition, there are also a couple of crucial races that happen in Italy, Germany, and Spain.
So, it is pretty easy to guess that countries with such a solid presence of motorsports events also gather a lot of enthusiastic fans eager to bet on their preferred driver.
Germany
This is one of the most well-known countries for motorsport. It has a remarkable number of fans who have been following MotoGP events for over 50 years. Particularly, when Michael Schumacher was racing, Germany used to have a massive Formula 1 following. However, attention to this sport has started to dwindle somewhat since he’s gone.
The most important and biggest venues in Germany are Hockenheimring and Nurburgring. These venues used to host the German GP; however, currently, the country doesn’t host any Formula 1 races.
The Netherlands
The number of people who are way too passionate about MotoGP and Formula 1 isn’t less impressive in the Netherlands as well.
Max Verstappen, the national hero of the Netherlands, has won the last two Formula 1 World Driving Championships. And because of this, his fans go around the world to watch his races and cheer him up.
France
Another Western European country in which motorsport has a unique, unwavering place is France. This country is famous for a variety of motorsport events it hosts, including the former French Grand Prix held in 2022 at Paul Ricard Circuit and the well-known Le Mans 24-Hour race.
In addition to these motorsports events, you can also watch many other smaller races happening around the year.
The UK
The next country on this list is the United Kingdom. Throughout the year, it hosts more than 60 motorsports events. The most well-known races include the British GT Championship and Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
Furthermore, the UK is also home to some of the leading online sports betting platforms. Thus, motorsports enthusiasts can engage in the best races in the globe through online bookies while browsing live odds.
Spain
Spain is a country that hosts almost a quarter of MotoGP Grand Prix races. The most known events cover the Jerez circuit in Cádiz, Valencia, and the Motorland-Aragon.
Apart from these, there is also the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix for fans who prefer 4-wheelers. It is held each year in Barcelona.
Some Final Thoughts
Coming down to the key question – whether or not gambling on motorsports is widespread in Western Europe, we can say yes, it is.
Even though each country in this region has its own betting laws and regulations, market demands, and user preferences, they still share one common thing – the popularity of this activity is slowly growing in each of them as more and more people prefer to wager on racing.
