UK Betting Markets – Hidden Sports Offering Returns

Here in the UK, if there’s one thing we love to do on a weekend, (and even a cheeky weeknight now and then) it’s indulge in a spot of sports betting.

Whether we’re trawling the football leagues building our weekly Acca, or browsing the Racing Post looking for hot tips for the latest horse racing action, we do love a good bet. What’s more, with so many different bookmakers and betting sites now offering such amazing odds, along with various welcome deals, offers, and bonuses, we’re literally spoiled for choice.

As far as sports betting is concerned, though, we’re not the most imaginative bunch. Sure, betting on the footy is almost a UK tradition at this point, and we all know how popular horse racing is, but what about those of us who fancy a change?

With the rise of online gambling (online betting increased by more than 50% between 2016 and 2023) more and more bookies are providing more options when it comes to sports betting. For those looking for more variety, this is perfect.

So, what are some of the more unique hidden sports when it comes to sports betting, and more importantly, which ones offer the best returns?

Golf

Okay, golf is hardly the most unusual sport when it comes to sports betting, but in recent years, it has become increasingly popular amongst punters in the UK.

As of 2025, golf was actually the third most popular sport to bet on in the UK, after the usual suspects of horse racing and football. Market research from UK golf bookmaker BetSelect indicates that as many as 15% of all sports gamblers placed bets on golf last year.

So, what’s driving this increase in popularity? Well, while golf has always been a popular sport, we’ve seen younger people showing a greater interest in it over the last five years or so. This includes playing, watching, and gambling. This is partially down to the rise of YouTube golf, with the likes of Rick Shiels, Good Good, Bob Does Sports, and Golf Life all proving very popular channels. This, coupled with more extensive coverage of tournaments such as the Ryder Cup, the Open, and the Masters, means more eyes on the sport.

Despite the money being pumped into LIV, it still proves very divisive. Expert analysis has revealed that PGA Golf is where the money is. It is estimated that just 1% – 2% of golf bets were placed upon LIV.

Darts

If you really want to talk about a sport that has exploded in popularity over the last few years, darts is one of the fastest-growing sports today, especially in terms of sports betting. In fact, over the last couple of years, more than 23 million people have shown a growing interest in darts, marking an increase of over 35%. This is largely down to what experts are dubbing ‘The Littler Effect’. While teenage sensation Luke Littler may have brought my eyes to the sport, punters have also been introduced to the different characters like Nathan ‘The Asp’ Aspinall, Michael Van Gerwyn, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, and plenty more besides. This too has helped to grow the sport as punters are introduced to some of the different personalities of the game.

In sports betting terms, total stakes for major tournaments have increased in the UK by as much as 41% in the UK Open, and the Premier League noting a 22% rise. As well as betting on things like tournament winners, markets are now providing more variety, including options such as ‘most 180s’, ‘Shanghai finishes’, ‘various checkouts’, ‘players landing the Big Fish’ and more besides.

ESports

While horse racing purists would recoil in shock at the thought of betting on Esports, the online gaming betting market here in the UK is currently enjoying a distinct boom period. This was driven largely by a huge spike in Esports betting during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, which saw GGY (Gross Gambling Yield) increase from £2.1 million in 2019 to £4.1 million in March 2020.

With punters now able to bet on a huge variety of online gaming tournaments for games such as Rocket League, Counter Strike, and League of Legends, there’s more variety out there than ever before. These tournaments attract millions of viewers and fill out arenas around the globe.

For sports bettors looking for something different, with the possibility of great returns, Esports are perfect. As well as betting on outright winners of tournaments, punters can enjoy live betting, micro bets, and long-term bets on a plethora of different games.

American Football

Finally, American Football, specifically NFL football is another more niche sport that provides countless sports gambling opportunities throughout each season.

With live, in-play betting, point spread bets, prop bets, and plenty more, there are certainly a variety of different betting markets available to choose from. While official data is not yet available, early insider reports indicate that the 2026 Super Bowl saw more fans in the UK betting on the NFL than ever before.

So, whether you fancy the Seahawks to repeat history, or believe the Patriots will once again find their form, if you want to potentially enjoy some fantastic returns, American NFL football is a great sport to explore.

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