The Differences Between International and Local Football Betting
The iGaming industry in Latin America is the fastest-growing segment, with an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38%. This growth will see the market expand from $21 billion in 2023 to $54 billion by 2026, driven by wider acceptance and increased betting activity both local and international. In this scenario, football is still the most popular sport to bet worldwide. This is an overview of the local and international betting scenario and the differences for bettors and bookmakers in general.
An Overview of Football Betting
In 2023, Brazil's Provisional Measure 1182/23 regulated the 2018 Sports Betting Law, officially allowing the betting industry to operate in the country. Sports betting dominates Brazil's iGaming market, with betting companies sponsoring all main league football teams, such as Sportsbet.io for São Paulo, Pixbet for Atlético-MG, and Betano for Fluminense.
The iGaming industry in Brazil is experiencing extraordinary growth, with a CAGR of 49% — the highest in Latin America. The betting volume is expected to increase from $6.7 billion in 2023 to $22 billion by 2026, making Brazil the top market in the region. As football is still the most watched sport in Brazil, betting in local and international leagues will be more frequent as these events approach.
There are some important factors to consider when choosing where to place your bets. This piece from an African news website highlights important differences between local and international bookmakers when choosing your wagering site.
Betting in National Leagues
Bettors often have more knowledge about their own national leagues, including team performance, player statistics, and other relevant details. This familiarity can lead to confident and informed betting decisions as they usually have more comprehensive and detailed data available.
Another advantage of choosing local bookmakers and leagues is that teams in national leagues tend to have more stable performances due to consistent schedules and familiar opponents. This consistency can help in predicting outcomes more accurately and placing bets without further research.
In general, popular national leagues, such as the English Premier League or La Liga, have high market liquidity. This means large amounts of money are wagered, leading to more stable and competitive odds. Because of the high volume of bets and attention from professional bettors, the odds in these leagues tend to be more accurate and harder to exploit. There are typically more betting markets available in national leagues, including various prop bets, player-specific bets, and in-play betting options. This variety allows bettors to explore different strategies.
Betting in International Leagues
In contrast, bettors may be less familiar with international leagues, especially those that are less publicized or followed in their home country. This can make it more challenging to make informed bets as there are less detailed statistics for those leagues, making thorough analysis more difficult. Bettors often need to rely on broader trends or less specific information.
Moreover, teams participating in great events may have inconsistent performances due to factors like travel, different playing styles, and varying levels of competition. These variables can make betting on international leagues more unpredictable.
Liquidity is another important factor; major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup have high liquidity and more data available, while lesser-known leagues might have lower liquidity. According to KTO, the variety of bets in the 2022 World Cup on its betting site showed over 100% of bettors engaged in more than one type of bet, specially in important national games such as Brazil vs. Serbia. International tournaments offer unique betting markets, such as group stage outcomes, tournament top scorers, and knockout stage predictions. These markets are often specific to the format of the tournament.
If you enjoy the excitement of betting on major events and the thrill of watching your nation excel in international competitions, then international tournaments are your best choice. However, if you prefer to be well-informed and understand the odds of your bets thoroughly, sticking to local leagues is the best way to stay competitive.
