Grand National More Popular Than Super Bowl According To Betting Study

The Grand National has taken the crown for the most popular sporting event of 2025 wagered on by punters, according to a study published. Entain, the gambling giant, conducted the research and crunched the numbers, which made for fascinating reading.

Indeed, the figures related to bets placed at some of their biggest betting sites, including Ladbrokes, Coral, and BetMGM. And horse racing certainly grabbed the attention of the general public.

Grand National lasts the course

Deemed one of the most famous jumps races worldwide, the Grand National, which is held annually at Aintree in Liverpool, clinched top spot. Although it has attracted criticism in the past over safety concerns, the Grand National often draws big TV viewing figures.

Although the Grand National was the undoubted sporting event of the year from a betting perspective, Entain’s figures made for good reading for horse racing generally. The Cheltenham Gold Cup, for example, ranked 14th while the Scottish Grand National came in 21st, and the study featured the top 50 events.

Interesting trends emerge

Clearly, horse racing holds a special place in the hearts of punters. However, Entain’s figures showed high-profile events still hold sway with betting enthusiasts. For example, the Super Bowl ranked second, with the US Masters golf wrapping up the top three.

Also, Entain’s research indicated that one-off events have gained serious traction. An AFC Championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills ranked fourth, while the Champions League Final contested between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan slotted into fifth spot.

The top 20 revealed

Entain’s research was quite comprehensive. Although the full list comprised 50 sporting events, we illustrated the top 20 to give you an idea of what captured the imagination of punters.

A ‘cultural phenomenon’

While there may have been a few surprises, there were some recurring themes. Reflecting on Entain’s data, Greg Ferris, who is the Managing Director for Sports at the company, said:

“From Cheltenham to the Super Bowl, and from Champions League to the Libertadores Final, this list shows how our customers’ interests span continents and sports.

“The Grand National and the Super Bowl are cultural phenomena that transcend sports and are annual traditions for recreational customers. Beyond these leading top two events, the diversity in the top 50 of different sports reflects our global research and the varied passions of millions of fans worldwide.”