Which Niche Sports Offer the Best Betting Opportunities in the UK?

Niche sports betting refers to wagering on less popular or mainstream sports compared to sports like football, basketball, or baseball. These sports often have a smaller but dedicated fanbase and can offer unique betting opportunities for those who know them. Examples of niche sports you can bet on are Gaelic Hurling, Padel tennis, Lacrosse, Ski Jumping, Water Polo, Futsal and Pesapallo.

TOP Niche (yet popular) Sports for Betting in the UK:

1. Darts: Darts is a popular niche sport in the UK with a dedicated following. There are many tournaments throughout the year that attract bettors.
2. Snooker: Snooker is another sport with a significant following in the UK. The World Snooker Championship is a major event in the betting calendar. Here is where you can bet on snooker online.
3. Greyhound Racing: While not as popular as horse racing, greyhound racing still attracts a fair amount of betting interest in the UK.
4. Gaelic Sports: Gaelic football and hurling are traditional Irish sports with a niche following in the UK. They offer unique betting opportunities.
5. Esports: While not a traditional sport, esports is growing in popularity and offers a wide range of betting opportunities. Games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and CS:GO are trendy for betting.
6. Chess: Although not typically associated with sports betting, markets are available for significant chess tournaments.

The Rising Opportunities in Niche Sports Betting in the UK

Remember, knowledge is the key to successful betting, especially in niche sports. The more you know about the sport, the teams, the players, and the form, the better your chance of making successful bets. Always gamble responsibly.

We all know the areas of sports betting that dominate the headlines and bet numbers: football and horse racing.

All betting apps in the UK will naturally have reams of markets on these sports; however, in the ever-changing world of live sport coverage, a plethora of technological developments means that some of the lesser-known sports and activities are now being shown live and, naturally, the demand for a wager on these events has also grown.

Platforms like YouTube and Twitter now stream live sports at a fraction of the cost, massively expanding who can see them. So-called “Niche” events don’t stay niche for long as their coverage grows and more and more people become familiar with the players, teams, and, let’s be honest, even the rules!

Some of the biggest UK online bookmakers, including new sites like RubyBet, now offer many betting opportunities on events that wouldn’t have been on most punter’s radars only a few years ago.

Best Niche Sports Betting Sites for UK & Bonuses

Let’s take a look at some of these niche events and which bookmakers are offering odds on them. 

Bet365 

This behemoth needs no introduction. Futsal is one of their newer sports on the site, and this hard court-based soccer spin-off has a huge interest spurt. With two teams of five and 20-minute halves, this is a slick, speedy version of the mother sport and provides an ideal base for betting. Bet365 offers prices on The Portuguese, Spanish and Argentinian Premier Leagues, among many others. Markets cover the traditional football areas; outright win markets, handicaps and over-and-under on the total goals in the 40-minute match. 

Gaelic sports, given their geographical limitations, have been in the niche camp for a number of years now. But with social media platforms allowing more access than ever before to the players and matches, bookmakers have responded to this growth in demand. The Irish diaspora provides a very fertile market, particularly in the US and Australasia, so events like the All Ireland Football and Hurling are now staples at Bet365. Markets include outright and handicaps. 

Winter sports have tended to have a limited profile in the UK, partly explained by a lack of snow on this damp island, with only a Winter Olympics occasionally stirring the blood. However, Bet365 now offer a huge range of markets on skiing (both Alpine and Cross-country), Biathlon and even Ski Jumping. On the latter, you can pick your favourite jumper for the 4 Hills outright. The current favourite is Halvor Granerud at 9/4. In Cross-country skiing, there are even straight match bets between skiers, so you can wager on one to beat the other, regardless of where they come from overall. 

Any Offers or Bonuses? Yes, if you are a New Player, you can claim £30 worth of Free Bets when you use bet365 code 365GMBLR and stake your first £10 with Bet365. A great jumping-off point for your niche betting! Read the bet365 app review.

10Bet 

It is hard to know whether political betting is still a niche event. It has been popular in recent years, particularly over the Brexit and Trump years, but 10Bet nevertheless goes above and beyond to offer a full range of markets. From the Democratic and Republican nominees in the 2024 US Presidential Election to the Next Country to Leave the EU (Italy is the current jolly at 3/1), 10Bet has it covered. Not niche enough for you? Then how about betting on the next winner of Love Island?! 

Ladbrokes 

The “Magic Sign” are no stranger to betting innovation, and their offering is packed with niche markets. With summer in full swing, what better sport than Beach Volleyball to have a wager on? Markets include Set Betting, Total Match Points and Points Handicap markets. On Match Points, if you fancy a long, tough game, you would select the Overs, and if you think it will be a quick, one-sided affair, you would select the Unders. 

Other Niche sports offered by Ladbrokes include Surfing and Badminton. Several surfing tournaments, including the Surf City El Salvador Pro event, are streamed live, making it an exciting and engaging addition to the niche betting portfolio.  

Any Offers or Bonuses? Ladbrokes will give new bettors £20 worth of Free Bets (4 x £5 bets), when you register an account, on desktop or mobile, and place a minimum of £5 an any event at odds of 1/2 (1.50) or higher. 

Betfred 

Entertainment betting has expanded in the last few years, and Betfred has a well-earned reputation for offering a decent range of markets in this niche corner of the betting world. Whether you want to bet on the sex of the next winner of Strictly Come Dancing (10/11 your choice of Male or Female) or have a punt on the Next James Bond (where Paul Mescal is a recent mover at 33/1), Betfred is the place for you.  

Any Offers or Bonuses? Yes, when you stake your first £10 with them, on any sports market, you will receive £30 in Free Bets and another £10 worth of Free Spins. Use the Betfred code “WELCOME40” when registering and depositing to take advantage. 

Lottoland Sport 

Although best known for its innovative approach to betting on international lotteries, Lottoland also has a superb sportsbook that does a nice lining of covering some serious niche events. Fancy a bet on the gentle sport of Bowls? Lottoland has match prices on a number of International Gran Prixes. Markets include Set Betting, Handicaps and, for those after a quicker result, 1^st Set outcome betting. 

Lottoland also covers the Premier Lacrosse League in the US, which is not something you see every day. Current joint favourites are the Whipsnakes and the Archers at 5/1. 

Field hockey is very much a poor relation to its ice-based cousin, and it is rare to find betting markets on it. But Lottoland offers exactly that for the male and female Pro International Leagues, as well as individual match markets, including Total Goals options. 

Any Offers or Bonuses? If your first bet of £5 or more with Lottoland is a loser, you will get your stake back as a Free Bet worth £5. Just click the “Opt-in” button on the registration page.  

SBK 

This App-based bookmaker is well-known for its fresh approach to betting, and its range of niche markets includes Esports, Current Affairs (as well as a separate Politics section), MMA, Table Tennis and TV specials.  

Table Tennis markets include Match Betting, Set Betting and Total Points, many of which are also available in-play.  

Fancy a bet on which country will host the UEFA Euros in 2028? SBK is the App for you. The choice is between the UK and Ireland, Turkey, and the joint Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia bid. 

Any Offers or Bonuses? Get £40 of Free Bets as a new bettor when you wager your first £10. Use the code “BRITISHG40” to guarantee this offer. View more free bet offers and betting codes here.

Types of Niche Sports Betting

1. Fixed Odds Betting: This is the most common form of betting where the odds are set when the bet is placed.
2. In-Play/Live Betting: This type allows you to place bets while the event is ongoing. The odds change in real-time, depending on the state of play. Here are the best live-streaming services.
3. Exchange Betting: This is a form of betting where you bet against other bettors rather than a bookmaker. You can both “back” (bet for) and “lay” (bet against) outcomes. View the Matchbook review here.
4. Spread Betting: This is a form of wagering where the outcome is a range of possible results. The bettor wins based on the accuracy of their wager rather than a simple win-or-lose outcome. Check out our review of Spreadex and their bonuses.
5. Fantasy Sports Betting: This involves creating a virtual team of real players and earning points based on their performance in real matches.

Other Niches Betting Opportunities 

Pinnacle Sports offers prices on Padel Tennis, the popular “enclosed” version.  

BetUK offers a range of markets on Pesapello, the baseball-like sport often known as Finland’s national sport. It offers match betting on the male and female Superpesis Leagues and Total Match Runs options. Some bookies can also offer odds on ultra-niche sports such as drone racing, pétanque, joggling, croquet, or marble ball racing.

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