Top 5 Most Popular Sports for Betting in Brazil: An Analysis by Betalandplus

The people of Brazil are mad about their sports - that is no secret. Not only do they like watching and playing a variety of sports, but they also like placing bets on them too. Instead of our usual talks on online casino gaming, we'll look at sports betting as we take you through five of the most popular sports that Brazilians like to put their hard-earned money on. Let's crack on.

Football

It will not surprise you to find out that football is the most popular sport that Brazilians like to bet on. In fact, we can say that it is the national sport of Brazil. They continuously produce some of the best players in the world, which includes the likes of Pele, Ronaldo, and Garrincha. Proof of the quality of Brazilian football lies in the fact that they have won the FIFA World Cup no fewer than five times.

Brazilians will place bets on international football tournaments such as the World Cup, Copa America, and the European Championship. The main club competition in Brazil is the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, but Brazilians have no issues also betting on all of the big European club leagues such as the English Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga.

Volleyball

Volleyball, whether indoor or hosted on one of Brazil's many fantastic beaches, is the second most popular sport in Brazil when it comes to playing, watching, and betting. It is one of those sports that is loved by people of all ages across the country. They have also had plenty of global success in this sport as the men have won gold medals at the Olympics on three occasions. Volleyball fans of a yellow and green persuasion will be expecting to have more success in this sport at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Apart from international events, such as the aforementioned Olympics, Brazilian sports bettors enjoy betting on other major volleyball competitions such as the Brazilian Superliga and the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

Basketball

When you think of countries where basketball is most popular, you would probably think of places such as the USA, Canada, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, and Japan. You would be forgiven for not putting Brazil on your list, but you would be wrong to ignore the potency of the sport in the South American country.

Many Brazilians love this sport and like regularly to place bets competitions such as the NBA. There have been a number of Brazilian basketball players who have had successful stints in the NBA, and this includes the likes of Marcelo Huertas, Cristiano Felicio, and Bruno Caboclo. The Brazilian basketball league is called Novo Basquete Brazil, and it is not short of bettors either.

Horse Racing

Horse racing, which is known as Turfe in Brazil, is one of those sports that is more obviously popular in countries such as the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Nonetheless, the people of Brazil also like watching and placing wagers on it. The appeal of horse racing for many Brazilians is the swift pace of the races. There will usually be some decent odds on offer even for those who are favourites to win.

Some of the most popular horse racing tracks in Brazil that play host to the most prestigious domestic races include Cidade Jardim and Gavea. The Grand Premio Brasil and the Derby Paulista are the two biggest races in the country. Brazilians are also inclined to place a flutter on huge foreign races such as the Dubai World Cup, the Grand National, the Melbourne Cup, and the Prix de l'arc de Triomphe.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Mixed Martial Arts never used to be that popular in Brazil, but this has changed with the rise of Brazilian fighters such as Alex Pereira, Alexandre Pantoja, Charles Oliveira, and Deiveson Figueiredo. All of these fighters currently ply their trade in the UFC, and they are absolute beasts in the octagon.

When they are in action, many Brazilian MMA fans tune in to cheer them on and there are plenty of bets placed too. However, due to how good the Brazilian MMA contingent is, the odds that are on offer for them to come out on top are usually not that enticing.

Besides the sports mentioned above, the top betting sites provide 25+ sports and esports alongside thousands of casino games. If you would like to know more about free slots and table games, we've also got dedicated pages for each game type.