Sports betting isn’t just limited to the brick and mortar establishments, it’s transformed to digital platforms. Over the years, with continuous technological advancements and the adoption of smartphones among the masses, it has become a lucrative industry.
Earlier it was limited to only elite class people due to limited accessibility, but now it is open to everyone. Many entrepreneurs are also eager to enter this ever-growing niche to get a competitive edge. But do you know why? It’s just because of profits! Yes, you read it right. The profit a business of sports betting provides is unmatched.
However, in the competitive landscape, new entrepreneurs might find it difficult to start their sports betting business without a perfect idea. If you’re experiencing the same thing, you’re in the right place! This blog focuses on the profitable sports betting business ideas for 2025 with actionable insights through which you can establish your brand in this fastest-growing market. Let’s start to get an answer to your most asked question, “How to start online sports business”
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According to Statista, the online sports betting revenue is expected to grow from US$45.43 billion in 2024 to US$65.14 billion by 2029 at an annual growth rate of 7.47% for the forecast period 2024~2029. Also, the number of users in the online sports betting market is expected to reach 182.5 million by 2029. This explosive growth demonstrates the untapped potential of sports betting businesses.
When you search “how to start a sports betting business” you must first understand what sports betting is. In layman’s terms, sports betting is the wagering on the outcome of sports events. The sport can be anything, it may be cricket, soccer, or even basketball. Earlier it took place in physical establishments, now it has shifted to digital platforms providing safe and convenient betting experiences, which makes it a booming industry.
Some of the Key Benefits of Online Sports Betting:
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Before you dive into starting a sports betting business, understanding basic terminologies is important for both beginners and seasoned entrepreneurs. Here are some must-know terms you should be familiar with:
| Terms | Description |
| ACTION | Action is the act of placing bets. |
| PUNTER | Punters or bettors are those who place bets. |
| BOOKMAKER | An establishment that accepts bets. |
| WAGER | Wagers are bets placed on specific outcomes. |
| BUCK | There is a $100 bet in a buck. |
| DIME | Bets on a dime are worth $1000. |
| EXOTIC | Exotic bets are bets that are not straight bets |
| FUTURE | In futures betting, one is placing bets on long-term winners, usually on sports champions. |
| LIVE BETTING | It is called live betting when you bet on live events. |
| LIMIT | An online sportsbook’s maximum bet amount. |
| NICKEL | The term nickel refers to a $500 bet. |
| STAKE | The amount of money wagered. |
| SHARP | A professional punter is often referred to as “Sharp”. |
| UNDERDOG | Losing side in an event. |
| TICKET | It is a confirmation of the bet that has been placed. |
Before you think of “how to start a sports betting company”, here is a list that includes various betting types that you must know. Exploring different betting formats can help you identify the right model for your business:
Parlay betting requires two or more interconnected bets, but the overall objective is to win all the bets or tie all the bets. If you lose a single bet then all money will be gone, but if you win all then you will get huge payouts.
A round-robin bet combines multiple parlays from a set of selections. For example, if you choose three teams (A, B, and C), a round-robin creates three two-team parlays: A&B, B&C, and A&C. You can also include all three-team parlays. This structure allows you to win even if not all bets are successful, as each parlay is treated as an individual wager. Flexible but riskier too.
This betting involves betting on the margin of winning in the game. A favorite must win by more than the spread, while the underdog can win outright or lose within the spread. It balances betting odds between uneven teams.
It is a straightforward wager on which team or player will win a game without involving point spreads or margins. Payouts are based on odds set by sportsbooks that reflect the likelihood of each outcome.
Outright betting is not on odds or games but this is completely done on the winning of tournaments. For example, you win the bet when your wagered football team wins the tournament.
Money line bets are bets placed on the outcome of a game. In simple terms, it is a bet on which team will win any given match. As the bet is placed on who will win, usually with two teams, these bets have few outcomes.
A popular bet that allows some sort of flexibility in losing bets while still offering a payout. It lets you win a reduced payout even if you lose one or more picks (depending on the total number of parlay). However, the overall payout is lower as compared to a traditional parlay to account for this
It involves placing multiple wagers covering all the possible combinations of selections from a set of events. For example, in the case of three selections, a full cover bet includes seven bets i.e., three singles, three doubles, and one treble. This strategy increases the chance of winning something, however it requires a higher initial stake.
It is a wager on whether the total score or points/goals/runs will be above or below the target set by the bookmaker. For instance, in a football game, if the Over/Under is 2.5 goals, betting “Over” wins if there are 3 or more goals while betting “Under” wins if there are 2 or fewer goals.
Fantasy sports betting involves creating a virtual team of real-life players and earning points based on their performances in actual games. Participants compete against others in leagues or contests, with payouts based on rankings.
Finally, we hope you are now more familiar with and understand sports betting as a business. Let’s now scroll below to learn which countries have legalized this industry.
Are you also wondering about the question- Is sports betting legal in my country? This is one of the most frequent questions that comes to entrepreneurs’ minds who are looking to start their sports betting business.
Here are the top countries supporting sports betting:
Pro Tip: You must thoroughly research local regulations for your target regions before starting your business to avoid legal hurdles.
Here are some great ideas for those who view sports betting as a business. By choosing any of the ideas given below you can start a betting company dealing in online sports betting games.
A sportsbook offers diverse betting opportunities including esports, elections, and traditional games. With over 1 billion active users globally, sportsbooks are incredibly profitable. 2025 is the best year to start your own sportsbook business.
The sports betting industry revenue reached $45.43 billion in 2024. Every business owner wants to generate revenue from their online sports betting business. Here are some monetization tips for this model:
Many people are confused about the authenticity of odds while betting. The platforms show fake odds to make a profit from users. Only a few platforms where users can get authentic information about real-time odds. These odds are very helpful to punters however limited options are available for customers to check real-time odds. You can start a betting odds business while generating great revenue on one side and solve problems for punters looking for betting odds on the other hand.
Also Read: Live Betting Odds API- Sports Betting Data Feeds to Track
You can implement different revenue streams into this profitable sports betting business idea to enhance revenue generation. Here are the different streams through which you can generate high profits.
A business always needs marketing and promotion to grow further. There are thousands of small and large marketing agencies present in the market. Despite high competition, we have a solution for you. There are only a few marketing agencies that specifically deal in the sports betting business. You can leverage this opportunity and start your own marketing agency for the sports betting niche.
Here are the streams you can use in your sports betting business marketing agency:
If you are searching for “Can I start a sports betting business” then this is a profitable idea. The market is filled with tipsters, but they are not actual consultants. Sports betting consultants will be one of the most prestigious ideas, especially with proper operations. You can invite a few betting experts so they can guide your customers with the predictions.
There are two revenue streams you can implement here:
It is one of the most profitable business ideas among other options listed. Seeing its high popularity among young audiences, you can step into the fantasy sports industry. It’s one of the easiest businesses too as it involves fewer legality complications.
You can make profits through the following methods:
This is one of the most cost-effective online sports business ideas. Let’s understand how. Many people check betting information on the internet. They read blogs and articles to learn information. Through online sports betting blogging websites, you can make profits from relatively low investments.
One of the profitable business ideas in this niche and easiest too. Just need active research.
In this section, you’ll get the complete answer to your question “How to start online sports betting business” with key steps. Let’s get into details to discover how you can open this lucrative business online.
The business of sports betting offers immense potential for entrepreneurs. Whether you’re looking to open a sports betting business or expanding your arms through more ideas, by leveraging the right strategies, software, and ideas, you can create a sustainable and profitable business in 2025.
We hope you have known the best profitable sports betting business ideas to try in 2025. If you’re interested in starting an online sports betting business by building a platform, get in touch with a renowned sports betting software provider.
Ans. The average cost ranges from $50,000 to $60,000, depending on the complexity.
Ans. Top ideas include sportsbooks, betting odds platforms, and blogging.
Ans. 3 to 6 months for most platforms, depending on scale and features.
Ans. It depends. Research local laws or consult legal experts.
Ans. Yes, options like blogging or consultancy require minimal initial investment.
