Whether it’s football, horse racing, boxing, odds on the latest PM, and even the weather, if it can be bet upon, you’d best believe it will be bet upon. This is especially true across Europe.
While there are plenty of sports in Europe that punters love betting upon, baseball is probably not the first sport that immediately springs to mind. In the USA? Maybe. But Europe? Well, Europe is hardly renowned for its love of competitive baseball. At least, it wasn’t, but it certainly is now.
Over the last several years, Major League Baseball, or MLB for short, has been gradually becoming more and more popular in Europe, especially the UK and Ireland. Not just as a spectator sport, but also from a sports betting perspective as well. A quick look at any of the big bookmakers in Ireland or the UK shows that MLB ranks highly after the likes of football or horse racing in terms of most popular sports.
So, why is it that UK and Irish gamblers are choosing sports other than horse racing and football to scratch their gambling itch, and why is MLB their sport of choice? Here’s a look at the rise of MLB betting in Europe, and which bookmakers cover it.
Something Different
As you’re probably aware, the UK and Ireland are very particular when it comes to their sports of choice. You of course have sports and activities such as football and horse racing, along with the likes of golf, tennis, cricket, boxing, hurling, Gaelic football, and rugby. Baseball, however, is a sport that for many, is synonymous with America. Lately, though, that has started to change.
Over the last decade or so, baseball, or to be more specific, Major League Baseball, has started to build quite the fanbase across Ireland and the UK. While it is still somewhat of a niche sport compared to some of the more obvious ones previously mentioned, its growth has been very impressive.
Why is MLB Baseball Proving so Popular in the UK and Ireland?
So, why is it that MLB is suddenly becoming so popular in Europe? Well, it boils down to a whole variety of things, which we’re going to look at in more detail now.
To begin with, many credit the MLB London Series as a catalyst driving its growth. The MLB London Series is an arrangement between the UK and the MLB to play a series of competitive seasonal games of Major League Baseball, in the UK at select London venues. Introduced in 2019, it was initially set to run for two years, but due to its popularity, that was extended, with the latest taking place in 2024. It was due to return this year (2026) but due to scheduling conflicts, they couldn’t find a host venue.
These were the first competitive MLB games to take place in Europe, and they introduced Europeans to global baseball icons such as the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
MLB has also been getting more extensive TV coverage, plus there is social media, YouTube, and other streaming sites so fans have more ways to watch. More eyes on the sport means more fans of the sport.
Finally, you have the stars themselves. With huge personalities such as the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, or Juan Soto of the New York Mets, it’s easy to see why people are tuning in week after week. Again, social media allows fans to follow their favourite players and stay up to date with what’s happening.
Bookmakers that Cover MLB
Finally, if you yourself feel like a change and would like to try your luck with MLB betting, you have plenty of options at your disposal as more bookmakers than ever before, are now covering baseball in Europe.
If you fancy backing the LA Dodgers to win the World Series for example, William Hill are offering 7/4 odds as the early favourites. Think the Yankees can add another World Series Title? BOYLE Sports will give you 11/2 odds.
How about backing an outsider? As you know, in sport anything can happen and sometimes the underdogs can come out on top. The Chicago White Sox for example, are currently 40/1 with BetVictor, while the Houston Astros are 60/1 with Ladbrokes. Surely that’s got to be worth a go?
