What Is New in Betting Right Now
One of the more interesting pieces of research this year has to do with how people use their phones to bet. The Global Betting Research Institute has conducted research showing how people who download 1xbet app for android and similar apps on Android phones are 23% more likely to place more live bets per session compared to people who use an iPhone, a difference that has not been seen in the last two years. The difference, it would appear, is due to the fact that the apps on Android phones have more recently and more aggressively updated their live betting interfaces.
The research has also shown how people who use 1xbet promo code and similar promotional tools on competing apps are 34% more likely to remain active on the app six months after registration compared to those who have not used promotional tools to register on the app. According to the 2026 online gambling research report by Statista, the number of active online sports bettors worldwide has reached 230 million in 2026, from 183 million in 2023.
Odds Comparison Behaviour
The number of people who check the odds on more than one site before placing their bets is also on the rise. According to research carried out in March 2026, 47% of people who regularly place their bets check the odds on more than one site before placing their bets on major events, up from 29% in 2023. For league matches, this percentage is lower, standing at 31%, which could imply that people are more willing to do their homework on events they care more about.
The difference in the odds on various sites on the same event can also be significant. Here is how the odds differed across major sports for some sample events in early 2026:
| Sport | Average Odds Variation | Max Recorded Variation | Most Competitive Market |
| American Football | 3.8% | 9.2% | Moneyline |
| Football (Soccer) | 4.2% | 11.8% | Match Winner (1X2) |
| Basketball | 5.1% | 13.4% | Point Spread |
| Tennis | 6.3% | 14.7% | Match Winner |
| Esports | 7.9% | 18.3% | Match Winner |
The odds on tennis are more variable than football, which is not surprising given the relative simplicity of the market, which is simply win or lose. Tennis, however, is more variable than football because the players involved in tennis matches are not all ranked in the top players, where bookmakers tend to be more confident in the data they are using to calculate the odds. Esports is the sport with the greatest variation, which is not surprising given the relative infancy of the data on this sport.
Accumulator Trends in 2026
Accumulators remain a favorite, although the way people build them has changed. The actual number of selections in an accumulator has even fallen slightly. In 2024, the figure was 5.3, whereas in 2026 it has fallen to 4.8. The actual stakes placed on accumulators have risen from $12 to $17. This shows people are thinking about the teams in the accumulator rather than putting many teams in the bet and hoping.
The most common accumulator size is four selections, which comprises 34% of all accumulator bets. The five-team accumulator comes in second at 22%. There has also been a decline in accumulators of seven or more selections. These bets now comprise 11% of all accumulators compared to 19% in 2023. The increase in the number of small accumulators is in line with the general trend of people taking more time to do research before placing bets.
Betting on Draws Is Growing
Match draw betting has gained significant popularity in recent times. In football matches, draw bets comprised 9% of match result bets in 2024. However, in 2026, the figure has risen to 14%. This is because the odds of drawing in football matches are always high compared to winning matches. The odds of drawing range from 3.20 to 3.80 in most matches. People have started to realize that matches draw more often than they do.
Research into 12,400 top-flight football matches played between 2022 and 2025 revealed 26.3% of the matches were drawn. With the average draw odds being 3.40, this means more draws have been taking place than the 29.4% implied by the odds, thus showing the viability of the draw as an option in relation to the rest of the available markets. The information has spread among the gaming community and can be said to be the cause of the increased interest in the draw market.
Same Game Multi Bets Keep Growing
Same-game multi bets, whereby one can combine various outcomes from the same match into one bet, have continued to grow more rapidly than any other bet type. Currently, 17% of all football bets placed globally are same-game multi bets, compared to 9% in 2024. The increase in the number of same-game multi bets has forced bookmakers to increase the number of same-game multi markets available to clients.
The most common combinations in same-game multi bets have shown a pattern. The most common combination in same-game multi bets is the match winner and both teams to score, making up 31% of all same-game multi bets placed. The second most common combination is the match winner and over 2.5 goals, making up 24% of all same-game multi bets placed. The third most common combination in same-game multi bets is the player to score and their team to win, making up 18% of all same-game multi bets placed.
