Chapter 2: Market overviews
2.2 Regional overviews
2.2.1 North America
Major online betting operators, North America
Market
Operators
North America
Bovada Sportsbook, TwinSpires, TVG, Xpress Bet, BetAmerica,
SNAPSHOT - North America
Largest population
USA
Largest income (by av income/PPP)
USA
Largest GDP
USA
Best economic outlook
Canada
Highest TV households (% penetration)
USA
Highest broadband penetration (by number of users)
Canada
Highest mobile penetration (per 100 inhabitants)
USA
Biggest gambling market (by value)
USA
North America is typified by a state-by-state approach towards gambling and gaming, although
enclaves also exist that are run by Native American Indians.
The typical recreational sports gambler in the region is 25 to 65 years of age, male and white. He
typically has at least some college education and one or more major credit cards. He reads only a few
publications and typically those publications deal with luxury items and or sport. He will also have an
avocation towards the sport he prefers to wager on.
Betting is cyclical depending upon the individual sport seasons in North America. The sports that see
the most activity in order of popularity for betting are: American/Canadian Football (NFL and college),
basketball (NBA and college), baseball (MLB), and hockey (NHL). The summer is the slowest season
from mid-June through late-July with activity picking up in early August with preseason American
Football. The period from the beginning of September through the end of January is the busiest with
the College Football Bowl Season, Football Playoffs and Super Bowl bringing the most action for the
whole year. Basketball, hockey, and the beginning of baseball in April keep operations active from
February to mid-June each year.
USA
Country
Most popular sports
USA
American Football (NFL and college), basketball (NBA
and college), baseball (MLB), and hockey (NHL)
Sport is an important part of American culture. The four most popular team sports in the country are
ones that developed in North America: baseball, American football, basketball, and ice hockey. The
major leagues of these sports, Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the
National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL) enjoy massive media
exposure and are considered the pre-eminent competitions in their respective sports in the world.
Each of these leagues apart from the NFL have teams that play in Canada, and all four are among the
28 Digital Sports Betting