UK Sports Events 2024 – Sports Betting in the UK

Punters who want to explore sports betting in the UK should keep reading this guide. There are plenty of international and UK sports events to look forward to this season. Whether you prefer football, horse racing, or some other popular sport for betting locally, this review covers all the major events you can wager on.

Bet on UK Sports Events With These Bookmakers

Finding a reputable sportsbook offering premium service can be time-consuming. Fortunately, you can find the best hand-picked UK bookmakers in the table below:

Biggest UK Sports Events Happening in 2024

The UK will host many prominent sporting events in 2024. To start with, football fans can follow and bet on the Champions League Final, Premier League, and FA Cup Semi-Final and Final.

The Cheltenham Festival passed, but sports betting in the UK only began for horse racing fans with the upcoming Randox Grand National, Epsom Derby Festival, and Royal Ascot races.

Tennis lovers can look forward to the Cinch Championships and Wimbledon Championships, cricket fans to T20 Blast, and golf enthusiasts to the 152nd Open. For rugby bettors, there is the Heineken Champions Cup Final, while punters who like to bet on greyhounds must be looking forward to the English Greyhound Derby.

Lastly, UK sports events for basketball fans include Basketball British Basketball Play-Off Finals for men and women. If you wish to place bets on some of these popular events but don’t have any experience, our online sports betting guide for beginners has got you covered. You can learn about betting terms, odds, and everything needed to get you off to an easy start.

International Sports Events Happening in 2024

There are many popular sports events 2024 happening outside the UK. Some of the biggest sports events 2024 you can bet on include the following:

• UFC (17 February- 22 June)
• Kentucky Derby (4 May)
• French Open (20 May- 9 June)
• Indianapolis 500 (24 May- 26 May)
• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (1- 20 June)
• EURO 2024 (14 June- 14 July)
• Tour de France (29 June- 21 July)
• Summer Olympic Games (26 July- 11 August)
• US Open (26 August- 8 September)
• Solheim Cup (10- 15 September)

Whether you are looking to explore EURO 2024 betting odds or wager on another event, you will have plenty of options in terms of bet types, odds, and other betting features.

It’s also worth noting that some operators offer an ante-post market for upcoming competitions. In other words, you can try to predict an outright winner before the tournament starts and thus secure potentially higher odds.

Popular Sports in the UK

Of course, football is the most popular sport among local bettors. Many place bets on the Premier League and teams like Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City. The England Championship fixtures also attract lots of attention.

Cricket is the national sport of the United Kingdom and is a very popular betting choice. Moreover, you have a chance to bet on 18 professional county teams. Other favourite sports among local wagerers include rugby, horse racing, golf, tennis, greyhound races, and basketball.

UK Horse Racing Events

There will be many sports events in the UK 2024, allowing horse racing fans to follow world-class action and make predictions based on their professional insights. Wagerers had a chance to explore different Cheltenham betting offers, but more horse racing festivals are approaching.

To begin with, the Randox Grand National Festival will take place between 11 and 13 April. So, Grand National betting is the first next big event to keep an eye on.

Then, you can bet on the Epsom Derby Festival starting on 31 May, popularly called Ladies Day. Moreover, the Derby Day (Saturday, 1 June) features seven races, including one of the greatest flat races worldwide.

In June, another vastly popular event for horse racing betting and fans of the sport will take place. Starting on Tuesday, 18 June, you can wager on Royal Ascot. Moreover, you can explore Royal Ascot free bets until Saturday, 22 June, when the Gold Cup race.

The Queen Alexandra Stakes is the last race of the festival. Moreover, this is the longest flat race in the world, stretching over 2 miles, 5 furlongs, and 143 yards.

The top bookmakers will most likely offer exclusive horse racing free bets and other betting offers during the big tournaments. Finally, it’s worth noting that the ante-post market is already open for some of the upcoming festivals.

Football Events in the UK

When it comes to football, there is never a shortage of games. For starters, you can keep placing bets on Premier League 2023/ 2024 fixtures until May 19. The FA Cup Semi-Final is scheduled for April 20, with the Final on May 25. On May 22, you can make a Europa League Final prediction.

The long-awaited Champions League Final will take place on June 1 at Wembley Stadium. The leading bookies will probably provide some exclusive Champions League betting offers, large coverage of markets, possibly Bet Builder, and more for this event.

Then, you can engage in Euro 2024 betting from June 14 to July 14 and back your national team. These are the start and end dates of Copa America as well. Later in July, the 2024 Olympics begin and will determine who will take the Gold medal home, both in men’s and women’s football.

In August, you will already be able to use football betting tips for the Premier League 2024/ 25. One month later, the Champions League returns.

Basketball Betting

The most important basketball competition in the UK to look out for is the British Basketball Play-Off Finals. It will take place on Sunday, 19 May and determine the winners in men’s and women’s basketball. Moreover, you can use basketball betting tips, odds, and other relevant details to make an informed prediction.

In addition, many international events will attract the attention of avid basketball fans. The most prominent are FIBA Women’s and Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments lasting until 7 July. On 10 August, the Men’s Olympic winner for 2024 will be determined. Finally, you can try to predict the Women’s Olympic Gold medal winner on 11 August or earlier.

Cricket Betting

To start with, the England National Cricket Team is the most famous professional cricket club in the world. It comes as no surprise that UK bettors have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to this sport.

For starters, fans of national cricket clubs can look forward to the First Class County Championship. From 5 April to 29 September, you can watch and bet on 18 professional cricket county clubs, each named after the historic county.

Moreover, some of the most popular include Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Lancashire Cricket Club, and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Another popular event to look out for is the T20 Blast, a competition played in England and Wales. These games start on 30 May with two groups comprising nine teams. The final match is scheduled for 14 September and will see the ultimate winner. Cricket betting fans won’t miss the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup in June and July either.

Golf Betting

The 2024 ‘British’ Open will take place at Royal Troon, Troon, Scotland from 14 to 21 July. Moreover, this is the 152nd edition of one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world.

The great news is that Rory Mcllroy is the current favourite to win the tournament. So, this is one more incentive for local punters to engage in golf betting during the Open Championship.

Additionally, these are other sports events in the UK in 2024 that golf fans may be interested in:

• Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland, from 11 to 14 July.
• The Senior Open at Carnoustie Golf Club, Scotland, from 25 to 28 July.
• AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, from 22 to 25 August.
• Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club, Berkshire, England, from 30 August to 1 September.

Of course, you can look forward to other major tournaments, including the Masters (8- 14 April), the PGA Championship (13- 19 May), US Open (10- 16 June), the PGA Tour, and more.

Greyhound Betting – Special in the UK

Greyhound betting is one of the favourite options among local wagerers. To begin with, the English Greyhound Derby (23 May- 29 June 2024) is the most popular race in the UK’s greyhound calendar, taking place at Towcester Greyhound Stadium.

Gaytime Nemo, trained by Graham Holland, is the defending champion. Interestingly, this is the richest greyhound race event worldwide.

Another popular national event is the Scottish Greyhound Derby. Even though this is an annual event, it was last held in 2019 when Braveheart Bobby won the competition. In 2020 and 2021, the races were postponed. However, it remains unknown why the Greyhound Derby hasn’t been held since, although all the restrictions have ended.

The Trainer’s Championship is currently the second most prestigious event in the country’s greyhound calendar. It is held at numerous locations to pit trainers against one another through their top dogs.

Finally, you can also place wagers on greyhound races held in other countries. Some of the best events include the Irish Greyhound Derby (18 October- 23 November), the Melbourne Cup (2, 5, 7, and 9 November), and the Saigon Cup in Vietnam (7- 11 March).

Rugby Betting

The Six Nations Championship has only finished with Ireland winning the champion title. It turns out that the most valuable players from top Scottish rugby clubs, like Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, couldn’t overpower the defending champion. The next big event is the Heineken Champions Cup Final on Saturday, 25 May.

You may also be interested in the Hong Kong Sevens in April, the Oktoberfest Munich 7s from 18 to 19 May, the Krakow Rugby Festival from 21 to 23 June, or the Rugby Championships in July.

Unfortunately, you need to wait until 2025 and 2027 for the biggest rugby betting opportunities. That is when the Women’s and Men’s Rugby World Cup are held.

Tennis Betting

The first on the list of upcoming tennis events is the Cinch Championships. This is a prestigious event on the ATP tour, taking place every year. It featured some of the biggest names from the tennis world, including Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.

It will be held at the Queen’s Club in London from 17 to 23 June, hosting men’s single and double matches. This year will see top players such as Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex de Minaur.

Then, you can bet on the Eastbourne International matches between 24 and 29 June. You can follow men’s and women’s games played on outdoor grass courts at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England.

Moreover, this competition is a part of the ATP Tour Series for men as well as the WTA 500 series for women. In that sense, it is a leading path towards the Wimbledon Championship.

25- 29 June is also a great opportunity for tennis betting, thanks to the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic. Held at Hurlingham Park, London, this tournament showcased legends like Dominic Thiem, Maria Sharapova, and Rafael Nadal.

Moreover, there is another tournament co-occurring with this. So, you can simultaneously place bets on the Boodles Tennis Tournament and the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.

But what tennis enthusiasts are looking forward to the most is Wimbledon, no doubt. Held from 1 to 14 July, the Wimbledon Championships include a variety of events, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. This year’s favourite is Carlos Alcaraz, followed by Novak Djokovic. Iga Swiatek is the favourite in the women’s category.

Finally, let’s not forget the US Open (26 August to 8 September) and Davis Cup Group Stage Finals (10- 15 September).

eSports Betting

Simply put, eSports betting is placing wagers on eSports matches. Some of the most popular eSports you can bet on include Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 by Valve Corporation, LOL and Valorant by Riot Games, and Call of Duty by Infinity Ward.

If you like gaming, you may also take pleasure from betting on your favourite eSports. Furthermore, the top wagering sites have a big coverage of games and tournaments. For example, these are some events you can bet on pre-match or in-play:

• CS 2: BLAST Premier, Intel Extreme Masters, ESL Challenger, ESL Pro League, and more.
• Dota 2: VCT, Honor of Kings Invitational Series, Mythic Dungeon International, and others.
• League of Legends: LOL Worlds, LPL, League of Legends Championship Series, etc.
• Valorant: Valorant Champions, Valorant Game Changers Championship, and others.
• Call of Duty: The Call of Duty League, the World Series of Warzone, the Call of Duty Mobile World Championship, and more.

UK Sporting Events Then and Now

London and the UK have been a centre of sporting activity for a long time. The capital city has hosted some of the most prominent sporting events over the years. In addition to the ones mentioned, these include the London Marathon, World Matchplay Golf, Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race, and others.

The UK invented and codified some of the most popular sports around the globe. Football, the most popular sport worldwide, has its roots here. Furthermore, rugby, cricket, and tennis were invented in England, and golf in Scotland. Interestingly, football and rugby were once the same sport. Then, in the 19th century, two distinct associations sprang from this game.

Other sports categories have foundations in the UK, such as boxing, hockey, squash, billiards, snooker, darts, table tennis, and lawn bowls.

Moreover, the UK’s strategic plan for 2021 suggests that this country plans a decade-long hosting business. Thus, this is where the 2030 World Cup will be played. Moreover, by 2031, 46 World Championships will be held here, from athletics, boxing, taekwondo, and other sports.

In this way, the United Kingdom nurtures its sports culture. The UK residents, known as some of the most avid sports fans, won’t need to travel miles to watch the world-class action because they will have it right at home.

Betting Offers for UK Sports Events

Another great thing about these big sporting events is that you are able to claim exclusive bonuses and offers. Moreover, these may come in the form of Accumulator Bonuses, or even Jackpots.

If you are interested in the sports betting promo codes, you can check them out on our dedicated page. Whether you are a football, horse racing, or tennis fan, you will be able to find a UK sports betting promotion according to your taste. However, ensure that you fully understand the terms and conditions of the offer.

Conclusion

In brief, there is a wide range of UK sports events and international competitions to bet on in 2024. It doesn’t matter if your favourite sport is football, rugby, or cricket because there is no shortage of top-class games.

Furthermore, as many of these events are held somewhere in the UK, you also have a chance to be a spectator. Finally, don’t forget to consider sports betting offers when wagering on your favourite leagues and competitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, you can take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the biggest sporting events in 2024.

What are the biggest sports events in the UK in 2024?

Some of the most prominent sports events that will be hosted in the UK include the Champions League, FA Cup, Randox Grand National, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon Championships, the British Open, T20 Blast, the ‘British’ Open.

What are the biggest international sports events in 2024?

Some of the most prestigious sporting events in 2024 include the Euro, Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the Summer Olympic Games, and Tour de France.

What major sports events can I bet on in April 2024?

There are several upcoming sports events in the UK for April 2024. Furthermore, the most important include the Randox Grand National and FA Cup Semi-Final. In addition, First Class County starts in April.

When is the English Greyhound Derby in 2024?

The English Greyhound Derby races will take place between 23 May and 29 June.

Where can I bet on the major sporting events?

All bookmakers should cover the most prestigious sporting events for 2024. However, the top wagering platforms offer additional features, such as Bet Builders, cash-outs, and live streams, that will make your experience more interesting. To find the best options, simply scroll up to the table at the top of this review.

How to make correct predictions during big competitions and tournaments?

Doing betting research is key to making more informed bets. In that sense, you need to consider odds, predictions, sports news, and any other information that will give you an idea of the most likely outcome. However, it is important to remember that betting tips needn’t be 100% accurate.