US Open 2025 to Become Most Bet-On Tennis Major in History

US Open 2025 to Become Most Bet-On Tennis Major in History

Flushing Meadows is on track to break all previous records as the 2025 US Open draws unprecedented global betting interest, marking a historic moment for tennis and fan engagement.

The 2025 US Open is set to become the most globally bet-on tennis major of all time. This is driven by surging fan interest, diversified engagement, and a string of record-breaking Grand Slam tournaments throughout the year.

Tennis is now firmly established as the second most popular in-play betting sport across both the UK and US markets, behind football and basketball, respectively. In the US, it has attracted more live bets than American Football in each of the last three years, as the sport's popularity continues to rise.

Approximately 90% of all tennis bets placed annually are in-play, according to Entain's Global Sportsbook; however, 2025 has seen a notable rise in pre-game staking across all major tournaments with the gap narrowing to 76/24% at these majors. This shift reflects a broader diversification in fan behaviour and engagement, with pre-match interest climbing, especially during the first week of the major tournaments.

A Year of Milestones

• Australian Open 2025: The most attended edition in history also became the most bet-on, with pre-game staking up by a quarter YoY and live betting surging by more than half. It ranked second only to the 2024 US Open in Entain's all-time records.
• French Open 2025: Surpassed all previous Grand Slam betting records at Entain, with pre-game staking up by about a quarter YoY and live staking up by almost half. The tournament captivated fans with the longest final in the Open era and saw strong growth across BetMGM, Brazil, Spain, and Italy.
• Wimbledon 2025: Delivered the highest betting volumes ever for the tournament. Week one became the most bet-on Grand Slam week in company history. Pre-game staking rose by almost a fifth YoY and live staking by over a third, led by strong performance in Brazil, the US, UK, and Spain.

US Open Momentum & Patriotic Punting

Historically, Entain's most popular major, the US Open benefits from a robust tennis fanbase among BetMGM's US customers. This year, American players such as Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton, and Taylor Fritz are expected to drive significant engagement. Interestingly, US star Madison Keys, winner of the 2025 Australian Open, remained relatively unbacked in Melbourne despite her historic victory.

Market Dynamics and Innovation

The top three in-play markets, Match Betting, Current Game Winner, and Set Winner, now account for 85% of all in-play stakes. While Match Betting has traditionally led, Game Winner is rapidly overtaking it, particularly in high-growth regions like Brazil.

Many anticipated a lull in tennis's popularity following the retirement of icons like Federer, Nadal and Serena Williams, but the emerging rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is already beginning to echo those heights - and shows every sign of continuing for years to come. The women's game presents a different narrative. Competition has intensified, upsets have been frequent, and as a result, betting interest is rising substantially due to a deeper and more even field. Tennis is on an upward trajectory. As the sport embraces data and micro-markets, we expect significant growth in flexibility and innovation - particularly for in-play betting.

Tennis Roadmap: Innovation Driving Engagement

Entain continues to invest in product innovation to enhance the tennis betting experience:

1. Live Bet Tracking: Recently launched progress bars for popular in-play markets, offering visual representations of bet status.
2. Launch of Tennis Bet Builder: Will be designed to maximize engagement and flexibility for bettors.
3. Launch of Micro Markets: Expanded options tailored to meet evolving consumer preferences, offering more granular and dynamic choice across match events.
4. Enhanced Coverage: Expanded markets across WTA, Slams, ITF, and other tennis formats.

As tennis embraces data-driven engagement and micro-market innovation, Entain expects continued growth in both fan interest and betting activity. With new products such as Bet Builder and enhanced Micro Market coverage set to roll out next year, the records set at the 2025 US Open could soon be surpassed.