Mike Tyson’s match against Jake Paul has changed the game for boxing and sports betting. It drew unprecedented attention, both in the betting market and among viewers worldwide. The fight also highlighted Netflix’s growing role in live sports streaming.

  • Betting records were shattered for a combat event, according to data from Entain’s brands, including BetMGM, Coral, and Ladbrokes. The fight attracted the highest number of bets and total staked amounts ever recorded. This surpassed all previous records, including major Tyson Fury bouts.
  • The fight saw a significant influx of new bettors, with 10% of bets placed by first-time customers. This highlights the appeal of crossover events and the power of streaming platforms like Netflix. Many bettors were drawn by the unique pairing of a boxing legend and a social media influencer.
  • Tyson was the betting favorite, receiving 68% of the total bets, while Paul had 17%, and 15% predicted a draw. Despite Tyson’s dominance in predictions, stakes were split nearly evenly once the fight began. This close betting pattern reflected a balanced matchup.
  • Netflix’s first live sports broadcast broke records, with 65 million households watching at its peak. This made it the most-watched boxing match in history, overshadowing Tyson Fury’s and even Paul’s previous bouts. The undercard, featuring Serrano vs. Taylor, also attracted a reported 50 million viewers.
  • Jake Paul continues to influence boxing betting trends, with six of the top 25 most-bet boxing events already to his name. However, his fight with Tyson surpassed even those records, solidifying this bout as a landmark event in betting history.
  • Greg Ferris, Entain’s Managing Director for Sports, attributed much of the success to Netflix’s subscriber base and promotional efforts. The decision to stream at no extra cost maximized viewer engagement, blending traditional sports fans and newer audiences.
  • The fight also signals a potential shift in live sports broadcasting, with Netflix testing the waters for further events. Their upcoming NFL broadcast on Christmas Day will serve as another key test for streaming’s role in sports.
  • Outside of boxing, Entain reported growing trends in other sports betting markets. Olympic betting volume doubled at the Paris Games, while NFL betting in the UK saw a 65% growth in participants year-on-year.

This historic event has set new benchmarks in both sports broadcasting and betting, paving the way for future crossover matches and streaming collaborations.

Data is taken from Entain’s global labels, including BetMGM in the US, excluding Australia, Eurobet and CEE, Enlabs and Crystalbet.