Over the last few years, Mongolia’s betting landscape has been undergoing many changes as more and more local fans are finding themselves connected to international sporting events. Due to its location between Russia and China, Mongolia has a unique sports culture that is influenced by both Eastern and Western ways of viewing sports. Understanding which athlete(s) have the most interest from Mongolian bettors can help us understand the general sports interests and betting habits of this nation.
Football Dominates Betting Interest Across the Steppe
Association Football Betting is the most popular form of gambling in Mongolia, though prior to this period, the primary forms of sports in Mongolia were wrestling, archery, and horse racing. Football (Soccer) has become the most popular sport to gamble on today.
Many of the 1xbet Mongolia customers continue to bet on Norwegian Striker Erling Haaland. Haaland’s goal-scoring abilities for Manchester City in the 2024/25 Premier League season will undoubtedly keep him a favorite in both match result wagers and prop wagers throughout the season.
Lionel Messi’s career with Inter Miami FC continues to create betting opportunities for the Mongolian betting public. Many of the MLS games that include Messi take place late in the day in the Ulaanbaatar area, due to the time difference between the two locations. This allows betting customers located in the Ulaanbaatar area to easily find betting opportunities for either the CONCACAF Champions Cup or the MLS regular season games featuring Messi.
Combat Sports and Mongolian Pride
In Mongolia, there is a long history of combat sports that extends thousands of years through wrestling, and this is reflected in the way people in Mongolia place bets on combat sports. As a result, in addition to being a large fan base for the UFC, the majority of people in Mongolia have a strong preference to place bets on fighters who are skilled in the art of grappling (wrestling).
The following fighters continue to draw the most money from bettors in Mongolia:
- Islam Makhachev – The current UFC Lightweight Champion from Dagestan has a wrestling style similar to the wrestling styles used by Mongolians and, as such, attracts the majority of bets placed in Mongolia.
- Jon Jones – Although Jon Jones does not compete nearly as often as he once did, his heavyweight title continues to attract attention and money from Mongolian bettors.
- Shavkat Rakhmonov – The Kazakh welterweight fighter from Kazakhstan creates interest among bettors in Mongolia due to his background from Central Asia.
Mongolian bettors also follow boxing closely, especially when a boxer from an adjacent country is fighting. A good example is Janibek Alimkhanuly, the unified Middleweight Champion from Kazakhstan, who has generated significant betting activity among Mongolian audiences for his fights.
Basketball Stars and NBA Betting Patterns
The NBA is gaining popularity in Mongolia, driven in part by the league’s extensive international broadcast presence. LeBron James remains the most recognizable basketball figure among Mongolian bettors, though his age has shifted some attention toward younger stars.
Luka Dončić attracts substantial betting interest due to his European background and highlight-reel style of play. The Dallas Mavericks guard’s performances in the 2024-25 season continue to generate prop bet activity. Victor Wembanyama’s emergence with the San Antonio Spurs has also captured Mongolian attention, with his unique physical profile making him a popular subject for statistical wagers.
Nikola Jokić’s continued excellence with the Denver Nuggets resonates with Mongolian bettors who appreciate basketball’s tactical elements. The Serbian center’s cerebral approach mirrors aspects of traditional Mongolian strategy games.
Regional Sports and Emerging Interests
While horse racing is an important part of Mongolian culture and has historically been the primary form of sports betting for most people, it accounts for relatively little international sports betting activity compared to team-based sports. Some larger international events (e.g., the Melbourne Cup) do draw some international interest, as well as many Brits who are also interested in British horse racing. Traditional racing at the Naadam festival remains mostly outside commercial betting structures, allowing the race to maintain its cultural significance.
Esports is becoming the fastest-growing type of betting for young Mongolians, with increasing amounts being bet on the Dota 2 and Counter-Strike competitions of Asian teams; this trend likely indicates a generation gap between young and older Mongolians and could potentially change the structure of the Mongolian betting market in the next few years.
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