Betting activity on NBA games has surged sharply across Europe during the NBA’s 2025–26 European tour. Fixtures in Paris, Berlin, and London have led to notable increases in some markets, according to data from operator Entain.
The company’s data shows that Germany, France, and Italy have posted triple-digit percentage increases in wagering activity, while the UK recorded smaller gains.
The figures cover three regular-season games played in Paris, Berlin, and London in January 2026. Across all stops, betting activity in continental Europe rose at a faster rate than in the UK, with the widest gaps recorded during the Paris and Berlin fixtures.
Berlin delivers highest market uplifts
The Berlin game on January 15, 2026, produced the largest increases of the tour. Compared with a typical NBA week, Entain recorded the following changes in betting activity:
- Germany: +274%
- Italy: +110%
- Greece: +68%
Local attention was influenced by the participation of Berlin-born brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner, who appeared for the Orlando Magic during the game.
“Conversations around long-term expansion, including the possibility of placing full-time NBA franchises in European cities, continue to resurface whenever engagement surges in major markets like Germany and France. As a result, this data not only measures betting interest, but also acts as an indicator of where the NBA’s brand is resonating most strongly – and where the fans are,” said Rene Simanovic, Entain’s Head of European Basketball.
Paris sets early benchmark
The tour opened in Paris earlier in January, where the host market recorded one of the highest percentage increases across the three-game schedule. Entain reported the following shifts in stakes during the Paris fixture:
- France: +241%
- Italy: +119%
- Germany: +72%
Activity linked to the Paris game extended beyond France, with Italy and Germany also recording triple-digit and high double-digit increases.
London shows smaller UK gains
The final game of the tour took place in London on January 18, 2026. While betting activity rose across several European markets, the UK increase trailed those recorded elsewhere:
- France: +35%
- Germany: +28%
- UK: +19%
The London fixture again generated interest outside the host country, with France and Germany recording higher percentage changes than the UK market.
“This surge in engagement underscores a significant and accelerating shift in customer behaviour. These fixtures are clearly resonating with audiences across our markets, and we are witnessing basketball establish itself as a major growth driver within the sports betting ecosystem. By contrast, the UK’s more subdued response highlights a key opportunity for future growth,” Simanovic added.
Entain said the data captures customer wagering patterns during the NBA’s January 2026 European tour, with market-by-market results varying by location and fixture.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/28/117306-european-nba-tour-drives-tripledigit-betting-gains-in-germany-and-france
