Despite the surprise emergence of Hearts at the top of this year’s SPL and the ongoing debate around competitiveness in the league, the Glasgow rivalry between Celtic and Rangers still dominates the sporting and commercial picture of Scottish football. But how dominant are they? And is this going to change any time soon?
The answers are: very dominant, and unlikely. The last time another team won the SPL title outside of the Rangers and Celtic clubs was in 1985. This stranglehold on European football and league winners’ rights has enabled Celtic and Rangers to keep commercially ahead of the rest, further ensuring their competitive success. So much so, that even if Hearts win this year, it is unlikely to dislodge the dominant Glasgow giants. These are the commercial numbers behind the SPL’s biggest rivalry.
Despite Challenges to Dominance, It’s Still the Top Game
In 2024 the Glasgow derby drew a record 1.4 million TV viewers on Sky Sports alone. That helped contribute to SPL TV revenues recently passing £50 million for the first time.
No other teams in Scotland come close to that kind of TV draw. Or, sporting success. Over the past decade, the gap between the two top teams and the rest is as wide as ever.
In 2023, Rangers finished 17 points ahead of Hearts in third and Celtic won the league 9 points ahead of them. The last team to win it other than the Glasgow clubs was Aberdeen in 1984/85, under a then 49-year-old Alex Ferguson.
The financial imbalance remains huge. Despite Hearts challenging for the top places this season – which could still be a huge story – the Edinburgh club made £24 million in 2025. Rangers? £94 million. Celtic? £143 million.
Yes, billionaire sports bettor turned investor Tony Bloom’s significant stake in Hearts could shake things up – and in a way it already has. But the season isn’t over yet and Celtic are just one point behind Hearts with the teams due to meet at Parkhead on Saturday.
The Rivalry Shapes Global Betting Interest in Scottish Football
There is global interest in Celtic and Rangers, as both teams are regular title winners and often appear in the Champions League and/or Europa League, which have huge global audiences. The SPFL is even sponsored by bookmaker William Hill.
When the Glasgow Derby is on, bookmakers will go all out on promotions. The global awareness of this rivalry attracts interest from casual bettors, fans of either team and people looking for accumulator picks.
For example, fans looking for a bet365 bonus through a comparison site will usually find SPL or Celtic-centred betting offers available any league weekend. As well as bonuses, these resources help players compare other bookmakers’ features too – so operators aim to stand out with tailored bonuses for popular sports markets.
The emotional angle of the derby and its high audience figures also makes it perfect for in play and live betting. Bookmakers value events with predictable and large global audiences, and Celtic vs Rangers is one of the most consistently important and watched league rivalries in European football. Arguably not far behind El Clásico of Barcelona vs Real Madrid, City vs United or the Merseyside Derby of Everton vs Liverpool.
Could it Change in the Future?
If Hearts win the SPL this year, it will be one of the most unprecedented achievements in football since Leicester won the English Premier League in 2016.
But will it bridge the gap of nearly £100 million in revenues? And 30,000 more season tickets sold? That remains to be seen.
If anyone knows about the commercial successes gambling interest can specifically bring to a sports team though, it is Tony Bloom.
Bloom now has a £10 million stake – 29% – in Hearts. But whether that will translate to a new era of Scottish football as he may hope, remains to be seen.
The Brighton & Hove Albion owner made millions from playing poker and then computerised, algorithmic sports betting. Before turning that model to football, where he took the Seagulls from second-tier strugglers to a consistent mid- table Premier League team. And a £200 million business, which is almost as much as Celtic and Rangers combined.
Despite Hearts’ qualities this season, Celtic and Rangers have both had their troubles over the year. Short-lived managerial appointments in Wilfried Nancy at the Hoops and Russell Martin at Rangers have complicated the picture for the Old Firm clubs.
Whoever wins the SPL this season will have around 80 points, which will make it the most competitive season in years. Most SPL seasons recently have finished with either Celtic or Rangers on more than 90 points and Rangers even broke 100 in 2020/21.
Few would expect the massive revenues, historic draw for quality players and global fan interest in the clubs to fail to bring at least one of them back to top form next season. But Hearts could certainly shake things up for the first time in 40 years before they do.
