The rapid advancement of technology over the last 30 years has changed almost every industry imaginable— and the sports betting industry is no different. The US has a long, intricate history with sports betting along with all forms of gambling. For a long time, the only way you could place a legal sports bet was by heading to Las Vegas. This all changed finally in 2018 when the US Supreme Court deemed the laws against gambling unconstitutional. Since then, over 27 states have legalized some form of sports betting.
This has meant of course that the US has had to play catchup with a large part of the world when it comes to sports betting, but they are nearly there. The move from land-based casinos to online sportsbooks has been prevalent in Europe for years now and the advancement has greatly improved the betting experience. However, this move was handled excellently by sportsbooks and almost overnight was available for millions of Americans.
Online sports betting is arguably the biggest step forward in the integration of technology in sports betting. Formerly, customers would have to visit their local high-street bookmakers to place a bet. These of course grew in sparsity over the years as online sportsbooks took their place.
This means that now thousands of markets are available at your fingertips. All you need is a smart device or your laptop/home PC and an internet connection, and you can create an account. There are tonnes of providers with apps available to download on the app store and play store but we find that the best way to bet is with DraftKings. They cover a massive variety of sports and with soccer growing in popularity since the emergence of the USMNT golden generation, World Cup odds are hugely popular to bet on right now. With 85% of Americans owning a smartphone, sports betting has never been so accessible and there has never been a better time to be a fan of sports betting,
With most all sports bettors preferring to bet online with apps as opposed to betting in person, developers are constantly looking for ways to enhance the experience. This is why the user interface has become so refined, to make the experience as smooth as possible.
Cryptocurrency and the blockchain tech behind it how now infiltrated the sports betting industry. A fast, low-cost, and anonymous method of depositing and withdrawing, many players are now opting to use it over fiat currency.
One of the biggest draws for bettors to deposit/withdraw using cryptocurrency is the high level of security and anonymity that it offers. There are also zero transaction fees for customers. It has become so popular in fact that we are now seeing entire bitcoin casinos online. Its influence runs so deep in the industry that we now see entire online bitcoin casinos.
As online sportsbooks are running 24/7, covering sports all over the world in different time zones, there needs to be a constant flow of live data. This has created a new way to wager for sports bettors. Whilst previously, most all bets would have had to be placed before kick-off or tip off of a game, you can now bet whilst the game is being played. You can back all the traditional markets like the money line, total, and spread and also place player props.
The engineers who work behind the scenes to keep your online experience smooth work alongside statisticians to keep everything updated down to the second. This has made gameday even more immersive as you can bet on the action as it happens right in front of your eyes.
Many sportsbooks have even incorporated live streaming on their apps and websites. With broadband speeds improving tenfold and the near blanket availability of 4G and 5G around the country, you can stream from almost anywhere.
Many sportsbooks give you the opportunity to watch games directly through their apps on your smartphone. As well as opening up another source of revenue, it also means that people are more likely to place in-play bets.
Modern technology has completely revolutionized sports betting and will continue to do so for many years to come. Through its incorporation, it has never been easier to place a bet and enjoy yourself whilst doing so. We are now even seeing virtual reality being used. It has fuelled the growth of the industry incredibly and made the entire experience of sports betting smoother and faster whether you are a beginner in sports betting or a seasoned vet.
