There must be a reason why, according to Grand View Research, the global sports betting market has already reached $100.9 billion. And if you’ve been involved in this industry for some time now, you will agree that the experience today feels significantly different from what it was a few years ago. This is for one reason: The industry has been evolving to match fans’ shifting behaviors.
Take a niche like the NFL, for instance. With platforms like https://www.oddstrader.com/nfl/picks/ emerging, punters can now access NFL picks and predictions from anywhere with just a tap of a button on their smartphone. This improved level of convenience is actually one of the primary reasons driving this industry’s popularity. Well, modern consumers, including bettors, appreciate such convenience.
According to Euromonitor, the ability to shop anytime, anywhere is key for 32% of global consumers. However, beyond simply offering convenient access to entertainment, sportsbooks have adopted various other strategies to ensure relevance in a market where expectations are constantly evolving.
Aligning with the growing number of mobile phone users
According to Exploding Topics’ approximations, more than 64% of the world’s internet traffic emanates from mobile devices. The institution also suggests that 96% of the global internet population uses these devices as their primary means of accessing the internet. In the sports betting sector, things are no different. Imagine, according to Business Insider Africa, 94% of gamblers in Africa alone place wagers using their phones.
Now, what about regions like North America and Europe, where smartphone usage is even higher? The result is an environment where mobile isn’t just a channel but the core arena where wagering happens. And this is why providing mobile-friendly experiences is non-negotiable. Since most bettors use their mobile devices to access sports wagering content, such as NFL picks, you always want to ensure your website functions well on these devices.
Thankfully, responsive design has made this achievable by enabling the creation of flexible layouts that automatically adjust to fit multiple screen sizes. So, whether a player uses a smartphone or tablet, they won’t need to worry about having to zoom, rotate or battle with clunky menus just to place a wager. The screen adapts to them, not the other way around.
Tailoring for mobile use also increases the likelihood of tapping into the already existing smartphone market. This is a significant part of why TGM Research states that approximately six in ten people worldwide wagered on sports in 2024 alone.
Meeting the needs of security-conscious players
It’s common knowledge that cyberattacks are on the rise. According to a recent study by Microsoft, approximately 600 million data breaches occur every day. Narrowing down to the sports betting sector, Enzoic recently noted that over 50% of this industry’s websites suffered a breach in 2023. Since cybercriminals are constantly reinventing themselves, you can imagine what these figures can translate to if companies fail to adopt up-to-date security measures.
The rising number of cyberattacks has made bettors more security-conscious. In fact, security has become one of the key factors that determine whether a bettor will engage with a platform. And if there are rumors of your previous involvement in a breach, punters may hesitate or completely abandon your platform. Leading sportsbooks are aware of this and have, in turn, been striving to ensure safe online interactions.
And that’s the reason features like two-factor authentication (2FA) are now a standard practice. 2FA adds an extra layer of protection beyond just a password, requiring users to verify their identity through a secondary method. As such, even if malicious individuals compromise login details, they will still be unable to access the account.
SSL encryption is also another security protocol you may have seen on many bookmakers. It encrypts data transmitted between users and the platform, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept sensitive information.
Making the entire experience engaging
There’s a lot more that goes into sports wagering than just observing the betting lines and placing wagers. For instance, payment methods should be seamless and fast; otherwise, you may risk losing a good number of users who favor convenience and speed. When bettors encounter failing payment methods, they may associate your platform with unreliability and decide to take the play elsewhere. According to Testlio, about 62% can leave when they encounter such experiences.
When it comes to payment speed, modern bettors are also intolerant of delays. In fact, Testlio says a delayed checkout or transaction can decrease conversions by up to 20%. With customer acquisition costs expected to continue increasing, these are not losses you want to endure. That’s why leading sportsbooks are integrating faster processing systems, automated verification and real-time notifications.
The rise of in-play betting has also made it possible for bookmakers to cater to the growing demand for more realistic entertainment. Imagine your odds updating in real time with every turnover and touchdown. An immersion of this nature makes the gameplay more engaging, especially now that fans don’t want to be passive spectators. And the numbers don’t actually lie. According to Mordor Intelligence, live betting accounts for almost 60% of the online sports betting market.
Considering all these factors, it is not surprising to see this industry enjoy multicultural penetration. By aligning with modern preferences, such as the growing need for secure and mobile-friendly experiences, sports betting has evolved into an immersive entertainment ecosystem where fans aren’t just observers but active participants.
