Betting on sports has been around for decades. Its popularity has been increasing by the day. Specifically, with the establishment of online betting, thousands have joined the sector since they can comfortably bet on different events, specific players, and teams at their comfort.
Online sports betting has made betting so much easy in the sense that you can place a bet anywhere you are and anytime you want. It is also convenient in that you can place bets and go on with other activities as you await the outcome.
The industry has been developing since the establishment of the internet. It has become better and better and players can expect more in the future. Market forces, technological advancements among other factors have come together to make betting on sports online a tremendously different adventure from the traditional idea of bookmaker betting.
Layman’s Guide to Online Sports Betting
Before the internet was established, you had to visit a land-based casino to bet on any sporting event. These facilities were limited and required you to observe strict rules for you to be allowed into them.
Considering that there were few brick and mortar casinos, you had to schedule your time to visit them. This was not only time-wasting but also money consuming. Due to this, sometimes, people missed out on important events more so if they had little time to spare.
In addition to this, the facilities were considered a place for the rich. As a result, many people avoided visiting them, missing out on sports betting altogether. Then came online casinos somewhere around 1996.
This marked the official start of what would later become one of the leading and most successful forms of online entertainment. One thing that made online casinos so popular is the fact that they accepted all types of players.
Whether one is a high-roller or a low-roller, he/she can conveniently enjoy the thrill of online sports betting. Today, casinos have flexible bet ranges fit for those wishing to bet with low or high amounts. One is not also required to visit a physical facility to place bets. Everything is done online!
With a smartphone or a computer and a stable internet connection, you’re set to enjoy endless sport betting opportunities online. Crucially, read an online sports betting guide like this one at online-gambling.com to become a proficient punter. That way, you can bet and win consistently.
Against that backdrop, below are innovations that online sports betting has experienced in the recent past.
1. Mobile Sports Betting
This, you will agree, remains one of the best innovations to hit the world of online sports betting. Imagine how it would be if you had to take your computer with you everywhere you go to be able to follow what’s happening or even place a bet. This, we can bet, would be boring and inconveniencing as well.
Mobile betting has grown exponentially and is slowly becoming the preferred mode of betting by many players. Most operating systems are supported and as a result, you can deposit money into your account or place bets without any challenges. Again, 5G technology is around the corner, so you can expect even greater innovations when it comes to mobile betting.
2. Virtual Reality
Virtual reality has enabled online sports betting websites to capture the attention of players who fancy the excitement of wagering on virtual games. With VR, you can watch different games through VR headsets as well as bet on them. Some of these games are hockey, golf, football, and baseball.
Virtual reality has given bookmakers a lot of freedom in that they can schedule virtual tournaments with revised regulations. For punters who desire something extra than what offered by random games, VR games have breathtaking graphics that will award you a more immersive sports betting adventure from the conventional events.
3. Secured Payment Options
Casinos use encryption technology to encode their customers’ banking data, making it impossible for any person without decryption keys to read the information. In addition to this, casinos employ a tokenization mechanism that swaps sensitive information with tokens and then safely stores a client’s original data.
4. Blockchain Technology
This is among the most discussed topics today. When cryptocurrencies came into the limelight, they became a household name. Many companies and individuals are getting involved with its technology to make payments, partly because it is one of the safest modes of payments in the world today. It comes as no surprise that casinos have added cryptocurrencies as one of the payment methods. It is a safe option that highly reduces the risks of being scammed online.
5. Live Streaming
Another useful innovation in online sports betting. Being able to watch sports live on the bookmakers’ sites is great and while it may seem run of the mill since many of us have televisions, live streaming is useful for players who are on live in-play events. It is also good for obscure events and sports that would be hard to get extensive coverage on mainstream media.
6. Improved Customer Experience
Keeping customers happy is key to attracting new ones and maintaining the existing. With the high level of competition in online sports betting, sportsbooks have a mandate of ensuring they offer excellent customer services. Advancements in betting technology have enabled casinos to track customers’ behaviors from which they can offer personalized services.
Being able to provide high levels of security is also vital to customer satisfaction. Casinos have installed sensors that allow them to detect fraudulent activities. This way, they are able to protect their clients. Such would not be possible were it not for the innovative technology that enhances security.
7. More Betting Options
Prior to the era of online sports betting, bettors were limited to a few sports. It was almost impossible to bet on multiple events at a time. This has long changed in that currently you can bet on as many sports as you want at once. You can also get live updates on the outcome of each sport.
The Future
New technological innovations and advancements in the sports betting sector is an indication that the industry is destined for huge developments. The future is promising and bettors can expect to see more innovations when betting on their favourite sports/events online. Players need to be keen on these advancements as they will help them collect helpful information as well as place safer bets.
