Ivan Larsen 
New sports betting sites come and go. But the industry keeps advancing. Technology plays a crucial role in this growth. It helps enhance payments, odds, bonuses, bets, and customer support.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the trends shaping up the future of online sports betting. Let’s get started.
Esports Betting
Esports, the nascent sport centered on video game competitions, is slowly turning into a trailblazer in the world of sports gambling. Nearly every bookmaker now offers eSports betting markets.
Additionally, you can claim bonuses to bet on your favorite eSports competitions; for the uninitiated, eSports betting works like any other sport. You select a competition and assess different wagers. Let’s say you want to bet on a CS: GO tournament.
You can analyze the top teams competing at the championship. Then you can pick a winner between any match. You could also bet on the total number of kills or flags collected. Some bookies support eSports parlays, props, and spreads.
Crypto Betting
Crypto is disrupting the financial industry left, right, and center. Earlier this year, the US government greenlighted the sale of Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Since then, Bitcoin’s price has been on a parabolic rise.
At its core, crypto is a decentralized, peer-to-peer payment method. Decentralization means it doesn’t need an intermediary like a bank. This lowers transaction fees, increases payment speed, and advances its security.
Sports gambling companies love crypto as much as gamblers do. Not only does crypto help bookies grow their brands globally, but it also helps reduce financial fraud. That’s because crypto has no chargebacks, so fraudsters have no way of conning businesses.
Although Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, you have the choice to use other coins like Ethereum USDT, Bitcoin Cash, and Doge. Most crypto sportsbooks give you a bonus regardless of your chosen payment coin.
This Stake bonus drop code is an excellent example. You can claim your bonus by depositing Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDT. Alternatively, you can deposit through traditional payment options like Apple Pay, GPay, or MasterCard.
Usually, crypto bonuses are generous. You can receive up to one BTC as a welcome reward. To provide some context, Bitcoin is trading at $70,000 at the time of writing this article.
For clarity, most bonuses are a match on your deposit amount. If you want to claim a large bonus, you need to deposit a sizeable amount. Also, beware of bonus terms. They dictate the games you can bet on and the terms you must fulfill before turning a bonus into cash.
Mobile Betting
Mobile betting has been one of the biggest trends in sports betting for a few years. Not so long ago (2018), mobile betting accounted for roughly 55% of all online bets. Now, 80% of sports wagers are placed through a smartphone.
The explanation is that smartphones are increasingly becoming accessible around the world. And they’re convenient. You can place bets with your smartphone while on the bus, tanning on the beach, or relaxing in your office.
All you need is to sign up for an account at a reputable mobile sportsbook. Some operators have an app you can install on your device. However, most bookmakers now offer their services through a mobile website you don’t need to download.
Today’s mobile betting sites are packed with all the features you would need. For example, they cover every major and minor sport. They support a wide variety of payment options and give out generous welcome bonuses.
AI and Big Data
Artificial Intelligence and big data are two technologies tapped to benefit both bookmakers and bettors in major ways. Sports gambling companies use AI to set competitive odds fast. Additionally, they use big data to improve their marketing techniques.
Sports bettors use AI and big data analysis tools to enhance predictions. AI can analyze large volumes of data and make objective predictions, something most humans can’t.
As Artificial Intelligence algorithms advance, they will have a bigger role in the sports betting world. Sports betting companies will use these tools to evaluate customer behavior for marketing reasons.
On the other hand, bettors will take advantage of AI algorithms to analyze matches. Some experts believe AI might advance to the point where it makes consistently correct predictions. But only time will tell if this will turn into a reality.
Interactive Live Streaming
More and more betting apps are offering live match streaming to their customers. The only catch is that you must be an active bettor. The bookies decide which matches you can watch live, but usually, they select top-tier games.
Now, watching a live match at a betting app isn’t like any other experience. Here, bookies integrate live screens with real-time match data to help you make betting decisions on the go.
For example, they show you each team’s possession percentage, goal attempts, and set pieces. Some of them also advertise their promotions to entice you to place bets while a match is ongoing.
Although live betting can be exciting, it requires your undivided attention. It works better while you’re also watching a match live. This is why betting apps are increasingly offering live match streaming. They keep you entertained while also providing all the tools you need to bet.
AR and VR
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality remain at the forefront of important technologies in the sports betting scene. Virtual reality, in particular, is playing a growing role in sports betting.
VR allows bettors to simulate being at a live sports stadium. It makes watching sports exciting. When combined with AI, bookies can succeed at keeping their customers engaged and satisfied at every step of the way.
Still on engagement, bonuses, and loyalty rewards work effectively in enhancing fan engagement. Think of bonus boosters, which maximize your odds if you place parlay bets.
Then there’s gamification, a term borrowed from the world of online gaming. Gamification involves activities associated with gaming in non-gaming environments.
For example, some sites give you points for being a loyal customer. You can later redeem these points for free bets. Others will award you free tickets to watch major sports competitions for winning a betting tournament.
