Since the 2018 PASPA repeal of a federal ban on sports betting, sports fans have seen a consistent rise in options for mobile oddsmakers. However, though the industry is saturated with options for online and in-person sports betting, not every opportunity is created equal.
Few sportsbooks are able to deliver reliable predictions from top pundits and analysts, an intuitive interface, and solid mobile and live options. One of the US’s most popular and long-standing brands in sports betting, DraftKings, has some of the industry’s highest ratings when it comes to their sportsbook, bonuses, and banking options.
However, the OddsChecker review of DraftKings reveals that they could still make some improvements to their mobile app. The conclusion: modern sportsbooks need to deliver on every facet of the sports betting experience if they want to compete with others.
These considerations include an enjoyable mobile interface, predictions from computer learning programs, various options when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money, and a secure platform that empowers users to try new options.
As more states in the US open up to sportsbooks, each must decide whether to allow online betting or in-person betting options, if not both. Depending on the state, these regulations vary greatly and are also subject to change in the future according to local lawmakers.
For instance, North Carolina’s recent legislation defining sports betting will only allow wagering on college and professional sports at one of two in-person tribal locations in the state. On the other hand, Tennessee only allows for online wagering.
Mobile Interface & Live Betting Options
Luckily for online sportsbooks, most states looking to regulate sports betting aren’t afraid to develop their online sector. Since May of 2019, less than a year after the PASPA repeal, sportsbooks have slowly begun making the leap to mobile apps.
But to do this, top brands like DraftKings and others mentioned on OddsChecker, from BETMGM to FanDuel to bet365, have had to deliver on more than an exceptional web browser experience.
In recent years, live betting options have become exceedingly popular for sports fans and punters. Live betting makes it possible for spectators to wager on the next incoming pitch from Jacob deGrom or slapshot from Connor McDavid.
To deliver on live betting features for iOS and Android devices, leading sportsbooks have developed competitive mobile platforms. From the most basic standpoint, sportsbook apps should deliver an aesthetic and design that makes it easy to shift from moneylines to point spreads, while also providing a handy navigation tool for those new to the app or even betting as a whole.
Conveying complex information about wagers in a simple format isn’t easy. Not only that, but data should transfer seamlessly between web browser platforms and mobile options. Then, developers should add on an unbreakable metrics solution that prevents thousands of concurrent live wagers from interfering with the app’s functionality.
At the moment, certain sportsbooks are looking to partner with stadiums and service providers in order to empower punters to bet live at games. With live betting set to take the industry by storm and 5G options available, streamlined live betting options will be available in the bleachers—or even while live-streaming a game as you tailgate outside.
The nuts and bolts of creating a reliable mobile app are difficult enough, but sportsbook apps should also cater to each user. Predictive algorithms help refine betting options offered to mobile users, which lessens the clutter of a busy interface.
By keeping punters connected to the sports and events they’re interested in, using the mobile app becomes a tailored experience that can be enjoyed while at home or courtside.
Computer Predictions
As mentioned above, computer learning can help connect punters to relevant games and schedules that they typically wager on. On the other hand, computer predictions can also help sports analysts and oddsmakers assess leagues, games, and even individual players.
Around the world, bots run by algorithms tailored to sports betting are picking up steam amongst diehard pundits and professional sports analysts alike. Top sportsbooks showcase trusted analysts, detail-oriented handicappers, and computer prediction systems in order to offer a full suite of wagering options.
Many passionate punters rely on a combination of their own experience and insight, the conclusions and observations made by top analysts, and advanced computer prediction platforms.
However, given the emergence of algorithmic trading in financial fields, and even the automation of infrastructural systems from traffic lights to electric grids, more punters are looking for hard conclusions drawn from data alone.
Though the intuition of human experience regarding how home-field advantage or player injuries can affect a team’s performance will continue to prove useful, top sportsbooks will shift to offer computer predictions alongside these analyses.
Security of the Platform & Diversity of Banking Options
While a strong mobile interface and diversity of wagering options are technological solutions for modern sportsbooks, neither consideration matters if a platform isn’t secure. But, to put it simply, top sportsbooks aren’t handling their own cyber-security.
Instead, most hire firms that maintain a site’s UTM (unified threat management) system. Cyber-security groups handle mundane issues like spam filters and two-factor authentication, as well as the most complex issues like anti-malware and anti-virus protection, which prevents DDoS attacks.
By handing off cyber-security concerns to a qualified third party, online sportsbooks can offer other fail-safes, like device encryption, data backups, and recovery plans. This means that any breaches are followed up with immediate action.
Cybersecurity firms ensure that a sportsbooks stays up and running—but it also protects the sensitive information included in a punter’s account. This is particularly important because the leading sportsbooks offer multiple banking options for convenience.
When signing up for an account, users need to choose methods of depositing and withdrawing money. Top platforms deliver on every option possible in order to meet each punter’s individual needs, which means cyber-security groups protect a user’s bank account information, credit card information, and personal information that typically includes a social security number.
For users, the protection of this private data is of the utmost concern. However, it’s also a top priority for the sportsbooks themselves, which need to provide meticulous reports to statewide gaming authorities. Every penny must be accounted for, and then reported on—which means an attack from malware would also put a casino’s banking information at risk.
