Football betting in the digital age- Trends to watch
Football is the world’s most popular sport fans globally, football fuels a massive sports betting industry worth over $115 billion annually. In the past, football betting happened through local bookmakers or shady offshore sites. But the digital age has disrupted football betting in profound ways. Gone are the days of having to visit a betting shop or casino to place wagers. Thanks to smartphones, you can now bet on football matches anytime, anywhere. Over 50% of sports bets today are placed on mobile devices. Leading bookmakers like bet365 offer user-friendly betting apps packed with features:
- Live in-play betting – Wager on matches as they happen
- Cashout – Lock in returns before the match ends
- Live streaming – Watch games you’ve bet on
With mobile betting, football fans can have a bet literally at their fingertips. Convenience has made betting more accessible and engaging.
Emergence of betting exchanges
Traditionally, you could only bet against a bookmaker. Betting exchanges like Betfair pioneered a new peer-to-peer model. Here, you wager against other users instead of a bookie. Exchanges allow you to take both back and lay bets. No surprise they now account for over 20% of online betting volume.
Cash out transform in-play betting
In-play Fun888 betting used to be a shot in the dark before live streaming arrived. Now bookmakers let you watch matches you’ve bet on in real-time on mobile. Cashout is another game-changer. It lets you settle your bet early for a return before the final whistle. Cashout protects late equalizers, red cards, injuries, and other in-game events that can ruin a bet. Between live streaming and cashout, in-play betting is now low-risk and high-engagement. ESports betting also happens in real-time like an in-play market. There are far more events during a 20-minute eSports match than a 90-minute football game. As a result, opportunities for rapid-fire statistical betting abound. Dedicated eSports betting sites like Unikrn are also using blockchain and cryptocurrency to disrupt the status quo.
Betting tipsters and syndicates
Today you can gain an edge over bookmakers by following expert tipsters on sites like Blogabet and BettingGods. Platforms like Trademate Sports also help syndicates manage their operations like a hedge fund. From tracking ROI per tipster to settling balances between members, Trademate automates syndicate administration. As betting expertise gets quantized and institutionalized, expect bigger whales to keep exploiting market inefficiencies. Offshore sites like 1xBet, 22Bet, and SportPesa offer services like:
- Better odds and betting limits for pros
- Anonymous accounts to protect identities
- Exotic bets on club friendlies and minor leagues
- Local payment options in restricted regions
But offshore sites remain an integral component feeding global football betting liquidity online.
Future of football betting
As technology and regulation evolve, expect online football betting to social, and more versatile. Virtual Reality could transport you right onto the pitch to place in-play bets in real time. Integrated live stats overlays will make informed bets effortless. Peer betting pools and the social sharing of bets with friends might make football betting more collaborative. While enjoying the football betting trends today, keep an eye on the horizon for the next big innovations set to disrupt how you watch and wager on the beautiful game.
