There was a time in the not so recent past that the vast majority of people did not even have internet access in their homes. It was seen as a luxury, perhaps even as a novelty to most. It is rare that something transitions from such a position to where it stands today. Today, the idea that the internet could be described as a novelty is not simply inaccurate, it is absurd. The rise of the internet has not just fundamentally revolutionised every industry and sector in existence, it has changed what it means to be human. World of Sports Betting-
The manner in which we consume information and media content is barely even comparable to what it was as little as two decades ago. While this change is clear in any number of areas, the world of sport could compete with any other when it comes to the size of the impact the internet has had upon it. This article has been put together to highlight how the digital age has transformed how we consume sport, which has in turn shaped what the world of sports betting looks like today.
Access & Availability
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While we will all be aware of how easy it is to access the internet today, it is worth reminding ourselves how this has directly changed how we consume sport. A relatively short time ago, if we take the example of football, people would have to wait until a national channel broadcast highlights of the weekend’s games in order to be able to see what happened.
Fast forward to today and you can watch almost any game live from the comfort of your own home, or perhaps even more impressively, on your smartphone when you are on the go. Moreover, you can instantly access footage of a goal or important incident from any other live game moments after it happened.
This has in turn had a big impact on how people want to engage with sport when it comes to betting. Gone are the days when people are happy to go to a brick-and-mortar betting shop the day before a game in order to place a bet. For starters, this is not seen as a valuable use of time in the digital age. Secondly, people want to make sure they have the latest information before placing a bet. For example, individuals will often wait until the announcement of the teams before feeling comfortable in making their prediction.
The Public Know Best
Any successful industry will know that they need to take into account what the public actually wants. The lifestyle of digital natives is radically different to the generations that came before them. As alluded to above, digital natives want to be able to do things on their terms. When it comes to the world of sports betting, this is where the introduction of live bets has been crucial to bringing the sports betting industry into the 21st century.
Simply put, live bets are exactly what you think they are. A live bet is a bet placed on an ongoing sports game. In days gone by, odds would be announced and markets would be closed upon the beginning of a sporting event. However, the modern punter has demanded more from the world of betting. Individuals want to be able to place bets on ongoing games, with odds being updated on a minute by minute basis.
The Meeting of the Waters
Herein lies where the digital age and sports betting industry have embraced one another’s true potential. We are now blessed with such incredible access to the inner ongoings of the sporting world, whether it is in the form of interviews, statistics, or live games, that we have come to expect the same level of immediacy when we choose to bet on the outcome. The fact that the sports betting industry has embraced this rather than shy away from it should be hailed as an example of technology’s ability to transform how we interact with something.
The Bottom Line
Technology has and will continue to extend our ability as a species. When it comes to the world of entertainment, and this includes both sports coverage and sports betting, the potential for change is as great as we allow it to be. Whether it is on the pitch in the form of video technology, behind the scenes in the form of sports science, or in the stands in the form of sports betting, the possibility for continual improvement is breathtaking.
Sports betting, just like sports coverage, has never been more accessible or of such high quality. When it comes to living in the digital age, it is easy to forget just what we have at our fingertips. If you are a sports fan, take a moment for some reflection and remember just how lucky we all are to live in the age we do.
