Even as different jurisdictions impose stricter regulations to curb gambling activities, sports betting continues to evolve with technology. From betting on live games to streaming the gameplay on your mobile phones, sports bookies have visibly improved the user experience and payment options. However, as sportsbooks evolve, so does the sports and the industry around it.
Here are some potentially eccentric sports betting trends to keep your eyes on in 2021.
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Esports Betting
With FIFA announcing the inclusion of esports in the upcoming Qatar Worldcup, you can expect it to become a popular sport in the world in the next five years. The industry started reporting massive figures in revenue and sports viewership last year after the suspension of conventional sports, with Betway offering their customers wagering opportunities on the market. As such, eSports betting will only keep getting bigger in the coming years.
Last-Minute Betting
Different sports punters have different skill sets. Some are quick in making gambling decisions, and others need to take their time before making predictions and placing bets. As such, last-minute betting is a steadily growing trend in 2021, thanks to many punters that like to place their wager at the last minute.
Recent technological advancements and evolutions in sports betting have also made it easy for punters to embrace this trend. The Betway online sportsbook is a great example of how bookies adopt this concept to their existing systems, allowing you to wager on the last minute through mobile, PC, and other devices.
AI & Machine Learning
The idea of using machine learning and AI to predict the outcome of different sports events might seem impossible at first, but different stakeholders are already using the technology. Sportsbooks use machine learning algorithms to create the odds, which means a similar algorithm can be launched to compete with the bookies’ algorithm and win bets with low payouts. However, the bookies might limit the punters once they’ve achieved a fair amount of success frequently.
Micro Betting
This type of betting allows the punter to drill down further in a sporting event and predict a live in-play action with results delivered within a few seconds or minutes. However, that doesn’t mean wagering only small amounts of money or small events. For instance, a micro bet can potentially allow you to place on whether an NBA player will make his next 3PT shot or fail.
Technological advancements will support these types of bets in 2021, but machine learning and real-time technology are necessary. However, punters will be able to wager on increasingly large micro-events throughout the game once this trend becomes a reality across a large portion of the sports betting industry.
More Data
Professional bettors always take advantage of the available data. Fortunately, more and more data is available on the players, teams, and coaches, giving you more useful information like never before. Nonetheless, how you interpret and use that data goes a long way in ensuring that you place a winning bet, although the depth of information that the punters can get continues to grow.