From Live Streaming to Bet Builders: Exploring Innovative Features in Sports Betting Sites
The world of online sports betting is undeniably bigger than ever. One of the factors contributing to this significant growth is the emergence of several innovative features in sports betting sites today. From live streaming and in-play betting to bet builders, there are many valuable features that punters today will find in any online sportsbook.
Thanks to these features, modern sports betting is no longer just about odds, stakes, and payouts. It has evolved into a more dynamic and interactive experience. And the kicker is that these features also encourage smart betting and can help improve punters' chances of winning.
This article will explore some of these innovations and how they are revolutionizing the sports betting experience. Let’s dive right in!
Live Betting
Live betting is undeniably one of the best innovations to enter the sports betting scene. Before its emergence, punters could only place bets on games before they started, known as pre-match wagers.
However, the live betting changed the game. With this feature, bettors can bet on live sports events as the games unfold. A unique thing to note is that, unlike the fixed odds of pre-match wagers, the odds available for live betting are dynamic and typically fluctuate based on what’s happening during a game.
For example, a game between Manchester City and Southampton kicked off, with the former being the favorite with odds of 1.20. Now, should Southampton score the first goal, the odds on them will get significantly longer and can even go as high as 2.50. Depending on how the game unfolds, these odds will keep changing till the end of the game. A punter can join the action at any moment they think is favorable for a positive outcome and bigger payout.
Overall, live betting places punters right in the middle of the action, offering a more engaging and exciting experience.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is another exciting, impactful innovation that emerged in the online betting scene. This feature allows bettors to watch sports games and events directly from within their sports betting sites. This means they no longer need to rely on external platforms to stream and follow the games they bet on.
A major upside to the live streaming feature is that it enhances the live betting experience. For instance, live cricket bettors can easily watch games unfold in real-time directly on their preferred online cricket bet sites as they wager on different outcomes. This allows punters to make faster and more informed betting decisions as they don't need to leave the bookmaker searching for real-time updates elsewhere.
However, the downside is that not all bookmakers widely offer live streaming. It’s only available on some of the best sports betting sites.
Cashout Feature
Generally, online sports betting used to be an all-or-nothing game. Once you put in your stake, the bet will only settle as a total win or loss when the event concludes. What changed this status quo was the emergence of the game-changing cashout feature.
This feature allows bettors to settle their wagers early before an event concludes in exchange for a reduced payout. For example, let’s say you backed Barcelona to beat Villareal during a La Liga football game. Now, by the 80th minute, with the game being at a 2-2 draw, Barcelona’s Lewandowski gets a red card. In such a situation, you can use the cashout feature to cut your loss and secure some of your stake if you are no longer sure your team can turn things around. On the other hand, if Barca were leading 2-1 by the 80th minute but you felt the game might take a turn, you could also use the feature to lock in a partial profit.
Essentially, the cashout feature helps bettors manage the risk involved in sports betting. It allows them to pull out of wagers that no longer look promising to secure some profit or minimize potential losses.
Bet Builder
Bet Builder is an innovative tool offered by many major sports betting sites. This feature allows punters to create custom wagers by combining multiple selections from within the same event. For example, in a football game between Arsenal and Chelsea, you can combine “Arsenal to win,” “Arsenal to win 2-1,” “Over 2.5 goals,” “Over 4.5 cards,” “Both teams to score,” etc., into a single wager.
What makes the bet builder feature unique is that sportsbooks generally don’t allow the combination of wagers whose outcome affects one another, known as the “related contingencies.” However, with the bet builder, bettors can tailor their wagers to their specific preferences.
Responsible Gambling Tools
With the rise of online sports betting, promoting responsible gambling has become a top priority. Responsible gambling tools are features that bookmakers provide to address the problem of compulsive gambling by helping players avoid overspending and reckless gameplay. A typical example of such a tool is the deposit limit feature, which allows players to set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on the maximum amount of money they can deposit.
Other responsible gambling features in sportsbooks include:
- Reality checks
- Time-outs and cool-off period
- Wagering/loss limits
- Session limits
- Self-exclusion
Closing Thoughts
From live streaming to live betting, early cashouts, bet builders, and responsible gambling tools, many features have emerged in the sports betting industry over the years. These innovations not only enhance the betting experience but also help punters bet smarter. And as technology advances, we expect to see even more impactful features burst onto the scene.