People are increasingly turning to online sports betting as a way to spend their leisure time. Whether at home or on the go, with live scores and data available on mobile devices, there’s no reason to ever miss a game. It’s exciting times for the sports betting industry as a whole!
There are many reasons why people might choose to engage in online sports betting. Perhaps they want to wager on the games they love most, but are unable to do so in person due to location constraints or finances. Or maybe they feel that the sport they love most is underrepresented in the sportsbooks they frequent, and they want to help correct that by placing wagers on the game they feel deserves it most. Regardless of why you might want to engage in online sports betting, the fact remains that it’s becoming an increasingly attractive option for people who want to engage in this type of activity.
The Growth Of Online Sports Betting
According to a study by the American Gaming Association, 12.7 million American adults between the ages of 18 and 34 visited a sportsbook site in 2018. That’s roughly 1 out of every 10 adults in the country!
Additionally, 16.1 million American adults between the ages of 35 and 44 said they visited a sportsbook site in 2018. In other words, 1 out of every 6 adults in this country visited a sportsbook site in 2018. This is a significant increase from the 8.2 million Americans who visited a sportsbook site in 2017 and the 5.8 million who did the same in 2016.
These are just stats about what happened in 2018. It’s interesting to look at how the market has evolved over the past several years.
Why Choose Online Sports Betting Over Traditional Bookmaking
It’s clear that the majority of Americans who bet now do so online. According to the AGA study, 88% of American adults between 18 and 34 said they placed a bet online in 2018. That’s compared to just 2% who said they placed a bet on their travels. So essentially, the majority of bets are now placed online. How has this evolved?
It used to be that people would travel to a bookmakers’ office and place a bet. Now they can do the same from the comfort of their homes. And the convenience is certainly there. You don’t have to search for a nearby bookmaker as you would if you were traveling, and there’s no worrying about whether or not you’re in the right place. If you’ve ever visited a sportsbook site, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say the difference is noticeable.
Additionally, with the spread on online betting sites becoming more and more appealing, it’s no surprise that people are turning to online betting. Back in 2012, the spread was around 3:1. Nowadays it’s closer to 6:1 or even 7:1, meaning there’s more money to be made (from a wagers perspective).
The Growth Of Mobile Sports Betting
Online sports betting isn’t limited to desktop computers and mobile phones. It has now firmly established itself on tablets and other mobile devices. In fact, in 2018 66% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 said they used a mobile device to place a wager. That’s compared to just 4% who said they used a desktop computer and 14% who said they used a tablet. What’s interesting is that tablet use increased by 19% in 2018 and mobile phone use increased by 17%.
The Evolution Of Gambling
It’s important to put online sports betting in its proper frame. It’s not necessarily a form of gambling, but rather it’s a leisure activity that some people choose to engage in while also enjoying the fruits of their labor. It’s important to keep in mind that only 5% of adults between 18 and 34 said they had participated in a wagering activity in the past, but they strongly favored betting on sports over other forms of gambling.
Additionally, only 24% of adults in this age group said they had never gambled in their life, but they were strongly inclined to try out new things now that they’ve been exposed to online sports betting. It’s clear that the line separating gambling from non-gambling has become blurred through the growth of online sports betting.
More Ways To Engage In Online Sports Betting
People who engage in online sports betting now have more ways than ever to do so. Whether through a traditional bookmaker’s website or through an online casino, there are ample opportunities to place a wager.
Additionally, online sportsbooks are trying to increase their user base by offering more than one way to bet. Some of the more popular online sportsbooks will even let you place bets on your mobile device. This can be convenient for people on the go who want to place a bet while also having access to their favorite games.
A huge part of the appeal of online sports betting is that it offers a relatively anonymous experience. You don’t have to disclose your identity to place a wager. Additionally, there’s no reason to fear that your sportsbook will contact you to ask you for money as there’s no face-to-face contact. People like that the convenience and the fact that it’s a leisure activity that allows them to socialize with friends while also enjoying themselves.
The Next Big Thing In Sports
It’s clear that online sports betting isn’t going anywhere, as more and more people are choosing to engage in this activity. What’s interesting is that more and more people are choosing to place their wagers on the next big thing in sports rather than on repeat performances. In 2018, only 16% of adults said they bet on the outcome of previously played games, but 66% said they placed wagers on the next big thing. In other words, people are increasingly inclined to take a punt on the next big thing rather than try to guess the results of what they’ve already seen.
This might be due to the fact that people are remembering more things now or that they’re becoming more analytical while also seeking convenience. Whatever it might be, it’s interesting to see that the popularity of online sports betting is increasing even as more and more people are getting exposed to the idea through social media.