Online sports betting has exploded across the US, creating a multi-billion-dollar industry in a matter of years. While not all states have legalized sports betting since the 2018 Supreme Court decision, many have, and it’s led to a booming industry that is also highly competitive.
While platforms will distinguish themselves in different ways, one of the best bellwethers for a top sports betting platform is its iOS or Android app. There is plenty to think about before installing it on your phone, but we have broken it down into seven important areas:
Competitive Odds for Your Favorite Sports
This is something of a no-brainer, yet it might be a bit more complicated than you think. Some sports betting apps will specialize in different sports, offering, for example, the best NBA odds. Yet, they might fall down in other sports, so it’s worth doing the research on your favorite sports first. Moreover, keep an eye on sportsbooks that offer boosted odds and promos around your favorite sports.
Reliability and UX
We will lump both these aspects together, as they do tend to complement each other. By reliability, we mean an app that runs smoothly on your phone, doesn’t crash when streaming live sports or playing casino games, and doesn’t feel buggy. UX is all about how it feels. It shouldn’t look overwhelming, with streams of betting lines. The app should use smart compartmentalization to organize all the different sports and markets.
Gamification Elements
This is a relatively new concept, tying in gamification to the user experience on the app. So, what do we mean by that? Basically, anything that does not tie into the usual sports betting. It could be tournaments, prediction games, leaderboards, and other competitions. Beyond the aspect of winning prizes, it’s always a good sign that the sportsbook operator is thinking outside the box, offering users something different.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rWOK5NxmYUk?si=x4i44FSBfMj9uK7z" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Promos, Bonuses and Boosts
Another fairly obvious one, but it is also an area that should be scrutinized. For a start, don’t be attracted by the welcome promo alone – if you can get a good one, that’s great – but you will also want a sports betting app that has a good track record in rewarding existing and loyal customers with bonuses, free bets and boosted odds on your favorite sports. Thus, do a little research beyond the headline welcome offer.
Seamless Live Betting
This is definitely an overlooked fact. Live betting on sports games is basically ubiquitous now, but not all sports betting apps are created equal in this respect. You want it to be seamless, with no market blackouts during the game. Ideally, you also want an app that shows games live too. You aren’t going to get every event, but the extent of live games shown on betting apps may surprise you.
Cash-Out Functionality
Cashing out bets is now as much a part of the strategy as perusing the game lines. The idea of a cash-out is that you can take a profit or a loss before the event ends. So, for example, if you backed a basketball team to win and it is, indeed, winning a tight game, you might want to cash out for a profit in case the opponent mounts a late comeback. Top sports betting apps will offer cash-out options for the vast majority of markets.
Customer Support
Finally, there is the underrated element of customer support, just in case something does go wrong. Ideally, you will want a live chat functionality manned by a human rather than AI bot. It’s also worth mentioning here that fully licensed sportsbooks tend to have better customer support than unlicensed brands. It is far more advantageous to choose the former than the later, as the protections offered go way beyond customer service.
