The Growth of Online Football Betting: What it Means for Fans and the Industry

With major matches of the Premier League, EFL, and Uefa Europa League, happening this spring football stays in the spotlight and provides plenty of opportunities for fans to enjoy the top-flight action. Among the many ways football enthusiasts engage with their favourite events, online betting has emerged as an intriguing option, offering both new and professional punters to benefit of their thorough knowledge of the line-ups and correct predictions.

The Growth of Online Football Betting

Remote football betting has seen remarkable growth over the last decade, and the trend remains unchanged. As more fans choose to place their bets online, several factors contributing to this growth can be singled out:

Convenience: With sleek websites and mobile apps, online football betting provides a convenient way for fans to engage with the sport and place bets without having to leave their homes.

Variety: Online football betting platforms offer a wider coverage of leagues and events than traditional brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. Moreover, live options for betting are represented mainly on online sportsbooks.

Promotions and bonuses: The marketing efforts that top players on the market undertake are massive, so both new and loyal bettors are showered with free bets, accumulator insurances, and odds boosts that can make a difference in their profits.

What It Means for the Industry

The rise of online bookmakers has brought about significant changes to the betting industry and the world of football. As online betting sites continue to gain more popularity — not least thanks to the mobile audience — traditional brick-and-mortar sportsbooks are finding it increasingly difficult to compete and have had to offer more competitive odds in order to remain relevant. 

On the other hand, football clubs are also taking advantage of the growing trend by collaborating with betting companies that decide to go online. An example of such a partnership is the record-breaking contract renewal signed by West Ham United in 2019 with Betway as their primary sponsor. This deal includes branding on team shirts and throughout their stadium, providing a major source of revenue for the club. Other active collaborators in the industry include Dafabet and Sportsbet.io, who have recently extended their partnerships with Bournemouth and Southampton into 2024.

Overall, online betting has created plenty of opportunities for fans to add to the thrill of the game by adding real money into the equation. Sure enough, bookies have existed for decades. What these new platforms did is bring global matches closer with live streaming and in-play sections while allowing fans to capitalise on their in-depth expertise with niche markets like the number of corners in a game or the number of yellow cards a team receives. With the continuous advancement of technology and the ever-increasing popularity of online football betting, it is likely that this industry will continue to grow, innovate, and offer new opportunities for fans to engage with their favourite sport.