When the US Supreme Court struck down a law that banned sports betting in most states nearly two years ago, the US sports betting landscape was changed forever. More than 20 years after most major sportsbook operators had already moved online, the United States finally opened the door to legal sports betting.
Implications of Supreme Court ruling
The implications of the ruling have yet to be fully realised but it is expected to be revealed over the next two or three years as each state introduces its own legislation to deal with sports wagering. But it is almost certain that we will see more in-stadium betting facilities appearing at major sports sites. And with projects like the Philadelphia Stadium Casino already underway and set to feature online sports betting facilities, it can only be a matter of time before we see similar establishments across the country.
Many betting companies already offer websites featuring a full range of casino games alongside sports betting to customers around the globe. For example, today, a customer who enjoys playing Betfair online blackjack can even place a sports wager from the same online account. New legislation in the USA would allow new and existing casinos to offer sports betting at either their physical sites or online.
The European model
These types of fully integrated online betting suites, that are currently available to customers in Europe and beyond, are expected to take off in the USA alongside in-stadium betting terminals – which many are predicting will roll out nationally before long.
The UK is one country where sports betting has grown significantly since regulations were changed more than a decade ago. Almost all forms of betting thrive in the UK, meaning a huge choice of online wagering sites, but also plenty of in-stadium betting options at football matches and horse racing events. There is a variation of specialist stadium providers, and many top venues including the new Wembley national stadium have betting booths on-site. However, these are currently closed during NFL matches at the request of the sport’s governing body.
Mobile betting
With mobile gambling sites becoming easier to access, it is inevitable that some kind of in-stadium betting will take place in the future as fans will be able to wager regardless. Mobile betting is virtually impossible to monitor, so it makes sense to allow punters to wager and collect their winnings on-site.
Stadiums of the future
What is certain, is that stadium owners are always looking for new ways to utilise technology at their venues to create a more immersive experience – and commercial platforms will undoubtedly want to be a part of this. Therefore, we could soon expect to see stadium apps that give live data about players and teams via augmented reality. This could also include live betting options via cryptocurrency and other payment methods, as well as the possibility that the apps could also act as tickets and direct fans to their seats. They could also have information about food and beverage options and even allow fans to order refreshments from their seats.
The modern stadium will utilzse technology for commercial gain and could transform the game experience as we know it. And betting is just one of many new revenue streams that are likely to be explored.