Technological Innovation and the Impact on Live Sports and Betting in 2019 

Whilst the global technology market is segregated into a number of different sectors and niches, this space boasted a cumulative annual spend of over trillions in the year ending 2018.  

This is a truly incredible sum of money and the worldwide spend is only likely to increase as new technologies are developed, innovation accelerates, and people become more and more incentivized to embrace the sea change.  

Of course, new technology has proven to influence some niches and markets more than others. Technology is transforming healthcare and sport offers another relevant case in point.  

In this post, we’ll address precisely how technology has impacted on the world of sport, whilst asking whether this has been beneficial for fans or those who just like to partake in having a flutter on some sporting action.

The Impact on Gameplay – From Decision-making to Sporting Equipment 

On a fundamental level, technology has recently evolved to the point where it impacts directly on gameplay. 

This is certainly a topical issue in the sport of football at the moment, for example, which has seen ‘Video Assisted Referee’ (VAR) technology introduced. Whilst this has led to significant controversy, it has undoubtedly helping to inform the decisions made by on-field referees and proponents are quick to argue that it does provide a higher level of accuracy when it’s utilized for contentious calls. 

This technology is already commonplace in sports such as tennis, cricket and rugby, where major decisions can be reviewed either at the request of an on-field official or participating players. 

On a similar note, technological advancement has also improved the sportswear and equipment used by professional and amateur players alike. 

Take contemporary football boots, for example, which are designed with innovative and breathable materials that aid performance and each player’s touch. Specialist compression wear has also taken hold in a number of sports, minimizing excess moisture and improving athletic performance. 

Online, Mobile & Matched Betting 

Technology has also had a key impact on the way in which players interact with their favorite players and teams, from contemporary viewing methods to the rising prominence of virtual sports betting. 

The latter point is particularly interesting, as recent innovations have led to the development of live, in-play markets that allow sports fans to use technology such as sophisticated mobile apps to bet as live action unfolds. New phenomenons like matched betting, which utilizes software to help turn the odds in favor of sports punters, are attracting growing interest. 

In fact, with bookmaker brands investing heavily in their digital offerings, we’ve seen a transformation in the way sports fans use sports-based apps.In-play betting, a modern phenomenon which enables players to place live bets on a host of different and creative markets, are starting to feature heavily by brands like betandskill.com who publish weekend accumulator tips, for example. 

Additionally, as more and more of us embrace new innovations, and with attention spans constantly falling, features like this will create a generation of sports fans and bettors that are truly engaged because they can place a selection in seconds and see events unfold instantly. 

At the same time, technology has helped to connect sports fans to an incredibly diverse range of data sets, which in turn helps sports fans who like a punt to make more informed betting selections. 

Modern platforms and software programs allow online punters to intuitively track their account history, providing a fascinating insight into their activity and potentially informing future bankroll management. 

The Final Say

In many ways, these significant changes we’re witnessing represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the impact of technology in sports and sports betting. There’s no doubt that innovation has transformed many markets and for sport in particular, the introduction of new technology has given more power, and options, for fans, which can only be a good thing. 

If innovation in sectors like this continue to accelerate, and if more of us are incentivized to adopt new technology, we’re set for exciting times ahead.

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