Betting platforms are the place where sports and excitement meet. They give people a great chance to cheer and bet on their favorite teams without leaving the comforts of their houses.
Now that the world is as mobile and interconnected as ever, sports fans have access to myriads of games on the screens of their smartphones.
In the Kenyan market, there is a fair number of betting companies from top-level online sportsbooks. Not only in the website form but also as convenient applications you can easily get on your device. For instance, the
Betsafe Kenya app download process is fairly simple, and the other bookies follow suit.
But has the sports industry benefited from the proliferation of betting apps? Let's find it out in this article.
A Few Words About Betting
Making bets is in human DNA. So no wonder bookmakers have tons of followers these days.
Sports gambling gives a whole gamut of feelings; while watching sports games and waiting for the outcome, punters can experience any emotion, from joy to disappointment.
However, a significant portion of prejudice has always surrounded betting, which is still considered immoral and unacceptable in some countries, such as Brunei and Qatar.
Without a doubt, wagering continues to be subject to numerous disputes. We can forever discuss its positive and negative sides, finding multiple pros and cons.
Indeed, a negative impact can be found in almost anything, and at the end of the day, every pursuit should be approached soberly and responsibly. That is why all reputable betting websites stick to responsible gaming.
Most modern society considers sports gambling a perfectly legal and conventional way of spending time, giving both moral and material satisfaction.
What Exactly Does Sports Betting Offer?
After going online, bookmakers have gained a genuinely colossal audience. So today, the number of bettors in Africa exceeds 10 million.
The sportsbooks' functionality differs from site to site, but most have some basic offerings. Let's take a quick tour of the features and options commonly provided by betting platforms.
Sport Categories
When offering sports, bookmakers are guided primarily by users' preferences in a given location. For example, football, or soccer, is the number one sport in Africa as well as the entire world. For this very reason, it's a must-have for every online bookie.
The complete list of sports categories may contain, but is not limited to:
- Football
- Basketball
- Rugby
- Cricket
- Tennis
- Baseball
- Handball
- Ice Hockey
- Volleyball
- Table tennis
- Golf
- Horse racing
Betting Options
There are various bets as well as criteria by which they differ from one another. Therefore, bettors-to-be must study betting options inside out to know their opportunities and restrictions.
For example, players can bet on the game before it starts or place stakes during the sporting event—live or in-play betting. The other wagering options include:
- Moneyline
- Prop bets
- Handicap bets
- Accumulator
- Totals
Incentive Programs
Betting platforms try to encourage their customers through diverse incentive programs constantly. These might be promotions and special offers for either first-timers or loyal customers.
The range of perks embraces:
- Sign-up bonus
- Free bets
- Cashback
- Deposit bonus
Safety Precautions
Customer safety is the highest priority for respected bookmakers, so they must take all precautions not to lose followers and reputation.
So what do betting sites do to avoid legal problems and secure the play?
- Obtain licenses from authorized bodies
- Set age limits for players
- Commit to responsible gaming
- Use encryption technologies
Does the Sport Industry Benefit From Betting?
Here we come to the crucial part of this article.
Online sportsbooks cater to punters' needs and make enormous profits themselves. But how about the sports industry? Does it have any profits from betting?
The short answer is yes, it has. The reasoning is below.
Popularizing Sports
Beyond all doubt, bookmakers have made a massive contribution to popularizing sports. Bettors are not necessarily sports fans from the beginning but become just that once they come to the platform.
A similar story is about gamblers. A lot of casino lovers take a fancy to sports that frequently reside side by side with the casino tab on a betting site.
Being a successful bettor implies a thorough knowledge of the sporting game that is bet on. Thus, bookies inspire people to learn the rules, league structure, and other nuances of different sports.
Increasing Profits
Online sportsbooks attract not only followers but also big money to the sports industry.
More and more betting companies are giving tremendous financial support to sports teams by becoming their sponsors. This is of prime importance for teams from minor leagues and lower divisions as it helps them stay afloat. For many professional athletes, it's a chance to do what they love.
Sports clubs and leagues are the clear beneficiaries of legitimate betting platforms that increase fanbase and bring huge profits from live match broadcasts and advertising.
Are There Any Negative Aspects?
In any business, unfair practices may have negative consequences. Thus, the temptation to win big on betting can give rise to match-fixing incidents, which are disastrous for the industry.
It is essential that sports leaders and bookmakers work together to ensure that the principle of fair play is observed.
Final Thoughts
Today, online betting is a popular and profitable activity for millions of people across the globe.
Besides pursuing their business goals, betting companies help the sports industry as much as possible. Bookies actively promote sports and heavily invest in them.
After all, cooperation between sportsbooks and the sport industry can be efficient and rewarding for both sides.