How to Keep Your Customers Engaged: A Guide for Inspiring Bookies
The sports betting industry is bigger than ever with leagues, franchises, players, and networks alike partnering with sportsbooks. In 2022, the sports betting industry was valued at around $235.46 billion and that number has only continued to rise. Data has shown that around 30% of those aged 18-34, 25% aged 35-49, 25% aged 50-64, and 20% aged 65 and older were involved in sports betting in 2023. These numbers will only get higher the longer the industry remains in the mainstream. There is no such thing as a perfect sportsbook, so now is the perfect time to plan out some strategies that will make you stand out amongst your competitors and create a more interactive and immersive platform for bettors.
Interactive Betting Features
There are countless ways to make your sportsbook more interactive. However, the most popular out there currently are live betting / in-play betting, and prop bets that will keep bettors engaged even in huge blowouts.
Live Betting / In-Play Betting
The ability to bet after the event is ongoing. An example of this would be being able to bet on the money line or spread of a football game after the opening kickoff. While you will want to make sure to lock this feature if a game gets too out of hand, live betting is a great way to keep your customers engaged.
Another feature of live betting that some customers may prefer is in-play bets. Keeping with the football examples, it allows bettors to place wagers on the outcome of a drive or even the next play. Having an efficient settlement system is integral for interactive features like live and in-play betting to work. If a bettor hits on their first bet during a game, they are much more apt to continue betting throughout the remainder of the match.
Prop Bets
Prop bets are the perfect way for your sportsbook to cash in on the prevalence of fantasy sports in the industry. They are a side wager that may not even have anything to do with the final outcome of the game. Whether it be a star quarterback reaching a certain amount of passing yards or even a team recording a safety, prop bets are an incredible way to keep viewers engaged until the final seconds of a contest.
Gamification
Another way of keeping your customers engaged is through the gamification of the gambling process. Some great ways of doing this are through leaderboards, achievements, or rewards.
Leaderboards
Most leaderboards allow bettors to earn points based on the amount wagered and award those who place high on the leaderboards. Allowing bettors to keep track of where they place on the leaderboard will keep them more engaged to hold onto their top spot.
Achievements
Achievements are typically ways that bettors can gain a cash bonus. Whether these achievements are given for reaching certain betting milestones or betting on certain games is completely up to you but these milestones keep bettors engaged to reach the next achievement.
Rewards
Rewards are an incredible way of keeping your bettors engaged. These are typically given out before big sporting events like the opening week of the NFL, the NBA Playoffs, or March Madness.
Social Betting
Social betting has become one of the more important features of a successful sportsbook. Allowing customers to share their bets and wins will get more eyes on your sportsbook. Along with this, some sites have begun to add the feature of betting groups where bettors can compete against their friends. This is a unique feature that gives online sportsbooks the upper hand over even in-person casinos and something that should be utilized.
Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs are an incredible way of showing your bettors that you value their business and value them as customers. Good bonuses and loyalty programs will make you someone’s preferred sportsbook for life. The most common example of loyalty programs used across the industry includes a tiered system that requires bettors to wager a certain amount each month to retain their status and the benefits of their tier. However, for this to work well for both sides the rewards need to be worthwhile for your bettors. Some of these rewards could be free entries into certain contests or even free bets. These programs will keep your customers coming back to your sportsbook and choosing them over competitors.
Final Words
The customer base of sports betting is out there and hungry for a sportsbook that meets all of their needs. If you follow our steps to keep them engaged, you will be well suited to beat out the competition and dominate the industry.
Opt for LSports for Premier Sports Data Solutions
If you’re looking to enhance your sportsbook and harness the vast opportunities in the online betting industry, LSports is ready to be your partner.
Let’s discuss how our sports betting data solutions can propel your business to new heights and increase your customers engagement. Together, we can create something that gets people talking.