Working for an Australian company can make it difficult to be a die-hard NFL fan. Making matters worse is that most of my American colleagues are in Boston, a true nightmare for someone born and raised in New Jersey. The only thing I have to hold over their heads is that I can legally bet online (I’m taking Kansas City).
We’re moments away from the Super Bowl. Along with being one of the world’s biggest sporting events, it is historically one of the largest days in sports betting. But this year is different. With lockdowns still in place, bettors cannot easily place their wagers in person. As a result, online betting for Super Bowl LV is going to make history. American Gambling Association (AGA) expects a record of 7.6 million Americans will bet with online sportsbooks this year, which is up a staggering 63 percent year-over-year. This record-breaking rise in online betting places sportsbooks and bettors in an exceptionally unique position to make an enormous profit or suffer major losses.
But they are not the only ones that are making big bets on the big game. What may not be so obvious are the bad actors that will attempt to capitalize on this upcoming online event. Where opportunity is, cybercriminals follow, and they are placing their bets on bots to automate fraud. More than ever, sportsbooks need to ensure that their online channels’ infrastructure can handle the influx of users and fortify their defenses against cybercriminals.
First Time Customers Make Snap Judgements
On high volume days like the Super Bowl, sportsbooks need to keep user accounts safe and secure, while also maintaining an optimal user experience to ensure that new customers become lifelong users to maximize customer loyalty and revenue.
This year’s massive (more than double) increase in online betting means that many people will be using betting sites or apps for the first time. According to a study by LendingTree, more than half of Americans say that they’ll bet on this year’s game, and 43% of betters will wager at least $100. As a sports betting site, providing first time online bettors with an exceptional experience will encourage users to continue using your services in the future. Serving the real humans looking to bet on the game — rather than serving bots trying to game the site — is imperative.
