Once a niche sector, the sports betting industry is advancing significantly in 2025. Recent reports by Grand View Research estimate that the global market will hit over $187 billion by 2030, up from $100.9 billion in 2024. Of course, one of the primary contributing factors to this growth is how bookmakers are turning to tech advances to improve punters’ experiences.
And you may be surprised to learn that this practice is still common even in regions with tight regulations. Take sports betting in Texas, for instance. Can you believe that, according to Fox Business, the state could generate up to $360 million in tax revenue by legalizing this practice?
These approximations are so because bettors in this region often turn to offshore sportsbooks to engage. Offshore platforms generally operate outside the legal jurisdiction of the country where the bettor resides. Unlike their regulated counterparts, these platforms tend to be more adaptive to contemporary tech changes, which allows them to provide more customer-focused experiences that keep punters returning.
Mobile-first is the new rule
According to Digital Silk, about 64% of the global internet traffic comes from mobile devices, while desktop accounts for only about 35%. This is a clear picture of how people are turning to mobile phones to do things they would otherwise have done using desktops. In the wagering sector, over 80% of the practice now happens on smartphones in most regions.
As if that’s not enough, studies show that more than 96% of internet users use these devices online. For any forward-thinking brand, ignoring such a trend is a no-go zone. Do you know that not tailoring your websites for mobile usage risks losing up to 61% of customers who may never return to mobile-unfriendly platforms? Many betting companies are familiar with these consequences, explaining why most have adopted responsive designs.
Responsive designs allow seamless access on mobile devices because they use flexible layouts to create websites that automatically adjust to fit different screen sizes. They eliminate the need to keep pinching or zooming clunky websites. Given that responsive platforms can be excellent marketing tools, 2025 wagering companies are using them to improve conversions and retention rates.
Progressive web apps (PWAs) have also become the standard. These apps don’t need to be downloaded but behave like native apps—smooth, reliable and fast. As a result, PWAs eliminate the need for app store downloads and updates, making them more convenient for users and potentially reducing development and maintenance costs for bookmakers.
Enhanced security without slowing you down
With cyberattacks becoming prevalent, ensuring proper online security is non-negotiable. Exploding Topics recently reported that over 600 million cyberattacks are launched daily. In the sports betting industry, things are no different; more than 50% of online platforms recently reported experiencing attacks.
This is why more punters have become security-conscious. Most of them will often examine platforms to check whether they are secure before signing up to place wagers on their favorite teams. That’s why almost every company in this sector is tightening security measures to avoid missing out on this population.
2FA, for instance, can improve security by reducing exposure to almost 100% of targeted attacks. It does this by requiring punters to provide a second layer of verification besides the usual password credentials. Other infrastructures, like SSL encryption, help in protecting online communications between servers and browsers from malicious actors.
But as much as these methods improve online security, they shouldn’t compromise user experience. Remember, the way bettors feel about your brand greatly determines whether they will return. So, you don’t want them to keep typing long passwords to sign in. Features like fingerprint scans or facial recognition taps ensure the log-in process is seamless, which keeps punters more engaged and connected.
Personalizing the experience to keep punters engaged for a long time
Suppose you prefer placing wagers on local sports like the NBA Summer League. It would not make sense to have your homepage flooded with international options that you may never bet on. Such experiences can be disappointing and cause many bettors to abandon a platform. According to SuperOffice CRM, more than six in ten customers claim they will stop transacting with brands that are poor at personalization.
In another study by Contentful, 76% of users cited a lack of personalization as a major cause of frustration. Bettors want to feel known and understood. They don’t just want to visit an online sportsbook only to find generic offers. This is why you may have noticed most bookmakers tailoring everything from betting odds to bonus offers to how each gambler plays. Besides the odds and promos, bookmakers also integrate customisable user interfaces, allowing users to switch between dark and light themes to improve visual comfort.
And as simple as this approach may seem, it actually has mind-blowing results. According to WiserNotify, brands that personalize experiences effectively can increase retention rates by 44%. Personalization also increases conversion rates by 20%, which significantly reduces customer acquisition costs.
Given the gambling industry’s heightened competition, the 2025 sportsbooks are turning to more tried and tested methods to improve their edge. Perhaps the most exciting part is how these methods align with shifting user preferences, ensuring bettors receive more customer-focused encounters. For instance, responsive design eliminates the pressure of worrying about pinching or zooming clunky, traditional websites, allowing seamless mobile betting.
