The Softswiss crew, who provide sports betting software, shared their observations from the previous year.
Softswiss emphasized the patterns in sports betting for the upcoming year. During the last three years, football, tennis, and basketball have remained the top three most wagered-on sports, with no change in their positions. In contrast, esports has shown a steady upward trend, moving from seventh place in 2021 to fourth in 2023. Notably, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive emerged as a standout, ranking sixth among the top ten most wagered-on disciplines.
Commenting on these discoveries, Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of Sports Betting at Softswiss, stated: “Considering the rise of esports, we guide our partners to focus on cyber disciplines, attracting audiences beyond the traditional betting group. Newzoo’s report predicts that esports viewership will reach 640 million by 2025, highlighting the potential of esports for operators.”
Mobile devices drive 92% of operator revenue. Another noteworthy pattern in sports betting is the consistent growth of betting from mobile devices over the years. According to Softswiss sports betting data, 80% of bets were placed via mobile devices in 2023, compared to 70% in 2022 and 68% in 2021.
This inclination is solidifying as gamers increasingly prefer the ease of mobile gadgets, particularly for live wagering. More significantly, mobile devices contribute 92% of operators’ gross gaming income.
Kamenetsky added: “Mobile wagering is one of our key product development focuses. We’ve invested heavily in enhancing our mobile applications and mobile website. This is particularly important for regions facing network connectivity difficulties, as well as areas like Latin America and Africa where internet coverage is still expanding.”
Casino turnover experiences a decline during major sporting events.
The Softswiss sports betting team has repeatedly emphasized the change in player behavior during major sporting events. Specifically, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, online casino turnover fell by 10% to 20%. This highlights a dynamic where a substantial portion of casino players shift their attention to sports betting based on seasonal patterns. Given the audience’s preferences, expanding casinos with sports betting is a logical step.
Kamenetsky stated: “This pattern underscores the strategic necessity for iGaming stakeholders to recognize the synergy between casino operations and sports betting. Combining these options not only enhances the appeal of casinos but also keeps players involved, particularly during sporting events. In this context, it’s worth noting that Softswiss sports betting is compatible with any casino platform available.”
Moreover, the Softswiss sports betting crew has observed that other tendencies, like regulation and accountable gaming, are gaining traction, as emphasized in the 2024 iGaming Trends Report published by Softswiss.
Sign up for the iGaming newsletter.