Sports Betting Software Development: 5-Step Guide
Businesses of all sizes are turning their attention toward sports betting software development in hopes of making a profit from this rapidly growing industry. However, in order to build solid software, one must be well-versed in the process of design and development. For this reason, we put together our guide.
Successfully created sports betting software can yield major positive results for a gambling vendor. A well-built platform can provide a compelling experience for users to participate in various sports matches wagering. Thus drawing them in to use your solution and spread the good word about it.
In this article, we want to share with you a common process of sports betting website development, as well as give you some ideas about features and functionalities that should be present in a robust system. That way, you can have better awareness about the steps you must take.
What is betting software development?
The development of software for a betting business entails the creation of a software system for a platform associated with wagering money on various sports events. Working with professional software providers can enable businesses to conduct betting-related operations with a high degree of security and efficiency.
A piqued interest in the betting industry can be attributed to a changing mindset surrounding the gambling niche. With many regions, like the US, making sports betting legal for their citizens, merchants and traders are looking to get involved with the development of their own iGaming solutions.
The potential of this industry is evident through significant market growth over the past decade, and it shows no signs of slowing down in the coming years. A diverse range of sports events also plays a factor in the amplified involvement.
The variety of sports that users bet on is astonishing, and the popularity of each gaming event also differs. In fact, as a study from 2023 shows, the most popular sport to bet on in the United States is basketball, with a staggering 52.7% of respondents stating it as their sport of choice. Coming in as a close second is soccer with 51.2%, while at the last place sits mixed martial arts at 8.2%.
The most preferred sports to bet.
Still, a tougher entry point for this industry makes it an undertaking that requires a lot of consideration, as well as strategic planning to make the right decisions regarding development. Partnering with sports betting software providers that have expertise in this particular field becomes essential to ensuring the platform adheres to the market standards and performs as intended.
On top of that, business owners must take into account the process of obtaining proper licensing and permissions to conduct operations. Hence, it may come as a surprise that many startups consider the benefits to outweigh the complexities. So, if you are one of them, we are here to tell you what the software development process for a betting platform is going to look like.
Sports betting software development in 5 steps
The development of sports betting solutions is a common practice that many software providers offer as a service However, the challenging part about this process is having insights into the peculiarities of the industry. Partnering with a team that has knowledge of the niche and experience in developing similar projects can ensure you receive a final product that complies with regulations.
A typical process of sports betting website development can be broken down into five basic steps. Keep in mind that the stages may differ depending on your specific project requirements. Below, we will go over the main steps that you can expect to take during the process of developing your own software from the ground up.
Step 1: Assessment of needs
The beginning of every project entails an in-depth analysis of the requirements and business objectives to create a viable plan for a sports betting software development company. First, you need to gather a list of requirements and consult with your development team on whether or not these goals are feasible and achievable.
Some main requirements to create viable plan.
As part of your assessment, you will look into the current state of the market and compile a list of your primary and secondary competitors for examination. That way, you can analyze the advantages that attract users and points where they can enhance their operations. It allows you to gain a competitive edge by understanding what’s in demand and filling up the areas for improvement.
Another major factor in how to create a betting website is getting to know your target audience. In order to build a successful solution, it must resonate with the needs and expectations of the primary users. Understanding what the bettors want can help you design and develop your software, as well as plan out your marketing efforts accordingly.
Step 2: UI and UX design
With all requirements agreed upon, the next stage of the process will go toward design. Generally, the design of software can be separated into two parts: user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. While these processes are intertwined, they are conceptually different.
UX design stands for the usability side of the platform, while UI design makes it eye-catching.
UI design focuses on creating the visual elements of the pages and screens, encompassing everything a user can see with the naked eye. During this step, you and the design team will settle on the selected styles, color schemes, icons, fonts, and other areas of the overall appearance of the software. Additionally, designers can create wireframes and mockups that serve as two-dimensional representations of what the final result will look like.
The UX design portion is centered around creating an experience of using software that is seamless and user-friendly. This means building the information architecture that details content distribution on the given page. Creating a layout that is usable and easily understood by the bettors will also be a part of this step. The finished software design will contain a design system that works and looks great.
Step 3: Software development
Once the design is agreed upon, the next step goes into the hands of sports betting software developers. The iGaming software providers of your choice will decide on the right technology stack and programming languages to build software that corresponds to the established requirements. Generally, development is divided into two categories: front end and back end.
Programming languages for betting app development.
Front end specialists work on implementing the design of the software based on the specifications established in the previous stage. Developers write the code for the software’s visual and interactive aspects that the users can see, which is basically “at the front”.
Betting software developers who work on the back end build all of the features and functionality to ensure users can interact with the platform without issues. Their job involves server-side functions, like data processing, encryption, API integrations, and more. Essentially, they build and maintain the software to make sure it accomplishes its main functions.
Step 4: Testing and deployment
Before you can release the final software to the public, your platform must undergo one last crucial step, which is called quality assurance (QA) testing. This incorporates many different kinds of tests that can be conducted to check the quality of the code that was written, like unit testing, security testing, user acceptance testing, etc.
Main types of QA testing.
With such tests, QA engineers are able to identify and eliminate any faults in the code that interfere with the proper functioning of the software. It is highly important to check that your platform performs as intended before making it available to your audience.
Once you verify that your software is bug-free, stable, and ready to be launched, you can begin preparing for going live. At this step, your platform is deployed to the production environment, where it is available for bettors to use. While this step can be considered conclusive in the sports betting software development life cycle, there are still aspects you need to account for.
Step 5: Support and maintenance
Finally, your software is launched, and players are free to use your platform. However, the journey doesn’t end there since your software has to be maintained through the years. Ongoing maintenance is necessary in case any issues or problems arise so your support team can respond to them promptly.
Support and maintenance.
Ensuring your software remains secure for bettors to use is highly important as well. Data breaches are not a rarity, hence, it’s your responsibility to address such events and fix them as soon as possible.
Additionally, you might want to implement any updates or changes to the features or betting design of your platform. After all, as consumer demands and trends evolve over time, you should be quick to adapt to the new market standards and user preferences in order to stay afloat.
Must-have features for sports betting software
Based on your business objectives, you may implement certain features into your betting software. However, a few of the functionalities are essential to the proper operation of the platform.
Main features for sports betting software.
We put together six features that are, by and large, present in most sports betting solutions. Here is what they are:
Variety of sports.
An appealing betting platform must be able to offer users a wide range of diverse sports to bet money on. Promoting seasonal sports is also a great way to drive interest in your software. For example, during the NFL regular season, the research at Variety suggests that a stunning 72% of NFL fans make bets weekly. So be sure to cater to as many sports fans as you can.
Payment processing.
A necessary functionality for betting software is the processing of payment methods. Bettors must be able to wager money, withdraw, and receive payouts without issues. If they find that making payments with your software is difficult, requires many steps, or worse, is not completely secure, they won’t hesitate to leave to another provider.
In addition, you should consider implementing a cryptocurrency payment system. Since many bettors nowadays prefer to indulge in gambling using digital currencies, you would be missing out on a large portion of users. Think about allowing options for some of the most popular cryptos like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Live streaming events.
A feature that was once a rare find is now being introduced in many leading softwares. No wonder, since broadcasting live gaming events is advantageous for both parties.
For the users, it increases the competitive edge and plays into the thrill of the rush. For the gambling provider, it acts as a way to increase revenue since the odds during a live stream rapidly change, leading bettors to make more bets. Therefore, it’s best to keep this point in mind during betting software development.
Odds management.
Speaking of odds, to make your operations as a business owner more efficient, it is essential to set up an effective odds management system. Consider this: betting sportsbooks generate income by establishing the odds that always slightly favor the owner.
This is called vigorish, or vig, and it serves as a commission from every bet placed that goes directly to the gambling provider. Hence, developing a reliable program that makes the odds calculations for you becomes necessary and is what most aggregators use in their daily processes.
Betting management.
This feature will be on the users’ side and serve as their admin panel. Creating a separate page where bettors can see and manage their bets is fundamental to making a standard platform. On this page, users will be able to check out their betting history, place new bets, participate in parlays, view their gaming bonuses, etc.
Customer support.
The last but not the least critical part of how to make a gambling website that will offer all of the basic features is setting up a customer support service. You should remember that not all users who will come across your platform will be skilled and experienced bettors. Some of them will need additional guidance and answers to questions to get started.
Moreover, it is not improbable that the sports betting software may have issues, and even seasoned players will require help in solving them. Thus, you must think ahead about how you are going to provide customer support. Providing users with tooltips and, in some cases, even onboarding can also be beneficial.
Looking for a sports betting software development company?
The intricacies associated with developing reliable and performative betting software may not be as apparent on the surface. Before diving head first into development, you must plan out your strategy and establish solid business objectives to achieve your goals.
The process will also involve understanding the market and what makes your contenders leading and compelling providers in order to build a competitive solution. Putting a lot of thought and effort into the design of your platform will positively reflect on the users’ perception of your business. Finally, offering features and functionality that are above the necessary and of high quality will be the main factor of why bettors will come back to use your solution again.
If you are striving to develop a unique betting platform that players will appreciate, be sure to contact Limeup for a consultation and discuss how our team can help you succeed. Our industry-leading sports betting software developers have in-depth knowledge of this sector and have aided many businesses in reaching professional heights.