Over the recent years, horse racing has been drawing the attention of millions of fans across the world. And in a recent report by the Jockey Club, it was noted that “over six million people attend the races each year in Britain alone.” If that’s not enough, Deep Market Insights thinks that the global horse racing market will grow from $491.7 billion to $530.2 billion by 2030.
But the fun doesn’t usually stop when the horses cross the finish line; fans have other ways of connecting with the sport, including betting. In fact, just recently, Allied Market Research valued the global horse racing betting market at $44.3 billion and predicted that it could expand to $91.2 by 2032. With this sector expected to become highly competitive, sportsbooks must now adopt innovative measures to maintain their edge.
And this is where bonus features, such as no-deposit perks, come into play. No-deposit bonuses allow you to access your favorite market without risking your own funds. Thankfully, platforms like https://bettingzondercruks.com/no-deposit-bonus/ have made it possible to access these perks with just a tap of a button on your smartphone. But beyond just offering bonuses, bookmakers are doing a lot more to improve their competitiveness.
Easy access through mobile platforms
An Exploding Topic report found that eight billion smartphones are in use worldwide. In a country like the U.S., for example, 91% of the population owns and uses smartphones for nearly everything, from communication to entertainment. No longer do horse racing fans have to remain glued to the radio or television waiting for racing updates, results or analysis.
With mobile phone apps, you can get real-time updates, review various insights or even place bets on the go. But as you do that, you wouldn’t want the website to be clunky or hard to navigate. Such experiences can frustrate a user and even cause them to switch to a competitor. Looking at the statistics, Clutch.co says 49% of consumers might leave a website with confusing navigation.
Now that attracting new customers is not a walk in the park, you don’t want to imagine yourself losing all those users simply because your platform is confusing. This is why horse racing betting companies invest heavily in responsive websites that allow seamless access, regardless of the wagering device.
At the same time, many of them use push notifications to keep users engaged. Think of an experience where your phone buzzes just as a favourite horse crosses the finish line, alerting you to odds changes or upcoming races tailored to your betting history. Such timely nudges can encourage ongoing engagement and keep a bettor from drifting towards competitors.
Social features and community engagement
Elated crowds, shared rituals and traditions like draping the winning horse with a garland of roses have often been the draw of horse racing events. In fact, Princess Anne, a British Royal & equestrian advocate, is quoted as saying: “Racing has always been about people as much as horses.”
To replicate this sense of community, bookmakers are now gamifying the wagering experience. This entails integrating social features like leaderboards, where bettors can compete with friends or fellow fans. As a result, the wagering experience transforms from being simply about placing bets to something more interactive.
You also may have been met with pick ’em & predictor games on some wagering platforms. With these games, participants can choose winners or select horses across a card without placing real money bets. Their primary appeal lies in engagement rather than risk, giving fans a low-pressure way to test their knowledge and stay involved between major race days.
Then there’s communal pool betting, where all bets on a given race are placed into a common pool, and payouts are determined by each person’s bet size on the leaderboard. Not only does this help people spread risk, but it also allows them turn a once solitary endeavor into a communal experience. And with that sense of community, fans can become more connected to a platform, giving it a strong competitive advantage in a crowded market.
Digitalization of rituals and traditions
Horse racing has long held traditions and rituals, many of which once existed only at the track itself. But thanks to today’s digital wagering platforms, you can now access them online. The Paddock parade, which involves lining up and inspecting horses before races, is one such tradition that has found its way onto digital platforms.
Traditionally, you had to be physically present at a racetrack to assess the horses’ form and condition. However, online platforms recreate this experience by livestreaming horses walking out for detailed assessment before races. If you’re a long-time fan, such an experience can make you feel at home, while new bettors have richer reasons to stay engaged.
Another way wagering sites keep the culture of the sport alive is by integrating informative betting guides. Well, if you’ve attended events like the Kentucky Derby, you’ve possibly come across people studying form guides in thick printed booklets. In the digital space, bookmakers now offer interactive guides packaged with race history, track conditions and recent performance trends, all updated in real time.
Combining tradition and convenience this way can improve your platform’s reputation and position it as a go-to destination for both seasoned punters and newcomers alike. After all, you want bettors to still get the familiar rituals that make horse racing special, even when they switch to the online space. And in a market where choices are endless, it’s this balance that helps a platform to stay competitive.
