How To Develop Your Own Sportsbook Mobile App

Online sports betting has become the growing and increasingly exclusive way most bettors place bets and sportsbooks are embracing the trend. It’s easy to see why. Instead of spending large amounts of money building and opening a physical casino and hoping customers will come and wager on games, sportsbooks can connect with customers anywhere in the world 24 hours on day on their mobile apps.

After you’ve established your sportsbook, we definitely recommend you consider developing your own mobile app.

Legal Issues

One drawback to online sports betting apps is, just because users can access it anywhere, doesn’t mean they can wager legally everywhere. Some countries, states and provinces don’t allow legal sports betting or restrict the types of wagers users can place. Most localities, even those that permit sports betting, require sportsbooks to purchase a gambling license before they can operate there. Getting a license and designing your app to screen users by location is crucial to avoid unnecessary lawsuits and legal hassles.

Another factor is publishing regulations. Different nations, states and localities have different laws covering who can publish a gaming app. Not only do regulations vary by location, app providers including Apple App Store and Google Play Store need publishers to be legally established before they’ll make their apps available for purchase in their online stores. Consulting legal experts on these issues is important, because you don’t want potential regulatory problems to derail your app launch.

Develop Your Own Code Or Buy The Software

Once you decide to take your sportsbook online, what’s the best way to set it up? There are two main ways to go. You can build your own software from scratch or buy pre-built software and integrate it into your operating system. Each approach has its pros and cons. Building your own custom software lets you control every feature of how the app looks and works. However, it can be a complex, expensive and time-consuming process.

Buying pre-built software is faster and less costly but could limit how the app functions and make it difficult to change or customize. Either way, it’s best to team up with app developers to create the mobile sports betting app that’s suited to your target audience.

Accurate Data Is Essential

Once you’ve decided on how to build your app, your sportsbook needs reliable, accurate betting data to compete with the big, established sportsbooks. Sports bettors compare different apps to get the best odds and they’ll jump ship instantly if a competitor offers better chances at a game outcome, parlay, prop bet or point spread.

LSports provides the sports data you’ll need to keep them on your site. We offer access to essential information including up-to-the-moment odds, scores and stats. Our sports API system ensures you’ll have the reliable, accurate info sophisticated bettors demand. Once you’ve got them hooked, our tools will entice them to stay on your app and make it the go-to-place for all their sports wagers.

Choose The Best Payment And Security Methods

Online sports betting is a different animal than traditional physical casino transactions. Sportsbooks must set up reliable, safe and easy payment methods for users to place bets, add money to their account or withdraw winnings. E-wallets and secure links to credit and debit cards are all good ways to go.

With identify theft and hackers always a concern, your app needs to be easy for customers to sign up and use while hard for crooks to crack. Data encryption, where information is encrypted so unauthorized users can’t read it, is essential. Two-factor authentication, where users have to use two forms of ID and secure payment gateways that encrypt sensitive information, give bettors the confidence that their accounts won’t be easily hacked.

Also, if you’re operating your app across multiple countries, you’ll need to provide payment methods in more than one currency, whether it’s dollars, pounds, pesos or euros. In addition, letting bettors access the app in multiple languages makes it easier for them understand terms and conditions, as well as place bets.

Testing Minimum Functionality Features

Once you’ve clear away all the legal hurdles, developed the software, accessed the best data and chosen your payment methods, you still need to test your app before launching it to the public. Even the best systems still get bugs and glitches. There’s nothing worse than spending lots of time and money on an online sports betting app, only to have it malfunction and watch users broadcast that disfunction over social media. Some people believe that any publicity is good publicity, but that’s completely false. You want your app to work, not misfire and kill your sportsbook’s reputation.

One of the best methods to test your app is by hiring people from your target demographic to try it out, either through focus groups or home testing. Letting users test your app and provide feedback is an excellent way to catch any problems and fix these issues. Once you’ve revised your app to address concerns, you’re ready to launch your sports betting app and grow your sportsbook brand.

Grow Your Audience

After you’ve launched your app, you’ll want to promote it. Advertising through social media is an excellent way to get the word out to a wide audience. Collaborating with online influencers who can promote your app on their channels and blogs helps, too. Running ads during sports events, either through streaming or traditional TV is also a good approach. Another smart way to promote the new app is through offers such as bonus bets. When BetMGM launched its new app in the Washington D.C. area, new customers received up to $1,500 paid back in bonus bets.

Partner With LSports To Develop Your Mobile App

Building a successful sports betting app is a complicated undertaking, not something where you can go it alone. You’ll need a partner who can help. That’s where LSports comes in. We have the reliable, accurate data, technical experience, expertise and know-how to make your online sports betting app a game-changer. Contact us to get started.