In the grander scheme of things, it really wasn’t that long ago when ‘going to the races’ meant a full day out. People would collect their hampers, dress for the occasion and then head to the tracks to see the jockeys and horses, revelling in the crowds excitement.
Of course, not everyone could enjoy this. whether you lived just too far away, or had commitments that kept you at home, the sting of missing out must have been a lingering one. But times have changed, inevitably bought on by a surge in technology. No longer are race courses only accessible by the locals and care-free rich. Instead, the race are bought to you through the wonder of mobile tech.
On top of this mobility and accessibility, other technologies have become available, allowing the fans of horse race betting to enjoy the day more – offering more data, more engagement and more chances for success. Let’s see how.
Galloping into the Future
When I think back to a time before the popularity of smartphones, the idea of owning a device that would track my movements, give me full access to a world wide web, and also give me the ability to watch live events, would have been ridiculous. But that is what we have. Industries across the globe have all benefitted from this amazing technology. In fact, there are now more mobile phones in the world than people on the planet.
Horse racing has also benefited from this. The market (valued at 44 billion only a few years ago) is expected to reach an eye-watering 91 billion by 2032. It’s therefore safe to assume that the rise in mobile technology has added to this, fuelling its impressive growth.
Part of this progress lies in the ability for you to download apps on mobile. Many betting platforms allow for this and offer an increasing number of benefits that add to the overall enjoyment of horse racing (and many other sporting events). Not only can you watch races as they unfold, live from the palm of your hand, you can also place bets directly through the app, making the whole thing incredibly easy and fun. Mobile betting apps attract new users with various welcome bonuses and promotions, making it easier to get started. These apps provide convenient features such as live streaming, in-play betting, and personalised notifications, offering an immersive experience even if you’re not at the track. On top of these you can also get special welcome offers such as the bet 10 get 30.
This all makes the sport far more accessible, allowing everyone to get involved in what was once a far smaller group. People don’t have to check the results in the papers or listen to commentaries in betting shops. Everything is right in front of you, giving you the excitement of watching your horse cross the finish line in glorious HD.
Faster and Faster Tech
As with most technology, things never sit still. It actually feels like there’s something new every week. As this tech, such as streaming, develops at alarming speed, you can also benefit from pre and in-play bets. This comes down to less latency (under 500 milliseconds), which means that you could bet in the same way as people on the track do. The added benefit of this is that it is also safer. The checks and signing on process in mobile apps allows for instant bets to be placed through a touch of your fingerprint. It also stops fraud and the other general security risks associated with track-side betting.
Other tech is also progressing alongside this with similar speed. AI and machine learning allow for far better decisions when it comes to making your bets. You can easily research and analyse horse’s performance records and past winnings, the jockey’s overall ability and history, along with weather reports, track length and a string of other data.
This is really quite remarkable. And for those who are interested in gaining the best possible advantage, these tools (powered by new tech) will be a big help. Of course, apps also use this technology. They have everything analysed and set out, offering summary points and tips. So, be sure to pay attention to what’s there.
Just as mobiles have made an epic jump forward, other tech will likely do the same, adding to the 7% growth rate in horse racing. We are seeing augmented and virtual reality along with blockchain technology. This is an exciting prospect, being able to walk around the track and see the ‘by a nose’ finish, all while enjoying the comfort of home. Blockchain also brings with it a number of other possibilities that increase speed of payments, safety and also more complex bets.
It’s very interesting how such a traditional past time has been so affected in this regard. The digital age has turned an event, loved by monarchs and the public for generations has been rapidly plunged into a tech filled pool of wonder. But that is what the digital age does. It takes the old, breaks it down and rebuilds it with us very much in mind. It makes things easier, more engaging and far more accessible to those who might previously have missed out.
We know that tomorrow quickly approaches, whether we like it or not, but we should all be very excited with what that brings to horse racing and how we bet on it.