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You should already know that the NFL is actually the biggest sports league globally. With an annual revenue of over $18 billion, this league has been attracting fans from all over the world. Even though the primary concentration of NFL followership is around the US, something like the Super Bowl is among the most watched events globally.
Because of its popularity, the NFL has a huge fan following that engages in betting. In fact, a 2023 research by the American Gambling Association claimed that around 73.5 million Americans (28% of Adults in the country) were expected to bet on the 2023 season. Now imagine, this figure was a 57.7% jump from the previous year.
Well, another study by the AGA estimated an average of $35 billion potentially wagered in the 2024 season. How insane! With betting being legalized in most states, the number of bettors is just increasing Now, this taking into account that currently, licensed sportsbooks have already set camp in 34 states.
Now, since most people can bet on the NFL, the fan experience is drastically changing. Fans have changed how they watch the games, and to top it all, broadcasters and networks are innovating new ways of creating a more immersive viewing experience. This article will delve right into it.
Increased viewer engagement and in-play betting
We can all agree that when you’ve placed a bet, you’ll be more engaged to watch the games in play. This theory has made even the less competitive games have more viewers than they could have had initially. The thing about betting is that it gives you a certain thrill that you would not normally have, especially if your favorite team is not playing.
Actually, more fans are even opting for in-play betting, where you bet on games while they are still in play. You see, a 2024 study by the International Betting Integrity Association deduced that almost 47% of bets that will be placed this year will be in-play bets.
A respondent in a 2020 study said that in-play betting increased the investment that people had in sports. If you just made a normal bet, you might even forget about the game and just realize that the wager either failed or gained. However, with in-play, you are actively engaged in the game so that you can know when to change your wagers.
Just looking at it, you will realize that more fans are finding games more thrilling just because they are able to bet on them.
New dynamics of broadcasting
NFL broadcasting is one of the things that have undergone serious changes because of betting. Now, networks are incorporating betting odds, insights into fantasy sports, and real-time stats. You can bet on the fact that these incorporations are increasing the viewer experience of sports betters.
Let’s take the example of the partnership between Amazon and the NFL. You see, the Thursday Night Football broadcast on Prime Video, based on this partnership, includes some interactive features that help viewers and football lovers understand even better. Features like X-Ray and Next Gen Stats have allowed viewers to have deeper insight and a more detailed understanding of the game.
Real-time betting data integration on NFL broadcasts has made it possible for various networks to offer particular gambling odds while the game is airing. Odds for different games are displayed, giving more insight into what various matches might come to. This definitely works well for seasoned bettors as well as noobs, as they can get the proper characteristics of sports betting.
Increased statistical analysis
Today, fans are not just spectators of games, and that is the end. The have become gurus of statistical analysis. In fact, platforms like FBref, which deal with statistics, have recorded massive growth in user engagement, especially during match days. Fans are now delving into performance metrics, a domain that was once traversed only by professional analysts.
Well, football games have ceased to be just a fun sport. Now, fans are working tirelessly to understand the strategies and tactics that players and coaches use. In doing so, fans have become tactical geniuses, with the ability to predict the outcome of games, just like pro analysts, based on the strategies different teams are using.
Increased cohesion between fans
There is nothing that brings people together than having the same goals. As people get into the culture of betting, fans are getting more things that connect them to each other.
Let’s have an example here. You are an avid bettor, and you get into your favorite bar where you usually watch NFL matches. When you get there, you find people discussing the latest odds of the upcoming match. Even if you disagree with them, there is a good chance that you might involve yourself in the conversation simply because they are speaking your language.
The more fans have more things in common, the easier it is for them to interact. This actually increases fan engagement as you can now have more watch buddies. Actually, if you find bettors who are not football fans, you can easily make them fans because of the togetherness that is formed based on having similar interests.
