News

Why can’t gambling companies ignore football fans?

5 min read

Do you know that 41% of adults in America rank football as their favorite sport? And this football frenzy is not just limited to the borders of America alone. A recent report by S&P Global found that 12% of households in Germany frequently watch American football matches. This is part of why Genius Sports thinks this sport has more than 410 million global fans.

Given this large number of fans, it shouldn't be surprising that online casinos in the US and other gambling companies are working hard to reach this audience. Part of what these platforms are doing is incorporating advanced bonus offers to improve user engagement. And thanks to platforms like Bonuses.com, users can find the right bonus perk with a simple click of a button on their phones. 

Remember, the broad gambling market by itself is already highly competitive. Imagine what you might need to do to stand out in an industry Statista expects to hit $1.21 billion by the end of this year (2025). Well, you will actually need to do a lot. Thankfully, targeting high-potential markets like American football can get you started. 

Aligning with the increased use of mobile phones

Before placing bets on your favorite team, you may want to explore free NFL expert picks to see what professionals are saying. But you don't always use your desktop or laptop to do that. Sometimes, you may want to shift to your mobile device, especially when you're on the go. And as you explore these predictions, you never want to encounter a non-mobile-friendly website.

You'd expect the platform to work well or even better than its desktop counterpart. And this is not a new preference. Studies by UXCam show that about 85% of users have such expectations. Realizing this, sportsbooks and operators have been developing responsive designs to appeal to as many mobile users as possible, including American football fans.

By creating websites that adapt their layout and content to fit different screen sizes and devices, these companies ensure user-friendly experiences that keep football fans returning. The core principle is about using a single codebase that intelligently adjusts to various screen sizes and orientations.

Interestingly, these designs can help increase the likelihood of up to 74% of users returning to your website. They also have 11% more conversion rates than non-responsive ones, making them excellent marketing tools for gambling companies.

Online security has become a distinguishing characteristic

In a world where over 940,000 cyberattacks happen every day, it makes sense to see everyone pay attention to their online safety. Threat actors have become super innovative, and a slight mistake could cost you severe financial losses. According to Enzoic, betting companies are losing up to $1 billion yearly to cyberattacks.

But beyond financial losses, you risk injuring your brand reputation. Many modern customers, including football fans, have difficulty transacting with brands after security incidents. PCI Pal suggests that 83% may stop transacting with you, with 21% claiming they will never return. Given this industry's competitiveness, this is not a pain you want to endure.

As such, companies have been turning to secure infrastructures like SSL encryption and 2FA to increase their appeal to security-conscious football fans. Using digital certificates and encryption algorithms, SSL encryption secures communication between web servers and browsers. This ensures data is scrambled and cannot be read by unauthorized parties during transmission. 

2FA, on the other hand, improves security by adding a second layer of protection beyond your usual username and password. Instead of just relying on your password, you're also prompted to verify your identity with something you have, like a code on your phone, a biometric identifier or a security key. 

To improve their security strategies even further, several companies are turning to artificial intelligence to take advantage of its real-time monitoring ability.

Prioritizing customer experience

You will agree that fans want more than just betting. The surrounding experience matters greatly, which is why bookmakers are integrating strategies like personalization to increase their appeal. Through personalization, they can provide unique experiences to fans, which may lead to stronger customer bonds.

It all begins by monitoring users' browsing habits, preferences and tastes. This way, you can customize betting promos and offers and increase both conversion and retention rates. Remember, almost every consumer, including football supporters, wants brands to understand their unique needs.

Statistics show that 71% expect personalized experiences, with 76% confirming they get disappointed when they don't find them. On top of that, personalization can increase the retention rate by up to 44%. These are statistics almost every sportsbook wants to take advantage of, not just in 2025 but also in the years to come.

Besides personalization, they have also been adopting effective payment methods to increase their competitiveness. This is why instant and cheap options like crypto have become common on many betting platforms. After all, with the prevailing tech advances in today's world, who would want their funds delayed? Of course, no one! And you don't expect football supporters to be any different.

Seeing bookmakers reinvent themselves to reach more American football fans should not be surprising. This sport draws the attention of multiple crowds in US states like West Virginia and beyond, laying a good foundation for companies seeking to reach new audiences.

But attracting and retaining football enthusiasts may not be easy, as you must be strategic. Thankfully, strategies like personalization, responsive designs and attention to online security can be handy. They improve gambling experiences and ensure punters return for more, leading to better business performance.

Starting at /week.