While sports betting remains the core product for most operators, many punters are drawn to additional forms of gambling, such as online casinos, poker, and lotteries, creating a one-stop-shop experience.
In 2024, bettors have a multitude of options to choose from, each offering unique features and experiences. Whether you’re someone who enjoys the thrill of a live poker game, the strategy of fantasy sports, or simply the excitement of a virtual horse race, there’s something for everyone in the modern betting landscape. Understanding the variety of products available can help you make informed decisions about where to place your bets, and which platforms best meet your personal preferences.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular products offered by betting sites in 2024, examining how they work, what makes them appealing, and how they fit into the broader world of online gambling.
Article Contents
1. Casino
In addition to their sports betting services, bookmakers often have a separate section on their website or mobile app dedicated to casino games, such as slots, table games, and video Poker.
Online casinos are essentially digital versions of traditional brick-and-mortar casinos that allow players to gamble on a variety of games through the internet. These games include classic table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and craps, as well as slots, video poker, and other variations.
The casino section of a bookmaker site operates through software that uses a random number generator (RNG) to determine the outcome of the games. The RNG ensures that the games are fair and random, just like in a physical casino. The vast majority of online casinos offer bonuses and promotions to attract new players and keep existing ones engaged, such as welcome bonuses, free spins, cashback, and loyalty rewards.
It’s important to note that the availability and quality of casino services offered by bookmakers varies depending on the provider.
Learn more about Online Casinos
2. Live Casino
Many bookmakers provide live casino services to broaden the appeal of their site.
Live casinos are a type of online casino that offers live dealer games. These games are similar to traditional casino games, such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker, but are played with real dealers who operate the game in real-time through video streaming technology.
Live dealer games are played with the same rules and procedures as their physical counterparts. Players can interact with the dealer and other players through a chat function and can see the game unfold in real-time through a video feed. The dealer can also communicate with the players, deal the cards, and spin the roulette wheel.
Live casinos provide a more immersive and authentic casino experience than regular online casinos. They also offer players the opportunity to enjoy the excitement of a live casino game from the comfort of their own home or on the go through their mobile devices.
3. Poker
Some bookmakers offer online poker in addition to their sports betting and casino offerings. Online poker is a popular form of gambling, and many sports betting vendors recognise the demand for it among their customers.
Online poker is a digital version of the traditional card game. The games are typically played using a software client that simulates the look and feel of a real poker game. Players can compete against each other in real-time, with the winner being the player who has the best hand or who outlasts their opponents.
Online poker sites offer a wide range of game types, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and more. Some sites also offer fast-fold poker, which allows players to quickly move to a new table and start a new game as soon as they fold their hand.
4. Bingo
Some bookmakers offer online bingo as part of their collection of gambling products.
Online bingo is a digital version of the classic game of bingo. The games are typically played using a software client that simulates the look and feel of a real bingo game. Players can compete against each other in real-time, with the winner being the first player to complete the required pattern on their bingo card.
Betting sites with bingo usually offer a range of game types, including 75-ball bingo, 80-ball bingo, and 90-ball bingo, as well as a variety of themed games and variations. Some sites also offer progressive jackpots, where the jackpot increases each time a player buys a ticket until it is won.
5. Lotteries
Online bookmakers often provide lottery or ‘Lotto’ games as part of their product range. Lottery games typically involve selecting a set of numbers and then waiting for a draw to determine if it’s a winner.
There are several types of lotteries available at betting sites, including traditional lotteries (in a similar format to the National Lottery), scratch-off games, and keno. In traditional lotteries, players select a set of numbers and then wait for a drawing to see if their numbers match (or partially match) the winning numbers. In scratch-off games, players purchase virtual scratch-off cards and scratch off the virtual surface to reveal the winning numbers. In keno, players select a set of numbers and then wait for a drawing to determine the winning numbers.
Lottery games at online betting sites have varying odds of winning and different prize amounts, depending on the specific game and the number of players participating.
6. Financials
Financial betting is offered by a few bookmakers. There are a range of markets and events for players to bet on involving the movements stocks, currencies, and commodities.
Financial markets can utilise the same fixed odds format commonly used in sports betting. In this format, individuals can place bets on the likelihood of a stock’s value increasing or decreasing over a specified time period. However, spread betting odds is another format used, whereby players select the market they wish to bet on and then choose whether to place a “buy” or “sell” bet.
The payout of a spread bet is determined by the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell prices of the market. The extent by which the player makes a correct, or incorrect, prediction determines the size of the profit or loss respectively. To fully appreciate the financial risk involved in placing such a bet, you’ll need to learn how spread betting odds work.
Learn more about Financial Betting
7. Virtual Sports
Many bookmakers offer virtual betting to their customers as a way to diversify their offerings with a new type of experience. Virtual betting involves placing bets on virtual events, such as virtual horse races, football matches, and other simulated sports.
Customers can place bets on the virtual events using the same betting markets and odds as they would for real-life sports events. The outcomes of the virtual events are determined by a random number generator (RNG) algorithm, which ensures that the results are fair and random. The virtual events are usually presented as video simulations, which are designed to replicate the real-life sports events.
Virtual betting has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly as an alternative to traditional sports betting during times when live sports events are not available or are limited. However, a lot of bettors prefer traditional sports played by humans, as you cannot make sound predictions or find an advantage from simulated sports markets.
Learn more about Virtual Sports
8. Fantasy
Fantasy betting at bookmakers is a type of betting where participants create their own fantasy teams of real-life players, and then compete against other participants in virtual leagues or tournaments. The participants use their knowledge of the players and their performance statistics to assemble their squads, and then earn points based on the performance of those players in real-life matches or events.
In fantasy betting, bookmakers typically offer a range of sports and leagues for participants to choose from, including football, basketball, cricket, baseball, American football and many others. Participants can select players from any team within the league, and can create their teams according to a set budget or salary cap. The bookmaker will typically offer a range of prizes for the winners, including cash payouts or other rewards.
Fantasy betting can be a fun and engaging way for sports fans to test their knowledge of their favourite teams and players, while also having the chance to win prizes.
Learn more about Fantasy Betting
Less Common Gambling Products
While many sports betting sites focus on mainstream offerings, several also provide more specialised gambling products that cater to niche audiences. Below is an overview of some less common options available to bettors in 2024:
1. Financials
Financial betting allows players to speculate on the movement of stocks, currencies, and commodities, similar to trading in financial markets. Bettors place stakes on whether the value of a financial asset will rise or fall within a specified time. This type of betting can use a fixed odds format, or in some cases, spread betting, making it a unique crossover between finance and gambling.
2. Betting Exchange
A betting exchange allows bettors to wager directly against each other rather than against the bookmaker. Players can either “back” (bet on a result to happen) or “lay” (bet against a result happening), with odds determined by market demand. This peer-to-peer betting system offers better odds and more control but requires a deeper understanding of how odds and markets work.
Learn more about Betting Exchanges
3. Spread Betting
Spread betting differs from traditional fixed-odds betting in that the payout is determined by the accuracy of the prediction, not just the result. Bettors win or lose based on the margin by which their prediction is correct or incorrect. This type of betting is popular in financial markets but is also used in sports for more precise wagers, like predicting the exact score difference in a match.
Learn more about Spread Betting
4. Tote / Pools
Tote or pool betting involves all stakes placed on an event being pooled together, with the total prize fund distributed among the winning bets. This is commonly used in horse racing, where payouts depend on the size of the pool and the number of winning bets. Tote betting can offer bigger payouts for winners but lacks the fixed odds certainty of traditional wagers.
These products may not be as widely used as casino games or sports betting, but they offer unique opportunities for bettors with specialised interests.
What Products Do You Value?
Your decision to choose a particular sports betting site heavily depends on the range of gambling products that are available. If you have a particular interest in a specific form of sports betting, such as tote betting, then casino-based products may hold no appeal for you. Therefore, a site that specialises in tote bets might be the most suitable choice. However, if you’re a bettor who enjoys various types of gambling, having access to multiple products on a single platform can offer several advantages such as convenience, variety, and multiple bonuses & promotions.
- Rewards Clubs | How Do Bookmaker Loyalty Programs Work? - November 21, 2024
- Inplay Betting| What’s Live Betting? Which Bookies Have It? - November 20, 2024
- New Betting Sites vs. Established Brands: Which Should You Choose? - November 20, 2024