Blaz Zitnik, SVP, Betting Entertainment at Sportradar, has seen firsthand how the sports betting landscape has evolved. Today, operators aren’t just competing with each other; they’re up against a whole world of entertainment services and content providers fighting for people’s attention.
So how do you get your customers to spend more time on your sportsbook? We caught up with Blaz to discuss Virtual Stadium, our new social engagement tool, and get his top 5 ways in which it can turn your passive bettors into engaged users:
1. Build a community, not just a betting platform
We know people crave connection – it’s in our DNA. By adding an environment to your sportsbook where users can chat, share tips, bets, and socialize, it gives them a sense of belonging and a reason to stick around beyond just placing bets.
Virtual Stadium allows you to build a community that customers want to be a part of and visit again and again.
2. Let customers share and copy bets
Allow people to show off their expertise by letting them share bets they are confident about. When others can copy these suggestions, it builds on the sense of excitement and anticipation.
With Virtual Stadium, users can easily share their bets with the community. A simple click is all it takes for customers to post their selections for others to see and even copy.
3. Capture the social side of betting
We asked ourselves: why should users hop over to social media to share their hot takes on the match? Virtual Stadium gives your customers a place to chat with likeminded people, react with an array of emojis and create personalised avatars for a truly social experience on a sportsbook.
This gives them a reason to stay put. More time on your site means more engagement – and more opportunities for them to place that next bet.
4. Tap into the power of shared excitement
Letting your customers share a big win with a whole community of fellow fans can really boost that winning feeling. As more wins are shared, more people may want to copy future bets and thus shared excitement builds.
Virtual Stadium also includes features like fan polls, ‘cheer-meters,’ and emoji reactions. These let users ride the emotional rollercoaster of sports together.
5. Create welcoming environments people want to be
By focusing on these social aspects, we’re helping you create more than just a betting platform – we’re helping you build a betting destination. A place where sports fans want to hang out, share their passion, and yes, place a few bets along the way.
Remember, it’s cheaper to keep an existing customer than to find a new one. So why not give them every reason to stick around?
