Dominating the conversation

Twitter has released data showing that activity on social media rises significantly during sporting events.

seven out of ten sports gamblers use Twitter as a resource

The popular hub for online interaction, which has over 345 million accounts, claims that seven out of ten sports gamblers use Twitter as a resource. Depending on the person, that could mean picks, strategies, news, trends, or discussions.

Twitter also shared that the number of betting-related tweets has grown substantially since sports betting was legalized in 2018. With 31 states having live and legal betting markets and others heading in that direction, the pervasiveness of gambling talk is expected to continue surging.

A special resource

Twitter is largely seen as the “new-gen” social media. Popular sports TV shows such as Inside the NBA will flash messages from different accounts on the screen during filming, allowing personalities like Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley to react to them live.?

Sports gambling talk has also emerged from the shadows online, largely thanks to the use of hashtags, which allow people to search for their interests and join communities of like-minded individuals.

According to the data revealed by Twitter, 72% of bettors check the platform to monitor their bets. They also use Twitter as a tool to find information on scouting reports, injury updates, and insider news.

36% said that they only use the platform to talk and research sports.

33% of Twitter-using gamblers said that they would vacate the site if they couldn’t talk sports with other users. 36% said that they only use the platform to talk and research sports.

Twitter thereby feels that it has garnered a “premium sports betting audience,” which it directly influences. 

Many users, whether they gamble or not, will have also seen advertisements for sportsbooks. Twitter allows companies, regardless of industry, to promote their tweets to non-followers (where it is legal, that is), which has helped the gambling community reach a larger base.

Could Twitter become an operator?

The data shows that Twitter has a massive influence on the betting market, even though the platform itself is not directly affiliated with or influenced by sportsbooks.

After all, the data showed that sports bettors on Twitter are likely to spend 15% more annually on their bets than non-social gamblers. 

65% of gamblers feel obligated to risk money on events dominating the public conversation

There is also pressure to follow trends, which favors pro-gamblers. According to the report, 65% of gamblers feel obligated to risk money on events dominating the public conversation and 51% of Twitter-using gamblers said that they only started wagering within the past two years.

The company has not announced any desire to become a betting operator, but there is a world in which they could join the market in some capacity. For example, the popular streaming service FuboTV recently launched an in-app betting service that allows patrons to get in on the action right from their television remote. 

If the data is foreshadowing Twitter’s move into the gambling space, it would be best to buy low before the price skyrockets.