The Evolution of Sports Betting: From Chalkboards to Blockchain πŸ“ˆ

iBetYou
3 min readAug 29, 2023

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Sports betting has come a long way from its early days of oddsboards and paper tickets.

As technology has advanced, each innovation has reshaped and enhanced the betting experience. Today, the emergence of blockchain platforms like iBetYou represents the next frontier in transparent, trustless betting.

Let’s explore the evolution of betting and how we arrived at this new paradigm! πŸ‘‡

The Primitive Days of Oddsboards

Long before computers and mobile apps, sportsbooks would handwrite odds and post them on chalkboards and physical boards in betting shops. This analog approach was slow, prone to errors, and limited in scope.

Bettors were at the mercy of whatever odds the bookmakers decided to post each day πŸ˜•

The options for bets were also much slimmer in the pre-digital era. Beyond moneyline and totals bets, exotic wager types we now take for granted were largely non-existent.

But a transformation was on the horizon that would change betting forever ⏳

The Rise of Digital Sportbooks

Beginning in the 1990s, sportsbooks began transitioning to digital formats.

This new platform opened up previously unthinkable possibilities!

Odds could update in real-time, exotic bets could be offered, and bettors could manage accounts online. Information parity also improved, as anyone with an internet connection could now access the same competitive odds simultaneously.

But this newfound efficiency came with tradeoffs like centralized control of funds and limited transparency 😟

The Early Days of Online Betting

As betting transitioned online, new sites popped up left and right in the 2000s, seeking to capitalize on this digital frontier.

With little regulation, the quality and reliability of these early online books were hit or miss.

Scams and unfair practices ran rampant, eroding trust in the online betting landscape.

But over time, reputable sites emerged that began redeeming the promises of the internet for sports bettors.

The Rise of Mobile Betting

By the 2010s, mobile betting was on the rise, as sportsbooks rolled out apps and mobile sites. This allowed bettors to wager on the go from their phones for the first time.

Quick deposits and instant access became expected features.

Live, in-game betting also became popular as apps updated odds in real time. However, the centralized nature of these sites remained a limitation.

The Solution?

When Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin and blockchain technology in 2008, a trustless and transparent system of transactions emerged with massive disruptive potential πŸ”₯

In the DeFi betting realm, iBetYou uses blockchain to enable peer-to-peer bets with no centralized authority involved! Bets are made through smart contracts, ensuring users cannot back out and have to keep their end of the deal!

Our transactions are verifiable on the blockchain, ensuring fairness and transparency βœ…

IBY public bets enable bettors to partake in bets revolving around any verifiable event!

Join the iBetYou Community

Want to be part of the future of decentralized betting?

Join our passionate community! πŸ‘₯

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iBetYou
iBetYou

Written by iBetYou

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