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Sports betting mobile apps have been the trendiest innovations of all time, allowing gamblers to access the betting platform on their hands. The industry is filled with betting apps, and people have many selections to start their betting career. The advent of modern technologies, tools, and AI-based programming languages has been a great help in achieving this success. Moreover, this industry has seen tremendous growth in user base or revenue increment.
The evergreen landscape of sports has opened diverse gambling opportunities to businesses. Betting applications provide a convenient way of betting on sports without any complications. People don't have to go anywhere; with a mobile betting app, they can bet on their preferred sports.
A successful betting app delivers a user-friendly interface with the best odds, features, and simplicity so punters can easily have an outstanding betting experience. The best sports betting app requires in-depth technical expertise, user-friendly functionalities, significant design considerations, and a proper fail-proof strategy. Therefore, having complete knowledge of the sports betting app development process and how to opt for the right developers to achieve success is the most crucial aspect to consider.
Read More: Sports Betting Exchange Software Cost and Features
Being a trusted app development company, we possess in-depth technical knowledge and a highly experienced in-house development team. We have created and delivered top-notch software products to local and international clients in all categories. At Orion InfoSolutions, we've worked with startups, innovators, and large-scale businesses to help them achieve their core goals. As a software development consultancy provider, our prior goal has always been to provide the proper technical guidance and team of software developers to clients' projects to ensure success.
At Orion InfoSolutions, we hold complete experience in sports betting software development, which allows us to give you a complete overview of how to develop a sports betting app, the features you should opt for, the cost it involves, and other technical aspects that are a must to take into account, and the potential challenges you might face during the development process. It will give you a clear way to plan further.
So, without wasting any time, let's dive in.
As mentioned above, building sports betting software is ultimately a technical task; therefore, before developing, ensure that you are fully equipped with technical expertise. So, there are two main options: by opting, you can develop your sports betting app. The first option is working from the ground level, which includes developing fresh codes and designing UI/UX. The second way is to purchase the sports betting software from the sportsbook software provider that can be easily integrated into your existing platform.
The first way is time-consuming; complexities are high for those who don't have a technical background or knowledge of app development. However, this gives you complete control of how you want to build your app and which features and functionalities you want to include.
Additionally, the second option leaves you with a pre-developed software approach that you can just buy and start your platform in days. Also, this is a more cost-effective, fast, and easiest way to start your business. However, opting for ready-made software limits the app's features and functionalities.
We believe that developing sports betting apps from scratch is more beneficial as it will open up several customization options to include only trending features and functionalities. For more information about the specific software development requirements, you can connect with our technical experts, who will guide you through all the technical aspects of sports betting app development. Plus, they will provide you with proficient software development experts to start your project.
Read More: How Does Sports Betting Work?
Now let's understand the different stages of sports betting software development that you'll need to know about.
1. Obtain a License
Betting on sports in which investment is involved is considered gambling, which is not legal in most countries. To make your platform wholly secure and reliable, you must opt for a license from reliable authorities.
Before starting the development process, it is critical to obtain a gambling license, ensuring your business is legally compliance with all the rules. Also, it is essential to know that the gambling rules vary from state to state. In short, not all states or countries have made gambling illegal. Therefore, it is crucial to know the gambling rules in your area and follow them thoroughly to prevent any risk arising down on the business.
A gambling license permits your business to run your sports betting platform in legal areas (state/country) without any complications. As mentioned, these licenses can be obtainable through legal gambling license providers, or you can ask your software development company for the license if they can offer you one.
2. Market Research and Business Plan
After obtaining the gambling license for your sports betting platform, you can proceed to the next step: market research and business plans. A thorough market research helps you define your unique selling proposition. The market research is for finding your target users/customers for your sports betting app. It is crucial to understand your user base from the outset. Market research lets you minimize the risk even when your project idea is just a gleam in your eye. You need to be fully aware of the latest market trends to deliver what your target audience wants.
Market research gives you a competitive analysis that helps you get an advantage over your competitors. Through competitive analysis, you can quickly identify your competition by product line. It will provide critical insights into how your competitors target their audience and what strategies they implement to get broader recognition in the market. All these aspects can help you determine a fail-proof business plan.
3. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Before launching your sports betting app development project, compliance with gambling regulations is also essential. As mentioned in the first step, different countries/states have other laws regarding who can publish gambling apps on the internet. So, it is crucial to research gambling rules and laws in the area you plan on targeting.
You must obtain approval to list your mobile app on a platform like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. iOS and Android each have their guidelines for publishing gambling apps. Therefore, ensure that your sports betting platform complies with app store guidelines to reduce the risk of rejection. It will be good to familiarize yourself with the app store publishing requirements before you start the development process.
4. Choose the Right Technology Stack
Choosing the right technology for your sports betting app project is crucial to determine in the first place. Your betting app's flexibility, performance, scalability, and development process are determined by the tech stack you opt for. Also, this significantly impacts the success rate of your business in the market. Plus, the right tech stack can offer you future upgrades if required.
So, before getting any code written, you must consider your sports betting software development requirements. There are a variety of programming languages, tools, frameworks, and technologies available in the market, and choosing the wrong one can be dangerous for your project and business.
5. Design the User Interface (UI/UX)
A visually appealing interface is vital to keeping the users engaged with your platform for hours. Regarding UI and UX design, it would be better to entrust this work to experienced UI/UX designers. To stand out from the crowd, you'll need to deliver what others failed to do. Your betting app's user interface and user experience will decide whether you will stay in the competition. Therefore, keep yourself involved in the designing phase as much as possible and ensure your app delivers a user-friendly, engaging, unique interface.
Read More: Where is Sports Betting Legal in India?
Ideally, your sports betting app designers will understand the ins and outs of creating your sports betting app. The UI/UX development process involves creating a user-friendly, intuitive, and visually appealing app interface. A clean and clear UI and UX design can enhance the users' overall betting experience and engagement level.
6. Backend Infrastructure and Real-time Odds Integration
The backend infrastructure is a central unit of an app that handles all the data-related processes. It handles all the server-side operations, such as authentication, authorization, and validation of user inputs. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a sports betting app that has a robust and scalable server architecture to handle backend operations more smoothly.
The backend development of an app is time-consuming as it can be complex and highly technical. Therefore, it would be better to let the professionals handle this work. They will assist you in creating a scalable and robust system capable of managing all the user databases, payments, real-time data integration, etc.
When creating a sports betting app, looking into real-time odds system integration is essential. Real-time odds integration refers to integrating real-time sports data, live odds feeds, and other necessary information into the app. This will allow your users to access up-to-date odds and betting options, crucial for user engagement and trust.
You can opt for an industry-leading sports betting API provider for real-time odds and other data integration services.
7. Payment Gateway Integration
When making a sports betting app, which payment gateway to include is also a critical aspect you must consider the most. Having a variety of payment gateways available within will allow users for the quick and convenient way of transactions. A reliable payment method also builds trustworthiness towards your business. Fortunately, many payment gateway service providers can integrate multiple payment methods within the app. Here are several payment gateways that you can choose for your sports betting app development:
With these payment gateways, users of a sports betting app can do transactions and withdrawal conveniently and securely.
8. Choose a Sports Betting App Development Company
If you don't have any technical background or an in-house team to bring your sports betting business idea into reality, then choosing a development partner is the only option you can go for. Therefore, it is crucial to consider this checklist and make all the arrangements for your project accordingly.
This phase of your sports betting app development decides whether you'll be able to reach great heights or not. As in the IT industry, many sports betting app development companies are there; finding a suitable one for your project can be very daunting. However, you can choose a reliable one by making a checklist of your project requirements. Here are several things that you need to look for:
Considering all these aspects, you can hire a trustworthy development partner for your betting app. Also, you can interview their developers to gain the fundamental expertise and experience of the company. Choosing an experienced partner with a proven track record in this niche can help smooth the development process and increase the chances of your sports betting app succeeding.
9. Continuous Monitoring and User Feedback
Once your sports betting app is fully developed, you’ll have to continuously monitor your app performance and consider all the feedback of users to make changes and deliver best experience per your user’s preference.
Also, you’ll have to plan a budget for marketing campaigns to create more awareness of your sports betting app and drive broader users toward it.
Creating a successful sports betting app is a time-taking process and requires effort, technical knowledge, expertise, and fail-proof planning. However, with the right sports betting app development company and resources, you can reduce the risk and ensure that your sports betting app is a success for your business.
Read More: An Ultimate Guide to Building Virtual Sports Betting App
Now that we know how to build a sports betting app, let’s go over the fundamental facts of what features it should have. The features of your gambling app go beyond just providing an exceptional experience to users. The type of features you opt for decides whether your app will be beneficial for users or not, and this will decide your success in the market.
Features are crucial in attracting a wide range of users to your platform. Therefore, what features to include and what not to is an important debate you should focus on the most. To give you an idea of which features you should opt for your sports betting app, here is the comprehensive list of user, bookie, and admin panel features:
The user panel should be user-friendly and easy to operate; this can engage and drive more users towards your business. Here are some of the must-have user panel features for sports betting apps:
User Login/Registration
User login and registration are the most common but crucial features for any mobile app development. It enables users to securely log in to the app with a mobile number, via Gmail, or through OTP and Google account. The login page should be easy and fast, as complex login can drive users away from the platform. A fast and secure login is necessary if you want your users to use your betting app continuously. Through login, users can create their profile to keep track of their bets, payment history, and other important information.
Live Streaming Functionality
With live streaming functionality, users can access real-time sports data and information. This will help users make informed decisions according to the real-time events. Also, it helps users make their strategy before placing bets on the team, player, or match. For better results, you should hire the best sports betting app development company to seamlessly add this feature to the app.
Multiple Betting Options
Having multiple betting options encourages users to place more bets. Multiple betting functionality, which generally includes money line bets, spread bets, over/under bets, parlay bets, and more, provides users with various selections and enhances the overall sports betting experience.
Variety of Payment Methods
Payment services are one of the prominent aspects that you should opt for in your sports betting app that can help you gain users' trust. A seamless, fast, and secure payment option enhances the betting experience and allows users to withdraw and deposit conveniently. This helps users trust your business and allows them to use your app constantly.
Betting History
With betting history, users will have comprehensive information and statistics of their previous games which they have played. Through this, users can comprehensively analyze their winnings and losses and control and make betting strategies accordingly when needed.
Multi-Language Support
In every custom software development, be it betting software or any other software, it is essential to provide native language functionality that allows users to choose the language in the app per their communication preference.
Read More: White Label Vs Turnkey Sports Betting Tips
Through admin control, app owners can manage all app features and functionalities, such as user, transaction, content, and bet management. This is an essential part of your sports betting app that gives you complete control. Here are the essential admin control features that a sports betting app should have:
User Management
Through this, app owners will have control over users and their profiles. Admins can edit, delete, add, update user information, manage user permission, and create user profiles through the admin panel’s user management functionality.
Bet Management
The bet management in admin control feature allows app owners to manage the bets placed by users, including tracking bets, updating odds, canceling bets, and settling bets.
Content Management
Content management features allow admins to add, delete, and update content within the app, such as sports event information, odds, and promotional materials.
Payment Management
It allows app owners to handle all payment-related aspects, such as accepting and rejecting user payment requests, deposits, withdrawals, and bonus distribution. All these can be handled via the payment management admin feature.
Odds Management
Through odds management admin panel functionality, app owners can update or customize the odds for different sports events and betting markets.
Marketing & Promotions
This admin feature enables app owners to create marketing and promotion campaigns, such as adding advertisement banners and other promotional offers to attract more users. This also helps app owners increase brand awareness, create interest, and create unique brand loyalty.
To bring your sports betting app idea into a full-fledged reality, you will require fully experienced professionals who can do this work more effectively. When developing a sports betting app, whether simple or complex, you should hire an industry-leading mobile app or software development company to build your app successfully and help with future needs and requirements, such as upgrading security functionalities, updates, and support services. If you have the vision but are confused about the team selection, here is the development team required to develop your sports betting applications.
Your sports betting app performance, flexibility, customization options, and scalability are all determined by the tech stack you opt for. It includes choosing programming languages, coding frameworks, and databases for developing the app. So, choosing the tech stack for your sports betting app development depends entirely on your business's core needs and requirements.
Read More: Betting API Provider
However, different development companies will have different approaches and tech stacks, so before hiring them, check whether they work on the most trending technologies and frameworks. Here are some of the recommended tech stacks that you can opt for your sports betting app development:
Tech Stack for Sports Betting App —
When developing a sports betting app, this tech stack is an effective option that can be utilized. However, you can choose any technology that efficiently supports your app's functionality. Also, you can use this tech stack for cross-platform app development and leverage multiple-platform capability. Additionally, it is essential to integrate a reliable and user-friendly payment gateway to allow seamless transactions for app users.
The developing cost of a Betway app-like betting app is not constant. It is affected by some of the main decisions you make at the beginning of the project. Knowing these factors allows you to budget more accurately and avoid later surprises.
App Complexity and Features
The primary factor determining app cost is its complexity along with the features that you opt in to. A minimalistic betting application allowing user registration, odds display, wallet functionality, and simple bet placement can be developed for about $100,000 at the most. This is the cost level that supports MVPs or market testing.
Costs shoot up as soon as features such as live betting, real-time data updates, cash-out options, and advanced notifications are included. Just the cost of the live betting feature may exceed $200,000 because of the need for rapid data feeds, a robust infrastructure, and heavy testing.
A sensible tactic is to jot down your top five must-have features, estimate the individual costs and postpone the non-critical features until after the launch. This way early investment is kept under control.
It is a good practice to write down the top five features that are absolutely necessary, make a rough estimate of what it will cost for each one, and postpone the non-essential ones until after the first release. That will enable you to keep your early investment limited.
Platform and Tech Stack Choices
Selecting your platform also largely determines the cost. Separately creating native apps for both iOS and Android can easily result in a total development cost of about $300,000 since the two platforms need to have separate codebases and separate testing cycles.
With a cross-platform framework such as React Native, the need for rework is reduced. Alex, a developer at BetTech Solutions, clarifies:
"React Native can minimize almost 30% of the development cost when it is properly utilized."
Betting applications require a secure and fast server on the backend to process bets, transactions, and high traffic instantly. Backend infrastructure and maintenance can cost approximately $50,000 per year, mainly for live betting platforms.
Team Location and Size
The place where your developers are located plays a significant role in determining the hourly rates. The cost for developers in the US is usually around $150/hour, while Eastern European teams charge only about $50/hour for the same positions.
A standard team for a project contains frontend and backend developers, a QA engineer, and a project manager. The development usually lasts for six months when the team size is this way.
As per Clutch.co, offshore teams can cut the overall development costs by 40% to 60%, which is the reason they are the preferred choice of startups and small to medium-sized betting operators.
When estimating the cost of building an app like Betway, operators often think primarily about the development cost. In fact, a large part of the spending occurs after the app is up and running. These ongoing costs that are often ignored can drastically change long-term profitability.
Security and Payment Integration
Security is never done in betting apps, it requires continual investment. It's not only the computers that will be encrypted but also the data. Users, transactions, and platforms are all to be protected with monitoring tools, fraud detection systems, and encryption layers which, depending on scale and regulatory requirements, usually add $40,000 to $80,000 to the overall cost.
Continuing to pay for security is also a part of the payment processing. Payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, or regional payment processors will usually take a cut of 2-3% of the transaction, which will directly impact the margin as the betting volume increases. The IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report (2025) says the average cost of a data breach is initially around $4 million for apps, and this is precisely why it’s seldom worth the risk to cut down on security.
Maintenance and Scaling
After the launch, a betting app needs maintenance on a regular basis in order to be stable, legal, and a competitor in the market. The costs of yearly maintenance usually amount to 15% to 20% of the original development cost, which includes the cost for bug fixing, updates, server monitoring, and compliance adjustments.
The spikes in traffic when there are major sports events also lead to extra costs. For instance, the increase of servers in the case of the Super Bowl and similar occasions can result in the addition of $10,000 or more to the monthly infrastructure cost. To deal with the above uncertainties, well-experienced operators normally put aside a 20% buffer in their budgets for unexpected technical or operational needs.
Marketing and User Acquisition
No matter how good the betting app is, it will not be able to get users without visibility. Among the initial marketing activities, it is the app store optimization that occupies the largest part in the budget, which may be around $10,000, and then there will be paid campaigns to bring in the early users. The first 10,000 active users are usually acquired at the cost of $50,000 or more in advertising.
The large operators are making it clear how intense this phase can be. For instance, DraftKings is said to have spent more than $1 billion on acquiring customers and promoting the brand right after launching. Although new companies do not necessarily have to spend that much, the example still points out that marketing is a long-term investment, not just one-off activity related to launching the product.
One of the most effective methods to manage expenses during the construction of a betting or casino platform is to initiate the process with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). An MVP eliminates all but the most necessary features for making bets, handling wallets, and performing basic user operations. Such advanced features as AI-driven recommendations, loyalty engines, or complex promotions can only be added later when the real user data justifies the investment.
Design is one more cost area where the product’s quality can be preserved. Many operators prefer working with seasoned freelance UI/UX designers instead of employing a full-time, in-house design team. This method can save up to $15,000 on the design without compromising the delivery of clean and functional layouts that are perfect for the gambling platforms.
There are also other main decisions beyond which the teams have practical strategies that always help them not to exceed their budget:
The CEO of WinWager once correctly observed, “Start small, scale smart.” This strategy not only minimizes the risk of early financial losses, it also ensures that the platform remains flexible enough to develop once the market demand has been proven through the traction it has gained.
Many individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses looking to start their industry with a sports betting app ask, “How much does it cost to develop a sports betting app?”
Before going under the costing and all, it is important to understand that the expense of any app or software development completely depends on the core needs and requirements of the businesses. After gathering the final requirements, it is possible to gain an accurate app development cost.
Read More: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Sports Betting Website
The cost to develop a sports betting app with advanced features and functionalities will be around $25,000-$50,000 for a single platform (Android/iOS/Web). However, there are several factors that you need to be aware of, which play a crucial role in affecting the overall development cost. These factors are:
Now let’s have looked at average cost estimation of sports betting app development in different places:
The cost of sports betting app development in India ranges from $3,500 to $6,000 for a basic betting app, $5,000 to $10,000 for a Mid-level functionality app, and advanced functionality betting application, the cost will be $15,000 to $25,000.
Similarly, if you opt for a UK- or US-based company, the essential cost will start from $10,000 to $20,000, and for advanced-level betting apps, it will be $30,000 to $60,000 or more.
Developing a sports betting app is lucrative for established businesses and startups. With the help of the right sports betting app development company, you can bring your idea into reality and create an engaging and secure betting experience for your target audience/customers. Launching your betting platform in the market can leverage higher revenue opportunities for your business.
Additionally, you must ensure that your sports betting app idea is unique and offers a unique selling proposition to your customers. You must consider several factors like customizability, scalability, security, real-time data integration, and end-to-end support to stand out from your competitors.
If you want to dive into the sports betting market by developing a sports betting app, reach out to us and access the best industry experts who are proficient in guiding you thoroughly and helping you jump-start your business more effectively and efficiently.
How much does it cost to make a sports betting app?
Estimating a sports betting app development cost is not possible as it is influenced by several factors such as app complexity, platforms, UI/UX designing, features and functionalities requirement, developers location, and their expertise level. However, as mentioned in this blog, a rough figure ranges from $25,000-$50,000. These numbers can go up, which entirely depends on project end requirements. To know exactly how much your sports betting app project will cost, contact and consult with a professional sports betting software development company.
How to develop a sports betting app?
Developing a sports betting app is not an easy task as it requires a higher level of technical expertise in programming, designing, etc. To develop a sports betting app, you can follow this comprehensive guide — How to Make a Betting App
Is the betting app profitable?
Yes, betting apps are highly profitable and an exciting venture for those looking for long-term success in the gambling world.
Is it legal to create a betting app?
The legality of creating a betting app depends on where you operate. In some places like the UK and certain US states, it’s legal with a license, while in others, including most of India, it’s restricted unless framed as a skill-based game. Without the right approvals, running a betting app counts as illegal gambling.
How does a betting app earn money?
Betting apps makes money by keeping a small cut from every bet, called the “house edge.” The odds are set so that, in the long run, the app always earns a margin, even if some players win. It can also earn through extra fees, ads, sponsorships, and special offers like VIP programs. The more people place bets, the more the app earns.
How to get a betting app license?
A betting license is subject to legal authority for operating betting businesses under the law and regulations. There are several authorities that issue gambling licenses to trusted businesses, allowing them to run their operations where jurisdiction allows betting. Pick the country where you want to operate, register a company there, and apply through its gambling authority (like the UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority). You’ll need business documents, financial proof, and details of your app. They’ll check your background, test your app, and charge fees. After approval, you must follow rules on ads, player safety, and audits.
Which countries are easiest for licenses?
Popular “easier” options are Curacao, Malta, and Gibraltar because the process is faster and cheaper compared to stricter markets like the UK or US.
I am a programmer & custom casino and sports software developer at Orion InfoSolutions, with a particular focus on creating high-performance, scalable, and compliant gaming software platforms.