Real-time, high-speed sports betting is the best use case for 5G

[Commentary] In a report on the topic, the analysts at New Street Research laid out a pretty compelling argument for how ISPs will be able to cash in on real-time sports betting by providing high-speed links to gamblers looking for an edge. “Placing a bet does not require a lot of bandwidth. Showing the bets, placing and accepting millions of bets, calculating the odds, and doing so in a small window of the break between actions requires a high-quality network,” the analysts wrote “While companies offering gigabit capable networks often point to socially useful use cases, like remote surgery, to date the commercial rationale for a mass market use is more often seen with multi-player games. On-line, real time gambling is another version of such a use case that could drive payments for next generation networks” The Wall Street research firm also pointed out that the Federal Communications Commission’s move earlier in 2018 to rescind its net neutrality rules could help pave the way for ISPs to score revenues from the sale of these high-speed links.

As you can imagine, 5G technology plays into this situation perfectly. It is specifically designed to support low-latency and high-volume communications—exactly the kind of connections that real-time sports gamblers might want. And it could be deployed in sports stadiums, sports bars and other venues where such betting might take place. Additionally, carriers like Verizon and AT&T are investing in content exactly in this area. Verizon has a major investment in sports content through its Yahoo Sports ownership and its NFL deals, while AT&T is working to purchase Turner Sports owner Time Warner.