The Current: Red Zone Rush From Underdog
TCL will offer a short piece on something new in the US gambling space in The Current every Tuesday.
I think we’re all dying for a better experience when betting on sports in the US, even if we don’t really know it or verbalize it.
There’s been innovation in the space, but sometimes the UX of sportsbooks can seem inherently not fun. Building parlays or finding what you want to bet on can be like pulling teeth.
So when I see something like Red Zone Rush from Underdog, I get excited. This is way more fun than the current UX of most sportsbooks. (You can’t embed tweets on Substack, so you’ll have to click the link here to see a video of how it works.)
The quick explanation: You swipe to add or skip players to an entry (or parlay) that you think will or won’t score a touchdown this week in the NFL. Honestly, pretty cool, and I hope we see more stuff like this in the regulated gambling space*.
*Disclaimer: RED ZONE RUSH IS NOT GAMBLING IT’S DEFINITELY FANTASY SPORTS.**
**It’s actually gambling, but legal where it’s offered at this point until someone says differently.
There’s also a startup in the space that will eventually allow you to bet in a similar fashion, called FanSwipr. The idea is you get the app, link your sportsbook accounts, and now you are swiping to make bets. (It’s not yet in the App Store or Google Play.)
I am not saying this is for everyone, or that this is the end state of sports betting UX. But I’d argue it’s a better way to interact with a fantasy app/sportsbook for a lot of recreational bettors. And seeing some innovation in how we bet is something that feels long overdue.
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The Closing Line is now five days a week!
TCL is going to a regular publishing schedule:
Monday, The Early Line: A look ahead and a look back at what’s going on in gambling, in a short, digestible format.
Tuesday, The Current: What you read today. A short piece on something new in the space. Think a startup, a product, a development in the market.
Wednesday, The MiniPod: A super short podcast, often just me, sometimes with guests!
Thursday, The Takeaway: My take on something in the gambling industry, i.e. the backbone of what The Closing Line has been since its inception.
Friday, The Cashout (paywalled): Market insights on what’s happening in North American sports betting, online casinos, and beyond. I am going to paywall this post every week.
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