Imagine a time when mobile betting didn’t exist. Rugby fans shouted themselves hoarse in the stands, argued in pubs until the last sip of beer, and speculated about who would score the next try, while bets remained somewhere in dreams or scribbled on a slip at the bookmaker’s. And now? Now everything is different — a few taps on your smartphone screen and you’re in the game, right in the middle of the match, as your team crushes the opponent’s defence.
And here’s the essence: mobile applications haven’t just changed betting. They’ve changed how we experience rugby — adding a new level of passion, bringing us closer to the pitch even when we’re sitting hundreds of kilometres away. Now it’s not just a sport, it’s our personal challenge — and the smartphone has become our best friend.
Development of mobile betting
The history of sports betting dates back hundreds of years. In Great Britain, where rugby originated in 1823 thanks to the legendary incident with William Webb Ellis, the first bookmakers began to appear as early as the 19th century. By the 1960s, betting had become legal, and more than 15,000 betting shops were opened across the country. However, until the end of the 20th century, betting remained complicated and required a personal visit to betting shops.
With the advent of the internet in the 1990s, online betting began to transform the industry. The first betting website, Intertops, was launched in 1996 and offered users the opportunity to place bets via computer. By the 2000s, platforms such as Bet365 (founded in 2000) and William Hill were already offering odds on rugby, including the Six Nations Championship and the World Cup.
A real breakthrough occurred with the development of smartphones. In 2007, the launch of the iPhone by Apple kicked off the era of mobile technologies, and by 2010, betting companies began releasing apps en masse. The first betting company considered to have launched a mobile app for betting is Ladbrokes, one of the oldest British bookmakers. However, the first fully-fledged mobile app for sports betting available in the App Store was the app by Betfair, launched in 2010.
The first betting application provided users with the ability to place bets, monitor odds in real-time, and manage their accounts via a smartphone. Over time, the technology improved, interfaces became more user-friendly, and the features expanded. Today, users can place live bets in real-time, analyse detailed statistics, instantly top up accounts and withdraw funds, as well as receive push notifications about the best odds and special offers.
Besides betting, mobile technologies are also penetrating other areas of entertainment. For example, Czech mobile casino offers players the opportunity to play favourite gambling games at any time, as well as bet on sports events directly from their phone. This concept of combining sports betting and a mobile casino provides users with even more opportunities to enjoy the thrill of the game, whether they are watching a match of their favourite team or relaxing during halftime.
Why have mobile bets become popular in rugby?
Rugby is a sport with a high degree of unpredictability and dynamism, making it an ideal choice for real-time betting. Mobile applications allow fans to react instantly to match events: whether it’s a try, a kick at goal, or a drop goal. For example, in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England (32:12), the odds on South Africa’s victory changed every few minutes during live betting, providing active app users with opportunities to profit from accurate predictions.
According to Legalbet data, in 2023, more than 85% of all sports bets worldwide were placed via mobile devices. For rugby, mobile betting is particularly important, as many key tournaments, such as the Six Nations Championship (starting in 1883) or Super Rugby (since 1996), take place across different time zones, and fans want to follow them while on the go or at work.
What applications are provided for rugby fans?
Mobile applications have not only simplified access to betting — they have changed the very approach of fans to rugby, making them more engaged and active participants in events. Here are the key aspects of this influence:
- Accessibility and speed. Previously, it was necessary to go to a betting shop or turn on a computer to place a bet. Now, just a few taps on the screen are enough. For example, in 2023 during the match Australia — New Zealand (31:28) as part of the Rugby World Cup, the Bet365 app processed more than 100,000 bets within the first 10 minutes of the game, which would not have been possible without mobile technologies.
- Real-time betting. Live betting has become the main driver of growth for mobile applications. According to Gambling Insider, in 2022, 55% of all rugby bets in Europe were placed in real-time mode. For example, during the 2015 Rugby World Cup final (New Zealand 34:17 Australia), the odds for an All Blacks victory dropped from 1.8 to 1.2 after the first try, and mobile users could react instantly.
- Analytics and statistics. Applications provide fans with access to sports analytics. For example, in the William Hill app, it can be seen that the South African team won 85% of their scrums at the 2023 World Cup, which influenced bets on their victory in the final against New Zealand (12:11). Mobile betting applications complement this picture by offering statistics on ball possession, fouls, and corners.
- Social aspect. Many applications, such as 1xBet and Fonbet, integrate chats and forums where fans discuss matches. During the Six Nations Cup 2022 (Ireland 57:6 Italy), users actively shared predictions in real time, which increased engagement.
The best applications for betting on rugby
Betting companies actively adapt their mobile applications to the specifics of rugby, offering unique features and tools. We will look at several market leaders, their peculiarities, and their contribution to the popularisation of betting on this sport.
Winline stands out thanks to the integration of video broadcasts into its application, which is particularly evident in the coverage of Rugby Sevens. During the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where Fiji defended their title with a victory over New Zealand (27:12), Winline provided live broadcasts of all matches in this format. This increased the number of active users by 15% during July and August 2021. In 2023, the bookmaker continued this strategy and added broadcasts of test matches, such as Australia — Wales (36:28), with the option to place bets directly while watching. According to company data, 70% of users watching broadcasts place at least one live bet, making this feature a key driver of growth.
Bet365 — one of the largest bookmakers in the world, founded in 2000 by Denise Coates. The Bet365 app offers more than 50 betting markets on major rugby matches, including results, handicaps, total points, and individual player performances. In 2023, the company announced 45 million active users worldwide, 60% of whom use the mobile app. During the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, Bet365 recorded a 35% increase in bets compared to the 2019 tournament, with 80% of them placed via smartphones.
William Hill, founded in 1934, is one of the oldest bookmakers, whose app remains a benchmark for rugby betting in the United Kingdom. In 2023, the company processed over 2 million bets on the Six Nations Cup, 75% of which were placed via mobile devices. The app offers match analysis, such as ball possession statistics and successful tackles, helping fans make informed decisions.
Types of bets on rugby in mobile applications
Thanks to technological advancements and the integration of real-time analysis, users can choose from many markets, ranging from simple outcomes to complex combined bets. Let us delve into the main types of rugby bets available in mobile applications, with examples, facts, and figures.
Bets on the match result (Moneyline)
The simplest and most popular type of bet is predicting the winner of the match. In rugby union (rugby-15) and rugby league (rugby-13), three outcomes are possible: a win for the first team (1), a win for the second team (2), or a draw (X). In rugby sevens (rugby-7), draws occur less frequently due to the shorter game format (14 minutes), so usually, only two outcomes are offered.
Example: In the final of the Six Nations Cup 2023, France against England (41:28), the odds in the Bet365 app before the match were as follows: France — 1.45, draw — 20.0, England — 2.80. Users could bet on France’s victory through the mobile app within seconds.
Fact: According to data from William Hill, approximately 40% of all rugby bets in 2023 were placed on the match outcome.
Handicap betting (Handicap)
Handicap betting assumes that one of the teams is given a virtual advantage or disadvantage in points to even out the odds. This is particularly popular in matches with a clear favourite, such as games of New Zealand against weaker teams.
Example: In the 2023 test match New Zealand — Fiji (57:23), Betway offered a handicap (-20.5) on the All Blacks with odds of 1.90. This meant that New Zealand had to win by more than 20 points, which they did.
Fact: According to the analytics of the internet publication New Czech online casino In 2023, the average handicap for top matches of the World Championship was ±15.5 points, and the accuracy of users’ predictions reached 65%.
Bets on total (Over/Under)
Total is a bet on the total number of points both teams will score in a match. Bookmakers set a line, and players choose whether the result will be higher (Over) or lower (Under) than this value.
Example: In the final of the 2023 World Championship South Africa — New Zealand (12:11), Paddy Power offered a total points line of 42.5 with odds of 1.85 for “under” and 1.95 for “over”. The final score (23 points) made the winning bet on “under”.
Fact: The average score in the Six Nations Cup 2023 was 48.5 points, which is 10% more than in 2022, due to a more attacking style of play.
Bets on tries
Rugby is unique in that a key element of the game is tries (5 points for carrying the ball into the in-goal area). Mobile applications offer many options: total number of tries, first try, individual player statistics.
Example: In the Bet365 app for the match Ireland — Italy (57:6, Six Nations Cup 2022), a bet on “more than 6.5 tries” had odds of 1.70. Ireland scored 8 tries, which resulted in a win.
Fact: According to Rugby World data, in 2023 the average number of tries per match in Super Rugby was 5.8, making this market popular for betting.
Live Betting
Live bets are the heart of mobile applications that allow predictions to be made during a match. In rugby, where the situation can suddenly change (for example, due to a red card or an injury), this is particularly relevant.
In the final of the 2019 World Championship South Africa — England (32:12), the odds for South Africa’s victory in the 1xBet app dropped from 2.10 to 1.30 after the first try in the 10th minute. Users could react immediately.
Fact: Gambling Insider reports that in 2023, 60% of rugby bets in Europe were placed in Live mode, with their share in mobile applications reaching 85%.
Instead of a conclusion
According to data Statista In 2023, the global mobile betting market reached a volume of $61.5 billion, and it is expected to grow to 90% of the total volume by 2028, reaching $113.7 billion. And rugby, with its global audience of 400 million people (according to data World Rugby), will become one of the driving forces of this growth. The volume of the rugby betting market in 2023 amounted to 1.2 billion dollars solely for the World Cup, and with the implementation of technologies, it could reach 2 billion dollars by 2030, according to EGR Global Innovations such as AI, AR, and blockchain will not only increase the revenues of bookmakers but also make betting more interactive and accessible for fans around the world. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this exciting process — download the mobile app for rugby betting and witness the dynamic development of sports betting today!
