Transcript for:
Guide to Building a Sports Betting Platform

Hello there! Do you want to build your own sports  betting website or mobile app? Perhaps you have a   unique idea for a betting mobile app, betting  platform for bots, combination of social app   and a betting platform or even an AI marketplace  for betting professionals. Stay with me because   I'll give a step-by-step instruction on  how to do that quickly and save money! My name is Dennis Babych, and I’m the director  of a software development company. In this video,   I'll show you how to test your idea, outperform  your competitors, hire the greatest team, and save   money along the way. All of this knowledge comes  from my agency's expertise, successful businesses,   and top-tier practices combined into  one ultimate system. Let's get started! One of the most powerful tools right now it’s  an AI which can help you create truly unique and   game changing services. Let’s take a look at the  super combo of large learning models like ChatGPT,   connection services like LangChain, your unique  data which you can utilise and your unique idea. LangChain is a game-changing, open-source  framework that empowers developers to integrate   AI models like GPT-4 with external data sources.  This powerful tool disrupts traditional methods   by allowing AI to reference vast databases,  which was transformed into vector format. So,   the LangChain provides not only answer  for your question but also it’s enables   actionable responses such as automated  betting, decision making process and so on. So, LangChain can revolutionize the  betting industry by connecting large   language models to vast databases of  game statistics, player performance,   and historical betting odds. Utilizing LangChain,  bettors can query specific data points,   receive insights, and predict outcomes based  on a more comprehensive data analysis. This   enhances decision-making, potentially offering  a more informed and scripted betting strategy. Anyway, AI it’s just a tools that can  help you rock the world but you still   have to create a software  for your betting platform. Let's start by identifying the core components of  your betting website. Depending on your business   goals it might include the web and mobile  app for users and the web super admin zone. Also, one of the most important blocks that  you have to have when you are developing a   betting platform it’s your anti fraud system  that will allow you to track people that want   to scam your system. Some people would make 3  bettings like $114 for victory at your platform,   $113 for tie at another platform and $115  at third platform thus they inflict heavy   losses to the betting platforms.  That’s why KYC it’s a must have   functionality and also AI algorithm for a  users behaviour tracking to block scammers. The mobile apps will have the functionality for  your users and have functions such as login,   live betting, odds, payments, search, promotion  and bonuses, account settings and so on. The web app will have almost the  same functionality like mobile apps   but with more expanded functions and services. The web-based admin zone will provide  functionality such as user management,   verifications, payment management,  analytics, security and more. So, let's dive straight into the essence of your  software development voyage. Creating a rock solid   MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is your golden ticket  to the software journey. So, what's the sense? Picture this, you're aiming to build a  betting platform. You're looking at users app,   web app and an admin zone. But hold on a minute.  Do you truly need a live streaming functionality   in your app right now? Could you, perhaps, use a  third-party integration service for this and make   a simple integration? Same thing for let’s say  payments with crypto. And that user transaction   history function – is it urgent? Maybe it's one of  those things that can wait until your version 2.0. Look, this MVP approach isn't just about  speed. It's tailored for efficiency. By   focusing on select features and possibly  one unique killer element, we're talking   about a streamlined development process, optimized  resource allocation, and an effective market test   run. And here's the kicker: Once your MVP is up  and running, gathering a user base then it becomes   a magnet for angel investors. Believe it or not,  valuations can skyrocket to a $1,000,000 or more. So, the bottom line? MVP isn't just  a buzzword. It's the secret recipe,   and we're about to master it. Now, let's talk about pricing! When it comes to identifying the price for your  software, there are several things you have   to keep in mind such as: quality assurance,  bug fixing, project management, maintenance   and risks. Estimating the cost of developing  unique features at this stage, can be quite   challenging. But don't worry, I'm here to provide  you with pricing for the basic MVP functionality. Here's a pro tip for you: if an investor  contract requires an in-house development team,   you'll need to allocate a budget  based on US or EU rates. However,   you always have the option to outsource your  software development expenditures to Ukraine,   which can be a significant game-changer  when you are seeking value for money. Ukraine is an absolute hidden gem in  the software development world. Many   successful startups such as GitLab, Grammarly,  and Jooble have already recognized a huge value   of hiring Ukrainian developers to build a  top-notch software. Ukrainian developers   have excellent English skills, extensive  experience in outsourcing development,   strong math background, they have  innovative thinking which help   them always think outside of the box, on  top of that they are hard workers. Also,   many betting firms are outsourcing their services  to Ukraine because it’s a huge value for money. Ok, so, the most pressing question you might  have right now is probably about which features   to include in your MVP and how to prioritize them  properly. And the answer is super simple. Follow   the methodology that I'm about to share with  you. This comprehensive methodology that I've   developed after 10 years of experience will  assist you in identifying essential features,   make the pricing accurately, finding the  best execution team, outplaying competitors,   achieve your product-market fit, and saving  a significant amount of resources. Moreover,   it will shed light on why the app price  can range from $100,000 to $250,000. Buckle up! Let’s dive in! So, the first step is the business plan. And  this is where the modified Lean Canvas comes   into play. It's like a business plan on  a napkin that uncovers all hidden aspects   that you need to focus on. This business plan  will take something about an hour to prepare. Next, the order of these boxes that you see on  the screen and the process flow is crucial. It’s   been created after experiencing with 1000+  Lean Canvas workshops with my clients. So,   it starts with understanding your user groups  and their main pain points. What are their   struggles? What issues can your service  address and make their lives easier? Next, explore your competitors and  the solutions they offer. Identify   their advantages, disadvantages, and  their strategies that you can adapt.   Your goal is to find the space where you  can outshine your competitors by creating   a unique solution for your specific  niche without reinventing the wheel. Now, let's talk about your unique unfair  advantage. This is the powerful factor   that sets you apart from your rivals.  It could be your cheap developers,   marketing insights, AI utilisation and so on. Ok, once you've identified your unique edge,  it's time to target your early adopters. These   individuals will be the pioneers who will test  your service and give you the most valuable   feedback at the early stage. Discover where  they spend their time online and create a cool   marketing hook to engage them. Give them something  truly unique and powerful. Broadcast your unique   offer via social media, influencers, or  just regular Google and Facebook ads. By keeping a close eye on how your app's doing and  really diving into the feedback from your users,   you can shed the light on what’s  need to be changed or improved. Also, if you are interested in learning more about  Lean Canvas and get insight from 1000+ workshops,   I’ve created the full video about  that. Link in the video description. Next, don't just think about the present. Plan  for the future and envision global growth and   international expansion of your platform.  Having a clear vision for your app's future   in 5 or 10 years is crucial for attracting  investors and achieving unicorn status. Ok, the next thing you should totally be  focusing on is how you're gonna make some   cash from your project. It could be betting  margins, affiliate programs, advertisement,   premium subscription services, selling data to  AI agencies, in-app-purchases, VIP services,   and more. Just make proper prioritisation  and implement one or two at the beginning. And here's a golden nugget for you: Are you  thinking of going cheaper than your competitors?   Unfortunately, it's not gonna fly. What you really  want is to prepare and share with your clients   a really insane and powerful value, so you can  actually charge even more than your competitors. If you have any questions, please leave them in  the comments section below. I'm always excited to   help you out, and I'll personally review each  comment. Also, don't forget to hit that like   button and subscribe to stay updated  and gain more business insights. Thanks! One of the most crucial steps in creating  your startup is achieving a product-market   fit. Believe me, it's a game-changer. So,  how can you offer innovative and disruptive   solutions that address the pains and  gains of your target audience? Well,   completing your Value Proposition  table is the key to achieving that. Picture this you have an exciting idea  for your own betting platform. Before   starting the software development  phase, it's important to identify   pains and gains of your users. It could  be something like: no money for a start,   geographical limitations, problems with  deposits, lack of engagement and so on. Once you have identified all these issues, it's  the perfect time to leverage your platform to   tackle them. You can provide solutions  such as: welcome bonuses, VPN services,   banks for deposits in different countries  and affiliate program where users can   invite their friends or audience and  get the percentage from their loss. Look, when you prioritize the platform value  for your audience on front and keep that at   the core of everything you do, you're setting up  your business to become a money making machine. Remember, small companies and startups  can easily outperform industry leaders   by being agile, flexible, and focusing  on unique problems and local niches.   You don't have to compete with  everyone in the market. Instead,   concentrate on a specific audience and  provide them with the best possible value. And always keep in mind that it's  crucial to fall in love with your   customers' problems and not just your solutions. Alright, if your goal is to create an app  that can outperform your competitors and   satisfy your clients, then it's crucial to do  your homework and conduct proper competitor   research. Look at the industry giants for  inspiration. They've mastered the game,   and you can learn from them by studying their  user flows and proven methodologies. Remember,   there's no need to reinvent the wheel completely. However, don't limit your research only to  the big players! Expand your scope and explore   startups in smaller niches and different  countries. You never know what you might   discover - there could be a hidden gem that gives  you a competitive edge in the market. Trust me,   this exploration could be the most beneficial  factor in your startup's success. On top of that,   you can learn which startup ideas  was successful and which one fails. So, the idea here is to grab inspiration  from the market and make something truly   unique or improve a specific service. Look,  your goal is to identify how your competitors   solving problems of your users and create  a disruptive solution that can make all   the difference. You have to be like Uber  and old fashion phone taxi services. So,   find the market problems and  generate ideas using, let’s say, AI. If you need assistance or support,  feel free to reach out to me through   any of the contact details listed in the  description below. I'm here to help you,   and I'd be delighted to share my niche  knowledge that could significantly impact   your startup's success. Let's  outperform competitors together! Okay, once you've done a deep  dive into your competitors,   pinpointed all your customers' issues,  and come up with a bunch of solutions,   it's a perfect time to properly prioritise  your software features. You'll have to figure   out which features are must-have, should  have, could have, and won't be developed. This savvy approach not only gives you a  solid game plan for the essential features   your app needs without busting the  budget, but it also lets you pivot   as necessary without burning through all  your resources. Plus, it helps you with   finding the path to your apps core idea and  crystallize your project's main objectives,   translating them into the software features  that should be on your development list. When it comes to creating an MVP for your  app, it's important to keep your focus on   what matters most to your users. And  that's where a story map comes into   play. With a well-crafted story map, you  can break down the user requirements and   map out the essential features that need  to be developed and launched quickly. But hold on, there's more! To ensure  maximum user engagement and satisfaction,   it's important to develop separate  story maps for each user type.   Think of it as providing each user  group with their own treasure map,   guiding them directly to the features that  are most important to them. By doing this,   you can identify the specific needs of each group  and prioritize the features accordingly. This way,   your MVP will meet their crucial needs and  provide the best possible value at this stage. Thus, the real power of a story map lies in its  capacity to help you save funds on one side,   while simultaneously enabling  you to concentrate on providing   the most value to your audience at  the right stage on the other side. Are you interested in delving deeper into  the world of startups and businesses? Do   you want to connect with business-minded founders   and entrepreneurs where I share tons  of insights and host live chats? If so,   click the link in the video description and  join me on my Telegram channel right now. Keep in mind, that marketing it’s one of the most  important parts in the betting business. Marketing   will cost you a dollar and many betting companies  are using a white methods of promotions such as   ads, affiliate marketing and so on but also they  are using a grey methods of promotion of their   services such as CPM marketing, movies language  translation services and ads on grey websites. Also, one of the biggest part of your marketing  strategy it’s memorisable brand. If people   remembers your brand because of some crazy  and funny ads or even poem that’s been created   for your brand then you are found the magic  formula of your business success and growth. Alright, let's talk about wireframing. Wireframes  are the blueprint of your app business logic,   where you create every possible user cases and   scenarios. It helps you uncover all  the hidden or unexpected user flows. For example, let's say you're in the process of  creating your betting platform. You've covered   the basic functions like user authentication,  payments and betting functionality and so on. But   what about situations where the user want to make  an API integration with your platform for betting   using bots and scripts? Have you incorporated  a feature or a functionality to manage such   scenarios? These are the types of issues where a  wireframe will help you identify potential gaps. Look, once again, the wireframe serves as  the foundation for your app's functionality   and user experience, and it's crucial  to make this foundation rock solid. Next, let's delve into the UI Design of your app.  There are two key aspects to consider. Firstly,   the UI design should cater  to users of all age groups,   so the UI should be modern but not too fancy. Secondly, and most crucially, your UI design  should facilitate users in solving their problems   with the fewest clicks possible. Because each  additional click it’s the money of your platform   that you are loosing. Betting platforms are  always big and way too much complex. Thus,   your job here is to incorporate well known icons,  design intuitive elements and their locations,   and a simple colour scheme that will help your  users swiftly and effectively navigating your app. Third part it’s your logo and your brand.  This is one of the fundamental things where   you have to put your attention because  strong brand drives sales like insane. Here's a helpful pro tip for you - to generate  really cool UI design style and ideas,   explore portfolios on websites like Behance or  Dribbble. Search for betting apps, CRM apps,   and incorporate design elements  that catch your attention. And   remember what Picasso said, "good  artists copy, great artists steal." If you found value in these tips, please  show your support by hitting that like   button and subscribing to my channel. Your  support will boost this video visibility in   the YouTube algorithm and you don't miss any  valuable business videos from me. Thank you! Now, let's delve into the tech stack. This is  one of the most critical aspects when creating   a betting website or an app. Therefore, choosing  the right tech stack is vital to avoid challenges   such as slow user interfaces, non-scalable and  non-maintainable cloud infrastructure, high costs,   payment and subscription issues, and the risk  of your app going offline during traffic spikes. So, if you're planning to create a betting  platform, it's essential to select the appropriate   tech stack that enables rapid development of  your minimum viable product. Flutter or React   Native are excellent choices for the mobile  app development. For back-end development,   Python, Django, Node.js for main  infrastructure and C++, Golang for   betting algorithms plus Amazon Web Services,  Docker, Kubernetus are perfect options. React,   Vue.js, and Angular are ideal for  crafting web applications with ease. Additionally, leveraging third-party services  like Stripe and Braintree for payment processing,   Twilio for SMS, and SendGrid for emails  can expedite your development timeline. Look, your goal is to create the MVP product  fast but at the same time keep in mind a big   software architecture plan to be able to  expand and scale your product in future.   Some tools you need at the early stage  and some tools at the later stage. Anyway,   the right tech stack is like receiving  a correct diagnosis after a blood test. Alright, let's discuss the Agile process,  one of the most powerful methodologies   out there that can significantly speed  up your development process. However,   did you know that in some situations, it can  actually slow down your project by up to 30%? Picture this: you have a team of 5  developers who understand their roles,   communicate effectively, and have made  significant progress in coding the product,   they could use simple tools like Trello,  Asana, Google Docs, and quick Zoom meetings. However, as your team expands to 15 or more  people, you may face some challenges such as:   losing your key developers, complex and  time consuming onboarding processes,   reduced team productivity, communication issues,   missed deadlines, and a decline  in code quality and architecture. To avoid these problems, it's important to: • Hire a tech lead to oversee   the team and code architecture. • Find project manager with tech background  • Implement SCRUM, Sprints, Backlog,  and Retrospective processes.  • Conduct daily standups to keep  everyone updated on pending tasks.  • Utilize advanced tools like Jira to  manage tasks and track your team velocity. Choosing the right tools at the appropriate  stage can accelerate your progress towards   achieving your Minimum Viable Product.  However, keep in mind that even the   best tools can lead to failure without  the necessary knowledge or expertise. Another pro tip for you: Agile methodology can  be a valuable asset not only in your software   development journey but also in your daily tasks,   business, and marketing.  It's really powerful tool. Collecting user analytics is a  crucial practice in the tech industry,   allowing you to uncover essential  metrics like unique visitors,   user behavior, and session frequency. Using  powerful tools such as Google Analytics,   Sessionstack, Firebase, and Mixpanel  will enable you to gather valuable data. By consistently tracking your app's  performance and analyzing your users   feedback, you can pinpoint areas that require  improvements to ensure your users' satisfaction. Alright, if you're thinking of creating a  mobile app or a web app, but you're not quite   sure where to start and you need some advice  on how to start and outplay your competitors,   feel free to shoot me a message via Calendly,  and we can have a 30-minute call. Trust me;   I'd be more than happy to share some insider  knowledge and expertise with you, that could be   a real game-changer for your startup. So, what are  you waiting for? Let's make it happen! See you!