Bet the Moment – Designing a Responsible, Social Olympic Betting Experience

The Olympic Sports Betting App is a native mobile design used to make betting during the Olympics exciting, social, and ethical. Whether users are seasoned sports analysts or casual fans tuning in to root for their country, this experience offers a flexible and transparent way to engage with Olympic events. Rooted in user research and driven by responsible design, the app balances excitement with control—helping users place smart, informed bets while enjoying the thrill of the Games. From gamified group challenges to real-time odds tracking, the platform invites users to "bet the moment" with features tailored to their comfort and style.

Background

With global excitement reaching its peak every four years, the Olympic Games unite people from all walks of life. But when it comes to betting, many platforms fall short—either overwhelming newcomers with complexity or failing to build trust with seasoned users. While sports betting apps like FanDuel and DraftKings dominate the market, they often cater to profit-driven gamblers with little attention to social engagement, transparency, or responsible play.

Meanwhile, younger generations are seeking new ways to connect with their communities and favorite athletes through more interactive, socially conscious digital experiences. According to a 2024 Statista report, 42% of Gen Z bettors said they would engage more with betting apps if they offered friend groups or gamified challenges, while over 60% wanted better education and risk controls. As part of my capstone, I asked:

Challenge

How might we create an Olympic sports betting experience that’s intuitive, fun, and socially engaging, while promoting ethical and informed betting behavior for both new and experienced users?

Solution

An Olympic Betting App that blends gamification, social connection, and responsible play to create an engaging and ethical betting experience. The platform supports users across skill levels—from logic-driven analysts to casual sports fans—through customizable betting options, clear educational guidance, and group-based features that make betting feel less isolating and more communal. By building trust through transparency and offering safer betting tools, the app turns the Olympic season into an opportunity for fun, learning, and friendly competition.

Role: Sole end-to-end UI/UX Designer, UX Researcher, Brand Designer

Tools: Figma, Figma Jam, Microsoft Excel, Zoom

Duration: 4 weeks

Skills: User research, usability testing, journey mapping, UI/UX design, feature prioritization, information architecture

RESEARCHING THE OLYMPIC SPORTS BETTING EXPERIENCE

I wanted to understand why many users feel hesitant or overwhelmed when engaging with sports betting, especially during high-profile events like the Olympics. To uncover the root issues and opportunities, I followed a user-centered design approach, guided by direct feedback and behavioral research at every stage.

While digital betting platforms have become increasingly popular in sports culture, the Olympic context poses unique challenges. From scheduling confusion and unfamiliar sports to safety concerns and inconsistent engagement, many users feel the experience lacks personalization, clarity, or social connection.

To assess the current landscape, I conducted a competitive analysis of three betting and gamified sports platforms—including FanDuel, DraftKings, and social-focused trivia apps—to evaluate what works, what doesn’t, and where gaps exist for Olympic-specific engagement.

Key findings from my competitive analysis included:

  • Most platforms are focused on professional leagues and ignore Olympic events altogether

  • Interfaces often feel overwhelming or data-heavy for casual users

  • Responsible gambling tools exist, but are buried or unused

  • Social features (like friend challenges or group play) are limited or poorly integrated

  • Few platforms offer onboarding for new bettors or context about unfamiliar sports

It became clear that users want a safe, social, and simplified way to engage with Olympic sports, without sacrificing excitement, strategy, or fun.

To better understand user needs, I surveyed 20 participants and conducted 6 in-depth interviews with individuals ranging from casual fans to weekly sports bettors. This mixed-method approach helped capture both broad trends and nuanced behaviors across age groups and experience levels.

I focused on uncovering:

  • How users currently engage with Olympic events, and when they choose to bet

  • Their attitudes toward existing betting platforms and features

  • What makes betting feel fun, fair, or overwhelming

  • What they’d like to see in a safer, more personalized Olympic betting experience

Sample Survey Questions (Quantitative):

  • “How likely are you to place a bet on an Olympic event? (1–5 scale)”

  • “What would increase your interest in betting during the Olympics?”

  • “Which betting features feel confusing or unnecessary?”

  • “Do you use tools like spending limits or session reminders?”

Sample Interview Questions (Qualitative):

  • “What makes Olympic events more or less appealing to bet on?”

  • “What would make a betting app feel more fair, safe, or fun to use?”

  • “Can you describe a moment when betting enhanced your enjoyment of a game?”

  • “What kind of tools or features would make you feel more in control?”

Olympic Betting Interest

Concerns

Comfortability Features

Key insights included:

  • 65% felt overwhelmed by betting odds and terminology when using apps

  • 50% said they’d be more likely to bet on Olympic events if there were group challenges or simplified options

  • 60% expressed concern over addictive tendencies or impulse spending, but few used existing safety tools

  • 75% wanted more transparency on how odds are calculated

  • 45% were interested in low-risk games, predictions, or trivia tied to Olympic events

  • 80% wanted to share wins, losses, or picks with friends during the Olympics for fun and social interaction

I then organized all this feedback using affinity mapping, grouping major themes into:

  • Responsible Betting: Users want daily/weekly limits, cool-down timers, and reminders of losses.

  • Gamification & Motivation: Daily challenges, analyst tips, and non-monetary rewards increase engagement.

  • User Education: New users need clearer tutorials and visual breakdowns of odds.

  • Community & Social: Users enjoy group challenges, leaderboard sharing, and peer support.

  • Trust & Security: Transparency in odds-setting and clear safety policies builds trust.

DEFINING THE USERS

To design a sports betting experience tailored to the unique rhythm and excitement of the Olympics, I focused on understanding the distinct motivations, behaviors, and comfort levels of users engaging with betting around this global event. I developed two core personas to guide my design decisions:

  • Alexander Wells (33, Software Developer) - A strategic, data-driven bettor who sees betting as a logic game. Needs transparency, control, and odds history to place smart bets.

    “If the app isn’t clear or fair, I’m out.”

  • Marcus James (26, Bartender) - A casual fan who bets during big events for fun and connection. Needs an easy way to bet with friends, low-risk pools, and betting walkthroughs.

    “I just want to have fun—if I win something, cool. If not, I still had a good time with friends.”

Every part of the Olympic betting experience—from bet discovery to odds visualization to social-friendly interfaces—was shaped to balance Alexander’s desire for insight and autonomy with Marcus’s need for simplicity, fun, and connection. Designing for both personas ensured the product feels both trustworthy and exciting, whether you're chasing stats or chasing vibes.

The POV statements and HMW questions were developed by deeply analyzing the distinct goals, challenges, and behaviors of my two personas. I translated their pain points into clear problem statements and actionable design opportunities that guided my feature development.

POV Statements

  • “I want odds I can understand and control over how I bet, so I don’t feel manipulated.”

  • “I want to share my bets with friends and compete casually, without feeling pressure to spend big.”

HMW Questions:

  • HMW make odds easier to understand for new users?

  • HMW balance entertainment with ethical safeguards?

  • HMW encourage social interaction without turning betting into peer pressure?

  • HMW support fast, informed decisions during live Olympic events?

Designing the Experience

To shape a seamless and motivating betting experience around the Olympics, I designed task flows that aligned closely with user needs and psychological triggers—from simplicity and trust to social excitement and data depth. Each step in the journey was informed by usability research, pain points, and the core goals of both Marcus and Alexander.

User Flows - I mapped out the core journeys for the Olympic Sports Betting App:

Placing a Bet on a Featured Event (Casual Mode):

Bet Center → Featured Event → View Details → Enter Wager → Confirm → Track Bet

This journey was intentionally designed to reduce intimidation and cognitive load for new or casual users like Marcus. By surfacing Featured Events on the homepage, users are instantly guided toward popular, timely Olympic matchups without needing deep sports knowledge.

The Casual Mode toggle provides a simplified UI—stripping jargon, limiting options to curated bet types, and using friendly copy and visual cues. This approach came directly from interviews and surveys where users felt overwhelmed or confused by standard betting interfaces.

The ability to enter a wager quickly reinforces a sense of control and safety, reducing fear of loss and promoting repeat engagement. This step supports both user trust and the business goal of boosting DAUs with fast, low-friction interaction.

Lastly, a real-time Bet Tracker ensures that once a user places a bet, they feel connected to the live event, maximizing time-on-app and creating a natural bridge between casual play and Olympic viewership.

Creating a Group Bet:

Bet Center → Group Bets → Invite Friends → Select Friends → Send → Place Bet → Track

This flow emerged from the insight that both Marcus and Alexander value connection—either for fun or bragging rights—and that current platforms underserve this need. From the Bet Center, users can discover “Group Bets” as a featured action, which links betting to social play.

The Invite Friends step was designed to integrate seamlessly with app contacts or social platforms, making the bet feel more like a party invite than a gambling task. This aligns with Marcus’ desire for casual, shared experiences and boosts organic app adoption through referrals.

By keeping the betting setup simple, but allowing for leaderboard elements and chat reactions post-bet, the experience supports community, friendly competition, and repeat group play, while also serving acquisition and retention business goals.

By designing these flows as intentional responses to user psychology, I ensured that each step builds confidence, encourages return usage, and adapts to the user’s skill level. Whether someone is placing a casual $1 bet with friends or running a performance-based prediction, the journey respects their mindset, meeting both user and business needs along the way.

Wireframes

I started with low-fidelity wireframes based on the user flow and moved to mid- and high-fidelity prototypes, testing iteratively with users at each stage. My mid-fi wireframes focused on intuitive layouts, segmented betting modes (Casual vs Pro), and group functionality.

GoldPlay Homepage

Sports Type

Bet Center

Bet Center

Bet Center

Tasks Tested:

  • Navigate to an Olympic gymnastics matchup

  • Choose between Casual or Pro mode

  • Select athletes or teams to bet on

  • Place a wager

  • Invite friends to a group bet

  • Confirm the bet and track status

🔍 Key Findings (Mid-Fi)

→ Mode distinction needed clarification: Users were unsure how Casual and Pro modes differed without descriptions.

→ Odds were confusing: Casual users didn’t understand +150 odds or betting terminology.

→ Lack of guidance: Users wanted info icons, clearer selection labels, and tutorials on betting types.

→ Strong layout hierarchy: Users easily found trending events and completed the main task.

→ Social betting was intriguing but unclear: Group Bet and Invite Friends were popular, but lacked proper cues or confirmation feedback

Mid-Fidelity Usability Testing

After finalizing my sketches, I translated the strongest concepts into a mid-fidelity prototype to begin usability testing.

I conducted usability testing with three participants using a clickable mid-fidelity prototype to evaluate how well users could complete a core betting task. The goal was to test whether both casual bettors like Marcus and strategic users like Alexander could understand how to place a bet, select a mode (Casual or Pro), and invite friends to a group bet.

At this stage, I wanted to validate the app’s foundational structure—was the flow from selecting an event to confirming a bet clear and intuitive? Were users able to distinguish between betting modes, understand odds, and feel confident in their choices? I was particularly focused on identifying friction points around jargon, feature discoverability, and social play features.

✏️ Iterations Based on Mid-Fi Testing

  • Added info icons for odds and terminology

  • Improved bet selection feedback with visual cues (checkboxes/buttons)

  • Specified bet types more clearly

  • Introduced more athlete options and initial filtering logic

Before Iterations

After Iterations

High-Fidelity Usability Testing

For the high-fidelity phase, I tested a fully interactive prototype with three new participants to evaluate how well the visual design supported real-world use. The primary goal was to determine whether users could confidently complete the core betting flow—from selecting an event to inviting friends—with minimal friction or guidance.

At this stage, I wanted to validate more than just functionality. I was testing how the refined visual hierarchy, added interaction feedback, and improved layout impacted overall task success. Could users easily navigate the experience? Did the Casual vs. Pro mode toggle now make sense? And did the social features—like Group Bets and Invite Friends—feel approachable and rewarding?

This round helped confirm whether the design not only worked, but felt intuitive and inclusive for both Marcus, who values simplicity and social engagement, and Alexander, who needs structure and control. Their feedback revealed what still needed refinement and what features were ready for real-world use.

Tasks Tested:

  • Navigate to gymnastics event

  • Select a team or athlete

  • Choose a betting mode

  • Place wager

  • Invite friends to join

  • Confirm and track the bet

🔍 Key Findings (High-Fi)

→ Improved visual hierarchy enhanced navigation: Users quickly found live events and knew where to go next.

→ Social betting gained traction: Most testers were drawn to Group Bets, though some requested clearer confirmation after sending invites.

→ Athlete stats and visuals boosted confidence: Stats next to names improved engagement and bet accuracy.

→ Filtering was desired: Users wanted to sort sports by category, such as individual vs. team events.

→ All users completed the primary task in under 3 minutes with minimal errors or confusion

Branding the Experience

To evoke both Olympic prestige and betting excitement, the visual language combined clean, high-contrast layouts with national pride colors.

Color Palette:

  • Primary Color – Gold (#D4AF37): Symbolizes achievement, prestige, and reward.

  • Secondary Colors – Olympic Blue (#0057B8): Inspired by national team jerseys.

  • Tertiary Colors – Slate Black (#222222), Soft Gray (#F4F4F4), and Neutral Gray (#888888): Provide hierarchy, legibility, and a clean foundation for content delivery.

Typography:

  • Headings – Montserrat:

  • Body Text – Lato:

Visual Tone:

  • Confident, competitive, inclusive

  • Emphasis on clarity, trust, and national pride

✏️ Iterations Based on High-Fi Testing

  • Improved Invite Friends feedback (e.g., highlight when selected)

  • Added Group Bets page upon sliding the group bets toggle

  • Fixed navigation bar to support persistent access to key features

Before Iterations

After Iterations

OUTCOMES & REFLECTIONS

This project taught me how to design for both excitement and responsibility—a balance many betting apps miss. By creating a clear user journey for casual and analytical bettors, I built a product that welcomes all Olympic fans, regardless of experience.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Simplicity + trust matter more than flashy features for long-term engagement

  • User education is essential—don’t assume betting knowledge

  • Gamified social play boosts engagement without encouraging addiction

If I Could Improve:

  • I would deepen real-time sync with Olympic events for dynamic odds

  • Expand group challenges with themed medal quests or country vs country rivalries

  • Conduct more accessibility testing to ensure usability across all ages and tech skills

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Designing this Olympic Betting App wasn’t just about betting—it was about how people connect with global competition. By building a safe, community-first platform, I created space for users to enjoy the Games with confidence, excitement, and integrity.