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

The Olympic Sports Betting App is a mobile-first platform designed 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 five 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?”

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 create an effective virtual nail try-on experience, I focused on understanding the distinct needs and behaviors of key users who would interact with the feature. I developed two core personas to anchor 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.”

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

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

Creating a Group Bet:

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

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.

Usability Testing – Mid-Fi Highlights:

  • The featured sports layout was well-received for its clarity and appeal, though users expressed confusion about the difference between Casual and Pro modes.

  • Some users were unclear about how odds functioned and requested improved labeling and visual explanations.

  • There was a desire for more in-app guidance, including mini-tutorials on betting types and athlete information.

 

Mid-Fi Iterations:

  • Added info icons to explain odds and terminology

  • Clarified Pro vs Casual modes with descriptions

Usability Testing - High-Fi Highlights:

  • The interface was seen as intuitive, though users wanted clearer confirmation after sending friend invites.

  • The emphasis on national teams and visual athlete stats was positively received.

  • Group play features were of interest, with suggestions for incentives like shared winnings; users also requested sport-type filters for easier navigation.

 

High-Fi Iterations:

  • Improved “Invite Friends” interaction feedback.

  • Enhanced athlete stats and filters.

  • Added toggles for group bets.

  • Ensured that the navigation bar was fixed in place.

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

Testing & Iterating

I conducted usability tests with 6 participants using mid- and high-fidelity clickable prototypes.


Tasks tested included:

  • Navigating to an Olympic gymnastics matchup

  • Selecting Casual or Pro betting mode

  • Choosing athletes or teams to bet on

  • Entering a wager and optionally inviting friends to a group bet

  • Confirming and tracking the bet

Key Findings

→ Mode distinction needs clarification. While users appreciated the option to toggle between Casual and Pro modes, several expressed confusion about what differentiated the two, especially in early prototypes.

→ Odds and bet selection were unclear for casual users. Casual bettors hesitated when selecting athletes due to unclear betting terminology and a lack of guidance on what +150 odds meant.

→ Social betting features were promising but underexplained. Group Bet and Invite Friends were popular concepts, but participants wanted clearer instructions and confirmation indicators to feel confident using them.

→ Visual hierarchy supported intuitive navigation. The high-fidelity prototype’s clean layout and “Featured Events” section helped users quickly locate trending matches and favorite athletes.

→ Participants valued simplicity and personalization. Strategic bettors appreciated the emerging Pro Mode tools (like stat previews), while casual users favored low-pressure, fun bet options and suggested adding tutorials or info icons to support first-time bettors.

→ All users completed the primary task with minimal errors. Most placed a bet in under 3 minutes with little to no assistance, indicating strong usability progress across 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.