Micro-Betting and Latency Economics

**Micro-Betting** refers to wagering on discrete, momentary events within a sporting match (e.g., the result of the next pitch), distinct from game-long outcomes. Its viability depends on **Latency Economics**—the management of time delays between real-world events, data processing, and user interfaces. **Key Historical & Technical Developments:** * **Courtsiding:** The historical practice where spotters at stadiums exploited latency gaps to bet on events before bookmakers updated odds. This forced the industry to adopt faster, official data sources. * **Official Data Monopolies:** Leagues (NFL, NBA) monetized the need for speed by selling exclusive, low-latency data rights to distributors like **Genius Sports** and **Sportradar**, effectively privatizing the "truth" of the game. * **Technological Stack:** The shift from manual scouting to **Computer Vision** and **Optical Tracking** allows for millisecond pricing updates. Simultaneously, **Low-Latency Streaming** (WebRTC) is being integrated into betting apps to synchronize video with odds, solving the "spoiler effect" of broadcast delays. * **Market Structure:** Micro-betting thrives in US sports (baseball, football) due to their stop-and-start nature, contrasting with the continuous flow of European soccer.