Optical Tracking vs. GPS in Betting

The transition from **Event Data** (discrete logs) to **Tracking Data** (continuous coordinates) represents the modern era of sports betting infrastructure. This shift is defined by the competition between **Optical Tracking** (Computer Vision) and **Wearable Technology** (GPS/LPS). **Key Findings:** * **Optical Supremacy:** Optical tracking (e.g., Hawk-Eye, Second Spectrum) has become the industry standard for betting because it is non-invasive and, crucially, tracks the **ball** and opposition, not just the player. This is essential for determining game outcomes. * **The Latency War:** Optical systems automate event detection, creating "Official Data" feeds that aim to be faster than TV broadcasts and manual scouts ("courtsiders"), protecting bookmakers from stale odds. * **Micro-Betting:** The high granularity of optical data (including **Skeletal Tracking**) enables physics-based pricing for micro-markets, such as "Next Pitch Speed" or "Catch Probability." * **Biometric Barriers:** While GPS/LPS provides superior physiological data (heart rate, load), Player Unions generally block the use of biometric data for betting purposes, limiting wearables to performance analysis rather than wagering.