“You’re afraid to celebrate goals” – VAR has transformed life in the trading room as well as the stands

Whether VAR is an improvement on the game or not, the technology has fundamentally changed live for football traders.

David Murray, Head of Risk and Trading at AK Bets discussed how video reviews have altered everything from in-play betting to the enjoyment of watching football.

VAR is the most divisive talking point in football right now. A tool that was supposed to come in and clear up the ‘clear and obvious’ has often seen games descend into chaos as frustration boils over from the stands and onto the pitch. Everyone is as clueless as each other as to what’s going on.

For sportsbook traders, it has quietly transformed the mechanics of in-play betting.

Speaking exclusively to OLBG, David Murray, Head of Risk & Trading at AK Bets, says modern football now presents traders with far more uncertainty than ever before, forcing split-second decisions while reducing the amount of time live betting markets remain available.

“It’s completely ruined the enjoyment of watching football,” Murray said.

“We’re exactly the same as everybody else. Whether you’ve had a bet yourself or you’re trading the game, you’re afraid to celebrate a goal because you’re immediately wondering whether there’s going to be a VAR check.”

While supporters experience that uncertainty from the stands or the sofa, traders face an additional challenge.

Every potential penalty, red card or offside decision has an immediate impact on betting markets, meaning traders must constantly decide whether markets should remain open or be suspended.

“Years ago you would only suspend betting for a handful of major incidents,” Murray explained.

“Now there are so many situations where something might happen that you’re constantly making judgement calls.”

That balancing act has become one of the biggest challenges in modern sportsbook trading.

“You want customers to have as much opportunity as possible to place a bet, but equally you can’t leave prices available if something significant is about to happen.”

Murray believes the impact has become so significant that today’s in-play experience bears little resemblance to football a decade ago.

“If you compare now with 10 years ago, it’s night and day,” he said.

“The amount of time even the biggest football matches are actually available to bet on has changed because there are simply far more incidents that require markets to be suspended.

“It’s not just when something happens, it’s the possibility that something might happen.”

“The people collecting information from the stadium almost have to anticipate incidents before they’re confirmed because everybody is trying to stay one step ahead.”

This summer’s World Cup has introduced another consideration for traders in the form of hydration breaks. Rather than disrupting betting activity, Murray says the scheduled stoppages have actually encouraged more in-play betting.

“It almost becomes like a mini half-time.

“Customers have a few minutes to think about what they’ve watched, look at the updated prices and decide whether they want to get involved.”

Despite the additional complexity, Murray accepts that VAR is now simply part of the landscape traders must adapt to.

“The excitement has changed,” he said.

“As football fans, you want to celebrate goals in the moment. Now you’re waiting to see whether they’re actually going to count.”

For supporters, VAR may remain a debate about sporting fairness. Inside the trading room, it’s become one of the biggest operational changes the industry has experienced in the era of live betting.