How Online Auction Software Is Catching Up with Sports Betting Apps and Fan Engagement Platforms

Online auction software is evolving into one of the most compelling use cases for real-time streaming. After covering real-time streaming in air-gapped networks, I’d like to turn our attention to live auctions. This blog explores how online auctions platforms are evolving to match the interactivity of sports betting apps and fan engagement platforms.

What Are Online Auctions?

Online auction types, platforms, and items displayed.

Online auctions are digital marketplaces where people place bids on items or services either in real time or over a fixed period.

These are a few of the main types:

• By timing: Live auctions simulate traditional in-person bidding with a real-time auctioneer, while timed online auctions let participants bid over a fixed window without live interaction.
• By access: Public auctions are open to anyone, whereas silent auctions allow private bids without showing what others have offered.
• By purpose: Some auctions focus on liquidation or estate sales, while others support fundraising for charities or nonprofits.
• By platform: Auctions can take place on dedicated websites or mobile applications.

You might be surprised by the sheer amount of online auction platforms that exist today. Items span a wide range of categories, including vehicles, real estate, fine art, jewelry, firearms, furniture, farm equipment, livestock, luxury goods, unclaimed baggage, and more.

What Sports Betting Can Teach Online Auctions

Real-time auctions and sports betting excitement.

If real-time streaming of auctions is such an old use case, why all the new interest now. What’s become clear to me is that the online auction industry faces a similar challenge as sports betting apps and fan engagement platforms. The question is how to make a remote experience feel authentic, entertaining, and engaging.

The truth is betting on sports and bidding on items via an app share the same mechanics. They’re competitive. They’re fast. They’re full of adrenaline. But when you’re bidding from your laptop in isolation, that energy doesn’t always come through.

To stay relevant, online auction platforms need to evolve beyond functionality and start designing for emotion and presence. Real-time video can help bring back the intensity and connection that traditional auctions have always relied on.

The Future of Live Auctions

Crystal ball reveals the future of live auctions.

So here’s my prediction for what’s next in real-time auctions:

• Ultra-low latency streaming that reduces delays between bids and updates, enabling last-second decisions and boosting overall sales volume.
• Multi-view options to follow multiple lots or camera angles.
• Watch party-style bidding that brings remote participants into a shared virtual space.
• On-site screens that show remote bidders live, turning them into visible participants.
• And yes, gamification because auctions are already games at heart.

These features will help bridge the gap between in-person energy and remote convenience. The goal is to make online bidding feel just as interactive, social, and immersive as being there in person.

Real Results from Real-Time Auctions

We’ve seen a few auction platforms start experimenting with this already, and it’s been fun helping them push the boundaries of what’s possible with real-time streaming. The tech’s ready. It’s really just a matter of imagining what these experiences could feel like if they weren’t so one-sided. 

U.S.-Based Auction Platform Transforms Online Bidding with Real-Time Auction Streaming Solution Powered by Red5 Pro.

For example, a leading U.S. online auction platform integrated Red5 Pro within its own AWS infrastructure to bring real-time streaming to rural areas with limited bandwidth. The result? A 25% increase in remote participation, especially from farmers who can now actively bid on livestock and equipment without leaving their land.

Conclusion

As real-time streaming becomes more accessible, online auctions have a clear path to becoming more immersive and competitive. What was once a niche use case is now gaining traction as platforms realize the power of interactivity. The next wave of online auctions will feel less like isolated transactions and more like real-time events.

Feels like we’re at this interesting crossroads where auctions, live video, and interactive tech are all starting to converge. I’m curious to see where it goes.