Even those who have no interest in sports would have to admit that they are activities that hold an incredibly important position in just about any society worldwide. Athletes are treated like superstars, and politicians try to convince voters of their authenticity by announcing which team they cheer for.
However, another element of sports that has taken off in recent years is grounded in something other than any natural sporting ability. The teams and players are often completely made up, and the “athletes” don’t exist. The most trusted sportsbook online will even offer betting markets on various events. We are talking here about virtual sports.
Virtual sports have come a long way since they were first introduced and have enjoyed a surge in popularity in the last few years. But why is that? And what can we expect next from this curious sub-genre of sports?
What is a Virtual Sport?
For those of you who have so far remained immune to the charms of virtual sports, they are computer-simulated sports events. The sports are real enough, but the games and athletes are computer-programmed. Random number generators decide who the winner will be.
The most popular virtual sports are the ones that simulate popular real-life sports. Soccer, horse racing, basketball, and tennis are all watched by millions of people around the world. However, much of their popularity comes from the fact that it is legal to bet on events in many countries.
Convenience
There is no doubt that the potential for betting on virtual sports has made them so popular. Many sportsbooks will offer the same kind of markets and bet types for virtual events as real-life games. There is a spectator element to the interest, but being able to place a wager is key.
Even with the incredible range of betting opportunities open to people, virtual sports offer a convenient avenue for gambling when there might not be any other sports events running – or when other suitable bets are unavailable. Virtual sports can run 24 hours a day, which suits everyone.
Realism
Technological advances have evolved in virtual sports dramatically in the last decade. What was once just basic graphics denoting the action of a sports event has now been replaced with a much more realistic version. Motion capture technology has made it almost impossible to distinguish between what is virtual and what is real.
The best virtual sports will concentrate on the details as well as the main action. Stadiums and arenas – with expressive fans – are also used to make the whole experience as real as possible. The whole idea is that you are watching – and betting on – a sports event, not just a computer simulation.
Influence of FIFA and Sports Games
One of the reasons why users have been able to accept virtual sports so readily is the influence that FIFA and other sports video games have had on popular culture in recent times. Even non-sports fans enjoy playing some ultra-realistic games, which helps with virtual sports viewership.
The technology used in modern sports games makes everything seem so realistic and intuitive that an entire ecosystem of gamers and fans treat them as though they are real events. With the growth of esports as a culture, they actually are.
The Pandemic
If you are looking for a moment in recent history when virtual sports took off, you only have to go back to 2020 and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns introduced worldwide, most sports fixtures were canceled, and fans had nothing to watch or play.
Technological developments meant that virtual sports had already reached a very impressively real level, and fans discovered that they could still watch these computer simulations when real-life sports stopped. The fact that betting on these events was allowed in many countries only made virtual sports even more popular.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Although we have already talked about the realistic nature of many virtual sports, the way virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can be implemented could signal an even bigger uptake by fans. With the ability to introduce a more immersive experience, AR and VR could be the next step.
There are already examples of sports teams using AR and VR to engage with fans and create different experiences. But, when used with virtual sports, these technologies could make events even more attractive. The line between player and fan will become even more blurred.
The Future of Virtual Sports
Unsurprisingly, the development of AR and VR has been seen as the next big thing when it comes to virtual sports. However, the ease of acceptance from the betting community is having a remarkable effect. What might have once been regarded as niche and “not like real sports” is just as popular as real-life sports – with added convenience on top.
The future of virtual sports is bright, with more and more people coming around to the idea of watching and playing these computer-simulated games. There is greater acceptance for the events, and if betting firms can create more opportunities for their customers to place wagers, we could see it become a much more mainstream and profitable sub-section of the sports world.
