Why football fans are turning to digital games for off-match entertainment?
Football has a long history of entertaining the crowd. The modern interpretation of the game dates back to the Victorians. But, various precursors existed throughout history, forming independently in different countries worldwide. The most notable, and possibly oldest version of the game, comes from Ancient China, and is called cuju.
Despite its ancient history, football remains an immensely entertaining and engaging sport. Today, there are three billion fans that watch their national leagues, or tune in to international events. But, football is a seasonal sport, which means there is a bulk of the year when fans don’t have much to see. How do football fans keep entertained during the off season?
More and more, it seems that football fans are turning towards digital entertainment. Especially popular are the casino games that continue to grow in popularity as time goes on. But, why are football fans so drawn to digital games, gambling or otherwise? That is what we are here to explore.
Clubs are on Board
The first reason that digital games are such a hit among football fans is because they are also a hit among the clubs that they follow. The sport’s success is not just luck. Certainly, there are numerous factors behind football’s status as the most popular sport in the world. One of them is that football clubs are always willing to jump on any new technology. Their willingness to stay innovative is what drives the success of football.
Innovation means adapting to the new technology. Football clubs are certainly willing to take that leap. The most obvious example would be their constant and consistent collaboration with online sports betting websites. Like Liverpool, who’ve collaborated with several digital betting platforms, or Leicester City, whose primary sponsor is a sportsbook. Of course, the collaboration with innovators in the technological realm doesn’t stop with betting sites.
Clubs have licensed their brand to several game developers, both classic and online. Though recently FIFA’s partnership with EA went south, the two have been consistent collaborators in the past, creating online multiplayer football games, featuring many of the most popular clubs in the world. Many clubs have also licensed their likeness to digital games, in an effort to reach a larger crowd. By and large, the effort has been a success, and many of these teams are gaining more fans than ever.
The Improvement of Digital Tech
It ought not surprise anybody that digital games are becoming a hit. After all, programmers, game designers, and web developers have worked tirelessly to make digital technology a viable choice for the most amount of people. Digital technology runs better than ever, and there are clear signs that it will only continue to improve in the future. Experts and analysts are expecting that the tech will run even better in ten or twenty years. Many believe digital games will take over the industry.
A primary concern with digital technology has always been safety. But, fans no longer need to fear for their online anonymity. Gaming websites on the internet do their best to provide a safe experience for everyone involved. By incorporating encryption technology, digital gaming platforms can lock user data behind a digital vault, so to speak. Any external threat will have a hard time penetrating the protection laid out by this tech. With two-factor authentication and Know Your Customer practices, identity theft has been greatly reduced as well. Though cybercrime is growing, cybersecurity continues to improve.
Secondary technology is also evolving, which has an impact on the digital gaming market. For example, virtual reality is a big topic of discussion right now. Many are intrigued by the use of VR in sports. Fans expect to see a future where they can attend games without having to leave their homes. While it may seem fantastical, the expectation is not too farfetched nowadays. Artificial intelligence is also gaining traction, and many game providers are already using it to enhance their games.
Finally, digital interaction in general is at an all-time high. Football clubs are using social media platforms to keep in constant contact with their fans. Not only does that get people more interested, but it also drives up engagement. It is now possible to learn the latest news about your favorite football club (or tournament) just by clicking a few buttons. Social media has enabled football clubs to gain more fans than ever before, which certainly helps with the sport’s overall popularity.
Certain Similarities Exist
Finally, we have to address the fact that certain similarities exist between football (indeed sports in general) and gaming. Often, we view gamers and sports fans as opposing forces. In truth, they are much closer than we think. For example, gamers have a certain competitive streak, even when they play on an amateur level. Football players share that same competitive nature. But, so do football fans. How often have we seen fans of the game butt heads over their difference in club support?
The two are so similar, that competitive gaming has even earned the name “eSports,” alluding to the fact that the entire phenomenon is inspired by athletic competitions. Among the most popular titles in eSports is EA Games’ EA Sports FC series, which used to carry FIFA’s official license. Though the two companies may have parted ways, the football-themed games published by the game development studio remain some of the most popular in the world.
Final Say
We’ve certainly seen a turn towards digital gaming, not just in football fans, but among the greater population. The growing success of iGaming and eSports are a testament to the industry’s success worldwide. But, many have also noticed that football fans are much more likely to play digital games. We hope that this article has been elucidating as to why that is. After all, there are quite a few similarities between hardcore gamers and dedicated football fans. From their competitive nature, to their dedication to a brand, they might be a lot more similar than most of us imagine.