Reasons why gambling and football have become inseparably linked

When sports fans choose to take a gamble on their favorite team and root for it despite a string of failures, they prove that they are perfect material for the gambling industry. Until recently, gambling, including sports betting, was illegal in most places, but the situation is changing. The thing is, gambling is not that different from sports, so the alliance between the two should come as a surprise to no one.

The growth of sports betting

Gambling is already a global phenomenon, and so are major sports, meaning football, basketball, baseball, and a few more. As gambling is getting legalised and becomes more popular by the day, gamblers are looking for new ways to place bets. Basically, no payment option is off the table, from debit cards to Paypal to Webmoney, and everything in between. Multiple casino sites where you can deposit via Mastercard or whatever you like are already available. And the industry keeps developing to accommodate different players’ needs.

But gambling lovers want more, and rightly so. Slots and table games are fun and all, but even they can get trite over time. So it is in no way surprising that sports betting is becoming more popular. New countries are making sports betting legal every year, and the industry is projected to grow tremendously in the upcoming years. It is as exciting as it is lucrative. Any sports fan who is at least somewhat into gambling should consider placing their first bet. But if you are new to this, it is a good idea to learn some sports betting tips first.

Gambling and sports have a lot in common

The reason why sports betting is even a thing is that sports and gambling actually have a lot in common. Think of the excitement and pleasant anticipation you feel right before your favorite football or basketball team meets a decent opponent. Even if there is no money involved, the sheer amount of endorphins fans get just from attending the game is impressive. 

Well, the same is true for gambling. A lot of games, including slots (which is one of the most popular choices among casual gamblers), require no skill and rely on the Random Number Generator (RNG). It is all about luck. This is not true for sports in that fans typically do know whether their team or the opponent has higher chances of winning. But in either of these scenarios, you can hardly do anything to affect the outcome. Both gambling and being a passionate sports fan are about the thrill and surrendering to the unknown.

So it is only natural that sports betting is a thing. It unites two forms of entertainment that are already quite similar in the effect they have on the people who like them. The best way to marry the two is to become a sports bettor and monetize your passion for your favorite sport.

Sponsorship and advertising

Finally, as gambling is getting legal in more places, it makes sense that gambling operators want to make themselves known. One of the things they do to achieve this is sponsoring top-level sports teams. For example, last year, roughly one-half of the English Premier League teams had a gambling sponsor. This is a wise choice on gambling companies’ part. Sports are arguably the most influential member of the entertainment industry. Sports fans are countless and more passionate than most. So sponsoring sports teams is an awesome way for gambling operators to increase brand recognition.

Gambling companies do not stop at sponsoring teams alone. In addition to placing their logos on athletes’ uniforms and paying for stadiums, they are also running their ads during the commercial breaks in major sports competitions. Some even say that they are overdoing this. But again, it is perfectly reasonable for gambling companies to target sports fans. They know exactly what they are doing, particularly when it comes to the operators that also offer sports betting.