Their Lasting Endurance
One of the most obvious similarities is that both sports and gambling have been around for an incredibly long time. Historical and archeological evidence show that gambling has been around since Ancient China. Writings from the period, as well as archeological digs back this up.
The same is true for sports. The Ancient Chinese played a game called cuju, which is similar to football (soccer) in many ways. Not to mention, martial arts like boxing and wrestling can be traced back to Mesopotamian society.
But, their age is quite a tenuous connection. Sure, both sports and gambling have been around for millennia. But, so have books, fiction, philosophy, and more. Is there a connection between sports and gambling that impacts the modern world?
The Internet: Sports Betting & Online Casinos
In the 21st century, the internet has made a lot of entertainment much more convenient than it has ever been before. This extends to gambling and sports. Not only is it easier than ever to watch matches, thanks to streaming, but it is also possible to wager on those matches without ever leaving your home.
Of course, we are referencing online sportsbooks. Websites where you can find fair and legitimate odds, and place bets on a game of your choice. But, what do sportsbooks have to do with casinos? Well, that is the best part. While sports betting online can be a blast, some make it a lot more exciting by doubling as casinos.
Online casino operators have noticed that bookies get a lot of attention. In fact, sports betting is one of the most popular ways to gamble in 2024. The way they’ve tackled the issue is not by attempting to pull people away from sports betting, but rather, by giving them what they want.
A lot of casinos integrate sportsbooks into their websites. Which means, you can visit an online casino, and play games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, etc. Or, you can go to the sports betting section, and wager on any number of your favorite sports, like soccer, volleyball, cricket, and more.
The really big brands may not have both options integrated on the same site, but that is because they run both a sportsbook and online casino. Usually, you can find a link on one homepage, to the other. So, the biggest connection between sports and gambling is one created by the iGaming industry itself.
Themed Slots Inspired by Sports
Speaking of connections created by the iGaming industry, we would be remiss if we did not bring up themed slots. For those that don’t know, online slots are the most profitable games in iGaming right now. There are numerous reasons for this occurrence, with the following being just a few:
Simplicity: online slots are simple to play, requiring little-to-no strategy.
Ease: online slots are easy to play. As we said, they require very little strategy, and they don’t have any complex game mechanics.
Themes: finally, online slots tend to have a theme which boosts how interesting they are in the eyes of the public.
This last reason, “themes,” is the main connection between slots and sports. How, you may ask? Well, it is simple, a lot of slot developers are sports fans, who take inspiration from the biggest tournaments or events in the world to create their slots.
If you are a fan of soccer, you most certainly are looking forward to the FIFA World Cup, which comes around every four years. But, did you know that there are many slot games that take inspiration from the World Cup, replacing their classic symbols with ones that football fans will be aware of?
The same is true of basketball, American football, cricket, and a variety of combat sports. Sports-themed slots are some of the most popular at online casinos, and they are among the reasons why a lot of sports fans are drawn to gambling in the first place.
Athletes Who Gamble
The final connection we would like to look at is athletes and their propensity for gambling. There are quite a few athletes who’ve openly confessed that they enjoy spinning reels and rolling dice, and quite a few more who have been spotted in Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, or local casinos.
Probably the most high-profile gambler/athlete is none other than soccer superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo. Without a doubt one of the best players active today, Ronaldo has played with some of the best clubs in the world, most notable, Manchester United. He is also quite a prolific poker player.
Many times, in his youth Ronaldo has been seen strolling the streets of Monte Carlo, and attending the city’s world famous casino. However, now that he has hit his 30s, it seems Ronaldo is taking a break from gambling. Though rumors do circulate that he has simply switched to online casinos.
Indeed, a lot of soccer players enjoy visiting online casinos, or betting on sports. However, it is worth noting that the one sport they are not allowed to wager on is the one they are familiar with most. FIFA and FA rules have a strict code against players, and other insiders betting on the sport. Some have tried to subvert this rule, but have been met with serious punishment.
Some Last Thoughts
Casinos and sports have a lot in common, as you can see from this article. However, they are still two distinct industries, just with a lot of crossover. While many gamblers may also enjoy sports betting, and vice versa, not all will. In fact, there are some gamblers that are very specific about the games they enjoy. That is why iGaming has only gotten popular in the past couple of years, when sites made it possible to access a whole slew of games, rather than just slots.
