Fantasy sports can be traced back to the 1960s. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the modern sports fantasy era as we know it today was born. It was initially built around baseball but has since grown to include basketball, American football, soccer, rugby, hockey, cricket, and other sports.
On this page, we will be explaining what fantasy sports is, for those of you who aren’t quite familiar with it, and revealing why it’s so popular.
We will also be taking a quick look at the future of several emerging fantasy sports trends to watch in the remainder of 2024 and beyond that are helping to fuel the growth of this digital entertainment sector and ensuring that it remains relevant with newer and younger audiences.
What is fantasy sports, and why is it more popular than ever?
Fantasy sports is a risk-free, sports-themed management game typically played online. The aim is for participants to assemble and manage virtual teams (either based on imaginary players, data and statistics or actual sports stars using real-world data).
Much of the information that’s typically used by today’s most successful fantasy sports managers is widely accessible on today’s most trusted iGaming sites, such as 10bet.co.za – South Africa’s number one online sports betting and casino site.
Using a set budget, participants must maintain their teams throughout the competition and make the necessary tweaks as and when needed to improve their teams. A player’s performance in the real world will be reflective of their performance in the fantasy sports realm, and the fantasy sports managers who earn the most points at the end of the season can win their respective fantasy leagues.
People can tweak their teams by logging into their fantasy sports website account from any decent Wi-Fi/internet-connected PC or mobile device.
These leagues are usually free to join. However, thousands of paid micro-leagues exist, where friends, colleagues, relatives, or any other like-minded people can join in fantasy leagues to win cash prizes by paying an initial entry fee for their team.
One of the main reasons fantasy sports are so popular is social interaction. It has been said to create huge online communities and connect people in a unique, friendly, and competitive environment.
It’s also now more accessible than ever, and several technological innovations, including AI-powered tools and applications, have made creating and maintaining more successful fantasy sports teams easier than ever.
It’s inclusive of all ages and skill levels and is a risk-free and fun way for people to spend their free time. However, it requires a level of commitment and isn’t for everyone.
Future trends in fantasy sports to watch in 2024 and beyond
Over the coming years, the fantasy sports sector is likely to change in many ways. It will continue to be shaped by the latest advancements in technology, and the industry is expected to continue expanding as more people than ever opt for paid fantasy sports apps and services, where they can win real-world prizes, money, national and international acclaim, and serious bragging rights.
The top trends to keep an eye out for in fantasy sports over the coming years are the following:
- AI-powered tools and applications, such as big data gathering and analysis and machine learning, which can evaluate trends, will provide the latest information and advice and recommend more reliable lineups with better accuracy
- Artificial intelligence and its many applications can also monitor how people interact with their teams via the websites/apps to offer a more tailored/personalised experience
- Blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs can boost security, enable more transparency in the management of digital fantasy sports assets, and speed up payments
- Even more fantasy sports disciplines will likely become popularised, such as F1 motor racing, golf, bowling, tennis, badminton, volleyball, and others
- Virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality wearable devices and technologies will no doubt play a bigger role in shaping the future of fantasy sports to enhance the UX (user experience) and make it more immersive and engaging than ever
It’s also likely that heavy emphasis will be placed on enhancing the social element of fantasy sports.
We will no doubt see a rise in gamification in fantasy sports to reward participants and encourage participation. Its cross-platform compatibility will make it more widely accessible for all mobile and PC users, so they can easily manage their teams either instantly in their web browser directly from the main website or from within a secure iOS or Android mobile app.
Final thoughts
Embracing the latest technological innovations and trends will ensure fantasy sports remain relevant for many years to come, as long as the companies that offer these services continue to focus on providing top-notch security and data protection/privacy policies and tailoring the experience.
They must also continue encouraging participation by building communities, rewarding players, and providing fun, interactive, dynamic, engaging, and immersive fantasy sports products and services.
