Sports has an additional entrant in terms of fantasy sports, and we discuss here on Fantasy Sports: A Cocktail of Fantasy Games, Entertainment, Business, and Gambling opportunities.
Fantasy Sports Offer Fantasy Games
Fantasy sports (also called rotisserie or roto) is a game generally played on Internet. In this sports imaginary or virtual teams are assembled with proxies of real-world players.
A fantasy sport (also known less commonly as rotisserie or roto) is a game, often played using the Internet, where participants assemble imaginary or virtual teams composed of proxies of real players of a professional sport. In fantasy sports, the fans are both general manager and field manager of their respective teams, doing everything for the team to perform well. In the United States, fantasy baseball and fantasy gridiron football are the two most-prominent fantasy sports. It is the United States where most of the fantasy games are played.
Fantasy Baseball
The first sport that was played as fantasy sport was baseball. One such game was introduced in 1951 by Dick Seitz, who was an entrepreneur, which was called APBA (American Professional Baseball Association). In 1941, another game All-Star Baseball surfaced, and was considered very simplistic. One more game appeared in the 1960s, called Strat-o-matic first. Internet boom created computerized versions of those games in the 1990s. The cult status, a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person or sports, that APBA and Strat-o-matic sports garnered with time resulted in carrying over to a new game rotisserie baseball.
When Rotisserie Baseball Was Invented?
Notably, rotisserie baseball was invented in 1980. Rotisserie baseball and its internet-based fantasy variants are now being played as seasoned or regular baseball season. Rotisserie baseball season starts with preparation of a player draft (sometimes via auctioning), and each team in the league chooses about 23–27 players (with set quotas at each position) from major league rosters. Like real-world sports, team managers may drop underperforming or injured players and can include a new player in the team. Amazingly, the online fantasy baseball has the facilities of statistically managing small rotisserie leagues and offering large-scale leagues. Importantly, multiple teams may own the same player.
Fantasy Gridiron Football
Fantasy gridiron football was unveiled in 1962.
A total of 10 or 12 teams participate in the standard yearly fantasy football league following a common format. Each team has a weekly roster. A draft is prepared before the first week of the NFL regular season.
The actual games start with week 1 of the NFL season. Each fantasy team is given a regular-season schedule containing one weekly faceoff. The team whose players get more fantasy points over a week’s games wins. The teams with the best regular season records typically qualify for the play-offs round (note that usually the playoff round starts in week 14). Two teams advance in week 16 for the fantasy championship. The winner of is then crowned league champion.
Fantasy football leagues are also into the play; they function similar to college football and the Canadian Football League.Fantasy Sports as Entertainment
Other Fantasy Sports
The Internet boom has resulted many other fantasy sports to grow globally. Besides basketball and ice hockey, fantasy sports also include individual sports such as golf and auto racing. Although fantasy sports have origin in the United States has taken roots in many other countries, specifically Canada and the United Kingdom (UK). Fantasy hockey is predominant in the Canada, whereas fantasy football (soccer) in the UK. Further, sports such as tennis, cricket, and Australian rules football have also been included as fantasy sports.
Fantasy Sports as Entertainment
Fantasy sports has become a powerhouse of entertainment in the United States, India, and Worldwide.
Fantasy Sports as Business
Fantasy sports have attained a big-business status, with over $1 billion of revenue in the early 2010s. The level of business could be understood by the fact that major sports media outlets such as Yahoo Sports, ESPN, and Fox Sports and certain related Web sites host various fantasy games and they usually promise payouts after the participant wins). Not surprisingly, fantasy sports have attracted gambling within the league.
Below is the data presented for 2019 and 2020 growth of fantasy sports in India. (Credit: Vinfotech Blog/KMPG Report 2020)
Popular Fantasy Sports Apps
The fantasy sports are played and managed using some of the important and easily accessible and popular fantasy sports apps: Dream11, Gamezy, BalleBaazi, Vision11, Vijayi Bhawa, MyTeam11, OneTo11, Fan2Play, PlayerzPot, BatBall11, MyFab11, Probo, FantaFeat, My11Circle, Nostra Pro, Fanfight, Fantasy Power11, Howzat, HalaPlay, 11 Wickets, Sportasy, MPL, Paytm First Game, FanMojo, and so forth.
Some important and frequently asked questions are answered in the below sections.
What Are Fantasy Sports Games?
A fantasy sport is a game, which is often played via the Internet, in which participants assemble imaginary or virtual teams having proxies of real-world players of a professional sport. The teams compete based on the statistical performance of these players in actual games.
What Are the Most Popular Fantasy Sports Globally?
The most popular fantasy sports globally are as follows:
- American Football (the United States dominates this sport and is popular sport in North America)
- Football/Soccer (UK)
- Fantasy Cricket
- Fantasy Baseball
- Fantasy Basketball
Which Sport Is Best for Fantasy?
Fantasy football is the most popular of fantasy sports in the United States. Significant variations can be observed in terms of popularity of fantasy sports in different countries/regions worldwide. For example, in India, cricket is the most popular fantasy sport.
What Are the Two Types of Fantasy Sports?
Several main disciplines of daily fantasy sports competitions exist to date; however, they could be broadly categorized into two: cash games and guaranteed prize pool (GPP).
Are Fantasy Sports Gambling?
Fantasy sports to date are not legally considered as gambling, as they are considered skill-based games rather than chance-based. However, engaging in a game by placing a bet with the hope of earning money or property would be considered gambling.
Why Is Fantasy Sports So Popular?
Millions of players participate in games each year. Reasons behind the popularity of fantasy sports are as follows: leagues offering intense competition, chance to own and manage once’s own team, socialization with other sports fans, thrill of victory, and a hobby requiring only a little investment with good rewards.
What Was the First Fantasy Sport?
Baseball was the first fantasy sport, as it suited well the principles of the game and provided easy access to scorecards and long statistical record.
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