The rise of eSports โ or online competitive video gaming โ over the last decade has seen this from a niche pastime into a worldwide phenomenon. Gamers from around the world tune into millions of fans to watch their favorite gamers compete in high-stakes tournaments playing games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2.
However, what is there about eSports that draws us in so much? Why do we enjoy watching gamers play so much? A look into the psychology around eSports fandom offers some wonderful insights into why this is the kind of entertainment people are flocking to become obsessed with.
Easy Access and an Array of Competitions
Accessibility is a part of the growing appeal of eSports. esport bettingย is available for betting fans, wagering on their favorite teams and players not only during live competitions but also offline. The extra bit of zest this introduces to the watchability of a match is an attractive aspect as it makes the fans feel more invested in the end result of matches, and eSports betting platforms offer odds on an array of competitions spanning from very minor regional competitions to the grandest international tournaments for the fans to place a bet on the happenings they enjoy the most.
Some regions, for example, Sweden, have some players willing to make eSports bets without local licensing rules, so called betting utan svensk spellicensย (betting without a Swedish license). These platforms offer wagering possibilities that are not possible under Swedish strict gambling rules. This means more choices for those who like to bet.
Still its worth keeping in mind that if you are using a site that hasnโt been licensed, you do so at your own risk because thereโs no guarantee of how the site will handle the security of your information or even of consumer protection in the case of disputes.
The Appeal of eSports: Competition for Connection
The psychology of eSports fandom is based on the universality of the competition. Both traditional sports and cybersportsย capitalize on the innate impulse in humans to watch people or teams trying to accomplish the impossible. Whether itโs executing a flawless strategy in a game of League of Legends or pulling off a clutch headshot in Counter-Strike: These moments of high stakes gameplay capture us and stoke our excitement โ in Global Offensive.
Escapism and Immersion
ESports is so great because of yet another reason: it offers an immersive escape from everyday life. Rich, imaginative worlds of video games are rich, imaginative worlds that wonโt hold you to the rules of reality. Watching eSports can get us lost in these virtual worlds and their stories.
It can be an incredibly attractive feeling for fans who want to get away from everyday life. You never have to pick up a controller, but watching gamersย compete at the highest level makes us feel vicariously tense, strategic and adrenaline filled as we watch a high stakes match. Esports may not be all about competition, then, itโs about getting lost in a world where anything is achievable. This is a form of escapism that helps explain why eSports is such a compelling experience, and why many of us are so obsessed with it.
eSports Betting: Improving the Viewing Experience
The rise of eSports betting has given many fans additional dimension to their viewing experience.
By allowing betting on eSports, people are willing to get more involved in the action, putting higher bets at stake and increasing coorelated emotional involvement in the outcome. This is where betting becomes a part of eSport experience, whether you bet on which player will get the highest KDA or how many kills one of them will get in the end.
Esport betting fans can bet on a lot of different types, such as individual match results, the overall tournament winner, and more. This type of betting has become popular as eSports has become mainstream, allowing fans a new way to play with their favorite games and players. Like in any sport, to bet on eSports you need to be familiar with the game, its players and the way teams are currently functioning.
There are some fans, especially in Sweden, that like using betting utan svensk spellicens, or betting without a Swedish license, to get additional betting options. It also gives these platforms a chance they may not have had under Swedenโs more restrictive gambling regulations.