The Confluence of iGamers & Sports Betting Fans: What Characteristics Align & Attract Them?

iGaming and sports betting is so closely aligned that many platforms provide both sportsbooks and casino games all in one place. People who are interested in placing sports bets tend to share similar psychological traits as iGamers, from the attraction to unpredictable outcomes to being drawn to the excitement of fast-paced entertainment.

Many sports bettors enjoy playing slot games and vice versa, and platform operators have identified the huge crossover to provide a seamless experience across both areas of gambling. Bettors can set up one account and use the same funds across sports betting and casino games like slots and poker.

If you are wondering why there is such a strong confluence of iGamers and sports betting fans, these are some reasons behind this:

Anticipation Increases Enjoyment

Many sports bettors like to place bets on events or games that they will be watching to help boost their own enjoyment. Placing a bet on the outcome adds to the anticipation, they are not only interested in the outcome of the sports event, they are awaiting the results of their bets.

Playing slots also revolves around the excitement of building anticipation; with every spin and every sound, the near misses that feel like you are getting closer to the winning line, anticipation is building.

Understanding Probabilities and Odds

Sports bets require an understanding of odds to identify what makes a good value bet and what does not represent a good bet. Sports bettors tend to enjoy the mathematical aspect of analyzing data and odds when placing bets and there is an element of this is playing slots too.

Slot games display the Return to Player (RTP) percentage for each game so that players can understand how much the game pays out over a long period. A good RTP for slots ranges from around 96% to 98%, and slots players who prefer more frequent payouts will usually stick to games with the higher RTPs.

Making Decisions Around Bet Amounts and Money Management

Both sports bettors and casino game players have to be financially savvy when it comes to managing their gaming budget. Seasoned bettors will often set themselves limits and work out how much they are prepared to spend each week or month on their hobby to help ensure their finances stay on track and their fun pastime does not escalate into a problem. Having self-control is important across both types of gambling and long-term success is usually achieved by knowing what the right amount to bet is and when to stop gambling.

Seeking the Thrill of Engaging, Real-Time Entertainment

Slots give players the opportunity to experience an immersive real-time form of entertainment at any time of day or night. While sports betting revolves around schedules and fixtures, with global sports happening across different global time zones, there will generally be an option for placing bets on sports outcomes around the clock.

In-play betting provides a similar experience to playing slots, as wins can often be achieved in just minutes or seconds. This releases a faster dopamine hit than placing bets on events that take place a few days later.

Digital Interface Familiarity

Online sportsbook users and online casino users both have a good level of digital familiarity to easily navigate around platforms and find the bets or games that they want to play. There are still people who like to go into a physical sportsbook, just like there are people who prefer to visit a land-based casino but for the digital gamblers, both have a good understanding of digital platforms.

They prefer the convenience of being able to reach a thrilling form of entertainment through apps and websites and they enjoy using digital features like gamification within their chosen platforms.

Forming of Habits and Patterns

Another commonality between iGamers and sports bettors is that they enjoy activities that become part of a routine. Bettors will often have a ritual of betting on matchdays or race days, for example. Slots players will also form habits around when they play, such as if they take a short break from work or they play at a specific time in the evening to help them to unwind at the end of the day. Playing slots and betting on sports events becomes part of their weekly routine, something that they can look forward to and plan.

These are just a few examples that show the confluence of iGamers and sports betting fans but there are many more similarities between the two types of activity. This is why we are seeing increased cross-marketing and why casino and betting platforms are sharing similar features and bonuses – because there is a clear link between the appeal of these activities.