The Addiction Debate: Virtual Sports Betting vs Real-Life Sporting Events

[Hirose UK]

Hence the purpose for this thread, do you believe that virtual games are more addictive than the traditional real life games? Or the opposite.

Everything will come back to how the gamblers themselves are, if they really like virtual betting and prioritize virtual betting in several sports then it is clear that it can be very significant in making someone gambling addict.
But on the other hand, real-world sports betting or live sports betting can also make someone potentially become gambling addict, for example when the new season has started there will be many match schedules and make someone play more often, the difference is that live sports have break and virtual betting can always provide bets whenever it is time for someone to bet.
It just that from my personal point of view I would say that people who gamble with virtual bets can be much crazier, they will be really more addictive or can be said to be dependent on virtual betting.

[Smartprofit]

Gambling addiction is essentially a malfunction of one of the parts of the human brain.
This malfunction is caused by excessive production of the hormones dopamine and serotonin. At the same time, it makes no difference what kind of gambling a person plays (betting on virtual sports or betting on real sports events). In any case, the algorithm for the formation of gambling addiction is the same.

In the situation with betting on virtual sports, an additional damaging factor for human health is the large amount of time spent in front of a smartphone or computer. To maintain health, a person needs to walk more, play sports and have sex, communicate with friends.

This in itself is an important condition for maintaining mental and physiological health.

[lovesmayfamilis]

Any gambling will produce dopamine. This is the feeling that is produced from a pleasant experience, be it winning at a casino or betting, or the same winnings received from bets made at a bookmaker's office. Objectively speaking, we are all addicted to some extent, wanting to get more of the hormone of joy and more often resorting to things that deliver it.
But speaking about addiction, we must also not forget that people are different, and their different levels of education, upbringing, and most of all, worldview will be a very strong component of the emergence of addiction. I do not agree with the opinion that the more we play, the more addicted we can become. Again, there are the simplest card games that are far from online, but even there I know players who lose everything from their home.
It all depends on the person; generalizing one thing that brings more harm is completely wrong. Everything needs a measure; if there is one, then nothing threatens you.

[Asuspawer09]

All are addictive I mean both are the same gambling anyway, Online gambling is probably the new evolution of traditional gambling where you people just want to go to a casino to gamble some money, or probably win. Because of some circumstances, I believe something like what happened in the pandemic, most gamblers adapt to an online setup where they could still gamble, win or probably just play for fun.

Both are addictive for sure, but I would say that online or virtual gaming is really a more addictive one, just because of how easy it is to access it, you could instantly win with just a few clicks and at the same time, you could easily lose your money as well. This is probably going to be the future of gambling since we are already adopting to this kind of technology.

If you gamble traditionally most of the time, you just want to have fun, or drink something like that, unlike if you just want to gamble online where your main goal is to earn or multiple your money.

[Oluwa-btc]

Within the past few years, the world of gambling has indeed undergone lots of evolutionary stages which has potentially made quite a significant impact on the world of gambling.

I understand what your trying to say which is between virtual sports betting and real life sporting which is more addictive but one thing is both of them are in same category of being addictive to a gambler, you can tend to gamble on sports betting and become addicted and also for real life sporting it's applicable as well.
The best thing to do is to stay low on such games so it won't increase the addiction rates of the gambler, sometimes you want to gamble just for fun but you can resist the fact that you want a win at the same time and that quests for it makes you to gamble more and attain that target's then surely becoming an addicts, this usually occur in virtual game, so saying which is more addictive I think both of them are but you have to gamble at your lowest inorder to retrieve yourself from being addicted.

[bakasabo]

I also dont agree with saying "the more we play, the more chances to become addicted is" is the sole reason for addiction. Playing a lot or often is not enough to become addicted. Any activity, with time, becomes boring, especially if there are not much variety in that activity. And in general it does not matter if gambler spends hours or only few minutes playing betting on virtual or real-life sports, gamble offline or online, for addiction level to raise. Imho addiction forms from gamblers greed, character, free time, other hobbies or addiction, money he has.

[Adbitco]

This and several other characteristics of the Virtual games has the potential of leading gamblers into addiction.
Do share your opinion on what you think, are you also of the opinion that Virtual games are more addictive tha real life games, considering the fact that real life games has its own Hidden addictions too.

Yes i think this topic has been somehow discussed here and i don't know if i can really have that time to go fetch the post but, that is by the way. Gambling is gambling be it virtual or real, when a gambler gambles out of control then there is every likelihood for them to become addicted it doesn't matter whether it's live games or virtual games. Addictions come from people and not the games they are playing, if you constantly and regularly gives your attention on a particular event being it game or real life activities you stands the higher chances to become addictive of if. But when the interest is being cultured and mirrored then it would be very hard for one to become easily addicted to such activities because they were able to control their emotions towards how they handles gambling and any other life attractive activities that eases one's stress for pleasure.

[Samlucky O]

Hence the purpose for this thread, do you believe that virtual games are more addictive than the traditional real life games? Or the opposite.

Well you have highlighted the whole fact about virtual vs real life gambling which it's obviously  virtual that take the Leed of becoming more addictive than real life gambling. Although there are many form of virtual games like the horse race, colour games and of course the football game that makes many people lose more and become addicted. Below is the popular virtual gambling in my country that makes many people addicted.



It always have 10 fixtures to kick off in less than 1.5 minutes and end.  Meanwhile the next round to play after each 4 minutes. This makes it almost impossible to win. You can emagine a game of 90minute to play in less than a minute you don't even witness how the match was played like the real life game all you just see is the result of a game that has been programmed. It is otherwise known as instant win or lose and each time you lose you keep giving yourself hope after 4 minutes of the nest Round you try again continuously till you end up running yourself dry.  For me real life gambling gives you space to bet and hope for win after the end of the match unlike the virtual that trap led you to play each 4 minutes till you are empty. Below is a link of people lamenting of what virtual has done to them. virtual destroys life

[Accardo]

What do you mean by virtual games? Is it like virtual sports betting where the matches are set up and predicted by a computer, or do you mean online games vs physical?

The way the post is phrased it's hard to make any sense out of it, but if I were to guess I'd say you're calling online gambling virtual gambling, but it's not the same thing. For instance online poker with live dealer is not completely virtual. It's real, just played remotely, the way you can work from home.

Me too, I'm barely not getting things straight from your narratives, Op made his definition of virtual games clear, and the fact that you think of online poker as not virtual is leaving me stranded on what to believe. For instance, isn't a remote worker like a virtual assistant? I thought that virtual has nothing to do with real, could you stress your points more?

Nevertheless, in my view it's not correct to assume that live dealers are not completely virtual. It mustn't be a computer program before a game is termed as virtual, like I'm virtually communicating with you, but I'm physically doing the writing. The online thing that makes it a virtual communication is that I can't feel or touch you.

[EarnOnVictor]

I've never come across this kind of article on the forum, therefore you are most valid.

However, this shares some insights, but thankfully, I'm not a fan of virtual sports betting, I don't even like it. If I could be trying to avoid the headache and algorithm bias of casino games, why entrap myself in virtual sports betting? It can never be as real as the real sports betting, trust me. But the lack of wisdom is making people believe they can beat the system like that, I feel for them.

Notwithstanding, your points on the concluding part about the Instant rewards and Excapsim are valid, most people are impatient and need the outcome instantly but this will undoubtedly put them into trouble as they risk losing their money pretty fast and in an unfair manner and also get addicted due to the fast pace of outcome realization.

[Victorybit1]

I don’t know if this topic has been discussed before, if so please pardon me.
Within the past few years, the world of gambling has indeed undergone lots of evolutionary stages which has potentially made quite a significant impact on the world of gambling. It is no long news how greatly the emergence of Virtual Sports betting  have immensely influenced how people spend their leisure time in gambling and many believe that this has also contributed a lot to the increasing rate of gambling addiction amongst several gamblers.
Hence the purpose for this thread, do you believe that virtual games are more addictive than the traditional real life games? Or the opposite.

[Edit] Virtual Sports Gambling, otherwise known as e-sports betting, refers to betting and wagering on some sort of simulated and virtual sports events that are generated by some sort of computer algorithm and offer various types of betting options, almost like the real life sports events.

Virtual games has in multiple occasions proven to be a digital trap to many gamblers, it has completely transformed the world of gambling as it offers immersive and captivating experiences to gamblers around the world. Many believe that Virtual games are indeed more addictive than the traditional real life games due to its qualities and characteristics such as.

1. INSTANT REWARDS: Due to most gambler’s impatient nature, their desires for instant rewards has led them to considerably turning to virtual games as a more preferable option compared to the real life games, research shows that this often releases dopamine in a gambler, thereby encouraging gamblers to play continuously.
2. ⁠ ESCAPISM: As we already know, the more time a gambler spends on gambling, the more the chances of getting addicted, and we know that one thing the Virtual world is best at is offering an escape from the real world, thereby leading players to spend more time immersed in the game.
This and several other characteristics of the Virtual games has the potential of leading gamblers into addiction.
Do share your opinion on what you think, are you also of the opinion that Virtual games are more addictive tha real life games, considering the fact that real life games has its own Hidden addictions too.

Instant rewards is one of the major reason why gamblers engage in virtual sport betting, it saves you from the suspense and waiting for a long period of time to get your win but the downside to virtual games is the fact that they are being controlled by the bookmakers that's why I don't like playing it, in this virtual games I don't think skill matters it's just about how lucky you are. I think the percentage of users that play virtual games in land based centers is quite higher than those that play it online

[famososMuertos]

As for whether something is more addictive than another, the reality is that this comparative connotation works for healthy people, who may eventually be attracted to a type of game depending on its characteristics, but the pathological addict bets on whatever, he only needs the occasion and the moment, the addict is sick, and this type of comparison in certain games is like asking an alcoholic if a certain liquor makes him more addicted.

[michellee]

I believe if he play gambling without having responsibility can make him become gambling addiction. No matters where he play gambling, online or offline, his chance to get addicted to gambling will be bigger. That situation will become worsen if he lose control and can not manages his gambling activity.

The gambling addiction can comes to people who lose controls of themselves. The important thing that you must have is self control to avoids the gambling addiction. People visit on the casino more often when they see that playing gambling is exciting and can give them the winning.

I agree that if gambler playing gambling more often, the more the chances to become addicted to gambling. They must avoid that for their own good and only gambling if they have free time and only use enough money.

[Findingnemo]

E-sports is just the new version of the game so I don't know why it has to be a point of debate in addiction, it's just same as conventional games but it's as popular as betting on a real-life football game? I don't think so.

Gaming industry is billion dollar industry already even without the part of gambling involvement so for them it's just a byproduct and people always seek for new experience and that could be one of the reason if you find people betting more on virtual games more than the actual real life games but as I said it just has same effect as any kind of addiction.

[Obim34]

Everything associated with gambling can be addictive, whether it is slots, V-games or sports betting, the gap between all these remains as per the gambler, at what expenses is he trying to avoid or possibly get more into gambling will decide if the gambler gets addicted or not.

What attracts people into V-game as you said is based on instant results without waiting a whole 90 mins until the final whistle is blown before knowing what's the outcome, but considering that the predictions from there are likely unknown, small teams can match up against big team with ease, it can be possible that the number of people who lose from playing V-games are more than those who gamble on sports betting. Since it is computed, the computer/system match results based on how it is programmed not reality, so being addicted  to V-games with that much loses should be shouldered on by the gambler with no excuses or explanation.

[Coin_trader]

Virtual games is literally just a luck based sports betting since the game was designed with the use of algorithm for the result which is very hard to analyze as sports bettor since it’s different from the actual sports.

In terms of addictive, it’s subjective because people have different preferences on how they place bet. I myself want to place bet on sports that I’m watching so I usually skip other type of bet that I don’t watch which means I will not be addicted to virtual sports.

But some gamblers prefer fast phase game without considering the enjoyment of actual sports so they are addicted on virtual sports.

[Hatchy]

I don’t know if this topic has been discussed before, if so please pardon me.
Within the past few years, the world of gambling has indeed undergone lots of evolutionary stages which has potentially made quite a significant impact on the world of gambling. It is no long news how greatly the emergence of Virtual Sports betting  have immensely influenced how people spend their leisure time in gambling and many believe that this has also contributed a lot to the increasing rate of gambling addiction amongst several gamblers.
Hence the purpose for this thread, do you believe that virtual games are more addictive than the traditional real life games? Or the opposite.

Virtual games time is just like casino games. Though they all are still considered gambling but you should know that it's just a stimulation to look like the real sport. Alot of people prefer it to real sports for so many reasons personal but then it's more like a guess game to me. I prefer betting on real sports as this way, I will be able to make my plans as I know and understand the team I'm betting for or against. Not that the qualities aren't in these games, but then it's just controlled by algorithms. It might actually have a hand in addiction as people don't have to think much before placing a bet. You just hope to be Lucky so you make profits.

[Agbamoni]

Addiction comes with the activity we involve ourselves in. Virtual sports betting and real-life sporting events all can be addictive. There is no limit to how addictive it can be to an individual, if the gambler gives more attention to virtual sports, then that is where his addictive habit would start. Research proves that we can only get addicted to something that we do consistently and when it becomes a habit that we can't do without then we are addicted to that thing.

In gambling, to persons virtual sports betting could be seen to be more addictive than real-life sports events. While others it's the other way around. One gambler can be very addicted to both of them which means in general we can only be addicted to gambling and not one particular sport in gambling.

[AliMan]

Everything associated with gambling can be addictive, whether it is slots, V-games or sports betting, the gap between all these remains as per the gambler, at what expenses is he trying to avoid or possibly get more into gambling will decide if the gambler gets addicted or not.

What attracts people into V-game as you said is based on instant results without waiting a whole 90 mins until the final whistle is blown before knowing what's the outcome, but considering that the predictions from there are likely unknown, small teams can match up against big team with ease, it can be possible that the number of people who lose from playing V-games are more than those who gamble on sports betting. Since it is computed, the computer/system match results based on how it is programmed not reality, so being addicted  to V-games with that much loses should be shouldered on by the gambler with no excuses or explanation.

They're just making that as an alibi because of their pride and since addiction took place, there's a lot of complains among them. The only essential ways to control this is to have acceptance and self control. We couldn't control emotions of gamblers when they saw others won on this gambling sports betting. Making a lot of excuses will not correct wrong decisions, so no one could be blame but our own actions will prove it wrong for whatever reason it is.

[Fiatless]

All forms of gambling can be addictive if not controlled. Some gamblers are hooked on sports betting or slot games. But some people focus on virtual bets and the gamble responsibly. I am not a fan of virtual bets because they don't look real to me. I don't get the pleasure I derive when I place a bet on a real club. I also suspect that people can easily lose more money on virtual bets because the duration of the games is too short. I think gamblers should focus on games they enjoy and also gamble responsibly.