When practiced safely and responsibly, sports betting can be an entertaining and enjoyable pastime for some people. However, when not practiced with a safer gambling plan, wagering on sports can lead to financial hardships, strained relationships, and potentially addiction.
Responsible gaming is built upon recognizing problem signs and taking appropriate measures to protect oneself and others from harm. Making sure you understand the risks involved in all types of gambling, including sports betting, should be part of your safer gambling plans.
If you, or your loved one is in need of help with sports betting harms or worries, the PEI Gambling Support Line #1-855-255-4255 is available 24/7 for confidential assistance and support.
Sports Betting FAQs: What’s it all about?
What is e-sports?
E-sports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. E-sports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams.
How Does e-sports Betting Work?
Although you can gamble before an e-sports event, live betting during the match has become hugely popular. The three most common types of e-sports betting are:
- Real-money
- fixed-odds betting through an online betting site
- Social betting between individuals arranged privately
Research has found that more frequent betting on e-sports is positively associated with both problematic gambling and gaming.
What is the definition of fantasy sports / Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)?
In fantasy sports games, players compete against others by building a team of professional athletes from a particular league or competition while remaining under a salary cap, and earn points based on the actual statistical performance of the players in real-world competitions.
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are a subset of fantasy sport games. They are an accelerated variant of traditional fantasy sports that are conducted over short-term periods, such as a week or single day of competition, as opposed to those that are played across an entire season.
Fantasy Sports vs. Sports Betting: What is the Difference?
It is important to know the difference between them. In fantasy sports, you pick your own rosters of players instead of placing a bet on a real-life team. Both involve an element of random chance and could lead to developing a problem with gambling. So, whether you participate in fantasy sports or sports betting, it is important to set limits, recognize the risks, and know when to stop.
WHAT IS ONLINE SPORTS BETTING?
Online betting apps and platforms have made placing a bet easier and faster by letting people bet from the convenience of their phones at any time of day or night. With online sports betting, it is now possible to place multiple bets on your phone in real time as a game unfolds in front of you. The ease of betting with a single click has led to a concern that people are placing more bets than before and are doing it faster, which can lead to developing a problem with gambling. Online bets are bets that are placed using a computer’s internet browser or a phone app instead of at a casino, racetrack, or sportsbook.
HOW IS SPORTS BETTING DIFFERENT FROM GAMBLING IN A CASINO?
There are significant differences between casino games and sports betting. Sports bets can be placed legally online using licensed apps, while casino games can only be played in person. People who bet on sports online can also bet on all kinds of different sports with wagers that are made faster and more frequently than many casino games allow.
What is the “EXPERTISE MYTH”?
The biggest difference between sports betting and other forms of gambling is that many people who make bets are also fans of the sport or played the sport in the past. That can lead them to believe that their expertise gives them special insight or makes their bet a “sure thing,” even though sports bets are decided by random and chance outcomes.