Over the years, the relationship between sports and gaming has evolved considerably. Video game franchises like FIFA propelled this relationship in the 1990s and, since then, sports have found their way into other gaming niches.

Yet, it’s not just about building teams, managing transfers, or playing matches that attract football fans to football simulation video games. Nor is it the ability to wager on live games or play football-themed casino games that attract these individuals to iGaming. It turns out there’s more in common between football, video games, and casino games than you might think.

Similarities Between Video Games and Football

There’s an overlap between video games and football. Like in football, video games can be played as teams, where every player has a role. For instance, the survival horror game Left 4 Dead 2 features a team-based “Versus” competitive mode, where four teams compete against each other. In games like this, communication is critical to success. 

Football is the same: teams that don’t talk to each other on the pitch won’t work as a unit. That’s why the role of the captain is so important. These individuals motivate their teammates and remind them of their roles. As reported by The National, one of the most memorable moments of captaincy came during Euro 2020, with Denmark’s Simon Kjær. 

Simon Kjær’s Renaissance in Milan

Video games can also be a single-person experience. Individuals need to have sharp mental skills and reaction times. Footballers need the same skills to read matches and fight fatigue.

Similarities Between Casino Games And Football

We also see overlap between football and casino games like blackjack and poker. These similarities have to do with strategy and knowing your opponent.

Blackjack is a game where the players who can envision potential moves benefit the most. You have to be able to think on your feet. We see this a lot in football, especially with Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane. Both players have demonstrated playmaking capabilities, creating something out of nothing before their opponents realise what they’re doing.

Blackjack is also a game of strategy. One of the goals in the game is to reduce the house edge. According to the review site Bonusfinder, maths is one strategy to reduce the house edge from 4% to 0.5%. If maths isn’t your forte, there are other strategies you can use to win blackjack. For example, you can try to improve your own chances with these tips, which include how to conduct card counting. 

Football clubs also use various strategies to secure three points. For instance, one of the most common strategies is to have a high pressing approach off the ball. We’ve seen this strategy used by possession-hungry sides like Bayern Munich.  

There are also similarities between football and poker. For example, the Premier League uses a double round-robin system, which means each club plays the others twice during a season. When you play a team a few times, you understand their tactics.

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You also learn the tells of individual players. For instance, Liverpool often uses a 4-3-3 system, and Tottenham’s Giovani Lo Celso only shoots with his left foot. Having this knowledge helps teams win games.

Poker is the same. You have to tune into another player’s tells to know how to approach the game. There are different types of poker tells, with the most famous being physical. These could include trembling hands, glancing at the phone, and lack of eye contact. You can also study a player’s betting history.

Sports and gaming have intertwined themselves. Interestingly, the similarities between the two markets extend beyond demographics. Video games and casino games have a similar foundation to football, where strategy and knowing your opponents are critical.