In the last two decades, fantasy sports competitions have grown into a worldwide phenomenon. With a market value of $18.6 billion and an expectation to grow to over $48 billion by 2027, fantasy sport is big business.
A major reason why fantasy sports have become so popular in the US is that federal law categorizes them as games of skill, rather than chance. This has meant that they have been legal throughout most of the country for years.
Taking in all of the major sports including basketball, fantasy sports these days embraces the internet, apps and the latest tech. But how does technology fuel the contests, and what does the future look like for it?
What are Fantasy Sports?
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Fantasy sports contests are online prediction games where players select a virtual team of players. Points are earned based on the real-life performances of the players. These points are then tallied up to add up in leagues and contests.
Online technology has greatly enhanced the concept of fantasy gaming. It is now one of the most popular ways to wager on sports games.
The history of Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy basketball has its roots in the core basics of fantasy sports. When and how this was dreamed up depends largely on which source you look at. Either American Football in the early 1960s, or Baseball in the late 1970s have been credited as the originators of fantasy sports.
An idea for fantasy basketball came after the rise of the internet in the 1990s. As such, it is closely related to online technology and communications.
The Tech of Fantasy Basketball
Technology is integral to the rapidly growing bracket of gaming known as fantasy dailies. To play in a daily fantasy basketball contest, players can make use of their knowledge online to have a chance of winning prizes.
Online communications and smartphone technology is essential for managers of fantasy basketball teams. It lets them know the latest news of player injuries, squad selections, and recent results that could have an impact on their games.
Another recent addition to fantasy sports competitions is blockchain technology. Many of the biggest names in the fantasy gaming industry are adopting tech as a way to improve the user experience.
The high levels of encryption and authenticity required for blockchain accounts have been adapted to fantasy basketball competitions. It works as a proven way of keeping information and winnings secured and verified.
Supporters of the technology believe that this removes the financial risks sometimes associated with proving how much a player can draw from the winning jackpot.
How Do the Contests Work?
Fantasy basketball dailies usually require you to select eight players from two separate matchups. All the players will have a monetary value and you will start with a set amount of cash. This means you can’t just simply buy the most highly-rated players.
You should take various things into account like recent form, whether the player’s team is at home or away, and recent injuries.
Checking the sports reports online is a great help when making these choices. This is another example of how integral technology is to the game.
The points each player scores are based on their stats for the match. Assists, steals, blocks, shots, and rebounds all come into play when the player’s totals are added up and recorded.
At the end of the game, your points are compared with your competitors. Whoever has the most points will win the cash prize.
Apps for Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy basketball players are well served by a range of powerful gaming apps. The technology driving these apps allows players the latest news and views and even in-game reports as the action is taking place.
Players can receive updates on their fantasy player at any time by setting notifications for any news. These communication possibilities are another part of why the games are so popular.
The tech opens up the contest for managers to have an overarching view of all the necessary information. Breaking news is delivered via an app as soon as the news is available. Players can then assess if any changes need to be made to make winning more points more likely.
As a way to monitor the latest real-world league standings, player picks, transfers and injuries, apps provide everything needed for a fantasy campaign.
Fantasy basketball games look set to continue to grow as technology improves and diversifies.
It could be that in the future virtual and augmented reality ideas will influence fantasy gaming. Whatever happens, the technology will be at the forefront.