How are casinos and eSports related?

When we hear the word gambling, many of us picture something from movies: the glitter of Vegas, the ringing of coins, serious faces at the poker table. Or, at worst, a cozy evening at home, spinning the reels in some online casino, like casino Lucky Twice, hoping that something worthwhile will fall out any minute. But let’s look at it a little broader. In the last decade, a new kind of gambling has emerged, and it is not at all like classic games. And we are talking about eSports. In fact, betting on eSports matches has become as popular as betting on football or boxing.

So, have you ever wondered what these two, at first glance, completely different worlds have in common? It would seem that in a casino everything is decided by chance, and in eSports – skill and talent. But this is too simple an explanation, don’t you agree? Let’s dig deeper. In both cases, we are dealing with risk and emotion. The adrenaline of victory, the disappointment of loss – these are universal feelings. This is, in fact, the very thread that ties them together.

When luck is not just luck

By the way, many people think that there is no room for chance in eSports. But this is, as they say, a “rookie mistake.” Watch any professional match, and you will see that there is always room for surprises. Yes, the team can be brilliant, their strategy is flawless, but then one of the players made a small but fatal mistake. Or, for example, some unforeseen bug occurred in the game. In fact, this is the element of chance that makes eSports so exciting.

By the way, here I can recall one funny incident. I once watched a stream where one pro player in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive should have won the round almost certainly. But at the most crucial moment, he missed, seemingly from a guaranteed shot. The chat immediately began to flood with comments: “His RNG let him down!” Simply put, even in games where everything is decided by skill, people still look for an explanation in “luck” or “bad luck”. This is very similar to how slot players can wait for hours for the desired combination, believing that the machine “should” give them a win.

Differences and similarities

And yet, despite all the similarities, the main difference between casinos and eSports lies in the very nature of gambling.

Casinos are about passive gambling. You sit and wait for your luck to hit you. Your success depends on how the reels turn, or what cards are dealt. Of course, there is poker or blackjack, where calculation is required, but even there you cannot fully control the situation.

eSports are about active gambling. You bet on a person, on his skill. You believe that he is capable of winning thanks to training, tactics and talent. Yes, there is an element of risk, but it is not absolute.

And here is the most interesting part. Why are gamblers so actively switching to betting on eSports? In fact, it is not only about money, but also about:

• A sense of control. As I said, this is the main thing. Players feel that their bets are based on analysis, and not on pure luck;
• Spectacle. Watching a match of your favorite team is a separate kind of pleasure. It is like watching a gripping movie starring your favorite characters;
• Availability. Online platforms that allow you to place bets make this process incredibly simple. You do not need to go anywhere, just have a smartphone or computer at hand.

Emotions, strategy and risks

Honestly, if we simplify things completely, both casinos and eSports are about risk. In both cases, players invest their resources (money or time) to get a reward. Let’s take poker, for example. Players place bets, bluff, analyze the actions of opponents. Here, there is pure calculation and psychology. Now imagine that in an eSports game, for example, DOTA 2 or CS:GO, a player makes a decision on which the outcome of the match depends. He weighs the risks, thinks through the strategy, but at the same time understands that even the most ideal plan can go to hell because of some trifle. That’s the trick.

In fact, in both cases, success depends not only on luck, but also on the ability to manage risks. Casino players use strategies, and cyber sportsmen use tactics. In this sense, both require discipline and composure. And, by the way, online casino players also use their own methods. For example, someone prefers to bet a little, stretching out the pleasure, and someone takes big risks to hit the jackpot. This is very similar to how cyber sports teams choose their strategy – aggressive or defensive.