Fantasy Sports and Office Betting Implications
Although the sport literature is fairly sparse on the roles of fantasy sports and/or gambling in sport in relation to academic research and its impacts on fan engagement in sport organizations, there has been considerable interest on the topic. Aspects that the current paper will deal with include revenue generation of fantasy sports and/or gambling, branding implications for leagues, and other relevant issues related to gambling and sport enterprise operations. In general, the roles of fantasy and gambling in sport are many and can be more difficult to separate from more traditional sporting venues. Schirato (2012) suggested that in gaming and fantasy sport engagement allow the fan or user to be located in the field of vision, permitting the fan to do more than simply watch, but to some extent contributing to or even making the sport. It is a type of visual enhancement that is promoted by technology that both disposes and facilitates continuous mobile vision. Fantasy sport foregrounds watching as an active and productive process. Hence, at least from the fan perspective, it is game that he/she watched and is produced out of their work efforts, choices, and literacies. Sports-related organizations have promoted a brand image and loyalty that transcends all levels of social-economic levels, especially at the collegiate, professional and international sport teams’ competition (Bouchet, Ballouli, & Bennett, 2011; Coates & Humphreys, 1999; Pedersen, 2013; Seguin, Richelieu, & O'Reilly, 2008).
Social media and its related technological developments has especially accelerated branding experiences, such as Facebook™, MySpace™, YouTube™, and Wikipedia™, that ultimately allow the consuming public the opportunity to express their opinions and shape their future viewing experience (Zimmerman, Clavio, & Lim, 2011). Fantasy sports, in particular, allow the participant to strategic trade, manage, and alter the contest in ways never available before. The degree of involvement is dictated by the levels of active and productive processes, based on individual degree of effort, choices, and literacies (Schirato, 2012). Coupled with the engaging activities associated with fantasy sports participation, sport-relating office pooling and gambling provide additional avenues for fans to become engaged in the sport industry. One of the fastest growing forms of sports gambling is online betting, which typically consists of poker, betting on the outcomes of certain popular sporting events, bingo, and online casinos. However, the consuming public is not the only stakeholder involved in the media experience. Corporate sponsors, sports writers, broadcasters, sports executives, and players must all be considered in setting an agenda that meets their needs as well.