Fantasy sports – the new age of betting

As a sports bettor, you always seem to have more betting options covering the hottest events the different markets offer.

In this article, we discuss what makes fantasy sports so popular and how they work, looking at some of the most played choices.

What are fantasy sports?

Before you start looking for online casinos where you can wager on fantasy sports, it is a good idea to understand what they are.

Some popular options you can play or wager on include football, basketball, baseball, and soccer.

How do fantasy sports work?

Betting on fantasy sports is pretty simple. You can start by joining a league with friends privately or publicly. Then, you draft players to form your team and the other participants. You can do this through a live, snake, or auto-draft. A snake draft is where the draft order reverses with every round.

The players will earn points based on their real-game stats, and different points are awarded for different game actions. So, a tackle and a home run won't be the same, similar to real games. At the end of the week, the points for each team are totalled, and the team with the most points wins their weekly matchup.

Fantasy football, or sports in general, is not just about setting up a team and leaving them to make it to the end. As with any sport, you must manage your team throughout the season. You can make trades, take any of the free agents from the waiver wire and adjust your lineup based on their performance and injuries.

With most leagues, there are playoffs that end the regular season. During these playoffs, all the top teams compete for the championship title, like with the Fantasy Premier League.

What makes it popular among bettors?

There are several reasons why bettors enjoy them so much. These betting options come with more engagement and control, and, of course, the thrill of skill and strategy is required for success in fantasy sports.

You need to be able to analyse the stats and matchups to make the best bets. Another big thing is that it creates community and healthy competition while offering flexibility and various wagering options, sports and leagues.

Surely, there is also the potential of hitting a big win at the end of the league, depending on your wagering options.

Fantasy sports and other newer options, such as eSports betting, are quickly becoming solid alternatives to traditional sports betting choices.

Most popular fantasy sports

Fantasy (Soccer) Football

Football is the most popular sport to bet on. It makes sense that the fantasy version of it will be right on top of the list as well.

One of the popular leagues for football bettors is the Fantasy Premier League. This is also among the most played online games, where you can build and manage a virtual team consisting of real-life Premier League football players.

The price for each player will depend on their real-life performance and popularity. As mentioned, points are earned based on their performances in real Premier League matches.

For this specific football league, points are earned as follows:

• Goals Scored
• 4 points for forwards
• 5 points for midfielders
• 6 points for defenders and goalkeepers

Assists earn 3 points, defenders and goalkeepers earn 4 points for clean sheets, and 1 point is awarded for every 3 saves by a goalkeeper. You can also earn bonus points if you're the top performer in the match.

Fantasy (American) Football

For punters across the globe, but especially in the United States, American football is one of the biggest and most entertaining sports all around. It’s no wonder that it takes one of the top spots as a contender for best fantasy sports options.

Every week, you need to refresh your lineup by choosing the starting quarterback for the week. You can also choose a captain and a vice-captain who can step in if the captain doesn't play. The captain can earn double points.

On top of that, you can make transfers weekly. You get one free transfer a week; any additional transfers will lead to a points penalty.

Fantasy Basketball

One of the most exciting leagues is the NBA Fantasy League, where you can create your team of NBA players and score points based on their real-life performances.

There are various categories, including points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and assists. With this fantasy sport, there's generally a snake draft or an auction draft. There are also different types of scoring, including points-based and rotisseries.

Fantasy Baseball

There is also the MLB Fantasy, where you get to manage your own team of MLB players. You get awarded points for different types of stats, including home runs, RBIs, pitching stats, and stolen bases. Like basketball, the draft generally includes a snake draft or auction draft, and scoring can be points-based or rotisserie.

Fantasy Cricket

If this comes as a surprise to you, then you clearly have never been to the UK. Cricket is among the most popular sports in the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and many more countries around the globe.

With cricket, you can take part in the IPL fantasy, which is based on the Indian Premier League. Points are awarded for runs, wickets, catches and more. You select your team before the season starts, and points are awarded based on player performance throughout the match.

Popular fantasy sports terms you should know

With all of this knowledge under your belt, you’re ready to tackle the world of fantasy sports, but be sure to do so responsibly!