Sports betting is at its peak across Africa. In addition to traditional sports, young, tech-savvy African gamblers are increasingly turning to virtual sports, attracted by the endless number of betting opportunities. Learn more about the development of virtual sports in Africa later in this article.
Thanks in large part to advances in technology and a growing population that loves sports (especially football), the African market is experiencing a betting boom. But in addition to traditional betting, African players are becoming fans of virtual sports.
Approximately 60% of Nigeria’s 200 million people participate in some form of betting.
For almost every player, the main problem is to find a bookmaker that is reliable and at the same time with a user-friendly interface. Bet365 is rated “Good” with 4.3 / 5 on Bookmaker-Ratings which is a really high valuation.
Company offers a fantastic product with a large choice of cricket and horse racing wagering options, as well as free live streaming.
What is Virtual Sports?
Virtual Sports is a software-generated simulation of sporting events.
These events are shorter than regular sporting events, usually only 90 seconds to a few minutes, and they are played with very sharp graphics, reminiscent of the highest quality video games.
The developers use CGI technology to render the smallest details, and there is something amazing behind the graphics. The best virtual products feature both realistic graphics and realistic odds.
Virtual sports are essentially no different from slot machines: they are also based on RNG. However, the main difference is that RNG generates a full list of outcomes and players are offered realistic odds so that they can evaluate them before placing a bet.
Real, virtual and eSports
Real, virtual and eSports have some major differences.
Traditional live football matches are held according to a specific schedule. A real match is 90 minutes long and sometimes only happens once a week. Virtual football matches run all the time and last only a few minutes, and the results are published immediately.
The terms «virtual sports» and «esports» are often used interchangeably, but they are two separate betting products. While esports is a simulation of sporting events, esports is a competition between professional gamers against each other, such as DotA 2 or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Why do African Players Love Virtual Sports so much?
Virtual sports appeal to tech-savvy football fans who prefer to bet smaller amounts but in larger amounts. And this description fits almost perfectly with the portrait of modern African players.
Take a look at the age of the players and their love of technology and you will understand why the all-encompassing love of betting extends to virtual sports.
Youth is a defining feature of African demographics. According to UN-Habitat, 35% of the continent’s population (which is about 420 million people) is between 15 and 35 years old.
Sports betting enthusiasts around the world are most often young people, and this is especially true in Africa. A recent GeoPoll survey found that 54% of Sub-Saharan Africans aged 17 to 35 have tried betting at least once.
And the last reason why the popularity of virtual sports is so high: it suits the way of life and thinking of modern players. It is available 24/7, offers thousands of games per day, has no seasonality or shortage of events for betting.
