When Did You Stop Calling Yourself a 'Sports Fan' and Start Calling Yourself a 'Bettor'?

[FadeThePublic]

So most of us maintain SOME connection to our original teams but it's weakened.

That's the identity shift in action.

 

[SharpEddie47]

Here's a test: if betting became illegal tomorrow, would you still watch sports?

 

[CoachTony_Bets]

Yes, but less frequently.

 

[TaffyTipster]

Yeah for Wales.

Other sports? Probably not.

 

[Klaus]

Bundesliga occasionally. Most other sports no.

 

[ParlayPrincess_88]

YES! I'd still watch Chiefs!

 

[oli_sussex]

No. Would find different intellectual pursuit.

 

[FadeThePublic]

Probably not honestly.

 

[DublinDegen]

no... theres nothing there without the betting...

 

[SharpEddie47]

So half of us have lost our core fandom entirely.

We're bettors who happen to watch sports, not fans who happen to bet.

 

[ThePuntingProf]

The responses to Eddie's hypothetical are quite revealing, those who would continue watching have maintained their core identity as sports fans, those who would not have completed the transformation to bettor identity, I fall somewhere in the middle, I would watch Arsenal matches out of decades of habit but I suspect I would gradually watch less over time, the betting has become so integrated with my sports consumption that separating them feels almost impossible at this point.

 

[TaffyTipster]

Prof that's the scary part.

Can't imagine sports without betting anymore.

They're fused together.

 

[CoachTony_Bets]

Have we ruined sports for ourselves?

 

[SharpEddie47]

Not ruined. Changed.

Whether that change is positive depends on whether you value profit over joy.

 

[FadeThePublic]

I value both. And I get both from betting.

The joy just comes from different source now.

 

[ParlayPrincess_88]

I don't want to have to choose!

Can't I just keep enjoying both??

 

[oli_sussex]

Theoretically yes. Practically, most don't.

Shift happens whether intended or not.

 

[Klaus]

Identity transformation natural consequence of sustained betting.

Resist or accept. Choice varies by individual.

 

[TaffyTipster]

I'm trying to resist it.

Want to stay a Wales fan who bets.

Not a bettor who watches Wales.

But it's hard innit.

 

[CoachTony_Bets]

Same Taffy. Fighting to maintain the fan identity.

But Eddie's right - the shift happens whether you want it or not.