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Gamification Is Changing How Fans Experience and Engage With Sports

Gamification

Business Honor
11 June, 2025

Technology transforms sports viewing into interactive, immersive experiences for global fan communities.

The sport world is undergoing a dramatic transformation due to increased technological and gamification effects. The passive nature of sports watching in the past is no longer the same, with increased interactivity and engagement for sports fans. Smartphones and digital media are enabling sports fans to take an active role in their favorite events, thus developing a more interactive relationship.

Unmish Parthasarathi, executive director and founder of Picture Board Partners, demonstrated how fan engagement is shifting. "Gaming ceased to be a pastime but has become an opportunity for fans to be part of the story being told in real time. Young fans in particular are no longer passive viewers; they are co-creators," he clarified. This phenomenon can only be anticipated to become further entrenched in the coming years.

Fantasy games have been among the main protagonists in this transition. Joy Bhattacharjya, Director General, the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), explained how fantasy sports began as a straightforward concept to make sports enthusiasts more interested by allowing them to create and control their teams. This feeling of ownership makes sports watching more thrilling and intimate.

The gamification aspect is trending its way into other sporting events such as chess too. Dr. Sivaram Ambikasaran of the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI presented how internet forums and interactive resources have made chess mainstream and democratized it.

In the rapidly expanding world of esports, gamification is reshaping how individuals interact. Boom Esports Chief Revenue Officer Devesh Kabdwal spoke about how fans do not only watch; they participate in fantasy leagues and converse on social media, providing brands and players with new possibilities.

As technology advances, gamification has the ability to transform sports by making it more immersive, interactive, and rewarding to interact with fans.