Fantasy Sports Participation in Young Adults

This study aimed to understand comprehensively the motivations and constraints underlying fantasy sports participation among young adults (18-25) in India. The study applied a motivation and constraint model in the Indian landscape, wherein youth groups who played and did not play fantasy sports were surveyed. Given the issue of the legality of fantasy games in India and its linkage with gambling, two additional factors of addiction and morality were added. The findings of the multiple regression show that participation in fantasy sports among the youth is influenced by intrinsic motivation instead of monetary benefits, pride, or social interaction. Constraints affecting the potential participation of non-players include addiction, consuming valuable time, causing loss of money, and perceived capitalistic exploitation for stakeholders' profit. Producers of fantasy games need to enhance engagement levels to foster intrinsic motivation instead of external among the youth and safeguard them from addiction and gambling.