The Third Wave: Technology and Modern Sport Globalization

From the 16th century to the present day, the world has undergone numerous transformations in technology, communication, and transportation, particularly in the realm of sports. The modern sport, as we know it, evolved from the new forms of associativity that emerged during the English Enlightenment. Associativity has been identified as the fundamental unit of modern sport, incorporating gatherings, groups of people, socialization, and communication. In the 21st century, sports fans have harnessed technology to form online associations, participate in daily fantasy sports, and engage in legal betting, all with the hope of winning monetary prizes at the cost of an initial investment.

Globalization and Sports Betting

European nations have placed wagers for centuries, but in 2018, a new wave of globalization emerged through platforms like FanDuel and online legal sports betting. This technology has facilitated associativity between sport and the individual through an online medium, offering fans another avenue to engage with their favorite sports. This phenomenon can be described as the third wave of globalization, characterized by the use of technology and virtual engagement through a modern, regulated, legal-rational, bureaucratic institution devoid of cosmopolitan bias or limitations. Unlike lottery games, betting requires the systematic accumulation of data, the honing of knowledge, and the development of expertise. This mastery of modern pursuits not only maximizes chances for success but also shapes the world of modern sport.

FanDuel launched in 2009 with the mission of simplifying long-term, season-long games to allow users to win daily while competing against thousands of individuals. Their philosophy is straightforward for participants: Choose a contest, pick your players, watch, and win. On a global stage, these contests span numerous leagues, including the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, CFB, NASCAR, and the English Premier League, primarily because spectators are drawn to big-time sports. Although "free entries" are available, individuals can also enter contests by paying a fee. The goal remains the same: to produce the most points to win the prize. FanDuel’s online structure enables consumers to become general managers of their own teams for the day, granting them the autonomy to choose players for any reason, irrespective of local identity, and minimal barriers to entry, showcasing numerous characteristics of modernity.

Technological Advances and Equal Opportunity

The third wave of sports globalization has been driven by technological advances that have enabled individuals to participate in this new era without physically placing bets, thereby removing ascriptive barriers for sports betting, which is a hallmark of modernity. For instance, when creating an account on FanDuel, ascriptive features such as race and gender do not play a role in the registration process; one must simply be 18 or older. FanDuel has established its own "Bill of Rights," emphasizing a level playing field, clear rules and structure, and fair competition. A structured bill of rights is a critical component in fostering associativity, and within FanDuel, it creates an online community of its own. Recently, FanDuel emerged victorious in a Supreme Court ruling that surprised the world.

In a 6-3 decision, the court found that a 1992 law, known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, violated states' rights under the U.S. Constitution. Like all sports, FanDuel has now been bureaucratized. This ruling was a victory for the states, particularly for New Jersey, which now allows legal sports betting both physically and online. FanDuel has capitalized on this ruling by launching a new online platform alongside its daily fantasy platform to facilitate legal sports betting through its online structure. Historically, during the first wave of globalization, only white aristocratic males could place wagers, leading to discrimination against minorities. However, in 2018, FanDuel demonstrated its ability to create an equal playing field by removing the physical aspect and disregarding ascriptive characteristics when placing a bet, highlighting modernity.

Modernity in FanDuel

In the following sections, I will argue the modernity of FanDuel, beginning with cosmopolitan functions within the third wave of globalization. FanDuel conceals the user's identity, withholding ascriptive characteristics to ensure equal opportunity and minimize discrimination. Men, women, white, black, and Asian individuals are all eligible to participate under one set of clear rules. Most sports fans have a local identity that may or may not influence their betting decisions. For example, a Giants fan may bet on the Eagles to win or include Carson Wentz (Eagles QB, an icon) in their lineup, ignoring their local identity and rivalry.

Selecting a player based solely on race is rare because participants are committed to winning, and like all modern hegemonic sports, the best players are chosen regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, which are also known as ascriptive traits. FanDuel provides equal opportunities for all individuals over the age of 18, showcasing modernity by including participants regardless of uncontrollable characteristics. One of the distinctive traits of capitalism is the ability to explore the free market. Although FanDuel is unique, it competes directly with DraftKings and illegal betting operations worldwide through the internet. Migration, economic and political expansion, and competitiveness are defining characteristics of globalization in sport. With illegal betting projected as a $150 million industry, the Supreme Court ruling has prompted political participation and the development of a new branch of the economy.

Currently, New Jersey is the only state allowing online legal betting through FanDuel. Here, the Supreme Court functions as an institution perceived as objective, legal, rational, and bureaucratic—traits of modernity. What's intriguing about the ruling is that the Supreme Court left the power in the hands of the states. According to NY Senator Chuck Schumer, the government should begin regulating sports betting and take a leadership role in providing necessary guidance. Not only has the government weighed in, but league commissioners, such as Adam Silver of the NBA, have also publicly commented, suggesting that the "league" itself should profit from the legalization of sports betting. Silver proposed that the NBA retain 1% of all bets placed, considering the multi-billion-dollar industry.

Fantasy Sports and Legalization

Within FanDuel's online structure, technology has been used as a medium to bring accessibility to masses previously excluded throughout history. It is no longer necessary to be a white aristocrat to place a wager, yet gambling still possesses modern characteristics. In the 18th century, it was socially unacceptable for an African American to place a wager. Technology today has eliminated ascriptive characteristics that deny equal opportunity in betting and has given participants the option to use the internet rather than physically placing a bet. Historically, gambling was an individual activity used to demonstrate class differences based on "what is bet on" and "how much is placed on the bet."

In 2018, the legality of sports betting is indeed modern, as an objective, legal, rational, bureaucratic institution voted for its legality and the potential government involvement and regulation of the betting industry form this third wave of globalization. As early as the 16th century, bets and wagers have been placed between friends and rivals, whether it’s horse racing or throwing an object further than the competition. In 1677, the Earl of Sussex attended a cricket match, and by 1694, aristocrats began using cricket for gambling. Similar to cricket, horseracing development called for a set of rules by royalty and aristocrats to incorporate gambling. By 1750, the Jockey Club was created in England to provide authority on horseracing issues, implementing Max Weber’s legal-rational authority to provide historical context on how the sports betting world has evolved since the 18th century.

In contrast to FanDuel, the rise of fantasy sports has also emerged in this third wave of globalization. Rather than daily options, fantasy sports allow users to become general managers of their teams for an entire season, from draft night through the playoffs, executing waivers and trades to field the best team. In FanDuel, participants compete with hundreds of thousands, while in season-long leagues, participants usually face one opponent for the entire week. Due to a cap on the number of teams in a league, discrimination may occur, but it relies on the commissioner's decision. Without legislation, the government has hinted at regulating fantasy sports. Legality differentiates FanDuel as modern compared to fantasy sports.

The Supreme Court ruling did not mention fantasy sports, only legal gambling. Because money in fantasy sports is often exchanged under the table, some consider it illegal gambling. However, sites like "Yahoo" are beginning to align with FanDuel's system. Recently, Yahoo has introduced new daily fantasy options. It will be interesting to see how the government chooses to regulate sports betting, which may become common on sites like "Yahoo" in the near future. As previously mentioned, migration, economic and political expansion, and competitiveness are defining characteristics of globalization in sports, evident in late 19th-century England with rapid population growth, state authority, and the implementation of hegemonic sports.

The second wave of globalization, known as "post-industrialization" globalization, was marked by technological transformation and the emergence of global media, enabling unprecedented communication between individuals in distant places. This new third wave of globalization is defined by technology and the opportunity for individuals to engage with sports virtually. Through the internet, individuals worldwide can participate in virtual betting. Legal sports betting and daily fantasy sports are modern due to several key factors. Firstly, a modern, regulated, legal-rational, bureaucratic legal institution has ruled sports gambling legal through a Supreme Court ruling. Secondly, the internet has eliminated ascriptive discrimination. Technology in the 21st century is the catalyst for the third wave of globalization.

Did you like this example?

752

40