To purists, NASCAR events are 'low-brow' and not technically a sport. However, according to the millions of audiences worldwide, billions of dollars spent on online betting, and new industries placing integrative investments towards the race, it's not difficult to consider NASCAR a legitimate source of competitive entertainment.
Consider the parallel industry of eSports. Online gaming has evolved into something out of the ordinary in just the span of a few years. Take for example League of Legends, the most played online game in the entire world today. The world championship of the video game drew over 18 million viewers worldwide, a figure that signified the industry's burgeoning market.
This is similar to NASCAR, which was touted only as an event that drew in viewers and nothing more. To some, it was just a onetime spectacle, a race and not a sport. Years later, the industry drew in investments from many sectors and is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.
eSports events gained much profit from ticket sales and merchandise. This is only the start of an industry that will follow the path of the NASCAR. It's only a matter of time when men playing with machines is not merely a game but a genuine sport.
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