"Soccer is excruciatingly slow; two halves of a 90-minute game might end in a score of 1-0. For that interval, the spectator sits at the edge of a stadium bleacher or leans forward on the couch at home. Wait for it. Hockey, by contrast, is blindingly fast. In the stands and even on today's ultra-high-definition television screens, the watcher may lose the puck in a hundred mph slapshot."
"But the two dissimilar sports share a continuous play that flows back and forth, side to side, seizing spectators' eyeballs. Hanging on the edge, spectators keenly anticipate the rare goal. Foghorns rev up fans with a blaring diminished triad. Waaaaaanggh! Let's GO! Buff-a-LO!"
"In my scheme, Anticipation is the first Element of Play. (A metaphor rather than an element like, say, platinum or tin.) Fundamental emotional states progress in play, beginning in keen Anticipation and unfolding to Surprise and Pleasure, and then opening toward the dividends that play pays: Understanding, Strength, and Poise."
"That same feeling of immanence, a keen pleasure in itself, but sharpened and multiplied by electronic means, drives the enthusiasm for online gambling, an industry that reportedly reached $132 billion in worldwide revenues in 2026 and that grows at more than 10% annually."
Soccer and ice hockey differ in speed and pacing, yet both feature continuous back-and-forth play that keeps spectators focused. Goals are rare, so viewers anticipate them intensely, leaning forward and watching for the next moment. The emotional arc of play begins with Anticipation, then moves toward Surprise and Pleasure, and later toward Understanding, Strength, and Poise. This front-loaded anticipation also fuels online gambling, where electronic immediacy sharpens the sense that something might happen next. The resulting fear of missing out increases enthusiasm, supporting rapid industry growth and large global revenues.
Read at Psychology Today
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