From the weekend soccer, football and basketball fixtures to the elite-level tennis and golf tournaments that are held most weeks of the year, sports fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to catching the latest action on their TV or mobile devices.

Not only can you watch the leading stars strut their stuff and make the rest of us feel somewhat diminished in our amateurish attempts to match them, but there are complementary ways in which we can elevate our enjoyment with betting, fantasy sports and so on.

But what happens when the final whistle is blown, or the winning shot is made?

There is a gap in our hearts and minds, and we know we will have to wait for the next event or the next round of games before our appetite is sated once more.

So, in this article, we thought we’d compile a list of ways in which you can scratch the sporting itch from the comfort of your own home – there’s no need to work up a sweat (if you don’t want to!).

Betting Bonanza

Even when the sporting event has finished and your bets have been settled, there are other ways you can attempt to profit from a betting perspective.

The first is with virtual sports. Many sportsbooks offer this option now, and in essence this is a console-style game powered by an intelligent algorithm, and you can wager on a number of different markets – many of which you may already be familiar with.

As far as the available sports are concerned, there’s soccer, horse racing, tennis, cycling and more.

'Frankie Dettori' by MatthewMayer (CC BY-SA 3.0)

On a similar note, you can even try your hand at casino-based sports games. You may be aware of Frankie Dettori, the legendary horse racing jockey, who has lent his name to a roulette game.

It would be fair to say that casino roulette from Paddy Power is a varied affair, and you can even enjoy a soccer influenced title that adds a unique twist to the classic casino table game.

Video Star

Arguably, there has ever been a better time for console gamers and particularly those who enjoy their sports.

From FIFA and Madden to NBA 2K and NHL, the sporting spectrum is supremely represented on the small screen by the leading video game developers.

If you don’t currently own a console, this is an outstanding opportunity to get started. The reason for that is simple – we are about to enter the ‘next generation’ phase of gaming.

So, you can splash the cash on the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X to ensure you are bang up to date – both are scheduled for release late in 2020, or you can land the older generation of consoles at some of the cheapest prices they have ever been available for.

ICYMI: PS5's SSD is "far ahead" of those found in high-end PCs, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. https://t.co/UeI5BOOMMx pic.twitter.com/2GV3bHzK8B
— IGN (@IGN) May 17, 2020

Fantasy World

Even when we are days away from the next set of games, those embroiled in fantasy leagues will be tinkering away at their rosters in the hope of downing their friends or work colleagues.

If you’re not involved in a fantasy competition, where have you been? More than 60 million people have a team of some kind, typically in football or baseball, and these days you can make your knowledge count in paid fantasy leagues using stats sites such as ESPN to complete your lineups.

These are just three options to help you pass the time while between games - we're sure the time will fly by!

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