MORE than half of Brits don’t consider darts to be a sport, research has revealed.
A poll of 2,000 adults found 56 per cent believe it doesn’t qualify for this form of entertainment because it lacks physical exertion (29 per cent) and is more associated with leisure than a competition (27 per cent).
And 45 per cent see it as “just a game”, with 31 per cent opposing it being included in the .
More than four in 10 (41 per cent) went as far as to say they believe it’s “controversial” to consider it a sport – alongside poker (69 per cent) and chess (63 per cent).
The study, commissioned byLottoland.co.uk, also found 39 per cent say the same about axe throwing and snooker (29 per cent).
But TV presenter and enthusiast, Bobby Seagull, has revealed why it should, and does, qualify as a sport.
According to Bobby, it’s a mistake for anyone to underestimate it as darts shares many of the same core elements that define high-level competition.
And while darts players may not look like your typical elite athlete – like a footballer or swimmer – they have unbelievable concentration, a fierce dedication to fine-tune their technique, and a command of mental maths that would blow away all but the sharpest minds.
Bobby, who has partnered with the online betting company to celebrate the launch of its new PDC World Darts Championship slots game, said: “What really struck me was meeting the British public and seeing just how passionate and supportive so many people are about darts.
“It made me realise something important: while darts may still carry the image of being a casual pub game, that perception overlooks the sheer level of commitment required to reach the top.”;
The research also found 77 per cent have dabbled in the sport, but only three per cent consider their ability to be “excellent”.
While four in 10 believe they are “average” and 11 per cent aren’t afraid of admitting they are “terrible”.
Of those who play regularly, 30 per cent know their accuracy needs to improve, while 19 per cent want to work on their consistency.
And encouragingly, to align with the expert’s way of thinking, 62 per cent do believe it requires as much mental focus as physical sports, according to the OnePoll stats.
The spokesperson forLottoland.co.uksaid: “Darts started as a pub game, which could be why people have this perception, but a lot has changed in the last 10 years.
“It has been racking up some unexpected fans since burst onto the scene in 2023 and since then, it has encouraged thousands to have a go and follow in his footsteps.
“Even though so many still don’t consider darts a proper sport, it’s interesting to see how the nation lacks the skills that professional players have.
“It’s incredibly hard to be accurate and consistent on a darts board, so it’s reassuring that even though many people don’t think it’s a sport, it still has the mental focus needed for more of a physical sport, like football.”;
