Ottawa’s latest and greatest hobbies

Online or offline, there are more distractions available to Ottawans today than ever before. Whether it’s the smartphone in your hand, the TV on your wall, or the live action unfolding in front of you, we’re rarely short of enthralling entertainment.

Of course, many pastimes have stood the test of time and seem unlikely to ever fade in popularity. Sports like ice hockey and biking are a part of the city’s culture, while less athletic pursuits, such as going to the cinema or playing video games, will likely endure for generations to come.

In this article, we will analyse some of the newer pursuits taking the city by storm, including the latest digital distractions, and the most exciting new sporting opportunities. They may not be about to remix our culture, but they’re certainly set to make an impression.

Rugby

In a nation dominated by hockey, other sports find it difficult to get a look in. But lacrosse, gridiron football, soccer, basketball, curling, and baseball have all succeed in gaining a foothold, and rugby could be the latest to build a major presence in Ottawa.

A new team, the Ottawa Aces, was established last year and had been set to compete in this year’s British competition, playing away games in the UK in a single spell before welcoming teams to the Canadian capital later in the season.

A decision has since been taken to defer the team’s entry by a year, which has stymied the recent momentum, but many remain excited by the prospect of a new pro team representing Ottawa, especially as the team had recruited so impressively before their debut season was put back, as per https://www.loverugbyleague.com/

Photo: Patrick Case, Pexels

Online casino gaming

Casino gaming has been a mainstay of international culture for many decades, while the growth of the sector online has evolved quite rapidly over the course of the last 25 years. But it’s perhaps during the last five years that online casino gaming has truly exploded.

And while regions like Europe and Asia have typically been at the forefront of this evolution, the North American market is expanding rapidly. In Canada, players can access localised guides like the one found at https://www.thecasinoguide.com/en-ca/, which tells them everything they need to know about the games available, and how to choose a site that fits their gameplay needs.

The sector’s growing popularity during recent years can be quite largely attributed to the rise of the smartphone, which has enabled more players than ever before to access the games. Logging in for a game of roulette, blackjack, or poker no longer requires a bulky PC or laptop, it can be done in the palm of your hand.

eSports

As we have already mentioned, gaming has been at the cornerstone of modern Ottawan culture for more than four decades now. This is another sector that has evolved almost beyond recognition during the last couple of decades, with the latest titles boasting vivid graphics and hyper-realistic gameplay.

A key part of the sector’s evolution has been the emergence of eSports. Players from around the world compete in Esports tournaments, with the available prize pots for the biggest events quite commonly running into seven figures.

As a major North American city, Ottawa itself is a thriving eSports hub, with several teams calling it home. Click eSports is one of the local meeting spots for eager players, offering events and a friendly community of like-minded enthusiasts. You can find out more about the spot at their site: https://www.clickesports.com/about

Photo: Soumil Kumar from Pexels

These are just three of the emerging hobbies that are already making an impression in Ottawa, and, of course, there are dozens of examples. It will be fascinating to observe how the three named on this list grow in the years to come.