“Playing sports or taking part in other forms of exercise is healthy”. Now, there’s a good candidate for the ‘Most obvious statement of the year’.

But that doesn’t stop it being true. However, a more relevant question might be: which sports are healthier for you? And why?

Back in the day when I worked for Betfair, one of my colleagues played rugby every weekend. He suffered so many injuries over the years, ranging from broken ankles to dislocated shoulders and missing teeth, that we started having sweepstakes on which new injury he’d be suffering from the following Monday morning.

A friend of mine almost drowned while surfing, while a girl I knew in Malta (on her fight debut, no less) broke another girl’s leg in a Thai Boxing clash. I’m not naming any names, to protect her identity, but you know who you are…Kylie.

And once you’re past about 35, if one football-related injury like a pulled hamstring or a sore calf doesn’t get you, another one will.

At the other end of the danger and injury spectrum, my snooker/pool/Fussball/bowling-playing mates never seem to get any injuries. But then again, they never seem to get any fitter, either.

A great alternative to all these sports, all of which are too dangerous or not physically demanding enough, are racket sports.

Each and any one of them, including tennis, squash, badminton, table tennis and the best thing to come out of Mexico bar Don Julio tequila, burritos and Salma Hayek …Padel. Even the somewhat ridiculously-sounding ‘pickleball’ deserves to be included on the list.

But just why are racket sports such a good option from a health point of view?

The multiple health benefits of playing racket sports

According to research by Optima Clinics, a leading private UK clinic dedicated to improving their clients’ overall well-being, there are multiple health benefits to playing racket sports.

Here are the main ones, with our own layman’s explanation of each one underneath it.

1. Cardiovascular Health

What Optima say:

“The constant physical effort elevates your heart rate and keeps it in the fat-burning, health-enhancing zone. The result? Improved cardiovascular health. These activities can lower the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and increase levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.”

What Optima mean:

Your cardiologist will have far less to criticise the next time you pay them a visit.

2. Weight Management

What Optima say:

“Maintaining a healthy weight is a fundamental component of living a longer, healthier life. The enjoyment factor (of racket sports) can keep you motivated to stay active, ultimately aiding in weight control and reducing the risk of obesity-related conditions.”

What Optima mean:

You’ll save a fortune by not having to buy bigger clothes every year and the next time someone asks, ‘Who ate all the pies?’ you can truthfully respond that it wasn’t you, with your slimline figure being living proof of it.

3. Stress Reduction

What Optima say:

“The fast-paced nature of racket sports can act as a natural stress reliever. The endorphins released during exercise promote a sense of well-being, while the focus required to track the ball and anticipate your opponent’s moves can temporarily divert your mind from daily stressors.”

What Optima mean:

You’ll feel better, more relaxed, happier and more positive. Unless you’re Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh, that’s generally seen as a good thing.

4. Increased Longevity

What Optima say:

“Studies have shown that engaging in racket sports can increase your life expectancy. The comprehensive health benefits, from cardiovascular improvements to weight control, all contribute to an overall longer and healthier life.”

What Optima mean:

You’ll live longer, in the process ensuring the state has to carry on paying your pension for more years, also giving you the chance to witness humans live on Mars and, more importantly, the opportunity to tell your friend ‘Told you so’ when you outlive them.

Last chance to register for All-in Global’s Lisbon Padel tournament

All of this brings us to the All-in Global Lisbon Padel Tournament, the first one we’ve ever hosted in the Portuguese capital.

It will take place after the SBC show, one of the biggest iGaming conferences, which used to take place in Barcelona, but this year is happening in Lisbon, also for the first time.

We still have a few spots available for players from the iGaming industry. To join us last minute, just fill out the registration form or email kate@all-in.global.

And All-in Global Padel tournaments are like London buses. You wait a few months for one to come around, and then all of a sudden, you have two because our extremely popular SiGMA Padel Tournament will take place just six weeks later in Malta.

Entry is free for all iGaming delegates, and all skill levels are welcome. Don’t wait any longer—register now before we’re fully booked!

Sweating Scotch, beating boredom and the other benefits of playing racket sports

So, we’ve covered the main health benefits of playing racket sports but there are other good non-health-related reasons why playing Padel, in particular, is a great option. Both in general terms and as regards taking part in the Lisbon tournament next week.

Make new connections and grow your network

Ever heard of networking at the net? Probably not because we’ve just made that up but racket sports, whether casually organised or as more formal tournaments, are a great way to meet new people, be it within your company or otherwise, whether in your industry or another. Seeing different faces and making new connections in a more relaxed environment than the office meeting room or the conference floor can only be a good thing.

Relax and recharge after the packed show days

Our Padel tournaments are always organised the day after the 3-day iGaming shows, which can be quite exhausting. Here’s another candidate for ‘most obvious statement of the year’: some people drink alcohol during these conferences. Yes, shocking, we know.

Now, if this was the Finnish iGaming Conference, everyone would just go and sweat off all that CH3CH20H in the sauna, like a normal person. But it’s not: that one was held earlier this month.

A good game of Padel will help you release some of those toxins you accumulated over the last couple of days, loosen those shoulders and get you nice and recharged ahead of that flight back home.

Stay fit without boredom

Exercise isn’t just about beating the scales; it’s also about beating boredom. Endless hours on the treadmill or the bike at the gym isn’t the most riveting form of exercise and being bored by it isn’t the best recipe for carrying on doing it day after day.

All racket sports require you to be switched on for every point and no two points are the same, so the fun, competition and challenge of it all will help you keep coming back for more.

Improve your strategic thinking

You’ll know from our guide to Padel terminology that this is an extremely tactical and strategic sport that revolves around finding gaps to play the ball into until your opponents make a mistake and manipulating their position on the court like a master puppeteer; other racket sports are equally demanding on the brain.

They all help to improve your strategic thinking, which could come in handy.

Whether that’s for life-or-death matters like beating your best mate at a first-person shooter video game or a more tactical game of pool. Or something far more banal. Like planning your next marketing strategy or diversifying your personal investment portfolio.