In sports, politics, entertainment, and even business, underdog stories capture hearts. Crowds often cheer louder for the team with fewer resources, the contestant with less experience, or the startup challenging giants. The appeal runs so deep that even when people have no direct connection to the competitors, they instinctively side with the weaker party. Just as a player in a casino CoinPoker might cheer when someone wins big on slots after a long losing streak, society thrills at improbable victories that defy the odds.

Psychologists explain this phenomenon through fairness theory. A 2007 Journal of Applied Psychology study showed that people perceive underdogs as morally deserving because they face greater obstacles. Supporting them feels like correcting imbalance. In experiments, participants consistently favored disadvantaged competitors, even when outcomes had no personal impact. The emotional satisfaction came from restoring a sense of justice.

Sports illustrate this dynamic vividly. When Leicester City won the 2016 English Premier League at 5000-to-1 odds, the world celebrated beyond the club’s fan base. Neutral viewers across countries tuned in, not because they supported Leicester, but because they represented possibility. Statista reported that global social media mentions of the club spiked by over 600% during that season. Fans described the event as proof that “dreams can come true,” highlighting how underdog victories transcend fandom.

Entertainment thrives on underdog narratives too. Films like Rocky or The Karate Kid resonate because they dramatize improbable triumph. Audiences project themselves into these roles, identifying with characters who struggle but persist. On TikTok, hashtags like #UnderdogStory compile clips of athletes, singers, or entrepreneurs succeeding despite setbacks, often with millions of views. Comments frequently echo the same sentiment: “We love rooting for someone who wasn’t supposed to win.”

Casinos and games of chance mirror the same appeal. Players often cheer when someone hits a jackpot, especially if it’s their first spin or after visible losses. The collective thrill comes not just from the money but from witnessing the improbable. A 2013 Journal of Gambling Studies article confirmed that gamblers rated rare wins by others as more exciting than predictable small wins for themselves. Underdogs, even in chance-based games, embody the fantasy of beating a system designed against them.

The psychology also links to empathy. People relate to underdogs because most individuals, at some point, feel disadvantaged—at work, in school, or in relationships. Supporting underdogs symbolically validates personal struggles. A 2020 Pew Research survey found that 72% of respondents admitted they “usually cheer for the underdog” in sports or competitions, citing relatability as the main reason. The story of “small versus big” becomes personal.

Cultural narratives reinforce this instinct. Folklore around the world celebrates unlikely heroes: David defeating Goliath, poor peasants outsmarting kings, or rebels toppling empires. These stories endure because they flip power dynamics, offering hope that strength alone doesn’t guarantee victory. Modern culture updates the template with startups disrupting corporations or indie musicians topping charts.

Yet the underdog effect has limits. Once an underdog wins consistently, they lose the label. Fans often shift their support to new challengers, proving that people root less for individuals and more for the archetype. This explains why dominant champions, though admired, often attract resentment—success removes the moral appeal of disadvantage. On Reddit’s r/sports, users frequently note: “We loved them when they were underdogs, but now they’re just another powerhouse.”

Critics argue that the underdog bias isn’t always rational. Supporting weaker players can mean ignoring skill or merit, celebrating luck over preparation. Still, psychologists point out that the bias is less about logic and more about emotion. People crave stories where odds are defied, because it keeps hope alive in their own lives.

Ultimately, people root for underdogs because they embody possibility. They remind us that fortune can shift, that strength isn’t destiny, and that perseverance can rewrite outcomes. Just as a rare jackpot win on casino slots excites by defying probability, underdog victories thrill because they prove that against the odds, anything can happen.