eSports Betting: the Sector’s Popularisation

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Features of the Direction’s Growth

eSports contests are held using electronic systems, such as computers or consoles. Both experienced gamblers and amateurs can participate in tournaments. People create teams and compete with each other in CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, and other disciplines.

Games for which these events are held are selected based on the following criteria:

• multiplayer mode;
• victory depends not on chance or luck but on the users’ skills;
• a clearly determined winner.

The first public cybersport tournament was held in the United States in October 1972. Stanford University faculty and students gathered in the artificial intelligence lab to compete in the Spacewar entertainment. The goal was simple: manoeuvre the spaceship to destroy the enemy.

The next round of eSports development occurred in the 1990s when local computer networks appeared in the market. The niche gradually improved as the Internet grew: affordable equipment (computers, laptops, and headsets) was released, and user incomes increased.

In the early 2000s, the first online computer game tournaments and licensed bookmakers’ offices offering bids on cybersport appeared. The sector began to change significantly: professional teams and influential sponsors became part of it.

In 2020, large investors radically revised their attitude toward eSports and began to redirect huge cash flows to this sphere. Almost 5 years later, everything remained almost the same: competitions of this kind are still one of the most promising and profitable areas in gambling.

Current State of Affairs in the Niche

The Mordor Intelligence online publication provides the following statistics:

• $2.1 billion — the size of the eSports market at the beginning of 2024. By 2029, according to experts' forecasts, this figure will already be $5.27 billion with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.05%.
• $721.2 million — the capitalisation of the American cybersport sector. The United States is the jurisdiction with the highest incomes in this field (34.3% of global revenue). The Top 5 countries with the biggest profits also include the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, and France.
• $33.6 — average revenue per user (ARPU) in the segment. This is less than in the traditional casino industry but more than in the lottery, bingo, and keno sectors.
• The most popular video games include Dota2, Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike Overwatch, and Global Offensive (they take 85% of all revenues in the sector).

The rapid growth of the market is explained by several aspects:

1. Legalisation. The expansion of regulatory frameworks has a positive effect on the segment.
2. Technological advances. Among the innovations, it is worth mentioning blockchain, artificial intelligence, Big Data, VR, AR, and cloud gaming.
3. The influence of sports media. Professional coverage of events stirs up interest in virtual disciplines.
4. Effective marketing. It can be used to attract new players and retain regular customers.
5. User convenience. This includes synchronisation with payment services, support for mobile platforms, the introduction of gamification tools, and other functions that make wagering comfortable and safe.
6. Integration with social networks. Thanks to them, the reach and engagement of the audience increases, as well as the clients’ interest in eSports and related topics.

The division is gradually taking over all areas of life, including education. For example, in the US, students at Ohio State University, Becker College in Massachusetts, and Shenandoah University in Virginia can defend their thesis on this topic.

Cybersport competitions are held in about 100 high schools in the US. Moreover, the University of California, Irvine, and several other prestigious institutions in the country offer scholarships to the best players in this discipline.

6 Reasons to Offer eSports Betting in a Bookmaker’s Office

Let us consider the main advantages of such a decision:

Wide Audience Coverage

The demand for such tournaments varies depending on the region, but the largest number of contests is held in Asia. Here, South Korea and China are considered local leaders. They have a busy schedule of competitions with many participants and a solid prize pool.

The second world centre of eSports is the United States. The rapid development of the segment in the country coincided with the opening of the digital wagering market. Today, both areas unite millions of gamblers and provide good income to operators.

Europe is another hotspot for cybersport fans. Tournaments in the UK and France generate stable revenue, but other jurisdictions also keep up with global trends.

Affordable Licensing

In most states, eSports betting and the work of bookmakers’ offices are regulated by the same principle. Entrepreneurs must obtain a single permit that covers several types of activities at once.

This practice is applied in:

• the UK;
• Romania;
• Germany;
• Malta.

In the US, both niches are regulated at the local level. The placement of bids is allowed in Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and other developed states.

In most Asian countries, the described type of betting is prohibited but players easily find loopholes. As a rule, they use VPNs and other services to bypass restrictions. The Philippines is one of the few regions where online casinos and bookmakers’ offices are allowed to operate in the online format.

Balanced Event Line

The main types of eSports bets:

• On the result of the match. Clients bet on the victory of one of the teams or their favourite athlete.
• On the exact score. People predict the exact outcome of the match.
• On totals. This is a bid on the entire number of points scored by the teams.
• Handicap. In this case, the difference in the level of the sportsmen is taken into account, after which the program offers more balanced odds.
• Special bets. They cover various events in tournaments or meetings, such as the first defeat of the opponent, the cost of collected artefacts, the lives used, etc.

eSports covers a huge number of tournaments and matches, thanks to which players can find interesting events almost every day. Bookmakers get a guarantee of earning a stable income, which grows from year to year.

In the niche, there are no such huge downtimes (associated with the off-season, political situation, or other restrictions) as in traditional casino divisions. Thanks to this, it is possible to create a balanced event line without artificially low or, conversely, high odds.

Huge Popularity Among Gamblers

Let us consider why people choose eSports betting:

1. Availability. Such an activity is legal even in those jurisdictions where, for example, online casinos are prohibited. Customers do not need to bypass various restrictions to place bids. Everything is legal and safe.
2. Useful analytics. Detailed statistics facilitate forecasting and decision-making. It also makes the gameplay exciting and intellectually rich.
3. Live broadcasts. Most events are shown in live mode via Twitch, YouTube, and other streaming services. Gamblers can follow matches and place bets in real-time, which further stirs up their interest.
4. Social aspect. eSports has created a vibrant community of players, fans, and spectators who share a passion for competition. They talk to each other, share thoughts, follow the actions of opponents, and unite in large teams. All this has a positive effect on the industry, contributes to greater cohesion of customers and strengthens their desire to place bids.

Simple Connection

Integration of an eSports line into the structure of a bookmaker’s office takes a minimum of time. As a rule, project owners do not need to issue a separate permit but they can operate within the framework of the valid licence.

Changes in the frontend and backend of wagering platforms are also minimal. A new section appears on the website where it is necessary to describe in detail the markets and disciplines covered, as well as the rules of the game, the range of bets, etc.

It is worth including cybersport in the bonus program, offering customers incentives for registration, the number of bids placed, and success in forecasters’ tournaments.

Growing Interest Among Investors

Today, most major competitions (for example, The International for Dota 2) have solid prize pools exceeding $40 million. It attracts not only gamblers but also large businessmen who are ready to put their money in eSports.

All this fuels the market and guarantees high incomes for bookmakers, investors, sponsors, and other participants.

Trends in the Sector

Let us consider the changes that can be expected in the niche:

Growth of Streaming and Audience

Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Facebook Gaming, and other platforms are playing a key role in the development of eSports betting.

In 2024, on Twitch alone, there were more than 140 million unique viewers per month, a significant portion of which followed competitions in the live format.

Thematic portals perform the following actions:

• provide broadcasts of the largest cybersport tournaments;
• create an interactive environment where fans can communicate, keep an eye on their favourite athletes, and place bids.

Introduction of Innovations

Technology and data analytics have revolutionised the eSports sector. Today, bookmakers use complex algorithms and machine learning models to process huge amounts of information and highlight the main points.

The details include:

• performance of the players;
• statistics on the team;
• results of past matches;
• forecasts for future periods, and much more.

Live betting technologies help operators create a dynamic environment where odds are instantly updated depending on the events in the game. This meets the needs and preferences of gamblers and provides a personalised experience, as well as high retention rates.

Development of the Segment

By integrating bids on niche eSports events, bookmakers can:

• enter underserved markets and gain a huge share in them;
• attract a new solvent audience;
• diversify operational risks;
• increase competitiveness and resistance to sudden changes.

It is difficult to imagine the development of the sector without active coverage of the most popular gaming genres. In recent years, these have included multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), real-time strategy (RTS), as well as various sports simulators (football, basketball, rally, etc.).

The Main Things about eSports Wagering

Key aspects that operators should take into account:

• Among the advantages of connecting cybersport quotes, we can highlight a wide audience coverage, affordable licensing, and simple integration. This direction is interesting for both investors and sponsors.
• Gamblers value such bets for a balanced event line, useful analytics, and live mode support. People are also attracted by the huge social aspect that the niche provides.
• Key trends in the industry include the growing role of streaming and viewership, the introduction of innovations, and the popularisation of eSports.

From us, it is also possible to order the following useful services:

• connection of payment systems;
• security software installation;
• preparation of a business plan;
• integration of affiliate services, and much more.

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