In 2012, eSports were only known by a select few, and the industry was worth a modest $130 million. Times have changed in the blink of an eye, and now eSports are generating over $1 billion in revenue each year, with those numbers only predicted to climb. The world is beginning to take competitive gaming seriously. Titles like League of Legends and Overwatch are growing in stature and could soon be equal to major sports like football and rugby in terms of viewing figures. Gambling sites have taken note of this eSports explosion, and now increasing numbers of operators are offering adapted iGaming markets.
Advancing technology has made competitive gaming a reality, as there is far more skill required to prevail at the games than ever before. Constant updating and refinement is done by developers to reduce the instances of RNG deciding the outcome of matches, which has meant that betting on the games is fair and bettors can make their choices based on intrinsic factors. In a game of Overwatch, for instance, someone staking on the game would look at which teams are playing, with what characters and weapons they are using, before placing their bets.
Online casinos have found that offering odds on eSports games can be lucrative, and are using it as a way to pull in players. For example, this comprehensive review of NordicBet casino shows that the site offers odds and ways to bet on eSports games, an avenue that has proven popular, more so today, within a progressive gaming industry.
The target audience for this kind of betting is also akin to the type of player who favours casino games, such as slots and digitised tabletop games. This could explain why online casinos are so eager to get involved with the eSports scene, as the relationship is already substantiated, not only through their target audiences, but through external factors such as brand deals and sponsorships.
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A lot of land-based casinos are now building eSports arenas as a way to bring in younger players, with gambling hub, Macao, leading the way in this regard. The future of Las Vegas also appears to be in eSports. One of the most exciting new additions to the world-famous American entertainment capital is the HyperX ESports Arena. It is a 30,000 square foot multi-level site which is designed to host all types of competitive gaming. It is designed to facilitate professional and amateur gamers, and has a capacity of 1,400.
It certainly appears as though the casino industry is going to help propel eSports to even greater success. Gambling is one of the most lucrative sectors in the world, and it is growing at an alarming rate. This is because of its willingness to evolve and adapt to changes within the technological landscape. ESports will help online casinos bring in younger players, while online casinos will help older players discover competitive gaming. In this way, the two industries could help boost each other and further their industry crossover relationship.
Some people were sceptical about eSports when they first came about, but now they are being taken seriously. Betting on competitive gaming is a real, lucrative thing and, due to the growing popularity of the activity, greater numbers of online casinos will no doubt soon offer odds on tournaments.
