Alex Skoblik, Head of Business Development at Betinvest, speaks about the growth of eSports and how sports betting can capitalize on this industry by offering engaging esports betting content.
A few decades ago, there was a debate among people as to whether eSports should be considered a sport. However, with the advent of digitalization, the Internet, and technological expansion, eSports has now been officially recognized as a sport and has flourished into a fully-fledged industry that is rapidly growing in terms of viewership and revenue.
eSports today and tomorrow
Reports from Newzoo, PwC, Deloitte, and other sources indicate that the global eSports market is expected to continue growing and may even become as significant as traditional sports by 2040. Currently valued at $1.44 billion, the eSports market is projected to reach $5.48 billion by 2029.
The eSports audience is also on the rise, with a projected 532 million viewers globally in 2022, and it is expected to exceed 640 million by 2025. It's worth noting that the majority of this growth is expected to come from emerging markets in Asia-Pacific (APAC), North America, and Europe - the top three markets for eSports in terms of audience and revenue.
The release of these reports has prompted many entities to take a more active interest in the eSports market. Here are some notable examples:
Several major sports organizations have sold their trademark and licensing rights to game developers.
Professional football clubs such as A.S. Roma, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., and Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. have established their own eSports teams and are competing in top-level tournaments.
The official Olympics organizing committee has organized the Olympic Esports Series, a global virtual competition that simulates nine sports, including tennis, baseball, taekwondo, and motorsport.
Sports leagues have created their own video game franchises, such as FIFA, Madden NFL, MLB: The Show, EA Sports UFC, and NBA 2K. It is predicted that soon, eSports basketball franchises will be valued similarly to NBA teams, which are currently worth around $1 billion.
Football and basketball are leading the way in the integration between eSports and traditional sports, as they aim to engage with a younger fan base that is gradually losing interest in traditional sports.
Content is a King
Esports has become a platform that can attract a whole new audience and offer a unique betting experience. Therefore, it is crucial for eSports betting businesses to exercise responsibility when selecting their content. The more engaging the content, the more likely customers are to return to the platform repeatedly.
Another way in which companies can lead in the industry is by providing 24/7 live betting and around-the-clock events. This fills the gaps in the somewhat seasonal traditional sports calendar, where major events are not held every day. An alternative to traditional sports events can be an eSports simulator, which has rules similar to traditional sports, making it accessible to the older generation who may already be familiar with sports betting. This can also help attract the younger generation who are interested in eSports events.
To meet these demands, Betinvest has established an exclusive partnership with Winners Sports Hub, a global sports platform with exclusive access to thousands of daily sports and eSports events held by Europe’s most prominent professional tournament organizers. BetInvest Ltd. holds exclusive broadcasting and trading distribution rights, providing access to RTMP-streams and contestants’ statistics. The company processes data for trading purposes, distributes leagues' content worldwide, and transmits it to platforms such as Twitch or any other platform, whose audience is expected to cross the billion mark in 2023 and reach 1.4 billion in 2025.
CyberLive!Arena & Esport Pro Club leagues
Betinvest is a leading provider of exclusive eSports content from two professional leagues that offer players the most popular sports simulation titles to bet on.
CyberLive!Arena (CLA) is a highly regarded professional league that organizes and hosts live-streamed tournaments in popular eSports simulators like eFootball, eBasketball, and eHockey. With its first office in Ukraine, CLA has expanded its reach to Poland and Croatia in just two years. Thanks to the contributions of professional players, esports managers, and expert broadcasters, CLA has become a favorite among players who want to keep up with the latest esports titles. Audiences from Europe and the USA are drawn to CLA content, and the league broadcasts 10,200+ esports events monthly and nearly 9,100 tournaments yearly, with round-the-clock live streaming.
The Esport Pro Club (EPC) is another prominent league that hosts regular PRO tournaments in Eastern Europe, featuring the most popular sports simulation titles like eFootball, eBasketball, and eFighting. EPC has a highly qualified and experienced team that is dedicated to promoting, growing, and developing the quality, diversity, and beauty of esports. In addition, EPC has enhanced its tournament schedule with the new title, eCricket, which caters to eSports content for countries in South Asia. This means that all types of EPC content could be relevant to users from Asia. The League conducts 7,000+ esports events monthly and nearly 9,300 tournaments every year, with broadcasting from 8AM to 11PM for eFootball, eBasketball, and eCricket, and round-the-clock streaming for eFighting.
Tools for content optimization
Bookmakers face a multitude of challenges when it comes to providing their customers with the best possible betting experience in the fast-paced world of esports. They need to ensure that the data they provide is accurate, reliable and up-to-date, while also offering a seamless, user-friendly platform that allows for real-time betting and low latency.
At Betinvest, we understand the unique needs of bookmakers operating in the esports industry, and we offer a suite of tools and services designed to help them meet these challenges head-on. Our Scouting Feed and Scouting WebClient platforms provide real-time updates on match scores and players' stats, along with an odds calculator and detailed stats calculated using our proprietary software-analytical system.
We also offer reliable odds derived from statistical data, with a wide range of betting markets to choose from. High-quality RTMP-streams with minimal latency and competitor's Lineup Widgets ensure a smooth and seamless experience for users. Finally, our Anti-fraud Service is a comprehensive set of analytical tools designed to prevent fraud risk and match fixing, helping to maintain high standards of fair and transparent play in esports.
Whether you're a new entrant to the industry or an established player, our solutions can help you capitalize on the incredible growth potential of esports betting.
Summary
From the bookmaker's point of view, esports is a highly lucrative industry with a massive global following of more than 600 million fans. The digital nature of gaming has made it easier to create new betting offerings and explore new player interests, providing bookmakers with a wealth of opportunities to expand their offerings and attract new customers.
As esports continues to grow and evolve, bookmakers need to stay informed about the latest developments and trends in the industry. They must continuously adapt their strategies to stay ahead of the competition and provide the best possible service to their customers.
While the esports industry presents exciting opportunities, it also comes with its own unique set of challenges. Bookmakers must navigate complex regulations, ensure the integrity of competitions, and manage the risks associated with offering odds on rapidly evolving games and tournaments.
Despite these challenges, the potential rewards of investing in esports are enormous. With the right approach and Esports solution from Betinvest, sports betting operators can tap into a rapidly growing market and establish themselves as leaders in one of the most exciting and dynamic industries of our time.
Alexander Skoblik joined the Betinvest team in March 2019 as a payment method validator for various regions including Europe, the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and North America. As covid restrictions came into effect in 2020, he began focusing on developing exclusive Esports and Sports solutions.