Raise of esport competitions
With the rise of eSports in America, the concept of betting on sporting events has crossed over into the entertainment and video game space. When eSports hit the video games scene a few years ago, everyone wasn’t sure if it would latch on with the mainstream. A few years later, and we can say with confidence that it has.
ESports are becoming more popular. “By the late 2010s, it was estimated that the total audience of esports would grow to 454 million viewers, with revenue increasing to over US$1 billion. The increasing availability of online streaming media platforms, particularly YouTube and Twitch, have become central to the growth and promotion of esports competitions. Despite viewership being approximately 85% male and 15% female, with a majority of viewers between the ages of 18 and 34, female gamers have also played professionally.
The popularity and recognition of esports first took place in Asia, specifically in China and South Korea, with the latter having licensed professional players since 2000. Despite its large video game industry, esports in Japan is relatively underdeveloped, with this being largely attributed to its broad anti-gambling laws which prohibit paid professional gaming tournaments. Outside of Asia, esports are also popular in Europe and the Americas, with both regional and international events taking place in those regions.”
From Pokemon tournaments to HALO, to Call of Duty and more, eSports is huge, and with it comes a wealth of commercial opportunities, none larger than the ability to bet on eSports competitions. Of course, the need to bet on eSports means people will start looking for the best eSports betting sites.
And there are tons out there to choose from, but perhaps bigger than knowing which to go with is knowing which team to bet on. And there are tons of things to consider when making that decision.
First, once you’ve picked the game you plan to bet on, you need to know who’s involved. Figure out who’s won past titles, who’s currently on top of their game, and who’s perhaps the best up and coming team. There is so much to consider when putting money on the table. And even more research is required. I always like it to playing cards.
No one is sitting down at a Poker table where the stakes are high, with no idea how to play Poker. You need to learn the game, learn how to play others, and even develop a strong poker face. Going in without doing this work is financial suicide. The same goes for eSports.
The problem is that since eSports is relatively new, it’s hard to get the necessary Intel to make that decision. Teams are mostly obscure, and there isn’t a ton written about any of them. With eSports, you are really wagering more than you might realize. There are no guarantees when it comes to betting on eSports so arming yourself with as much information as possible is incredibly important.
So there you have it. Research is key. Are you looking into eSports anytime soon?