The eSports scene has come a long way from the days where many did not take it seriously. Today, there are recognized competitions around the world. These contests allow professionals to compete in some of their favorite games such as League of Legends (LoL), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), and the long time favorite, Call of Duty. These team-based games see players providing entertainment to fans locally, and around the world as those who can’t make it in person flock the live streams of these competitions.
Now that eSports have the same level of recognition as many other sports in the competitive scene, the common practice of betting is now a huge part of the competition. Gamblers from around the globe bet on their favorite teams and players during these tournaments. Therefore, a win for the players translates to a win for those that were lucky enough to bet on them. Gambling in eSports is as strategic as it is in other sports, with gamblers reviewing seasonal performance, odds, player matchup advantages, and much more. Betting has been, and it continues to be beneficial to the eSports community in different ways and you are invited to review them below.
Potential Earnings for Betters
The first benefit of betting in eSports is perhaps the most obvious one. It results in the possibility of earnings for those who bet on the competitions. The whole premise of betting is wagering a certain amount of money on a prediction. If that prediction is correct, then the gambler has the pleasure of winning a greater sum of money than that which was wagered.
This holds true for eSports betters as well as even in video game competition, gamblers stand to reap lucrative rewards if they can make the right call. The earning possibilities scale with the popularity of the game and the amount a gambler is willing to wager. So, when you consider a game such as CSGO that had over 370 tournaments in 2018, the level of attention the game receives means that there are likely more betters and so there is more money to be won.
Money Poured into the Industry
While there is no discounting the significance of an avid fanbase that shows interest in video game competitions, there is much to be said for the number of gamblers that are pouring their money into the industry. This is a good source of funding, and the interest displayed by gamblers, which is accompanied by their willingness to spend on the industry, is motivation enough for sponsors and other sources to add to the funding. This is useful for handling tournament expenses, yielding profits for eSports organizations, increasing the pot for gamblers, and ultimately increasing the prize pool for players.
Games such as Dota 2, which continues to be the most popular eSports game on the market, are great examples of this. In the 2018 staging of The International Tournament, which is the equivalent of a world championship, Dota 2 had a prize pool of $25.5 million dollars. Imagine the fact that the prize pool of a tournament was so large that the first prize was $11.2 million dollars. As the eSports scene continues to grow, one can expect even greater funding from even more sources.
Increased Attention for the Industry
As with anything that experiences mainstream exposure and provides entertainment to viewers, the amount of attention that the eSports industry has garnered is nothing short of remarkable. This is as a result of a dedicated fanbase that follows its players and teams each season. Additionally, a group of strategic gamblers follow these competitions for their own reasons. Both sets of people watch the competitions and act as advocates for the competitive gaming scene to those around them. Furthermore, there are persons who notice the level of attention on the industry and choose to investigate of their own volition. This means that there is a constant inflow of new eyes on eSports.
Are you a follower of eSports? Do you remember how you became involved initially? Regardless of how it took place, your interest was piqued and here you are as a viewer who possibly even makes purchases that benefit the industry. In a similar manner, every year the turnout at tournaments seems to be increasing.
There is an annual Lol World Championship and in 2018, it garnered an impressive 99.6 million unique viewers. This was attributed to two main reasons:
A Chinese team was present in the finals. The game has a massive following in the country.
The amount of money generated by fans and gamblers alike increased the existing $2.5 million prize pool to over $6 million. This is the largest Lol prize pool in the game’s competitive history.
The gamblers that formed part of the viewer base get a special mention here as they are not all necessarily eSports fans. While some are into the competitions, others are simply gamblers that are always looking for a betting opportunity to capitalize on. This means that once they can collect the relevant statistics on a competition, they are willing to place a bet on it. Of course, if you bet on something, you are likely to tune in to see if you made the right choice. Some people do get into eSports this way, and even if they don’t, they provide additional viewership and funding for the industry.
This is another way in which gamblers help the industry to amass more sponsors. Sponsors are typically looking for popularity and feasibility when they decide to invest in any event. It is likely that competitions and players receive better sponsorship deals when the sponsors realize the legitimacy of the events, and just how many eyes they can get on their offerings during the competitions.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are merits to betting in eSports that allow various stakeholders in the industry to benefit in different ways. If you are interested in betting on eSports, try websites such as Mid.bet, which allows you to place your bets, view live streams, check statistics, and even chat with other betters.
What are your thoughts on gambling in eSports? Can you think of any others that weren’t stated here? Let everyone know in the comments below and don’t forget to like, share, and repost.
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