How Corona Virus opened the doors to new esports betting sites
Yuriy SheremetThe global coronavirus pandemic has left hardly an industry unscathed. Lockdown measures implemented across most of the world in the spring of 2020 left many businesses reeling. While governments implemented measures to help companies stay afloat during enforced temporary closure or to help retain staff that were furloughed, almost every sector is now experiencing financial instability as a result of the virus. However, some industries, particularly those offering alternative entertainment options that can be accessed from home, have not only resisted financial hardship but have actually experienced an unprecedented surge in popularity and therefore revenue.
Growth in interest in esports during lockdown, when most other sporting events were placed on hold, grew phenomenally. Many of those who would usually find their entertainment from watching or gambling on live sports were looking for an alternative. One of the advantages of esports at a time when the majority of the population of the world was being told to stay in their homes, is that they can be played, watched and bet on from home without losing too much of their appeal. Visitors to www.bestbettingsites.uk have been seeking online bookmakers offering opportunities to place wagers on a range of esports in droves.
A recently released report from the Gambling Commission in the UK found that year on year, the popularity of gambling on esports rose by an astounding 2992% between 2019 and 2020. At a time when sports and horse racing, which together account for approximately 75% of the UK’s gambling revenue, were placed on indefinite hold, it makes sense that people would begin to look elsewhere. As live sports are gradually being reintroduced, gambling on esports is beginning to wane, but the long-term prospects for the industry remain positive.
The average age of the typical sports fan has been rising for some time now, with the younger generation more likely to engage in esports and other forms of online gaming. Children and young adults in the West almost universally have some interest in playing video games of some description, whereas their interest in live sports is lower than that of previous generations. Esports and live sports have many crossovers in terms of the spectator and player experience. Each involves the thrill of competing, the ability to hone skills through hours of practice and the opportunity to spend time sharing passions with friends. Gaming is also highly accessible in the modern age, with most people having access to a smartphone, laptop, desktop, console or other device for playing video games.
Sponsors and investors have also increased their interest in esports during the height of lockdown. With no sporting events to get behind, esports provided a new arena for marketing and for investments in infrastructure to improve the experience for both players and spectators. The potential of esports gambling throughout lockdown has been well-documented and, although it is reasonable to suspect that many will return to live sports once they recommence, this time period has opened the door to a new option for many. Those that have enjoyed betting on and watching esports are likely to add them into the mix permanently. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, esports viewership reached 454 million, and the industry saw an 837% increase in investments year on year between 2017 and 2018, suggesting that the sector was already becoming vastly more popular.
Some of the most popular esports events in 2020 have been those that replicate real-life sporting events, such as FIFA and Formula One racing. The F1 Sports Virtual Grand Prix series, which ended in early June, achieved record-breaking viewing figures, with approximately 30 million people tuning in to watch via televised or live streaming digital platforms. While this may seem like small potatoes when compared to viewers of some of the most popular live sports events, it shows that more people are willing to engage with virtual versions of their favourite sports. The global television audience for Formula 1 in real life fell fairly steadily between 2008 and 2017 and, although viewing figures rose once more in 2018, 2019 saw a further decrease.
The gambling industry as a whole has seen a migration towards online services in recent years, with sites offering virtual casino games and other real-money gambling proving highly popular. The convenience of virtual gambling across almost every arena has been proven, with millions choosing to place their sports bets or play casino games including slots, poker, blackjack and roulette online. This natural shift towards online across the gambling industry suggests that esports will only increase in popularity, as they offer the same levels of convenience and excitement as other forms of online gambling.
Esports has certainly been one of the winners in terms of revenue streams during lockdown, with huge increases in investment, viewership, gambling and new players. While the dizzy heights of popularity achieved while most live sports were cancelled will probably not be recreated, it seems likely that the industry will continue to attract new fans and expand accordingly.
Yuriy Sheremet – Expert in mobile gaming and esports among shooters and MOBA games.
At EGamersWorld, Yuriy, as in 2020 when he joined the portal, works with content, albeit with adjustments to his area of responsibility.