How Esports And iGaming Can Build On Each Other’s Community of Fans

Esports and video-gaming-related companies are growing fast, and it’s no surprise why other industries are eager for a slice of the pie. With the considerable viewership numbers in esports events, various brands and rights holders see compelling reasons for investing in esports gaming.

Apart from brands and right holders, there are other exciting online markets with their designated audience willing to tap into esports. The casino gaming industry is no stranger to the online scene, thanks to the enormous presence of online casinos. Owing to the different entertainment products offered by esports and casinos, it’s clear that each sector has its demography.

Countless options can allow a cross-over between esports and online casinos. However, each operator—esports and online casinos—must understand the other audience to get a better start.

At least 450 million viewers watched an esports competition in 2022, indicating the sheer global fan base size and diversity of esports. It’s worth noting that a distinct populous fancies esports and esports betting more than others, so casino operators need to have their ears perked up.

About 52% of individuals who streamed esports can be categorized as adults, while people aged 18-24 account for 38% of people who tune in to esports. Interestingly, the 18-24 age bracket marks the highest percentage of any age group, with the 34-54 bracket coming second at 26%.

In the US, males dominate esports viewership at 72% while females make up for the remaining 28%, although the latter’s numbers are increasing. From the above stats, online casinos can have a demography to engage with, as many of the esports fans are of legal gambling age.

With that being said, it doesn’t mean that esports fans will stroll into online casinos and start playing slots or table games. On the other hand, casino players of similar age won’t leave their Texas Hold’em cards on deck to begin betting on League of Legends (LoL) tournaments.

On paper, esports and online casinos have little in common, especially if you’re looking at their games catalog. What usually stands out when talking of esports and cross-selling is sports betting. However, an in-depth view will show a cross-over within the online casinos.

Skill is essential in esports betting, similar to reputable table games like blackjack and poker. People tend to forget that there’s also an aspect of luck, whether you’re playing a game of chance or skill. Both online casino games and esports are played at a blistering pace, with no two games the same, irrespective of whether you stake on an event or play a given game.

If you’re looking for an item that draws similarities between esports and online casinos, it is the emergence of popular video game branded slots. Hitman and Tomb Raider Slots are typical examples of how programmers of these titles have noted and formed a strong bond between online casinos and video games.

Casino operators have seen a potential fanbase in esports enthusiasts and can also come up with various ways of bringing the latter to their platform. A great starting point is understanding that popular esports like Dota 2, CS: GO, and LoL require high gaming skills. As casino operators diversify their content, a vital aspect will be introducing similar skill sets to their famed table games, such as poker and blackjack.

Online casino operators can also exploit available marketing options to create a presence on platforms where esports fans are most likely to be found. For instance, casinos can integrate videos into their marketing methods as esports events tend to enjoy decent streaming figures.

A study shows Twitch had 2.58 million annual concurrent viewers in 2022. Twitch is also highly popular among YouTube gamers and influencers, and it would serve as a potential market for a casino brand. Additionally, casino brands can support an online casino player who streams his games through sponsorships. The player can don casino-branded T-shirts or display casino logos on his YouTube channel.

An out-of-the-box thinking mindset is needed if online casinos want to cozy up to esports fans. The same can also be said for esports operators to casino fans. However, one element remains the same. If both casinos and esports focus on providing modern and seamless entertainment, the two online platforms can mutually benefit.