Is eSports The Next Big Thing When It Comes To Betting?

If someone had mentioned a few years back that competitive gaming would be touted to be an Olympic sport then people would’ve gone mad. These days, however, with the continued rise of online gaming, the opinion could be about to change, not least when it comes to its status. Could this mean that eSports become the next big thing in the betting markets?

Before answering that question, it’s important to take a look at how we’ve got to this point. As time has passed, more and more games have started to reveal an increasingly competitive side. Years ago it was limited to the likes of Dota, World of Warcraft, and, most famously, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The release of that first-person shooter brought a renewed interest in competitive gaming and has since spawned something of a digital revolution. The last few years have seen the likes of EA Sports’ FIFA series and Turn 10’s Forza franchise enter the fray, bringing it firmly into the mainstream.

As such, this popularisation of eSports and competitive gaming has, in more recent times, led to calls for its status to be reconsidered. Once the property of a small sector of the gaming community, the world of eSports has become an industry that makes millions, not just in prize pools, but also in lucrative sponsorship deals. For instance, Counter-Strike team Fnatic has sponsorships from both BMW and OnePlus, as well as partnerships in merchandising with products such as gaming keyboards that exude the feeling of Fnatic not just being a team, but a marketable brand. The addition of switches from industry leaders CHERRY only adds both credibility and reputation to Fnatic, helping everyone along in a mutually beneficial agreement.

This cultivation of eSports as a marketable asset draws parallels to the increased financial aspect of football. Before the advent of the Premier League in the early nineties, television rights for football wasn’t as valuable as it is today, meaning that every year, the rights packages to show games are now becoming worth more money. eSports could go this way, and also become more ‘recognized’ in betting circles too.

This rise won’t be limited geographically of course and could end up being spread worldwide. For instance, providers such as BettingGuru already offer one of India's best range of services, not least when it comes to sports. Their 1xBet sportsbook allows for betting on not just classic games like football or horse racing, but also more unusual sports such as badminton or handball. They already have eSports on their books, which means that some providers are already seeing it as a valuable asset. In a sense, this can be seen as validation for the gaming community now that the betting industry has recognized eSports.

eSports, as a sport in its own right, is on a surefire path to success, not least when it comes to official recognition. With an ever-growing player base and list of games, it’s only going to get bigger and with this, we should see it further cement itself as the next big thing in betting.