Esports is a growing phenomenon that combines the beautifully designed world of video games with the ever-competitive sports realm. Esports took off in the late 2010s thanks to the popularity of platforms like Twitch.tv.
The last few years of the 2010s and the early 2020s have seen esports players getting sponsorships, book deals, and televised performances. Another industry that is joining in on this wave is the casino industry. Read below to see how casinos are embracing esports in 2021, courtesy of gaming expert Kate Richards.
Current Trends: Esports
Esports grew in popularity and became a household name in 2020 due to the pandemic. With more people inside than ever, many took to gaming as a source of stress-relief. Most online casino UK took notice.
2019 was the biggest year to date in terms of competitive esports, with around $211 million in prize money being awarded throughout the year. This figure fell to around $65.5 million in 2020 due to tournaments needing to be pushed online.
Without ticket sales and advertising money that comes with playing at an arena, events couldn’t keep up with their standards. We can expect this number to rise significantly over the next few years, just as soon as it’s safe to pack a stadium.
In terms of prize pools, CounterStrike: Global Offensive is the biggest esport on the planet today. CS:GO is followed by Dota 2, Fortnite, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
In the UK, specifically, the esports sector has grown every year between 2016 and 2019. On average, it grew just shy of 9% each year and now supports over 1,200 jobs. In 2019, the Gross Value Added by this sector was £111.5 million.
One of the biggest UK-based esports tournaments is ESL One Birmingham. This competition is broken up into divisions depending on the location you’re playing from (Europe, China, North America, and Southeast Asia). It’s sponsored by the gambling site GG.bet, as well as Mercedez-Benz.
Current Trends: Casino Gambling
Although many land-based casinos were inoperable in 2020 due to COVID-19, online gambling’s popularity rose considerably. With the advent of mobile technology, you have the ability to bet on the go, whenever and wherever is convenient for you.
Because of this, the legality of these sites and applications is becoming increasingly lenient. You can expect even more of the same on this front in 2021 and the years to follow.
In addition, the gambling industry has benefited from the rise of cryptocurrency. Many of the most popular gambling providers will allow you to play using cryptocurrency. However, there are various restrictions, such as bonus-exclusion due to the volatility of the format.
Esports & UK Casinos: A Match Made In Heaven
Esports and casinos are, without exaggeration, a match made in heaven. Esports provide gamblers with infinite content to watch and wager on. Also, as more games are developed specifically for competitive play, the possibilities and fun to be had are endless.
Prominent gambling providers like Betway have already begun partnerships with esports teams. Vegas is now home to the HyperX Esports Arena that draws significant attention and revenue from fans across the country.
You’ll find esports in casinos in more ways than just gambling on outcomes. For example, CS:GO features a few minigames that casinos host. These games include jackpot, roulette, and coin-flip games.
The popularity of CounterStrike alone should tell you to prepare for more companies to follow this model in the near future. If you’re interested in learning how to get started with CS:GO specifically, check out this great guide.
I hope you enjoyed this article on how Casinos Are Embracing Esports. Some of the best UK casinos for esports include Betway, Pinnacle, bitStarz, and GG.bet. With how quickly competitive gaming has become a pillar of our world’s entertainment, we can expect more sites and land-based casinos to follow suit.
Author’s bio: Kate Richards is a highly devoted professional in marketing, specializing in event marketing, public relations, and the gambling industry. Kate is passionate about her work because she loves what she is doing. Kate has a steady source of motivation that drives her to do her best.
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