According to one report, there are over 200 million gamers in the world with most of them playing video games. Digital gaming is becoming increasingly popular and is also referred to as ‘e-gaming’. It’s easy to see why as there is now a wide range of games available on multiple devices that can be played on smartphones, tablets, and PCs. eSports or electronic sports is just one part of the wider digital gaming ecosystem.
It’s a growing segment but it’s still a small piece of the puzzle when compared to traditional gaming. Much like golf, darts or tennis, eSports has its dedicated following that regularly tunes into tournaments and watches live streams of players competing live.
ESports is so dominated by traditional gaming that experts believe it will overtake it as the most popular format within less than a decade. At present, global estimates put the total number of active e-gamers at around 205 million people with almost half playing video games daily according to Statista.
That figure could grow considerably over the next few years if not for the rapid decline in PC ownership in developed countries. The decreasing availability of affordable internet connectivity coupled with mobile gaming apps have had an enormous impact on digital game adoption rates in industrialized countries such as Europe and North America
What is eSports?
As the name suggests, eSports is competitive gaming. It’s a broad term that covers a variety of disciplines that all share the common feature of being played competitively. With so many different games available, it’s natural that different eSports categories have emerged over time.
So, for example, eSports might be split into the first-person shooter (FPS) category, MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) category, real-time strategy (RTS) category, or others. As you can see, there is a wide range of different eSports games. The most popular ones are listed below:
Popular eSports Games
The popularity of an eSports game is of course going to play a major role in the success of the individual tournaments that are broadcasted or streamed online. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that many of the top eSports titles are shooters, real-time strategy games, fighting games, and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) titles.
Popular examples of these games include Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Call of Duty, and Overwatch. Other less well-known games are starting to emerge and become popular as well such as Super Smash Bros. and Rocket League. There’s also Hearthstone, which is a card-based game that’s been played for several years.
It’s still a relatively new eSports format and it may not remain popular for long, though. The most popular eSports games in the world generate the most viewers, which means that they have the greatest potential to generate large betting profits for online eSports betting sites.
Major League Gaming (MLG)
As well as the reputable, established eSports organizations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), dozens of smaller eSports organizations are quickly growing in popularity. One of the most established and popular eSports organizations is Major League Gaming.
It’s a leading eSports league that was founded in 2002. It’s based in New York and the league hosts an extensive range of tournaments for a wide variety of games. These include first-person shooters, fighting games, sports games, strategy games, and more. There are league-level events that are broadcasted on TV, as well as online tournaments that are streamed on Twitch. MLG’s tournaments are also available to watch on several betting sites.
Electronic Sports League (ESL)
Many individual eSports fans watch events and play in tournaments, but a major organization can bring them all together in one place and organize competitions. One of the most successful examples of this is the Electronic Sports League (ESL). This is a network of eSports organizations that was founded in 2007. It’s based in Cologne, Germany, and is open to all national associations, though it does have a German focus.
ESL organizes events for a wide range of traditional video games, such as first-person shooters, fighting games, sports games, strategy games, and online casino games. ESL’s events are broadcasted online and on TV, you can watch ESL’s professional League of Legends team compete live in the League of Legends Championship Series.
Betway eSports betting site review – pros and cons
With every new eSports category that emerges comes new opportunities for players, as well as new options for bettors to bet on. And that’s certainly the case with eSports betting. In general, online betting sites have made it easy for players to place eSports wagers and even offer tips on how to win money betting on these events.
When choosing an eSports betting site, you should consider the following factors:
- The site’s legality in your country.
- The site’s credibility.
- The site’s deposit and withdrawal options.
- The site’s bonus offers.
- The site’s customer support.
Conclusion
Electronic sports, or eSports, refers to competitive video gaming. The massive growth in esports has led to the creation of dedicated sporting leagues, leagues of professional teams, and stadiums where live events are held. In terms of popularity, it’s difficult to overstate the growth of eSports.
TV ratings are rising, corporate sponsors are investing in eSports, and the genre’s revenue is expected to grow from $335 million in 2016 to $696 million in 2020. With its competitive nature and high levels of skill required, eSports is likely to attract new players, as well as new fans. As the eSports market continues to grow, we’ll likely see traditional forms of gambling adopting new betting formats to take advantage of this growth.
