As technology plays an even more integral role in day-to-day human habits, there is an increased number of alternatives for entertainment that involve technical innovation. Sometimes, the crossover between traditional pastimes and technological advancement serves as the basis for this kind of innovative expansion.
Esports betting is right at this crossroads. The global market for sports betting is tremendously large, especially with the emergence of jurisdictions that only recently started legalizing gambling.
This form of gambling has been integral to online wagering as well, with more operators (digital casinos and bookmakers) providing these services. Most of these betting platforms offer fantastically extensive sportsbooks, incentivizing wagering through promotions that work just like a casino bonus.
Esports represent the next chapter in the story of online betting. Its popularity is rising, the market is expanding, and the interest in it become increasingly universal. Let’s see how you can take advantage of it.
What Are E-Sports & People Enjoy Them
E-sports are, essentially, video games that people play competitively in an organized environment. While these games started out as simple gaming products that developers put as entertainment products, their popularity exceeded simple entertainment. As the player base of these games expanded, it became layered.
Competitive gaming is as far removed from casual gameplay as you can imagine. Training and honing one’s craft in regular sporting competitions and disciplines is a must, and e-sports involve certain work as well. E-sports teams select talented players from public servers, offer them contracts, and have them fulfill a role in a competitive team.
The purpose is for these e-sports teams to participate in various competitions that the esports industry organizes. These can come in league format or even elimination tournaments similar to the greatest sporting events worldwide. These competitions attract entrants from all across the world, especially when the game is globally popular.
There are multiple reasons why people seem to enjoy esports:
- A Relatable Form Of Competitive Action – the prime consumer of the esports sector is the 18-25 age group. This demographic section is still quite far from being involved in family life and has likely grown up with video games as an integral part of it. Since the ‘heroes’ of esports are people their age with regular human attributes (rather than superhuman athletic talent), it’s much easier to emphasize.
- It’s Very Easy For One To Play That Game, Too – the games that enjoy the biggest e-sports markets are the most popular among casual players as well. Relating to the competitive players, recognizing strategies and practices, and understanding how the thrill of gaming feels firsthand can help youngsters relate to the players.
- Betting On E-Sports Can Prove Someone Has An Eye For Talent – when people choose to bet on e-sports, they may do so because they enjoy the gratification of being right. When one sees how a team generally performs and recognizes their strengths, one may bet on them to prove to themselves that they were right.
- It Facilitates Gambling Without Having To Enjoy Traditional Sports – many young people have an issue with regular sports because they may find them boring or corrupt. If a young person enjoys the thrill of gambling but prefers to play video games over playing (or watching) sports, it’s a proper alternative.
Popular Games For E-Sports Betting
There are various hit video games that tens of millions of people of all ages prefer. Some take inspiration from fantasy or science fiction, others from traditional sports, while some may even simulate warfare. Here are some of the most beloved options in the e-sports betting community:
- MOBA Games – MOBA stands for multiplayer online battle arena and has become one of the biggest online gaming genres in the world. Its market is mostly around PC and mobile players. The biggest names are Valve’s Dota 2 and Riot’s League of Legends.
The games involve team gameplay that includes various strategies, fighting tactics, and situational awareness. There are numerous e-sports events centered around these games, with their biggest professional players being wildly popular in their home countries (in Asia, especially).
- Sports Simulators – Whether it’s football/soccer (the newly-named EA Sports FC, formerly known as FIFA), basketball’s NBA2K series, grid-iron football’s Madden, or even EA Sports’ F1 series, there is a huge market that attracts younger sports fans.
- First-Person Shooters – Games like Call of Duty, Valorant, Battlefield, and, most importantly, Counter-Strike (Global Offensive & 2) showcase that the FPS genre is very attractive and wildly popular for e-sports betting.
What To Remember When Wagering On E-Sports
Firstly, let’s clarify some necessities of sports betting that apply to e-sports as well:
- You need to understand the formats and key concepts, like the format, bankroll, and, most importantly, the odds.
- Consider the special details – some of your bets can involve more than wins and losses. They may involve tournament performance, group stage performance, and unique moments within a certain match. The first blood (first players vs. player takedown) and the first team meeting a certain objective (taking down a base, monster, etc.) can be subjects for e-sports betting.
Conclusion
If there’s one thing we hope you could take away from this article, it’s that e-sports provide plenty of occasions to watch, cheer, and wager. However, everything must come in healthy doses, so gamble responsibly and never overextend yourself!