Over the past few years, betting markets focused on esports have started to enter the global market in competition with the already established and heavily betting on football (or soccer). Football has for years been the “go-to” sport when it comes to global betting markets, but football betting interest and volumes worldwide are starting to be rivaled by the fast-growing esports betting market. In the following text, we will highlight the reasons why we think and have started to see these markets for esports betting grow faster than football betting in the market’s accessibility, esports’s larger appeal to consumers, and esports’s growing and burgeoning market.
Digital Integration and Accessibility
The growth of esports betting is driven by the availability of digital access points. Unlike traditional betting in sports like football, where players have to access betting locations, esports betting is fully supported by online ecosystems. As in the case of the best betting app in Pakistan, esports betting services are able to provide fast, real-time betting streams to esports bettors. This is mainly because esports is a time-competitive game. Services like in-play betting, live-streaming, and deep engagement analytics are offered by these services to enhance the betting experience.
The digital nature of esports makes it easier to instantaneously access betting websites, matches, and betting markets. Events such as the League of Legends World Championship and Dota 2’s The International are broadcasted live on Twitch and streamed to hundreds of thousands of live bettors.
The table below highlights the key differences in accessibility between esports and betting on football:
| Aspect | Esports Betting | Football Betting |
| Platform Availability | Online via mobile apps | Online and physical sportsbooks |
| Event Accessibility | Global streaming (Twitch, YouTube) | Television and paid subscriptions |
| Betting Speed | Real-time, in play | Pre-match or limited in play |
| Regional Restrictions | Internet-based, none | Broadcast and local restrictions |
Demographic Appeal and Engagement
Esports has gained immense popularity among younger audiences aged 18 to 34 in Asia, where mobile betting and mobile gaming readily proliferate. Pakistan and India are especially active in the esports and gaming community and see a high engagement in esports and mobile gaming due to the affordable smartphones and mobile internet access.
People of all ages enjoy playing football, but its audience is not as diverse as that of digital marketing. Young gamblers prefer watching esports, which are shorter and have more unpredictable outcomes due to different game mechanics. Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant have more intricate and complex strategies. Betting can go to various and complex extents, including wagering on in-game events and on the performance of players, which is more complex than the standardized betting seen in football.
Market Dynamics and Growth Trends
Esports betting is expanding more quickly than football betting because it has more potential and is not as saturated. The esports betting sector was valued at about $1.8 billion USD in 2023 and will rise at a 13.7% CAGR up to 2030. In comparison, the football betting market is valued at about $100 billion USD and is growing at a slower rate of 8.2% CAGR because the market is more established.
Some of the reasons for this growth include:
- Global Reach: In competitive gaming, the geographical barriers of fan loyalty are not there. This means that regions that do not traditionally bet on sports are able to do so in esports tournaments.
- Multiple Options: In esports, there are unique betting opportunities, like betting based on game maps and kill counts, whereas in football, the betting is primarily based on goals scored. This gives more opportunities for wagers than the simplistic results of football.
- Accessibility: Esports betting does not have significant barriers. In Asia, for example, mobile betting is very permissive.
- Marketing: Corporate sponsors for major tournaments bring significant advertising. For example, sponsored tournaments by companies like Intel and Red Bull build trust in tournaments and increase advertising.
Despite regulatory constraints and market saturation in Europe, where football betting generates most of its revenue, challenges remain. Football betting is popular in Asia, but esports betting is outranking it as it is more current and digitally aligned. In Pakistan, for example, mobile betting apps have become accessible to esports bettors from the burgeoning middle class.
Technological Advancements and Future Potential
Football betting does not leverage technological advancements as much as esports betting does. Esports events are also more scalable, which increases the potential for betting. Football is limited by venues and seasonal schedules, but esports can be hosted online. This allows for 24/7 betting and increases engagement. Asia has the most robust gaming infrastructure and significantly increases betting as a result of the scalability.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies in esports could accelerate the growth of the betting market. These technologies offer new ways for people to watch and participate in a game. Bettors may spend more time and money watching bets with VR and AR technologies. Compared to other traditional sports, like football, which uses technologies like VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and other innovations, football remains a more traditional sport and has fewer technology-based innovations.
Growth of Esports Betting: Policies and Culture
The policies in a jurisdiction will influence the growth of esports betting. Esports betting in several Asian countries has fewer restrictions compared to other traditional sports. In Pakistan, for example, online betting platforms work in a relatively relaxed regulatory environment, which makes esports betting much more available. In contrast, football betting operates with much tighter regulatory controls due to local laws.
Cultural factors will influence growth as well. Esports betting correlates with the digital culture of the youth since gaming is recognized as a competitive activity. In urban Asia, this cultural acceptance, along with the growth of esports, increases the amount of betting. Football is culturally important, but it doesn’t capture the interest of the youth digitally as other sports do.
(The information in this article does not necessarily reflect the views of The Global Hues. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information in this article).
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