Thousands of screaming fans now pack into stadiums to watch video gaming superstars battle for fame and fortune at major tournaments. Millions more stream the action from their living rooms, and esports has turned into one of the most dynamic industries in the world. The number of viewers has now increased to 454 million, including 201 million diehard fans and 253 million casual observers, according to NewZoo.
These fans love to bet on esports tournaments, as it boosts the excitement they experience when watching the action unfold. If you check out Unikrn’s esports betting markets you will see a huge range of wagering options across a number of different esports, from League of Legends and Dota 2 to Rocket League and Tekken.
The esports betting scene is positively booming, and gaming fans are expected to wager more than $8 billion on competitive tournaments this year. That betting handle should shoot up to $13 billion, according to Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, and continue rising in the years ahead. What are the benefits of esports betting and why are so many people getting involved in it?
An exhilarating experience
Watching a big CS:GO or LoL match unfold can be a truly exhilarating experience. Teams of highly-skilled gamers display outstanding strategy, creativity, dexterity, endurance and concentration as they wage war on Dune II or Summoner’s Rift. The tension builds up steadily and it is punctuated by moments of dazzling individual brilliance and stunning teamwork before a winner is crowned.
That excitement is dialled up by several notches if you have money riding on the outcome. It gives esports fans a real buzz and makes them feel part of the action like never before, inspiring them to roar on their heroes as they bid for victory. Having a bet can turn an otherwise dull horse race into a thrilling event. Esports is already thrilling and betting on it simply enhances the excitement of the experience.
You can also benefit from various sign-up offers, bonuses and promotions to help you get started. Make sure you find a reputable, secure betting site that has a long history of fair and prompt payouts, the liquidity to cover your bets and strong third-party reviews. You will find them to be very professional, offering an abundance of markets, quick deposits and withdrawals and some really intriguing promotions, and you can do it all from your mobile device.
The potential to turn your passion into a profit
Many people bet on esports because it allows them the opportunity to turn their expertise into a profit. If you are a genuine expert on a particular game, you stand an excellent chance of beating the bookmakers. Esports is a fairly new pursuit, and odds compilers are not armed with a wealth of historical data and insight to help them make their calculations. You can capitalise on this by outfoxing them and making some serious cash.
Specific esports betting sites like Unikrn have flourished in recent years, while traditional bookmakers also accept wagers on big esports. The limits have increased significantly over the years and you can make considerable profits if successful when betting on matches and tournaments. You are by no means restricted to betting on the winner, as you can find all sorts of special betting options, like who will slay the first dragon, plus handicaps and totals options.
You can also bet in-play on a match, which is really exciting. Take advantage of all the developments in modern technology by streaming the action of Twitch or YouTube and wagering on the outcome as the battle develops, based on how well you consider each team to be playing.
It is also worth pointing out that esports like LoL, Dota 2, CS:GO, Overwatch and Fortnite are constantly changing. The developers update them on a constant basis, which changes the competitive balance. Roster changes are also frequent in the burgeoning world of esports. If you stay ahead of the curve and do your research, there is every chance that your knowledge will exceed that of the odds compilers, offering you a genuine shot at beating them and earning handsome profits.
Supporting a flourishing community
People watch esports because they are passionate about gaming and they love seeing the greatest practitioners strut their stuff on the big stage, with fame and fortune at stake. They support the nascent industry by purchasing battle passes, merchandising, tickets and so on. This money is filtered down to the teams and the players, allowing them to go professional and make a living from doing what they love.
Betting on esports also gives this flourishing sector a fantastic boost. It ensures that more people will watch the various tournaments and it could help attract new fans. NewZoo estimates that there are now 454 million esports viewers, but there are an estimated 4.2 billion gamblers on the planet. They are often looking for something new to wager on, and they could become esports fans by discovering how well suited it is to betting. There is action 24/7, 365 days a year, it is not weather dependent and the volume of matches and tournaments is growing all the time.
Increasing viewership figures will inspire more companies to sponsor tournaments, teams and individuals. Intel, MasterCard and Coca-Cola are among the major sponsors already channelling cash into the competitive gaming scene. The more viewers, the more money they will pay, and this cash goes into making the whole sector more organised and professional and improving the pay and conditions for its stars. If salaries and prize purses increase, the quality of the action will improve as more players are able to turn professional and dedicate themselves to mastering a particular game.
