In the United States, sports betting is a long-standing tradition. It’s been around since before people were born in America, and it will be here for a very long time. Recently, eSports have become more popular than ever, with over 200 million viewers worldwide watching professional gamers play video games on different platforms.
While eSports betting is still in its relative infancy, it is expected to grow in the coming decades exponentially. With more states legalizing online eSports betting sites, we foresee a boom in value and popularity.
The Past and Present of eSports
With the evolution of eSports games and increased viewership, we also see a rise in gambling. While eSports betting has always been around, online betting sites have begun to embrace the relatively new market. With that said, even though its origins can be traced back to the early 2000s, let’s look at the recent boom in 2016 and beyond.
In 2016, there were over 100 eSports tournaments with a total prize pool of $93.3 million. There are eSports games played on different platforms such as PC, console, or even mobile devices. It has been gaining more popularity among players of different ages, gender, socio-economic status, and even ethnicity. So, while the total number of eSports sports betting sites may not be that high, it is expected to grow exponentially in the years ahead.
Gambling on eSports Games
While some states have chosen to ban online gambling for eSports games, some have embraced the idea behind eSports betting. With an increasing number of people worldwide watching eSports games, including very young children, it is evident why there is a growing demand for online gambling sites to offer eSports betting.
So far, most eSports betting sites accept bets on League of Legends (LoL), Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO). As the popularity of online gambling sites continues to increase, we can expect eSports betting platforms to expand their services. Some eSports betting sites offer odds on mobile games, such as Clash Royale or Arena of Valor.
CS:GO Gambling
CS:GO is among the most famous games that have transitioned into eSports. Over the past few years, it has grown to over 20 million unique players and millions more fans. This is primarily due to the explosion of websites that allow gamers to bet their weapons earned from gameplay against other users or on competitive professional matches using real money.
There are two main types of CS:GO Gambling websites
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Sites where you bet your CS:GO Skins against other users: Most sites use a deposit system where you deposit your skins, bet them, and then withdraw them from the site to receive real money in return. The most famous example of this type of site is CSGO Lounge. It was recently estimated that these types of sites are generating over $2,000,000 in profits per month.
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Sites that offer you the chance to bet on competitive professional matches using real money: This means that you will be betting your skins against other users who have also bet on the exact match. Usually, these websites do not use a deposit system. Instead, you would place bets using their currency (often called ‘Coins’). CSGOFast is the most popular example of this type of site.
Conclusion: The Future of eSports Betting
eSports betting is in its infancy, but it holds a very bright future. In recent years, online eSports gaming betting has been on the rise. With the boom of eSports games and increasing viewership, we can expect steady growth in this market. With more states legalizing online gambling, expect to see an increase in demand for various eSports-based online games. This will mark the rise of eSports as mainstream and as a more appropriate source for betting.