Esports often takes the form of organised, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams.
Organised competitions have long been a part of video game culture, the first recorded video game competition took place on October 19, 1972.
For the most part, competitions were largely between amateurs until the late 2000s. It was then when participation by professional gamers and spectatorship in these events through live streaming saw a large surge in popularity.
By the 2010s, esports were becoming more significant in the video game industry, with some game developers actively deg and providing funding for tournaments and other events.
What Are Esports?
Esports, short for “electronic sports,” refers to competitive video gaming.
These competitions can range from small, local events to massive international tournaments with significant prize pools.
Esports involve competitive gameplay in video games across various genres, including first-person shooters (e.g., Counter-Strike, Overwatch), real-time strategy (e.g., StarCraft), multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) (e.g., League of Legends, Dota 2), sports simulations (e.g., FIFA, NBA 2K), and more.
Competitions are organised into tournaments and leagues, often following a structured format with qualifiers, group stages, playoffs, and grand finals.
These events can be held online or in physical venues, such as stadiums or arenas.
Many esports athletes, known as professional gamers or esports players, compete at the highest level and are signed by professional esports companies.
It may surprise you to know that these players often have contracts, salaries, and sponsorships.
How To Bet On Esports?
Betting on esports is similar to betting on traditional sports, but it involves wagering on the outcomes of esports tournaments and matches.
Start by selecting a reputable online sportsbook or betting site that offers esports betting options.
Familiarise yourself with the available esports betting markets.
Common types of bets in esports include:
- Match Winner – Betting on which team or player will win a specific match or series.
- Handicap Betting – Placing bets with handicaps to level the playing field when one team is considered a favourite.
- Total Rounds/Maps – Betting on the total number of rounds or maps played in a match.
- Outright Winner – Betting on the overall winner of a tournament or league.
- Special Bets – Some sites offer unique bets, such as first blood, map-specific outcomes, and more.
It’s crucial to research the teams and players competing in the esports event you want to bet on.
Understanding their performance history, recent form, and strategies can help you make informed betting decisions.
Select the bets you want to place and enter the amount you wish to wager and then follow the matches you’ve bet on to see how they unfold.
Like a lot of other sports, many betting sites will offer live streaming or real-time match updates if you’ve bet as little as 50p.
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How To Be Successful With Esports Betting?
Again, like more traditional sports, you can never guarantee success but it always worth doing the research.
This website contains most of the latest news and updates from the world of Esports.
It is also worth considering that with esports evolving at such a fast pace, new games are entering into the market and as a result, new teams can appear out of nowhere and achieve real success.
This means, there might be a tendency to ignore some teams with high odds but in reality they could be worth a punt.
How To Start An Esports Team
Starting an esports team involves several steps, and it can be challenging but rewarding.
First, decide which esports game or games your team will compete in. Consider your personal interests, the popularity of the game, the competitive scene, and your potential team ’ skill levels.
Treat your esports team like a business. Develop a detailed business plan that outlines your team’s goals, budget, revenue sources, and strategies for growth.
Identify and recruit players who excel in the chosen game. Look for individuals who are dedicated, skilled, and have a compatible playing style.
You may also need coaches, analysts, and staff to help manage and train the team.
Select a unique and memorable team name, logo, and branding. Your team’s identity will help you stand out in the esports scene.
Just make that your branding is not infringing on any trademarks or copyrights.
your esports team as a legal entity, such as an LLC or a corporation, depending on your location and legal requirements.
Open a bank for the team’s finances, and set up a system for managing income and expenses.
Find a place where players can practice and compete and start participating in local and online tournaments to gain experience and recognition.
And of course, make sure you engage with fans through social media, streaming, and content creation. Good luck!
How Much Is The Esports Industry Worth?
In 2022, it was estimated that the industry could be worth as much as $138 billion.
It’s a huge amount of money that includes advertising, sponsorships, media rights deals, merchandise sales, ticket sales, and more.
Major esports events, such as the League of Legends World Championship and The International (Dota 2), have contributed significantly to the industry’s growth, with multi-million dollar prize pools and widespread viewership.
Who Competes In Esports Tournaments?
Teams from all over the world compete in esports competitions. Team Liquid have consistently been one of the most successful esports teams.
The American team have won multiple esports titles, such as Dota 2, League of Legends, and StarCraft II.
To date they have earned over $44 million in prize money throughout its existence.
As esports started to become more popular, many professional football clubs have even set up their own teams.
Back in 2018, FC Barcelona launched their esports team and entered the eFootball.Pro competition, which was originally set up by Gerard Pique.
At the time of the launch, Manel Arroyo, FC Barcelona Vice President of Marketing and Media, said: “Barça is attentive to what is happening in this global and technological world, and given the major penetration and growth of eSports, is on the path to also becoming a leader in this field.”
Even clubs lower in the football pyramid have started to get involved. In April 2020, Lincoln City d that they were launching their own FIFA eSports team.
Since the side was formed, the English League One side provides regular coverage documenting their recent matches.
The interesting documentary from FourFourTwo looks at the world of professional esports. Perhaps an example of how esports are starting to achieve coverage with more traditional outlets.
Where Can You Stream Esports?
Twitch has become the most popular platform for live streaming esports. There is an estimated amount of over 1 billion hours of content digested daily.
Viewers can watch professionally hosted matches and tournaments. Some gamers also stream their casual matches when they are prepping for an tournament.
What Are The Main Esports Tournaments?
Fortnite World Cup
The Fortnite World Cup is an annual competition based on the game Fortnite. In the 2019 competition, there was a prize pool of around 30 million US Dollars.
The Fortnite game is one of the biggest in the world and over 40 million players battle it out for spots in the solo and duos World Cup.
FIFA eWorld Cup
Formerly known as the FIFA Interactive World Cup, the FIFA eWorld Cup is an eSports tournament held by FIFA and its presenting partner EA Sports.
The first tournament took place in 2004 and it has grown in stature since then. It has an open qualifying structure that allows millions to compete in the initial online stages.
eFootball.Pro.Open
eFootball.Open is an online esports tournament for Pro Evolution Soccer. It is open to all players and replaces the previous PES LEAGUE competition.
The Developer of PES, Konami, changed the title of its game last year to reflect the growing importance it places on esports. The game is now known as eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer as a result.
Over 400,000 people watched the finals of the recent tournament.
Call of Duty
The Call of Duty franchise is played by millions worldwide and is considered one of the most iconic online games of all time.
The series was first introduced to esports competitions back in 2006. The main CoD competition was the Call of Duty World League which was launched in 2016 until it was discontinued in 2019 in favour of the new franchise-based Call of Duty League.
The new competition began in 2020 with the winning team, Dallas Empire, earning around $1,500,000 in prize money.
Overwatch League
Overwatch League is one of the more fast-paced and challenging games of this console generation. It is a six vs six multiplayer video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment.
The Overwatch League started in 2017, with the first-ever Grand Finals being held in 2018 in New York. It was one of the biggest competitive gaming tournaments to date and saw a sell-out crowd.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
The Counter Strike: Global Offensive tournaments are one of the most popular Esports tournaments and will naturally attract a lot of betting interest as a result.
What Does The Future Look Like For Esports?
With its growing number of competitors and viewers, you would have to argue that esports has a very bright future.
An article for Forbes shared the belief that investment within the industry will continue to increase. It says: “Sponsors like Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, T-Mobile, Adidas and even the U.S. Navy have already invested in eSports.
“Given the positive results of engaging with this global audience, brand investments will likely increase this year, with even more non-endemic corporate sponsors coming aboard.”