Esports, until recently popular mainly among teenagers, has become a truly global phenomenon, rivaling traditional sports in scale. Tournaments for League of Legends and CS:2 attract millions of viewers, while Twitch streams break viewership records. Following the rise of esports, a new industry is rapidly emerging — betting on gaming tournaments. 

What’s more, esports betting appeals not only to gamers but also to fans of traditional sports betting like football, hockey, and others. The team behind the 888STARZ Partners affiliate program recognizes the potential of this niche, so we’re breaking down what this industry entails, the types of bets available, and what the future holds for esports.  

Esports Growth: A Market on Fire

The numbers don’t lie. The esports tournament market is already valued at $3 billion, with 57% of the audience in Asia, 16% in Europe, 12% in North America, and 15% spread across other regions (Demandsage). By 2025, over 318 million people are expected to follow esports tournaments and streams regularly.

What’s driving this surge? At least two key factors: games are evolving into highly strategic, visually spectacular experiences, and developers are pouring money into professionalizing the scene. For example, Riot Games invested $10 million to launch the Valorant Champions Tour, transforming the shooter into a full-fledged esports discipline with clear rules and seasonal schedules.  

Chart of esports popularity by global region
Source: Demandsage

Technology also fuels this growth: cloud services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW make gaming more accessible, while streaming platforms erase borders between players and viewers. In 2023, the League of Legends World Championship match between T1 and Weibo Gaming drew 6.4 million concurrent viewers — surpassing the NBA Finals. Such an audience is impossible for bookmakers to ignore.  

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Forecast of esports market growth until 2032
Source: Demandsage

How Esports Betting Works  

Unlike traditional sports, esports isn’t influenced by weather conditions, physical fatigue, or external factors. Instead, the game itself is constantly evolving. Developers release updates every few weeks, tweaking mechanics and balance. A slight buff to a Dota 2 hero or a minor nerf in CS2 can tip the scales and decide a match. That’s why successful esports bettors don’t just track team stats—they stay on top of game patches and meta shifts.

Let’s name most popular esports bet types:

• Classic — Predicting the winner of a match or tournament.  
• Totals — Wagering on total rounds (e.g., in CS:2) or kills in VALORANT.  
• Exotic — “First blood” in League of Legends, exact map score, or real-time live bets.  

Live bets add extra adrenaline — for example, during a Rainbow Six Siege final round, you can bet on whether a team will plant the bomb in the remaining 30 seconds.  

Why Esports is So Captivating  

The psychology of esports betting differs from classic sports. Games unfold dynamically, and every pro player’s decision can sway a match or tournament outcome. This creates hyper-engagement, amplified by real-time stats, interactive charts, and live stream chats where fans dissect every move. Gaming culture and fan interactions also play a key role. Discussions on Reddit, predictions in Telegram chats, and group watch parties turn esports into a vibrant subculture.  

Risks of Esports Betting  

The flip side includes risks inherent to gambling, amplified by esports’ unique traits. First, the illusion of control: bettors often overestimate their analytical skills, attributing wins to expertise and losses to “bad luck”. This breeds overconfidence. Second, the youthful audience: 60% of esports viewers are under 34, increasing the risk of impulsive decisions.  

Fraud is another threat. In 2021, a scandal rocked the Rocket League community when two teams colluded to rig a match for betting profits. Such cases are rare but underscore the need to choose licensed platforms. Experts advise verifying licenses (e.g., Curacao eGaming, UKGC) and avoiding bookmakers with suspiciously high odds.  

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How to make a profit bet in esport?  

Success requires discipline and deep analysis. Professionals recommend beginners:

• Focus on 1-2 games — mastering mechanics boosts winning chances.  
• Manage your bankroll — never risk more than 5% of your deposit per bet.  
• Keep a betting journal — log every wager with notes on reasoning and factors considered.  

For example, in Dota 2, analyzing hero synergy is critical, while in Counter-Strike, tracking weapon purchase patterns matters. This turns betting into a learning process, not a chase for quick wins.  

The Future of Esports  

The industry is evolving fast. AI tools like OpenAI already analyze thousands of matches, predicting outcomes with 72% accuracy. By 2025, VR broadcasts could let viewers “enter” virtual arenas, and blockchain promises transparency via smart contracts for automated payouts. 

Legalization is also accelerating: in 2020, only 15 countries regulated esports betting, but by 2023, this jumped to 40. In India, where esports is officially recognized as a sport, a state lottery now offers bets on BGMI (PUBG Mobile) tournaments.  

Conclusion  

Esports is undeniably one of the most promising betting niches, unlikely to stagnate soon. As traditional sports gradually lose traction, esports could dominate the betting world. While most bettors still focus on football, basketball, or hockey, you can capitalize now by promoting betting offers through 888STARZ Partners. Our affiliate program features 100+ GEO-targeted betting and hambling offers, including exclusive in-house deals with some of the highest rates on the market. Join 888STARZ Partners and start earning just right now!

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Hailed as the most anticipated slot game cabinet of the year, The Baron Upright has made its European debut in an impressive seven installs over seven days in seven international locations. The Baron Upright is now live in Albania, France, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, and aboard European cruise ships.

Since its debut in North America a few months ago, The Baron Upright and its suite of games have been quickly climbing industry charts, ranking in the top spots for the last several months on independent research lists. Now, with its swift international arrival, The Baron Upright footprint will expand its reach to engage with customers and players across Europe.

“The speed at which we commercialize hardware and games internationally has been a top priority for our customers. With the recent installs of Phoenix Link and now the arrival of The Baron Upright, we’re pleased to be succeeding in that goal. The Baron Upright brings an all-new entertainment experience for our international customers and players, from its unique design to its popular launch titles, and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive response,” said Kurt Gissane, chief revenue officer for Aristocrat Gaming.

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Following its award-winning predecessors’ footsteps, The Baron Upright dual-screen cabinet features advanced technological innovations including integrated dynamic lighting, advanced display monitors, and sleek design elements to enhance casino floors.

The advanced technological features of The Baron Upright are player-centric and deliver gameplay that is even more vibrant. Vivid LEDs light up the cabinet frame and monitors, while indirect backlighting on the chimney illuminates The Baron in colour coordination with gameplay and game themes, both of which come standard, and an integrated candle that lowers the cabinet profile for improved sightlines on casino floors.

The dual 27″ ultra-high-definition 4K display monitors bring proven player comfort and ergonomics combined with best-in-class graphics, plus a customizable 27″ LCD topper that integrates play, jackpot features, or can be removed to adapt to a variety of ceiling heights to best fit floor needs. A discreet soundbar, two top monitor speakers, and a subwoofer in-cabinet make for an improved premium sound experience. Finally, a floating virtual button deck adds sleekness and functionality to the modern look of The Baron Upright.

The Baron Upright’s European launch title is Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Ignite Blue Prosperity and Red Prosperity, tailored specifically to the needs of European customers, including 50 credit minimum entry bet and more jackpot options. Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Ignite Blue Prosperity and Red Prosperity expands on the beloved Red and Blue Festival base game and adds a fourth Metamorphic and a new Quad Metamorphic trigger in the base game. Additionally, players have the opportunity to trigger additional Metamorphics once they are in the bonus Hold & Spin feature.

The fast-following titles that are now available for purchase in over 15 EMEA markets include: Ju Cai Jin Gui Dragon and Ingot and Lucky Looters Devil and Leprechaun.

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Ju Cai Jin Gui is the successor to Fu Dai Lian Lian building on the Triple Metamorphic that started it all, to introduce a newly branded member of the portfolio with the addition of a Fourth Metamorphic. Lucky Looters is a dual metamorphic with a Lock & Loot feature to lock in reels 1 and 5 and multiply the up to 12 Cash on Reels values from reels 2 to 4 up to 6x for a 48x multiplier.

The post The Baron Upright by Aristocrat Gaming Makes its European Debut appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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The Swedish government has nominated Eva-Lotta Sjöstedt as chairwoman of the board of Svenska Spel. Anna Gagner-Geeber and Johan Wilsby are also proposed as new members of the board.

Eva-Lotta Sjöstedt has many years of experience in leading large international companies and is currently a member of several boards, including the Finnish telecom company Elisa Oy and the German Metro AG, one of the world’s largest wholesalers in the grocery trade. She was previously CEO of the Danish design company Georg Jensen and has also held leading positions within Ikea in Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands.

Ahead of Svenska Spel’s Annual General Meeting on April 24, the following have also been nominated for new election:

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• Anna Gagner-Geeber

• Johan Wilsby

The following have been nominated for re-election:

• Eivor Andersson

• Stefan Berg

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• Gunilla Herlitz

• Nyamko Sabuni

• Anne Arneby

Svenska Spel’s 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held on April 24 in Visby.

The post Eva-Lotta Sjöstedt Nominated as Chairwoman of Board of Svenska Spel appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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