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Esports Betting: Redefining the Future of Digital Gambling

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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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Online Casino Legalization in Illinois: Study Finds Two-Thirds of Voters in Favor

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A recent survey has confirmed that almost two out of three (63%) of Illinois residents support legalizing online casinos.

The survey, created by casino bonus and online casino review site BonusFinder.com, asked 1,000 Illinois residents their take regarding legalizing online casinos. The focus group covered voters across a variety of political backgrounds, age groups, and different geos.

Despite online casinos currently being illegal in Illinois, and the only way to access them is illegally, the survey found that one in four residents (26%) admitted to having played at an online casino.

According to a separate analysis, which delved into how much US States could be missing out on in online casino tax revenue, it revealed that Illinois could be missing out on up to $788m. Instead of going to the State, this potential tax money is being funneled to unregulated offshore gambling platforms.

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When questioned, hypothetically, how residents would prefer the tax revenue to be spent they prioritized: public education (61.4%), mental health and addiction services (54.8%) and improvements in infrastructure (44%).

Other services that were still important, but less of a priority, to those questioned in the survey were: affordable housing (38%), crime prevention (33.1%), community programs (26.2%) and environmental initiatives (22.7%).

“These findings show that Illinoisans are ready for online casinos, as long as it’s done responsibly,” commented Luciano Passavanti, Vice President at BonusFinder.com.

“The message from voters is clear – they want safe, transparent platforms and strict oversight.

“They also want to know that tax revenue from online casinos will directly benefit their communities; whether that’s through education, healthcare, or local infrastructure.

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“Illinois is already a major gaming market. Legalizing online casinos is the next logical step.”

While the majority of voters were in favor (63%), 19% were against legalization and 17.5% remained unsure.

The largest age group supporters of legalizing online casinos was the 45-54 age group, with 68.8% being in favor. However, the age group whose least in favor of legalization remained to be those aged 65 and over – with 51.2% being in favor of legalizing online casinos in Illinois.

The second-largest age group in favor of legalizing iCasinos are those aged 35-44 (64.1%), the third-largest group stood to be those in the 18-34 age bracket with 63.7% of voters supporting legalization.

When it comes to the battle of the sexes, men were found to be significantly more open to the idea of legalization, with 70.5% of men in support. However, in comparison, just 58.3% of women were found to be in support of legalizing online casinos in the State.

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Furthermore, a variety of correspondents across different political views were also questioned; with findings revealing that Republican voters were slightly more in favor (65.4%) of legalization compared to Democrat voters (63.3%).

The post Online Casino Legalization in Illinois: Study Finds Two-Thirds of Voters in Favor appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Use of Safer Gambling Tools Increases 22% During Safer Gambling Week 2024

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The number of people using safer gambling tools increased during the Safer Gambling Week 2024, according to the new figures released by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).

Analysis of last year’s successful campaign confirmed over 1.5m unique accounts used a safer gambling tool during Safer Gambling Week, a massive 22% year-on-year increase.

Meanwhile, the number of deposit limits set during the campaign increased by 14% compared to the previous year’s Safer Gambling Week, with 47% of players setting deposit limits for the first time.

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Safer Gambling Week 2024 – which ran from November 18 to 24 – also delivered an astonishing 7.2m safer gambling messages to punters across the week, a 10% rise on 2023.

New records were set on social media too, with the campaign generating over 60 million impressions across major platforms X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, a huge 21% increase on Safer Gambling Week 2023.

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “Safer Gambling Week has proved its worth once again by making a real impact encouraging even more punters to make the most of the broad range of safer gambling tools only available in the regulated sector.

“These new figures are a testament to its ongoing success, and this industry’s commitment to raising standards and ensuring the millions of customers who enjoy a regular flutter, do so in a safe and responsible environment.

“Our members promote safer gambling every day of the year, but a single dedicated week, bringing together the whole sector with support from MPs, peers, the regulator and other stakeholders, promotes that work in a uniquely powerful way.”

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The aim of Safer Gambling Week is to kickstart a national conversation between staff, customers and their friends and family, about safer gambling, as well as highlight the range of tools that are available to help people stay in control of their betting.

The campaign also generated over half a million visits to the Safer Gambling Week website, which signposts help and advice for those who may be struggling, as well as offering advice on safer gambling tools like deposit limits and time outs.

The post Use of Safer Gambling Tools Increases 22% During Safer Gambling Week 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Danish Gambling Authority Publishes the Annual Report “The Gambling Market in Numbers 2024”

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The Danish Gambling Authority has published the annual report “The Gambling Market in Numbers 2024”, which summarises the year that has passed on the gambling market in Denmark.

The report shows that Denmark’s total gambling spend in 2024 amounted to DKK 11.0 billion. This is an increase of 5.6% compared to 2023. At the same time, “The Gambling Market in Numbers” shows that an increasing share of online gambling takes place at operators with a licence to offer gambling in Denmark. Thus, the channelisation rate in 2024 rose to 91.5% from 90.8% in 2023, placing Denmark in fifth place over the countries, with the largest share of online gambling taking place on the regulated gambling market.

Tables and figures also describe the development of all gambling categories: charity lotteries, land-based casinos, monopoly lotteries, online casinos, gaming machines and betting. The overall trend remains that the share of gambling spend that comes from online gambling is increasing while the share of land-based gambling is decreasing accordingly.

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One theme in this year’s edition of “The Gambling Market in Numbers” is the Men’s Euro, which took place in the summer of 2024. The betting activity during the period clearly showed that the Danes play when Denmark plays.

In addition to statistics for the gambling market, the report also delves into key figures for ROFUS (Register of Self-Excluded Players) and StopSpillet, the Gambling Authority’s helpline on gambling addiction and responsible gambling.

The post Danish Gambling Authority Publishes the Annual Report “The Gambling Market in Numbers 2024” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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