eSports betting is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the online gambling industry and it’s time for Pay Per Head agents to take notice.
The eSports betting industry is expected to see upwards of $8 billion dollars in total betting action in 2020. This influx of wagers made on eSports is projected to earn bookmakers $500 million dollars in revenue at the 7% average industry profit margin. If things continue along this trajectory, experts believe total wagers could exceed $15M in the next 24 months. If that happens, eSports would account for almost 10% of all bets placed on sports.
Now that we are in 2020, Pay Per Head agents need to take notice of this emerging powerhouse.
The excitement surrounding eSports growth in the betting market is even more significant when combined with the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting in the United States.
eSports Betting is Massive Opportunity for Sportsbooks
The online sports betting industry has been laser-focused on traditional sports for the last couple of decades; ever since the internet changed the way we connect. Sportsbooks have spent countless hours crafting optimal offerings on sports betting and have really honed their marketing strategies.
The rapid growth of eSports, and the betting market that came along with it, marks the first time in recent memory that a new generation of games enters the mix. This is truly an unprecedented chain of events and the response from the sports betting community has been massive.
For the first time, sportsbooks have to adjust to market a generation that was born and raised online. Many of them are gamers themselves.
This means that you, the bookie, have to pivot not only your marketing strategy but also your target market.
The window of opportunity remains open to get ahead of the pack and move your clients to eSports with exciting new strategies, ideas, and methods.
Why is eSports Betting so Popular?
The availability of eSports events makes it unique in the sports betting industry which is ideal for consistent income. Not only are tournaments going on internationally every day, but there is a wide variety of competitive games to enjoy. This allows your clients to place wagers on unique events that take place almost 24/7, every day of the year.
Another attractive aspect of eSports betting is the wide variety of bets to be made from game to game.
The idea of wagering on video games really changes the way we look at sports betting. This is due in large part to unlimited possibilities that gambling on the outcomes of eSports present. Say you are betting a first-person shooter like Counter-Strike. You might find odds on who gets the first kill, round by round winners, total round time or player with the most points.
Want to mix it up a little? How about betting on an arena game like League of Legends (LOL)?
You will find similar wagers on LOL, round times and winners. But the game itself is so different, that it offers up its own unique props. Wagers for total damage taken, healing, usage of abilities or biggest combo give players a totally different betting experience.
Looking for something a bit more familiar? How about wagering on sports games like NBA 2K20?
This is a great way to get players’ feet wet in the eSports betting pool. Betting on sports video games is essentially the same process as betting on real sports. Most major bets you can make on an actual NBA game also apply to that same game played digitally.
eSports Games Sportsbooks Should Focus on
We realize that trying to learn a new sport, especially one as unique as this, can be challenging. To help you alone, we are going to break down the major games which you can expect to see a lot of in the near future.
League of Legends
LOL is not only the most popular eSports globally but also the most lucrative for sportsbooks. It is a multiplayer online battle arena game, or MOAB, which pits two teams of five players against one another in a round by round battle. Each user controls a champion who possesses unique skills that can be used in tandem with their teammates to destroy the enemy base.
Not only is this the most popular game to play, but also to bet.
Wagers are plentiful and tournaments happen weekly across the world. With leagues in the USA, Europe, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Russia and so on, there are events happening almost around the clock. This will give your players options at all hours of the day or night to wager on.
DOTA2
Defense of the Ancients 2 is another very popular title and like LOL, is a multiplayer online battle arena game. It also pits two teams of five players against each other with the goal of destroying the enemy’s home base.
The reason why DOTA2 is such a big player comes down to its tournament called simply ‘The International’. It is by far the biggest annual event, with prizes eclipsing $30M last year. This makes DOTA2 the most profitable game to compete in and makes for some truly exciting competition.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
GS: GO is the most popular first-person shooter game or FPS, that is on the market today. The user controls a soldier with the simple task of either diffusing a bomb or protecting it. Available across every major gaming platform and with a long history of competitive gaming, this is a solid choice for new bettors to embrace.
Overwatch
Another popular choice among FPS fans is Blizzard Entertainment’s foray into the genre. One reason for its popularity is the ability to play on PC, Playstation, Xbox and even the Nintendo Switch. This game has a more cartoon feel than most FPS games. It prioritizes graphics and gameplay over realism and gore. Therefore, Overwatch is a more popular game for younger players and has aided in its meteoric rise in the industry.
At PayPerHead we fully understand the value of this expanding option and highly recommend our bookie agents take notice. We offer daily eSports odds for both you and your clients and if you don’t see the event you want, just ask. Our team is committed to getting you the odds you need. So head into your sportsbook and check out the odds for today’s eSports events and start promoting them to your players today.
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