In a year that has seen many industries suffer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global eSports and eSports betting industries have shown positive signs of growth in 2020.
Given that many sports were forced to shut down and individuals were stuck indoors for the majority of the year, the popularity of esports, esports events and subsequently esports betting have all grown throughout this year.
As a result of the frequency of events and the access that players, fans and subsequently bettors have to live streams and tournaments, esports events are boasting consistently high levels of viewership.
Popular streaming site Twitch is recording an average of more than 1.5 million viewers at any given moment, with 17.5 million average daily visitors on their website.
From the point of view of a betting agency, the growth of esports is even more pronounced. What once started as a side venture for bookmakers is now slowly becoming a whole industry in itself, with many betting agencies reporting higher revenue from esports then they get from many other sports.
As a result of the pandemic, the eSports betting market is expected to grow up to 39 percent in 2020, reaching $343 million USD. But what does the future hold for eSports / eSports betting?
In October this year, the Global eSports Federation announced that its flagship event, the inaugural Global eSports Games, is set to be held in December 2021 and continue annually.
Featuring multi-title eSports competitions as well as world-class Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the Global eSports Games will be a huge development for the esports and esports betting industries. Unifying tournaments into an organised competition with more markets and a more user friendly viewing and betting experiences.
The future of esports kicks into high gear with our first flagship event.
In December 2021, the Global Esports Games will bring together the best in the arena, from athletes to industry partners, from innovation to leadership.#worldconnected #globalesportsgames #esports pic.twitter.com/5FpFeH9PdL
— Global Esports Federation (@GE_Federation) October 30, 2020
Given the success that the esports industry and subsequently esports betting has had in 2020, an event such as the Global eSports Games in 2021 is going to be the next stepping stone in ensuring that the future of both industries remains prosperous.
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Image by: Chongkian
