We’ve seen an increase in requests from clients to set up eSports companies or apply for licenses that will allow them to operate leglly licensed eSports betting platforms.” “eSports has been heading towards the mainstream for 12 months, but I think now’s the time to get involved. His corporate services advisory which has been working with clients in the online betting world for over 22 years has seen a flurry of enquiries about the sector over the last few weeks. Managing Partner of Fast Offshore Ron Mendelson believes that the time to move into eSports is now. Entrepreneurs have been inspired to look at setting up eSports companies to take advantage This uncertainty has led to a sharp increase in online gambling operators looking to incorporate eSports into their portfolios. No one knows how long the COVID-19 epidemic will last, or how long social distancing measures will be in place. He added that eSports contests are 20 times more popular now than they were before the lockdown. Matt Kalish, co-founder of DraftKings North America said “especially now with this kind of downtime with sports, eSports have stepped up and become the number one offering on DraftKings”. Prior to the pandemic, eSports bets accounted for only 1% of the market, today it’s up to 35%. Betting on eSports was once something nice and fringe, but thanks to the current situation, conventional sports bettors are turning to it for their fix.īig-name betting sites like Betway, Loot.bet and DraftKings are all offering wagers on eSports events. A “bloodbath” according to some, thankfully eSports is stepping up to fill the void. It could be that COVID-19 is the catalyst the industry needs to move into the mainstream.īecause of the Coronavirus effect, the sports betting industry has seen a decrease in volume of around 80%. A great opportunity for development has been given to the eSports world. The total absence of “conventional sports” and the closure of land-based casinos has driven many to seek entertainment elsewhere. Overwatch League has started back up and it took League of Legends just a week to make the transition. Some of the biggest games in the eSports world have already gone back online. These physical events may have been cancelled but due to eSports’ digital nature, the bulk of events have shifted back into the online world. Video game fanatics would attend in the tens of thousands to watch gamers battle it out in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, League of Legends, or Overwatch. Twitch, the popular eSports streaming site announced viewership was up 31% in March alone.īefore the pandemic, eSports tournaments would fill massive arenas such as Madison Square Garden. Those stuck at home are playing more video games and those that want to watch are tuning in en masse. One sector that’s unlikely to bear the brunt of the pandemic is online gambling, and within that, the eSports market.ĮSports or competitive video gaming is on the rise, as is the demand for betting on the outcome of tournaments or individual games. The COVID-19 pandemic has sent many of the world’s economies into freefall, leaving millions unemployed and uncertain of what lies ahead. We’ve seen an increase in requests from clients to set up eSports companies or apply for licenses that will allow them to operate eSports betting platformsĢ020- the year of social distancing, a suspension of sporting events, and 3 billion people on lockdown. ESports has been heading towards the mainstream for 12 months, but I think now’s the time to get involved.

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