The eSports industry has seen tremendous growth in the past 5 years, with a global audience that is set to reach more than half a billion people by 2020. In terms of monetary value, the industry as a whole could surpass £1 billion in annual revenue this year. In case you’re not aware, eSports are simply video gaming competitions in which players compete in sports-like tournaments against each other. While this arena is still relatively limited to certain kinds of games, popular eSports titles like League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Fortnite have attracted legions of obsessed fans and die-hard players. With that said, here are three ways the eSports industry has been transformed over the past 5 years:
1. Internet Casinos Have Increased Public Acceptance of Online Gambling and eSports
If you think about it, eSports is really just an advanced form of online casino gambling – you’re playing a game against other people with real money on the line. Of course, there’s a clear distinction in that eSports games are generally skill-based, whereas casino games are usually based on luck. Still, there’s a direct correlation between the rise in acceptance of online casino gaming and the boost in popularity that eSports has seen during the same 5-year time frame. Platforms like Casino Yell can be credited with improving the process of choosing an online casino, leading to a more transparent and fair market where the concerns of consumers are taken into account and put on display. By reducing the risk of choosing an untrustworthy provider through a database of real user reviews (for instance highlighting that there’s not a Pocketwin no deposit bonus available), CasinoYell has indirectly helped pave the way for the public acceptance and adoption of eSports and other forms of online gambling that were once viewed as risky forms of entertainment.
2. eSports Tournaments Can Make Players Wealthy Now
Five years ago, you’d be lucky if you could win any more than £100,000 at an eSports competition. Now, it’s possible for an eSports champion to earn as much as £4 million when you factor in sponsorships, tournament winnings, and revenue from streaming platforms and video sites like YouTube. Thus, the idea of becoming a professional gamer has gone from a pipe dream to an actual possibility for those who are skilled enough to reliably beat the best at the game of their choice.
3. Exponential Growth in Popularity
In 2012, there were about 58 million eSports enthusiasts and viewers worldwide. By 2014, that number had grown to 89 million. Today, there are more than 380 million eSports fans and players who contribute to a total of more than 10 billion hours of watching and playing time annually. With such exponential growth happening so quickly, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more than one billion people actively watching and participating in eSports events by 2025.
Virtual Reality Could Make eSports the World’s Largest Gaming Competition
With virtual reality set to take a stronghold in the gaming industry during the next decade, it’s very possible that we could see the virtualization of real sports and other offline activities. When that happens, you might be able to play a game of tennis against someone who lives on the other side of the world and place a wager on the match as well. Imagine being able to race other runners on a treadmill, or engaging in a Tour De France style cycling competition without leaving your living room!
