Most gamers are well aware of eSports, and what that world represents. For those who may be new to the industry, eSports is a phrase that relates to professional gaming competitions, in which players from around the globe come together to test their skills against one another. Much like athletic sports, eSports have paid players and strict training regimens.
eSports have become a lot more popular in the past few years. This is due to a combination of factors, the most obvious of which is that the video game industry saw a massive rise in popularity. Today, eSports are not just popular as a watched sport, but also as a betting sport. That is why, in this article, we’d like to examine the success of eSports, and explain everything you need to know.
How did it all Begin?
The first question to answer is how did we get to the point where we are at today? eSports today have millions of fans worldwide. Even the iGaming industry has become involved with the competitive video game scene. Indeed, there are a lot of connections between online casinos and eSports. Not the least of which is the fact that many gamers who follow the professional scene engage with platforms like Cwinz slots. But online casinos often tend to double as sportsbooks. Many of them offer some pretty fantastic odds on competitive gaming.
Believe it or not, eSports began as a grassroots movement in the 1990s. Arcades at the time would host tournaments that became incredibly popular. While different arcades would host different games, by far the most popular one was Street Fighter 2. Remembered as one of the most iconic fighting games of all time, Street Fighter 2’s success led to a healthy competitive scene, which would later grow into eSports.
Around the early 2000s, professional video game tournaments began being hosted, and video game teams began being formed. At the time, pro gaming was still not quite the phenomenon it is today. So, what did it take for the industry to blow up like it has today?
The Internet Comes Along
The internet changed a lot of entertainment. YouTube single-handedly helped to elevate the video game industry, and introduce games to a new audience. The Angry Video Game Nerd was, at one point, the most popular YouTuber on the website, and his videos reached an audience of people who never would have played games otherwise.
The AVGN inspired many YouTubers to share their passion for games, which eventually resulted in the “Let’s Play” video genre. People would film themselves playing games and giving commentary, and then would upload it to YouTube. It all culminated when Twitch launched in 2011, allowing players to broadcast their gameplay.
Livestreaming has been a huge factor for why professional gaming has become so popular. For one thing, live Twitch broadcasts were the only way that pros could broadcast their games to the public for a while. So, the rise of the internet, and internet culture, almost certainly played a huge role in the popularization of eSports.
Betting on eSports
One of the big changes that happened recently is that eSports have become popular at online sportsbooks. Some are surprised to learn that eSports betting is a thing. But, once you think about it, it does make sense. We bet on competitive sports all the time, so why wouldn’t we wager on competitive gaming. After all, many of the rules of sports betting apply to eSports as well.
● Odds
Bookies place odds on eSports, based on data gathered from previous tournaments and performances. The same exact thing is true for sports betting odds. Not only that, but the same rules for odds apply to eSports as with proper sports.
● Bets
eSports work with the same bet types as most popular sports. “To Win” bets are the most popular, but you can also place wagers on props, point spreads, and more. These different bet types are the big reason why online sports betting has become so popular.
● Strategy
Largely, fans can use the same betting strategies that they apply to sports betting, when they are wagering on eSports. For the unaware, betting strategies are plans that many punters come up with before they begin wagering, regarding the amount of cash they are going to wager.
Most Popular Games in eSports
Just like any sport, eSports has its most popular leagues, tournaments, and events. In professional gaming, popularity is mostly determined based on the games. The most popular tournaments usually correlate to the popularity of the game itself. So, in this final section, we are going to look at the most popular games in eSports, and discuss their success.
● League of Legends: among the most popular games of all time, League of Legends is a staple of the eSports market. The Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game has managed to capture the hearts of hundreds of thousands of players from around the world. Even more so with the success of Arcane, a Netflix animated series based around one of the League’s most popular settings.
● Defense of the Ancients 2: DOTA 2 is another MOBA game that has won over the hearts and minds of the global gamer population. Like LOL, DOTA 2 consists of players selecting a hero and attempting to take over and topple the enemy base.
● Counter-Strike 2: CS2 is the latest in what may be the most popular FPS of all time. The game sees players divided into two teams, terrorists and counter-terrorists. There are multiple game styles in CS2, but the most popular involves getting the most kills for your team.
● Fortnite: currently, Fortnite may just be the most popular game in the realm of eSports. Like CS2, the game has multiple modes. But the Battle Royale option tends to get the most love in professional settings.
● Mobile Games: Finally, we have to talk about the multitude of mobile games that have gotten immense success. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is the most popular right now. The game dominates eSports worldwide, but has especially taken off in India.