Esports has been on a never-ending rise in popularity since its first recognition as a sport back in 2001. Today, it features a worldwide audience of around 640 million and more than 285 million active players. These incredible numbers keep on increasing year after year.
We can say the same about sports betting, as it's a favourite pastime activity for millions of individuals around the world. Now, there are a couple of interesting trends that connect Esports and sports betting. Here, we'll mention and describe the ones that draw the most attention.
The Use of Apple Pay for Esports Purchases and Sports Betting
Top Esports players, teams, and organisations tend to use secure payment methods when purchasing digital goods and merchandise. One of the most used banking options for such purposes is Apple Pay.
It’s a widespread mobile payment solution that offers a safe and simple way of buying online goods. Plus, it offers instant deposits and allows users to conduct payments with just a few taps.
Esports spectators also use it for purchasing event tickets and streaming subscriptions. Reputable developers like Riot Games even integrated Apple Pay for in-game purchases.
In terms of betting, many punters deposit with Apple Pay as a way to fund their Esports betting journey. Due to its popularity and wide usage, numerous online bookmakers started accepting Apple Pay deposits. They even allow their customers to use it when applying for bonuses.
Live Streaming & Live Betting
Esports streaming has been a big trend for several years now, and it keeps on going with no signs of stopping. Almost every top Esports player conducts live streams while playing various games for fun. Some also broadcast their experiences at tournaments where they compete for big prizes.
Many Esports players also have a good and stable career as streamers. Those with a large number of followers and viewers tend to generate a big additional income.
Nowadays, punters can also find live Esports streams at many reputable betting sites. Most of them allow their customers to watch the in-play action for free. Some may require making a deposit or placing a bet in order to unlock this feature.
Either way, bettors get to see how the players/teams perform before deciding how to gamble. They’ll do that by placing live bets on the same platform. Many punters would say that live streaming and in-play betting go hand in hand.
Esports & Sports Betting Demographics
Age groups such as 16-24 (Gen Z) and 25-34 dominate the list in terms of viewership. There is also a growing trend among older generations. But their numbers don’t come near the ones set up by Gen Z and Millennials. As such, the average age for Esports spectators is 26.
In terms of gender, men are unsurprisingly the dominant group in the Esports community. If we combine both stats, we’ll determine young men as the main audience.
But female fans are also present, as are female Esports players. In the US, 70% of all Esports fans are male and 30% are female. On a worldwide scale, there are 35% female and 65% male fans.
When it comes to Esports betting, the most dominant group is the one aged 18-27. It accounts for 44% of all Esports punters. If we include individuals aged 28-43, then the percentage will rise to 87%. As for gender, 75% of all Esports bettors are male and 25% are female.
Popular Esports Games for Playing, Watching, and Betting
There are several games that stand out in the Esports community in terms of playing and spectating. The list includes Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends, Fortnite, Valorant, and PUBG. Tournaments that feature these games offer the biggest prize pools.
We can also note that most of these games generate millions of spectators. The most watched game is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang with a peak viewership of 4.1 million on June 15th, 2025.
Now, these top games are also very popular at sports betting sites. They are responsible for the most bets, especially events in Counter-Strike 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends, Valorant, and Dota 2. Some punters are also fond of wagering on FIFA, Call of Duty, and Fortnite events.