ESports betting sites “fall short of expectations”

Market intelligence firm SuperData says that eSports betting and fantasy sites have “fallen short of expectations” by earning only $56m this year, despite investment of over $150m in new platforms.

The reports states: “Fans remain more comfortable wagering virtual gaming content over cash, causing real-money sites to gain traction slower than anticipated.”

According to one analyst, the news is “not surprising”.

Mark McGuinness, digital betting director at Mainstream Marketing and Communications Ltd on the Isle of Man said: “The proclivity for eSports betting is still embryonic and therefore in growth phase, and has been clouded by fervour almost akin to another dot.com boom and bust.”

SuperData’s eSports Market Update 2015/2016 forecasts that online gaming sites will propel eSports to a market value of $1.9bn by 2018.

The report, which estimates the 2015 eSports market to be worth $748m, says the major increase will be driven by “the growth of direct revenue sources such as betting sites and amateur tournament platforms”.

McGuinness added: “Europe and Asia are the market hotspots for eSports betting, with certain operators reporting average stakes on eSports in three- and four-figure bets”.

In August, Eilers Research projected that the eSports betting market will exceed £23bn by 2020, up from an estimated $250m in 2015.

ESports viewership is also set to soar, with Juniper Research forecasting that viewer levels will reach 313 million by 2020, up from 133 million this year.

Juniper believes eSports viewership will surpass NFL by 2020 and close in on Formula 1 racing.

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Gareth Bracken

Journalist

Gareth Bracken is an experienced gaming journalist and editor who spent more than six years with Players Publishing, progressing through a range of senior editorial roles across its flagship titles, including Gambling Insider. He joined the company in 2010 as an Editorial Assistant before advancing to Staff Writer, Senior Staff Writer, Editor, and later Senior Features Writer.

Between 2011 and 2016, Gareth played a central role in shaping editorial output across print and digital platforms, producing in-depth features, news coverage and long-form analysis on the global gambling and iGaming industries. As Editor from September 2014 to October 2015, he oversaw content strategy, editorial standards and production workflows, helping guide the publication’s development as a leading B2B industry voice.

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