One of the fastest growing trends in entertainment is watching and wagering on esports on sites such as those found in the esports betting guide here. Back in 2016, analysts predicted that gambling on esports would rise from $5.5 billion that year to $12.9 billion by 2020. But what nobody foresaw back in 2016 was COVID-19 and social distancing. How have these events played into esports trends in 2020?
No Traditional Sports to Bet On
The cancellation of major sports seasons would have been unimaginable a year ago. But that is exactly what happened when COVID-19 spread around the globe. Sports like NBA, NHL and PGA were cancelled. True, you can still bet on Russian table tennis. But betting opportunities in the traditional sports world are down to a minimum right now.
So, what have punters done? Well, when you are stuck indoors during quarantine, you still need something to watch. And you still want something to bet on. And that is where esports are now filling the void.
Gamblers Are Turning to Esports During Coronavirus
Esports matches have gone online-only since COVID-19. Indeed, organizers were forced to adapt rapidly. As Engadget reported, “Organizations including the LCS, Overwatch League and ESL Pro League had just weeks — days, even — to put rudimentary streaming-only structures in place, in an attempt to save an entire year’s worth of work. For the most part, they’ve succeeded.”
So, sports fans who previously might not have thought twice about esports are now diving into the virtual action. Wired reported on this trend, quoting Ebbe Groes, CEO of sports betting company EveryMatrix. Groes said, “The betting volume for regular sports events dropped about 80 percent as there was nothing left to bet on. That’s when we turned to esports.” Wired added, “In less than a month, the volume of dollars Groes has seen bet on esports has gone up by a factor of 10.”
Also, it isn’t just offshore sports betting businesses that are turning to esports. Even Las Vegas is jumping in on the trend. The Washington Post reported that the Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) gave recent approval to a few esports series. These include the League of Legends Championship Series in North America, the League of Legends European Championship, the Overwatch League and the Call of Duty League.
What to Expect in the Future
Will esports growth continue through the rest of the year? What about next year? Will esports betting options keep opening up? Or will interest in esports fizzle when traditional sports return? Let’s talk about what is next for esports trends in 2020.
The New York Times and many other major publications reported lately that COVID-19 may be here to stay. Indeed, there is a good chance that multiple quarantine periods will occur in the future. Eventually, COVID-19 may become more like the annual flu. But until then, we can expect more cancellations and disruptions to our lives.
So, it seems safe to predict that for the duration of 2020, esports interest will continue to surge dramatically. That trend might also continue into 2021. When traditional sports do start up again, people will be excited. At that point, it seems likely there may be a small dip in esports interest. But once the novelty of traditional sports wears off again, people who discovered esports during quarantine will come back to it.
Plus, esports was already on a major growth trend even before COVID-19. For that reason, there is no reason to expect a downturn. While we are seeing a spike right now, the industry should continue on an upward trend over the months and years ahead.
How to Get in on the Esports Growth Trend
If you are tired of waiting for traditional sports to start up again, you might be interested in watching and betting on esports. But how do you get started? First, you will need to know how to watch esports. Some options include YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Gaming, and Mixer. On these websites, you can stream live matches. Plus, you can watch old matches.
Next, you will need to join a reputable, safe, trustworthy sports betting site. After you open an account and make a deposit, you can start betting. As with traditional sports betting, you will be most likely to win your bets if you take the time to conduct a strategic analysis. You also should shop the odds and look for value before placing any bets.
Whether you choose to bet on esports or just watch matches, virtual sports can entertain you during the dry stretch of quarantine. Esports trends in 2020 point toward continuing growth over the coming months. So, stay home and stay safe, and enjoy discovering Overwatch, League of Legends, Call of Duty and other exciting esports.