Esports has become a highly ambitious sector, a new frontier with significant potential. The global Esports audience exceeds 450 million viewers. “Esports has evolved into a movement that generates over €963 million globally, with the largest audiences in the USA, South Korea, and Spain,” says a BetB2B analyst.
The growing popularity of Esports is attracting businesses beyond niche companies. Industry giants like Coca-Cola, Red Bull, and Movistar have now shown interest in Esports. This shift suggests that Esports is no longer seen as a passing trend but a profitable industry.
BetB2B: The Global Rise of Esports
The perception of Esports has changed over time. Five to seven years ago, it was considered mere entertainment for young people playing video games. Now, Esports is a major sports niche generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The opportunities and growth in Esports are reshaping audience profiles, marketing strategies, and business models, expanding the betting industry significantly.
In 2021, the Esports segment generated $2.2 billion in revenue, and by 2024, it is projected to grow to $6.8 billion. “Undoubtedly, Esports will see more intensive growth in 2024, with sponsors eager to invest in it,” adds a BetB2B expert.
Esports is also finding its place among bookmakers. Betting on Esports, once obscure, is now widely advertised across various platforms. “The expanded selection of markets and events available today can meet the needs of bettors, even those with the highest expectations,” notes a BetB2B specialist.
BetB2B: Esports Game Statistics and Player Numbers
Changes in audience reach for popular games have been tracked over time:
2022:
- CS – 52.19%
- DOTA 2 – 35.55%
- League of Legends – 8.50%
- Valorant – 1.44%
- Rainbow Six – 1.36%
- Rocket League – 0.97%
2023:
- CS – 60.07%
- DOTA 2 – 22.93%
- League of Legends – 8.20%
- Valorant – 6.05%
- Rocket League – 2.06%
- Rainbow Six – 0.69%
These statistics show which games have gained popularity and which have lost relevance. For instance, CS has seen a significant rise in popularity, while Rainbow Six has become less in demand.
Audience Profile
The number of Esports fans is steadily growing. In the United States, for example, Esports event audiences have surpassed those of NBA and NHL games. Where there’s a passionate audience and competitive elements, sports betting, including Esports betting, follows.
The majority of Esports bettors are men (80%), with women making up 20%. Esports is global, but most interest is concentrated in regions like Asia, America, Europe, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Esports bettors tend to be young, tech-savvy individuals who are also frequent sports bettors and spend considerable time online. “Most Esports bets are placed by people aged 18 to 35,” says a BetB2B expert. This trend can be attributed to:
- Younger people spend more time online, making Esports more accessible.
- Older generations are less familiar with Esports and less trusting of Esports betting.
- Younger bettors often have fewer financial obligations, making them more willing to spend money.
The age and preferences of Esports bettors also vary depending on the game. For instance, CS’s audience is primarily aged 28-35, while Dota 2 attracts a younger crowd, aged 20-28. Despite the age difference, both groups have similar spending capabilities.
While VIP bettors are rare in Esports, the new generation of bettors is highly tech-savvy and financially successful, making them attractive to marketers and businesses. “This group is the most appealing to major iGaming brands,” notes a BetB2B analyst. With an estimated 5 billion gamers and 500 million Esports fans globally, the potential Esports target market is vast for iGaming companies.
Geographical Focus
Esports is most popular in China, South Korea, America, Canada, and Europe. The industry originated in Asia, with Chinese and South Korean teams pioneering online games. “The Esports and betting audience is heavily concentrated in South Korea, China, and Singapore,” says a BetB2B expert.
The top-ranked teams at the end of 2023 include:
- Gaimin Gladiators (Dota 2)
- Team Vitality (CS)
- Evil Geniuses (Valorant)
- T1 (League of Legends)
- Danawa e-sports (PUBG)
BetB2B: How Esports Sites Can Capture Their Target Audience in 2024
For fans who haven’t yet placed bets on Esports, they may simply not have encountered the right offer. Esports betting sites need to stay up to date with trends in this fast-evolving market. iGaming companies can track resources, study audience preferences, attract traffic, and keep up with trends, or they can rely on specialists for effective solutions.
BetB2B offers a comprehensive platform for developing bookmakers and engaging with target audiences. Their “Agent Schema” creates a transparent, flexible agent hierarchy, ideal for regions where traditional traffic generation methods fall short. BetB2B’s affiliate program integrates seamlessly with networks and individuals, maximizing advertising potential.
With free training and 24/7 support, BetB2B provides businesses with the tools they need to succeed and grow.
The Science Behind Pokie Design: How Sound and Graphics Affect Player Behavior
On the face of it, there really isn’t much to pokies and the way they are played. They are very basic in premise, as players simply have to hit a spin button and not much else. They can’t influence the outcome of the game with a strategy as they may when playing tabletop games, nor can they control many other aspects.
However, that hasn’t stopped this form of game from being entertaining. In fact, they are among the global leaders in the industry. Their simplicity is what makes them extremely popular. Locations like Australia have proven to be very popular with these games.
Players who log onto the sites that offer the best mobile pokies in Australia has available have continued to enjoy them in abundance. Several titles have become renowned around the iGaming industry, with many of them gaining huge appeal.
But, if pokies can be deemed to be mundane and boring in terms of their simplicity and gameplay, what has made them so popular as an entertainment form?
Pokie design has used science to shine
Pokie developers and designers have been very clever in what they have managed to achieve. They know just as well as anyone else that the game’s main premise and mechanics aren’t quite enough to keep players going for sustained periods of time. There’s only so much that an individual will want to go before they become bored with the monotony.
However, by adding graphics and sounds to the game, they have been able to capture the attention of their players, thus creating a unique ability to keep them engaged and playing for longer.
How does the sound in pokies impact player behavior?
Sounds have an incredible way in which they can evoke certain emotions out of individuals. When you hear a song that you like or associate with a moment that may have happened, you’ll start to experience several feelings.
The very same thing can happen when you hear the sounds implemented with pokies. Designers will use uptempo beats that can create a positive audio experience. These beats release certain hormones within an individual’s brain, such as dopamine, which have a positive impact on the person. As more dopamine is released, the brain craves more of it, leading to players playing for as long as possible.
How do the graphics play a part?
While sound can have an impact, graphics can also create positive connections and evoke emotions in players. As human beings, we often base things on what can be seen. We all have preferences and enjoy different things. This is where graphics can come in, as they are what can help to set the scene and tell stories.
Individuals can find themselves becoming more engrossed and engaged with visuals if there is a story to follow. If they have something that suits their likes and tastes, they will find it easier to remain focused and immersed in what is going on. This helps to take the focus away from how basic pokies can be in terms of their gameplay, as their brains are switched on to the images that are used to form it.
What are the most popular pokies themes and sounds?
Given the importance of these two aspects, it’s no surprise to see pokie designers continually using certain themes when creating new titles. The pokies niche is perhaps famed for its ability to be extremely versatile, despite the fact that the games are almost identical in the way that they are played.
Although the implementation of certain mechanics or features can make them different, it’s the usage of themes and sounds that can really make them stand out. As mentioned, these are what can immerse players as they can create and evoke emotion out of us.
A quick browse around any online casino or within a software developer’s library of games will show that there are certain themes that are more popular than others. These can include those that are based on history, popular culture, sports, TV shows and films, music, and sci-fi. As these can fit people’s preferences quite easily, it’s easy to see why they continue to remain at the top of player demands and why they perform so well when released.
Final Thoughts
The inclusion of sound and graphics in pokies design cannot be understated. As highlighted, pokies at their core are simple games that don’t involve all that much, especially when played online. Players only need to hit a button and the game will do what it has been programmed to do.
To keep players interested for as long as possible, the sounds and graphics implemented by designers are key. They are often the difference between success and failure. This is why we often see the same themes repeated across thousands of titles.
