The Hidden Industry Behind Esports Viewership

Esports has been instrumental in fetching viewers for so many games, including our handheld experiences, and over the years, the interest has just skyrocketed. However, I would be lying if I said Esports is only about competition and excitement; there’s more to it, more like a hidden industry.

Today, the biggest moments in competitive gaming are as much about audience involvement and monetization as they are about gameplay. While we fans tune in to watch our favourite teams battle it out, a hidden industry in Esports is working in the background, one that turns viewership into a business.

Monetization in Esports

Streaming platforms are one of the major sources of revenue. While top players have earned by their popularity by streaming games via multiple platforms, like Twitch and YouTube, the organizers have also used this viewership and player popularity to push their events, hence there are so many popping up.

Cases like over-distribution of tickets are also happening because of the same reason, banking on the popularity and fetching more revenue. Even leaving out real-life events, the platforms alone bring revenue on a large scale.

They track what you watch, how long you stay, and what you click. This helps them sell ads and sponsorships. The more you watch and interact, the more money they make. Ads will be on your screen most of the time, and not to forget “redeem codes and gifts” in between streams to keep us hooked.

Again, monetization is not only by streaming or selling tickets. There are plenty of things that are tied to the viewership and monetization aspects of esports, one of which is betting, which can be coined as an hidden industry. Well, some might not know this, but these are facts.

How betting is tied to viewership

One of the fastest-growing aspects of esports viewership is the surge in betting. Going by data, the esports industry itself is worth more than $2 billion a year, and there is an estimated $3 billion a year bet on professional video gaming competitions. Massive numbers, right?

It shouldn’t be shocking if you ask me. Esports betting is similar in most respects to typical sports betting. Bettors attempt to accurately predict the outcome of tournaments, matches, or individual rounds. Such is its popularity that many online sportsbooks take bets, including betting sites in the Philippines, where the esports industry is particularly thriving.

What makes esports unique, however, is the integration of betting directly into the viewing experience. There are so many options you can bet on, be it correct scores in matches, handicap bets which let the player add a handicap to one side of a match-up, or even predict the first kills in shooter titles.

How is the industry evolving

While sports like soccer and baseball are extremely well developed, the esports industry continues to evolve. Tournament rules can change year on year as organizers look to increase competition and spectator value.

Games like football have seen the introduction of new technologies like Video Assistant Referees in recent years, but it is rare for any major rule changes to be introduced. For this reason, bettors need to carefully study markets as well as recent data, while also staying aware of competition and game changes.

Even though esports is still a relatively new market compared to traditional sports, it hosts way more matches and tournaments. Because of having more games, there’s no denying the chances of burnout, hence, esports bettors need to look for signs of mental burnout in players and consider that they might suddenly skip a match or drop out of a tournament.

Understanding the industry side of things

Esports is a relatively new market, but it offers plenty of opportunities for bettors. Start by studying the esports market and the sites offering it. Focus on one game since different titles require different skills, even within the same genre.

Choose a game you know, keep up to date with any game changes and tournament rules, and stick to this game for the time being. Esports titles do undergo shifts, where, for example, Call of Duty Mobile’s popularity is fading, so put in wages smartly.

The conclusion is, watching esports isn’t as simple as it used to be. Sure, the thrill of competition is still there, but now there’s a whole industry working behind the scenes to monetize every click, every bet, every minute you spend watching. Not bad at all, but there is surely now more emphasis on marketing.

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