How Esports Betting Is Becoming The New Frontier In The Gaming Culture
When you hear the word betting, it's rare that video games come to your mind as the first thing. You will most likely think about football, rugby, hockey, horse racing or basketball. These traditional sports dominate the markets. However, over the last few years, a new betting category has been coming up speedily: esports betting.
Betting on popular video games, once a niche industry, is quietly becoming a multi-billion dollar industry. Statista estimates that the size of the esports betting market will reach US$2.8 billion in 2025. Additionally, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.47% between 2025 and 2029 to reach a projected volume of US$3.5 billion.
This rapid growth reflects how gamers and fans alike increasingly view esports as more than just entertainment. To bet on matches now mirrors the excitement of traditional sports wagering. But what is leading to this meteoric rise? Increase in streaming and viewership
The explosion of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming have a crucial role in the growth of esports betting. As of 2025, Twitch boasts over 240 million monthly active users, with 30 million logging in daily. More than 2.55 million users tune in to watch the live games simultaneously.
These platforms live stream major esports events and create a channel where viewers can engage in real-time, discuss and bet on various games. Top-tier tournaments like The International Dota Championship or the League of Legends World Championship often attract many followers, both in the live arenas and on the streaming platforms.
During these tournaments, the games are fast-paced and interactive. Whereas traditional forms of betting would focus on fixed outcomes, esports bring about a lot of dynamism and interactiveness. Players will bet on small aspects of the game, e.g., which player makes the first kill or which team is the first to take over a tower. As viewership increases on the streaming platforms, so does the rate of betting. The influence of streamers and content creators
The role of popular figures in the esports community cannot be taken for granted. Popular players and streamers have a big influence on their audiences and can easily sway them to bet on different games. These influencers connect with betting platforms by obtaining sponsorships or personal endorsements. With this, many have influenced many fans of esports to engage in betting activities.
Some of the popular streamers on platforms like Twitch and Kick that have been influencing esports fans include: Luis Fernando Villa Alvarez, aka WestCOL: Dominates the Latin American market focusing on variety gaming esports and gambling.
Tyler Faraz Niknam (Trainwreckstv): Former Twitch and current Kick streamer known for gambling and gaming.
Ilyas El Maliki (Ilyaselmaliki): Earned a reputation by showing GTA V and FIFA content.
Adin Ross: One of the most controversial yet followed streamers on Kick.
Moe 'mOE' Assad: Sponsored by a betting company and focuses on the first-person shooter game Valorant.
Tom 'Syndicate' Cassell: Drew huge audiences to CSGO skins gambling
All these streamers and many more have made a name for themselves in the gaming world and are also making a statement in the betting world. The influence of social media
Social media is one of the channels that have been affecting virtually all industries. For the case of esports betting, social media platforms have been good for esports betting to grow wings as most betting companies use these platforms to connect with their audience.
The most common platforms among esports lovers are X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Instagram and Reddit. Here, fans discuss various strategies implemented by players, share insights and stay updated on whatever is new on the ground. Since betting companies have great opportunities to connect with potential clients, they make use of these platforms to share betting tips and promote upcoming events. The more esports fans see all these promotions, the more they are intrigued to engage in betting activities.
Various operators incorporate campaigns to increase user engagement. Some of these strategies involve: Polls
Quizzes
Giveaways
Promos
The strategies help to drive traffic to the betting sites and also create a communal sense between bettors and operators. Mobile betting
The rapid increase in the number of smartphones has drastically impacted the esports betting industry. As of April 2025, Exploding Topics submitted that there were over 7.2 billion smartphones across the world. With this massive explosion of smartphones, betting has been increasing due to the increase in convenience. In fact, in 2023, esports betting through mobile phones accounted for more than 60% of the total market.
The accessibility brought forth by mobile phones is unmatched. For instance, betting apps provide live streaming services, instant notifications and in-play betting. Imagine being able to bet while watching the maps unfold. This ease of operation has influenced more esports fans to bet on their favorite games. Games like Dota 2, CS2, Valorant and others have especially been fan favorites.
What does the future look like?
In the coming days, you can be sure that esports betting is going to be an ever bigger thing than it is now. Some statistics even project that by 2029, the market might have grown to over US$ 5.9 billion. With the different growth mechanisms pushing for this massive increase, it will not be a surprise when this market surpasses the said projections.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ichiro cracks jokes, shares wisdom and calls out lone voter in National Baseball Hall of Fame speech
All-Star right fielder and Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. But even as Ichiro was awarded the honor alongside CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, it was his speech that stole the show. Ichiro, who typically gave interviews in his native Japanese throughout his career, opted to speak in English when addressing the crowd in Cooperstown. In his speech, the outfielder shared some wisdom, and dropped plenty of jokes. One of the best parts of Ichiro's speech was a reference to the lone Hall of Fame voter who kept him from being a unanimous selection. At the time, Ichiro joked that he wanted to invite that writer over to "have a drink together" and "a good chat." [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] On Sunday, Ichiro listed out some of his impressive statistics, saying that the achievements were "recognized by the writers." "Well, all but of one of you," he added, referencing the voter, whose identity is still unknown. "And by the way, the offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired." During the speech Ichiro referred to himself as a "rookie" for third time in his career, noting his origins with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan and Mariners, with whom he made his MLB debut at age 27. The outfielder mentioned some of the Hall of Famers gathered on stage for the ceremony — 52 in total. "I am 51 years old, so easy on the hazing," he joked to those Hall of Famers. The humor continued, as Ichiro also got in a good dig at the Miami Marlins, who he played for from 2015-2017. "Honestly, when you guys called to offer me a contract for 2015, I had never heard of your team," Ichiro said, earning a hearty laugh from the crowd. Later, Ichiro got in a stellar, full-throttled impression of Mariners broadcast Rick Rizzs. But much of the outfielder's speech was very heartfelt. In between jokes, Ichiro thanked the Mariners for bringing him to the league, and thanked former pitcher Hideo Nomo, the first Japanese player to relocate to MLB, for his "courage" and for paving the way. Ichiro also offered some advice, speaking about his own mentality heading into the league, and learning to focus on your best self. "If you consistently do the little things, there's no limit to what you can achieve," Ichiro said. "Look at me. I'm 5'11, and 170 pounds. When I came to America, many people said I was too skinny to compete with bigger major leaguers. ... But I knew that if I stuck to my beliefs about preparation, I could overcome the doubts, even my own. "I have been asked, 'what is the best thing you can do for your team?' My answer is, taking responsibility for yourself," he added. "When you go home at night and wonder why you didn't get a hit, or you didn't make a catch, the honest answer is not because a great pitcher beat you, or the sun was in your eyes. It's because there was something you could have done better." Ichiro finished the speech by saying that he had not heard of Cooperstown until he visited for the first time in 2001, and began to understand the scope of the honor. "Being here today sure is like a fantastic dream," Ichiro said, in conclusion. Ichiro, Sabathia and Wagner will now be enshrined in Cooperstown, as well as Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were voted in by the Classic Baseball Era committee.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ichiro cracks jokes, shares wisdom and calls out lone voter in National Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech
All-Star right fielder and Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. But even as Ichiro was awarded the honor alongside CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, it was his speech that stole the show. Ichiro, who typically gave interviews in his native Japanese, opted to speak in English when addressing the crowd in Cooperstown. In his speech, the outfielder shared some wisdom, and dropped plenty of jokes. One of the best parts of Ichiro's speech was a reference to the lone Hall of Fame voter who kept him from being a unanimous selection. At the time, Ichiro joked that he wanted to invite that writer over to "have a drink together" and "a good chat." On Sunday, Ichiro listed out some of his impressive statistics, saying that the achievements were "recognized by the writers." "Well, all but of one of you," he added, referencing the voter, whose identity is still unknown. "And by the way, the offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired." During the speech Ichiro referred to himself as a "rookie" for third time in his career, noting his origins with the Orix Blue Wave and Mariners. The outfielder mentioned some of the Hall of Famers gathered on stage for the ceremony — 52 in total. "I am 51 years old, so easy on the hazing," he joked to those Hall of Famers. The humor continued, as Ichiro also got in a good dig at the Miami Marlins, who he played for from 2015-2017. "Honestly, when you guys called to offer me a contract for 2015, I had never heard of your team," Ichiro said, earning a hearty laugh from the crowd. Later, Ichiro got in a stellar, full-throttled impression of Mariners broadcast Rick Rizzs. But much of the outfielder's speech was very heartfelt. In between jokes, Ichiro thanked the Mariners for bringing him to the league, and thanked Hideo Nomo, the first Japanese player to relocate to MLB, for his "courage" and for paving the way. Ichiro also offered some advice, speaking about his own mentality heading into the league, and learning to focus on your best self. "If you consistently do the little things, there's no limit to what you can achieve," Ichiro said. "Look at me. I'm 5'11, and 170 pounds. When I came to America, many people said I was too skinny to compete with bigger major leaguers. ... But I knew that if I stuck to my beliefs about preparation, I could overcome the doubts, even my own. "I have been asked, 'what is the best thing you can do for your team?' My answer is, taking responsibility for yourself," he added. "When you go home at night and wonder why you didn't get a hit, or you didn't make a catch, the honest is not because a great pitcher beat you, or the sun was in your eyes. It's because there was something you could have done better." Ichiro finished the speech by saying that he had not heard of Cooperstown until he visited for the first time in 2001, and began to understand the scope of the honor. "Being here today sure is like a fantastic dream," Ichiro said, in conclusion. Ichiro, Sabathia and Wagner will now be enshrined in Cooperstown, as well as Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were voted in by the Classic Baseball Era committee.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Pool Corp Stock Could Be the Cool Play in a Hot Summer
Key Points Pool is down a little bit right now, as the economy has made it tougher for people to sink tens of thousands of dollars into building new swimming pools. However, only 14% of its business comes from the installation of new swimming pools. Pool doesn't need a huge market of new construction to be successful. 10 stocks we like better than Pool › Few things are as sweet as resting by the swimming pool on a hot summer day. The cool, refreshing water, the faint smell of chlorine, the warm sun on your face, a cool beverage in your hand -- it's always a good day when you're at a good swimming pool. What's the only thing that could make it better? How about knowing that your investment in a solid stock like Pool Corp (NASDAQ: POOL) will likely make you richer in the long run? Pool is down a little bit right now, as the economy has made it tougher for people to sink tens of thousands of dollars into building new swimming pools. But that's OK for two reasons. First, Pool is still a money-printing machine, even in a volatile economy. Second, one day the pool business will be a good one, and Pool stock will start climbing again. When that happens, you will be glad you bought this stock while it was on sale. So, whether you're a short-term investor or have a long-term horizon, Pool is a buy for me right now. That's why I call it one of my best stocks to buy on the dip and hold. How Pool is making money now Pool distributes and sells outdoor equipment, but it's best known for selling replacement parts and equipment for swimming pool installations. The company has more than 200,000 products and a network of over 2,200 suppliers working in the United States, Europe, and Australia. More than 80% of its customers are builders or service professionals, although the company also has a retail business that accounts for 14% of its revenues. And most importantly, 64% of its business -- nearly two-thirds -- comes from maintenance and repair product sales. Only 14% of its business comes from the installation of new swimming pools. That's an important point right now: Pool doesn't need a huge market of new construction to be successful. And it's doing well. After seeing revenue dip on a year-over-year basis in the first quarter, Pool issued its Q2 earnings report on July 24. Revenue of $1.78 billion was up nearly 1% from the same quarter a year ago. Net income of $194 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $5.17 were up 1% and 3.5%, respectively, from last year. Pool also maintained its 30% profit margin, the same as a year ago. The company, which says it expects tariffs and inflation to increase its prices by 2%, has slightly revised its guidance downward, now stating that full-year revenue will be flat compared to its previous guidance of flat to slightly up. It's projecting EPS of $10.80 to $11.30 versus a previous range of $11.10 to $11.60. Why I like Pool even with lowered guidance For long-term investors, I think Pool is a slam-dunk pick. I love getting stocks when they're on sale, and Pool is down more than 4% this year (although it did jump by 3% after the company issued its earnings report on July 24). However, this is a solid company with a steadily growing dividend and a cash position that increases each year. Pool paid out $92.2 million in dividends in the first half of the year and executed $160.6 million in stock buybacks in the first two quarters of the year. That's perhaps one reason why Berkshire Hathaway, which is headed by the famed buy-and-hold investor Warren Buffett, added Pool stock to its portfolio last year. Buffett and his team never buy on a whim and he has famously said his favorite stock holding period is forever, so you know Berkshire's in for the long haul. This is a stock that pays you to hold it. It's perfect for short-term income investors looking for ways to juice their portfolio or get some extra income from their holdings, or for long-term investors seeking a set-it-and-forget-it stock. The bottom line on Pool This isn't a blazing hot stock that's going to set your portfolio on fire. But it's not going to leave you flat either. Instead, Pool is a solid, undervalued income stock that is going to look like a bargain soon. And Wall Street is just starting to figure that out, as the stock started to move upward after the company's Q2 report. If you're looking to take a position in Pool, an ideal strategy would be dollar-cost averaging -- dividing your investment into four equal amounts and adding to your position over a set period of time, thereby eliminating the risk of short-term volatility. Should you buy stock in Pool right now? Before you buy stock in Pool, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Pool wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Patrick Sanders has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Pool Corp Stock Could Be the Cool Play in a Hot Summer was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
