Siim Ühtid, eSsports Trading Manager at Betgenius, spoke to SBC News about how competitive gaming can maintain its position as a primary market after the coronavirus outbreak. And esports seem to be playing an important role in this times of crisis.
“The downturn in global sports coverage is a major challenge for the betting industry. eSports, however, is one area where scheduling remains strong and sustainable, with LAN tournaments being held online. It’s therefore making up a significant proportion of the professional events that suppliers and sportsbooks can cover,” Ühtid says.
Talking about the gamer audience, he states that “the vast number of people playing video games at home recreationally means customers often have a strong grasp of game rules and an appreciation of the skill required to compete at the pro level. Widespread streaming across Twitch, YouTube and various sportsbooks adds to esports’ betting appeal, making it easy to follow the progress of your bet.”
And with no sporting events worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the betting industry turned to eSports looking to keep business alive. The question is whether this is a trend to pass the moment or if it will become a substantial part of the betting offer in the future.
“Most operators already understand the benefits of investing in esports content. The esports betting audience is growing and diversifying relatively fast, so when the traditional sporting calendar resumes, it will absolutely remain a key part of sportsbook strategy,” Ühtid comments.
Betgenius’ expert is also confident in the future capabilities of esports betting. “I firmly believe esports can become a top three betting sport. The fact you can access quality live video footage anywhere in the world, at any time, is a massive plus point. The next step in driving its betting appeal will be greater marketing focus.”
Source: SBC News
