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In the last decade there has been a major cultural shift in the entertainment industry. Esports has grown from a niche interest to an international phenomenon, attracting millions of fans, and generating billions in revenue. The rapid growth of gaming has transformed it from a hobby into a profession, and has also cemented its place in the mainstream. It has challenged traditional sports as well as revolutionized the entertainment industry.
Electronic sports (also known as Esports) has grown into a thriving industry that includes competitive gaming, live event sponsorships, media coverage and a growing fan base. Esports has the potential to redefine the meaning of being a spectator or participant in sports and entertainment as technology improves. Esports is a powerful force in the gaming industry and society. It has a similar structure to traditional sports leagues with professional teams, stars players and dedicated fan communities.
In this roundtable discussion, European Gaming interviewed Kevin des Lauriers CEO of J3STER and Kirill Neksasov Product Officer at BETBY in order to explore the rise and impact of esports. They examined the factors that have led to its explosive growth and explored the potential it holds across industries. Understanding the transformational power of esports as well as the incredible journey it has taken so far gives us insights into this phenomenon which continues to reshape the entertainment industry, challenge social norms, and capture a new generation of fans.
What is the impact of the rise in esports on the way that people play games?
KDL Globally, arenas are being built to attract fans of esports. There is also a growing number of LAN events around the world. Both competitive players and casual gamers are forming teams to participate. There are more smaller sponsors organizing tournaments and new leagues for every possible game.
KN There is an increase in viewers that follow certain teams or particular disciplines within esports. This could be soccer, ebasketball, or any other sport they enjoy. This engagement is what ultimately sparks viewers to participate, by following in the footsteps their favourite esports athletes, becoming involved at a amateur level, and engaging with esports they enjoy.
Influencers often represent esports. What is the impact of these figures on the industry?
KDLIn our industry, influencers have a lot of power. Popular players can find and point out exploits within games, which in turn forces game publishers to release more patches and fixes. Publishers are also eager to introduce new features in order to keep influencers engaged and happy. Otherwise, they run the risk of them moving onto the next big thing.
Community managers are working closely with game publishers to offer influencers gifts, such as card packs, skins, and in-game content. It is important to win over these influencers in order to gain a positive response from the esports community.
KNIn several industries, influencers have become more prominent, gaining trust from audiences and influencing trends. The esports world is no different. Whether they are streamers or players with a large following, these people are all the same. These figures can have both a positive and negative impact.
Influencers who enter the world of Esports to gain quick fame and generate hype without any esports experience or passion can negatively impact the development of the sector. Passionate fans will not engage with this approach if they don’t enjoy the content or do not understand the complexity and depth of the esports.
It can also reduce the quality and quantity of new competitors. Others may use their fame to promote events or products that are not in line with the needs and values of the esports scene. It can also lead to a negative impression among fans.
What is the main reason for players and influencers alike to become involved in esports.
KDL The majority of influencers (or ex-pros) are professionals, which makes the relationship similar to that between classic sports commentators. They teach us how to be better than these “new players”, and what we should strive for – or just admire.
Pro esports athletes are not as well known as those we knew from classic sports. Influencers often host events to help their fans learn more about the teams, players and tournaments. This allows newcomers to become involved.
KNCompeting at a high level and doing something that you are passionate about is not to be underestimated. Esports participation, as a player or an influencer, is a long-term investment, not just a short-term one. This is one of the key reasons to get involved in esports, because it is filled with passionate people.
A career that lasts for a lifetime can be achieved by being fully committed. You may also have the opportunity to compete in professional competitions and create your own personality and brand.
How do you see yourself pushing innovation in the esports sector?
KDLOn the surface, J3STER offers everything Twitch viewers and influencers could want – community engagement, and monetization. We create lines for each Twitch influencer, based on the match data. The odds are unique to that particular influencer and community.
Our mission is for influencers to be able to monetize their content without having to do any additional work. J3STER takes care of all the work with seamless API integrations. Influencers sign up using their Twitch accounts, connect their game data via our publisher API connections and then send out the link to their viewers. The entire process takes less than a minute.
Viewers have the option to tip directly through J3STER instead of through Twitch. Each bet they place through J3STER allows them to tip the streamer. When there is a wager on the table, viewers are more invested in the match of their influencer.
KNBetby has innovated the esports sector since its conception. Our journey began in esports when we launched the Betby.Games Project, a project that offers bettors a unique way to wager on esports’ most popular disciplines. It is available 24/7 and minimises human error.
Our trading department is a great asset to our brand, as many of our staff are esports enthusiasts themselves. They are constantly searching for unique and new markets, tournaments, and ways to expand our offerings. BETBY is the first company that offered its customers markets for the Pokemon UNITE Championships, Team Fortress 2 or Trackmania.
It is worth highlighting the Betbuilder as one of the latest releases. This product allows you to place combo bets on a single game and has gained popularity among esports enthusiasts due to its exciting nature.
What is your prediction for the future of Esports?
KDLMarketers are no longer able to resist or oppose esports. I think that in the next five to ten years, more people will watch an esports event than the Superbowl.
It is also possible that esports could soon be attracting the same level of energy as the World Cup – but to do so, influencers who have the required reach and power will be needed. What game will be the main event? Which game will be the headliner? Call of Duty, with its huge popularity in recent years, is another contender.
If gamers and influencers in the esports sector cannot agree on a headline game to give the industry an “identity”, everything will be lumped under the term “esports”, which could limit its potential. Evolution is needed, and it will happen quickly.
KN The esports sector will continue to grow, and it is certain that the industry will become more professional. This will be a shift in the betting industry to a professional relationship, whether it’s obtaining broadcasting rights or using data.
As participation in esports increases, events will be more thrilling for spectators and fans. It is also amazing to see the development of production standards as tournaments progress. I also expect a strong expansion of mobile esports, which will broaden the audience as well as help to create some exciting new disciplines.
