Esports are gaining momentum globally as a competitive sport. Its popularity in the betting industry has soared over the past decade, rivalling that of traditional sporting events in terms of viewership, fanfare, and sponsors. A new survey by Business Research Insights predicts that the global industry could be worth $16.21 billion by 2025. The report also projects that the market could be worth $54.03 billion by 2034, growing at an average Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.7%.
Esports Betting Market Growing Globally: Key Details
- The global esports betting market is predicted to reach $16.21 billion by 2025 and $53.03 billion by 2034, signalling a 230% growth rate during the period. Global participation in esports tournaments in the past five years has increased by 45%.
- Roughly 60% of esports bettors globally participate via mobile phones, indicating an affection for mobile gaming. Europe leads the charts in esports betting, accounting for over 40% of global bets, with the UK and Germany at the forefront.
- The top 10 betting operators generate over 35% of the industry’s revenue. League of Legends, Dota 2, CS2, and other games collectively hold 70%, 15%, 10%, and 5% of the market share, respectively.
Predictions on the Global Rise of Esports Betting
According to a Business Research Insights report, the global esports betting market is experiencing rapid expansion. The growing popularity of video games, live streaming from competitive events, and suitable infrastructure for play-offs are the major factors driving growth in this sector.
Analysing from the viewer’s perspective, features such as the growing acceptance of skill-based gaming, disposable income, evolving interests, and the demand for mobile-based games are pushing up the esports betting market. Additionally, growing internet penetration is increasing everyday accessibility to reputable sportsbook providers offering esports as part of their portfolio.
Notable findings from the report highlight trends and factors leading up to the growth projections. The key insights include:
- The global esports market is projected to be worth $16.21 billion by 2025 and $54.03 billion by 2034, indicating a 230% growth.
- Global esports participation has increased by 45% over the last five years.
- Strict government oversight on online betting affects nearly 30% of the global esports betting market, restricting widespread adoption.
- Nearly 60% of sports bettors participate from mobile devices.
- Europe constitutes 40% of global esports betting activity, with the UK and Germany leading the charts.
- The top 10 gaming operators generated 35% of the total esports betting revenue in 2024.
- League of Legends, Defence of the Ancients 2 (Dota 2), Counter-Strike 2 (CS 2), and other games collectively account for 70%, 15%, 10%, and 5% of the esports market, respectively.
The research attributes much of this industry’s success to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the traditional sporting calendar while esports continued to thrive. This allowed punters to wager on competitive games instead of traditional sports. Technological advancements, such as VR, smartphone accessibility, and digital payment systems, also played an important role in promoting esports betting.
Factors Fuelling the Popularity of Esports Betting Globally and Examples from Around the World
The report claims that several factors are contributing to the growing popularity of esports betting globally. Reasons range from the increasing acceptance of video games, greater participation and viewership, and infrastructural development to technological advancements, greater recognition, and higher investments and sponsorships.
Earlier this month, Kazakhstan launched the country’s first women-only esports league. The Female Pro League (FPL) aims to create an esports platform where women can develop their skills, improve global rankings, and compete professionally. Other countries, such as South Korea and Finland, have also taken steps to promote esports betting.
The Korean e-Sports Association (KeSPA) submitted a formal proposal to the government in June 2025 to legalise esports betting in the country. Industry experts believe that esports meet all the criteria required to be inducted into Korea’s regulated betting sector. If the government clears the proposal, it would open a new market to esports betting operators.
The Finnish government is also making steady progress toward opening the domestic gambling market to licensed offshore operators by 2026. This news has sparked widespread activity in the country’s esports betting and skin gambling sectors. Online casinos are expanding their portfolios to keep up with evolving consumer interests.