Exploring the Rise of Esports Betting in Asia

The face of sports betting changes day by day, and the biggest development in the last couple of years has been the growth of esports in Asia. Alongside the immense popularity of esports, interest in betting on competitive gaming events has also grown.

Major tournaments and competitive gaming in Asia have attracted huge followings, both live and online, and placing a bet has fit perfectly into the vibrant ecosystem of the spectator experience. In fact, esports is revolutionizing the sports world in Asia, which is impelled by countries like China, South Korea, and Japan.

While these countries have built dynamic gaming cultures and infrastructures respectively for the players and audiences, the continued filling of stadiums in esport events and the great audiences on stream platforms are signals of the great changes in this industry. This growing interest in esports has now translated into a greater desire among fans to bet on the outcomes of the games as part of the gaming culture.

The Growth of Esports in Asia

Esports has become a cultural phenomenon across Asia, spearheaded by the likes of China, South Korea, and Japan. Esports development within this part of the world has been nothing but phenomenal, slowly setting the position as one of the global regions for competitive gaming.

It all began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a time when gaming was starting to move into the mainstream, especially in South Korea. It was in this space that internet cafes, known as “PC bangs,” began coming up to become the haven in which gamers could get together en masse and develop an energetic culture that drives today’s developments.

With the heightened popularity of gaming, South Korea established itself as a powerhouse in the world of esports. This was due to the fact that the government was very quick to recognize it as a promising and real sporting activity.

It was during this time that classic games like StarCraft came forth, becoming a national phenomenon and taking the hearts of millions, which made numerous gamers more popular. Events such as professional leagues and tournaments like the Korean Esports Association, better known as KESPA, and the World Cyber Games showcased top-ranking players and received heavy media coverage.

Such unprecedented growth at that time also led to the growth of esports betting in Korea, where highly enthusiastic fans started placing bets on their favorite teams and players. And with this, it has ended up being part of the esports betting world.

With the early 2010s came a swarm of streaming websites such as Twitch, which significantly brought esports closer to bigger and larger audiences.

One could watch live gameplay, giving fans the ability to interact with gamers while playing. This interactive feature made esports even more popular, letting viewers watch their favorite games with their favorite players from anywhere around the world. 

Over the last couple of years, the esport space in Asia has been gaining ground with contributions from China, Japan, and many other countries from Southeast Asia. More importantly, China has grown into a powerhouse for the esports business due to immense funding for infrastructure and talent grooming.

In addition, this growth of gamers contributed to the sharp rise in playing and watching, establishing a strong community for esports. In China, streaming sites such as Douyu and Huya started to emerge, serving the region’s gaming community and giving a broader view.

Factors Driving Esports Betting in Asia

In the wake of growing traction and popularity in esport, here are factors that contribute to the rise of esport betting in Asia.

• New demographics of bettors

The most potent drive for esports betting in Asia lies in its energetic and youthful population. Esports have opened quite a new demographic to the sports betting world across this continent. With so many people on the continent below the age of 30 years, younger audiences continue to get more engrossed in digital entertainment and gaming.

This means that the younger generation, who were not inclined towards traditional sports betting, gets excited about esports due to its virtual appeal and competitive games. The idea of competitive gaming is strongly appealing to young gamers who are fascinated by the thrill, the skill, and the strategy involved in playing esports.

As a result, it has become one of the most popular current cultural phenomena in Asia, whereby thousands of youths go online to place bets on their favorite games and players.

• Government support and regulations

Different governments in the continent have begun to take notice of the huge economic potential of esports over the last couple of years and have done their bit towards its development as a sport. Most have initiated policies that assist with the development of esports as an industry through funding and infrastructural development.

Such cultural acceptance made esports mainstream and, subsequently, esports betting. This naturally gives the fans the urge to be even more involved in esports through betting.

• Technology advancement 

With rapid advancement in technology, the perfect environment was provided in which esports betting could take place. An increase in the number of streaming platforms, such as Twitch and Douyu, further changed the landscape of esports in Asia.

These platforms were used to watch the game live, interact with players, and engage in chat. Such engagements gave rise to communities that have a push for staking on the results of the matches and events. This betting on matches is so exciting as it brings a whole new level of involvement for the fans.

• Integration into traditional betting platforms

The integration of esports into traditional sports betting platforms in Asia has significantly improved its accessibility. Established betting platforms have widened their offerings to include esports, and thus allowed fans to place bets within platforms they are familiar with.

This convergence makes life easier for bettors, who can utilize their existing accounts and their knowledge of traditional betting to dive head-first into the world of esports.

• Increased sponsorship and investment

This huge inflow of sponsorships and investments legitimized the esport industry and gave it greater exposure. Now, major brands across the continent of Asia are coming forward to sponsor tournaments, teams, and events to give more prestige to the sport of esport.

This funding ensures higher quality in the competitions and draws more viewers, increasing the number of potential bettors. With esports achieving mainstream status, there has been an increase in the rate of betting.