Esports Match Prediction Culture: Why International Operators Are Part of the Conversation

The rise of esports has been a spectacular story for fans, professional players, and punters alike. With the global esports market expected to reach a whopping $10 billion by 2033, many high-profile sportsbooks have integrated esports into their list of betting markets in a heartbeat.

With esports prediction markets, fans are now directly invested in the outcome of a particular match by wagering on their favorite side and cheering them on.

International betting companies have been paying close attention to the rise of esports prediction markets and have become major players in the global esports scene, often sponsoring teams and events to boost their exposure and foothold in a growing and exciting market.

How Esports Betting Rose to Prominence

The global esports market has been largely dormant ever since the mass-market release of video games became mainstream in the 1970s. Most esports circuits were small and fan-organized until the 2010s, when some of the most successful esports titles, such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Dota 2, were released to the public.

Major companies from various industries began to notice this shift in how players consumed digital media and the real potential of a legitimate sport emerging before them.

As capital started flowing into esports teams and events, the betting markets started to explode in popularity.

While wagering on a CS2 match between Team Spirit and Team Vitality is a regular occurrence for the modern esports fan, many legacy brands were initially apprehensive about integrating esports markets into their betting platforms. The fear was that esports betting was a fad that could die out as soon as it had started. However, time has shown that esports betting has only continued to grow, often at a breakneck speed, and hundreds of thousands of fans who themselves sometimes do not even play the games continue to watch esports matches and bet on their favorites.

Betting Brands and Esports Sponsorships

As the esports market continued to grow, major betting brands began to partner up with esports teams to become event and shirt sponsors, which greatly increased their involvement in the professional circuit.

More sponsorship money also meant growing prize pools for even modest tournaments, which further reinforced the growth of the esports prediction markets, as more and more people started tuning in via streams or attending live events at arenas.

Many international betting brands are now involved in the esports scenes of multiple video games, such as Counter-Strike 2, Call of Duty, League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, etc.

Aside from direct involvement, major betting sites offer thousands of esports matches throughout the season, ensuring that esports enthusiasts have numerous options and remain engaged in the long run.

The foreign companies listed by XenaCasino include brands that provide users with access to esports betting and competitive odds, delivering value to more speculative esports fans.

What International Operators Have to Offer

It is no secret that international sportsbooks operate under lax regulations, which allows them to offer more lucrative bonuses and a wider range of betting markets to their users.

As a matter of fact, some of the largest and most recognizable brands in the online betting world are registered in offshore jurisdictions. This allows them to offer a mix of professional sports, such as football, basketball, and tennis, as well as major esports titles like CS2, LoL, Dota 2, and more. This makes international operators very appealing to esports punters, especially those who prefer crypto betting over fiat.

Fan Engagement and Esports Prediction Culture

Due to the unpredictable nature of esports matches, upsets are plentiful, and upsets happen virtually every other day, which makes for some hefty wins and losses, especially for high rollers.

Many habitual punters with appropriate means stream their bets in front of thousands of viewers, as proof of their commitment to their picks.

Responsible Gambling and Ethical Considerations

As with any other form of gambling, esports betting can also veer into dangerous territory if left unchecked, and problem gamblers may encounter even more issues with esports betting, as it also involves skin betting, loot crate unboxings, and other microtransactions and betting features.

For this reason, most reputable international betting sites offer self-imposed wagering limits for habitual gamblers to manage their exposure over a set period of time.

Responsible gambling features are essential for any high-profile international operator to ensure the digital well-being of their users.

The Future of Esports Prediction Markets

Recent news in esports prediction markets has put the industry in an uproar, as Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends and Valorant, has allowed betting sponsors for professional teams in the circuit, which caused the protest of tens of thousands of players and fans alike.

This move means the influence and involvement of prediction markets and betting operators is likely to keep growing in the coming years, especially in major esports titles like League of Legends, Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and others.

While fans and players may be disappointed by this news, the financial stability of their favorite teams depends on outside funding, as even major esports organizations have been struggling for profitability for well over a decade, which puts the future of the entire esports scene in danger, unless stable funding becomes available.