Is Esports Still a Thriving Market?

The worldwide esports industry has undergone a huge transformation with the emergence of sophisticated tournament infrastructure and professional leagues. 

Let’s take a look at the world of esports and how it is being affected by changing technology, regulations, and streaming platforms.

 Streaming Platforms are Integral

Leading streaming services such as Twitch have become cornerstone platforms for the industry and dominate the esports streaming landscape, capturing 84% of the industry’s market share in 2024. 

With an approximate average of 2 million viewers per event and 26.5 daily visitors, Twitch’s supremacy can be attributed to its specialised gaming-focused features and exclusive partnerships with major esports tournaments and leagues, making it the go-to platform for esports content. 

YouTube Gaming, in leveraging its massive existing viewer base and refined content delivery infrastructure, has expanded its footprint in the esports market through exclusive streaming rights agreements with leading gaming publishers and tournament organisers.  

The platform's focus on upgrading its live streaming features and implementing gaming-specific tools has also strengthened its position as a major player.

 Esports Betting: A Growing Market  

When it comes to esports gambling, it's clear that Gen Z leads the way. In 2024, the 18 to 27 age group made up 44% of all esports bettors, which is up from 36% in 2023. Older millennials and the 28 to 43-year-old age group account for 87% of the betting audience.

Overall, the esports betting market has been growing steadily, with total revenue reaching $2.5 billion in 2024 and expected to rise to $2.8 billion in 2025. Should the trend continue, the market could surpass $3 billion by 2026.

2024 saw around 74.3 million participants in online esports betting, up from just 21.9 million in 2017, with audiences in the US making up a significant portion. 

The average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected at $34.90 in 2025, up from $33.59 in 2024. More importantly, ARPU reflects the total annual revenue per user, while individual bet size tells us how much people typically stake per wager. 

Esports online betting activity shows a higher per-bet value, averaging €29, compared to €5 in football, meaning esports bettors may place fewer bets overall, but with more confidence or risk per stake. 

 Opting Not To Bet

While esports is a popular way to consume gaming media, there are still many fans who choose not to get involved in betting. 

In 2024, 33% of people were unsure about how betting works, and 15% were worried about match-fixing. A further 10% believed betting could hurt the esports scene.

It’s clear that a portion of the audience is hesitant due to trust issues, knowledge gaps, or concerns about the industry itself. 

 Which Games Come Out on Top?

Here’s a quick look at the most popular games in 2024:

• Counter-Strike was the clear favourite among bettors in 2024, comprising 64% of the total betting in Q4, with the major contributor being the Shanghai Major, which accounted for 28% of all Q4’s betting action. 
• League of Legends was also prominent, accounting for 26% of all bets in 2024, with the World Championship alone bringing in 19% of Q4’s betting volume. 
• Valorant, while still smaller in comparison, is growing quickly, with its market share growing from 3% to 5% year-on-year.
• Dota 2, in contrast, saw a decline in interest, with its share falling from 14% to 10% annually.

League of Legends and Counter-Strike continued their domination across every esports betting app, but Valorant was beginning to make its mark in 2024.

 Live, Prop and Niche Bets

In the last quarter of 2024, 46% of Counter-Strike bets were placed live while the match was being played. For Valorant, the number was lower, with 28% of bets made in-play, showing more fans are getting comfortable placing bets as the action unfolds. 

Another trend is the rise of prop bets, more specific wagers like guessing the number of kills a player will get. In 2024, 13% of CS bets were props, showing bettors want more detailed options. 

Bet builders and flash markets are some of the newest tools most likely to be rolled out on esports betting websites in 2025, allowing users to create custom bets or super quick wagers during key moments, which could change how players approach betting on esports in the future.   

 Revenue Statistics by Country

Take a look at how different countries embraced esports betting in the last year.

• India: The Indian esports market generated revenue of $67.8 million in 2024 and is expected to reach $307.2 million by 2030 with a CAGR of 28.4% expected from 2025 to 2030.
• Canada: The esports market in Canada is expected to reach a projected revenue of $559.6 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 24.5% expected from 2025 to 2030. 
• UK: The UK esports market saw a total revenue of $91.7 million in 2024 and is expected to reach a projected revenue of $341.4 million by 2030. A compound annual growth rate of 24.3% is expected of the market from 2025 to 2030.
• Spain: Spain's esports betting market revenue is projected to reach $91.5 million in 2025 and may demonstrate an annual growth rate of 4.32% between 2025 and 2029, resulting in a projected market volume of $108.3 million by 2029.
• Philippines: In the Philippines, revenue in the esports betting market is set to reach $18.5 million in 2025. Revenue is expected to exhibit an annual growth rate of 4.34% (CAGR 2025-2029), leading to a possible market volume of $21.9 million by 2029. 

Whether you’re in Europe, Asia or North America, it’s clear esports betting stats are pointing to the same thing: that esports is a growing, global industry that's just getting started.

Esports betting is growing fast and thriving, and it's no longer just for hardcore fans. More people are choosing to bet on esports, driven by betting trends like real-time odds, new formats, and the increased frequency of global events streamed live.