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When you hear the word betting, it’s rare that video games come to your mind as the first thing. You will most likely think about football, rugby, hockey, horse racing or basketball. These traditional sports dominate the markets. However, over the last few years, a new betting category has been coming up speedily: esports betting.
Betting on popular video games, once a niche industry, is quietly becoming a multi-billion dollar industry. Statista estimates that the size of the esports betting market will reach US$2.8 billion in 2025. Additionally, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.47% between 2025 and 2029 to reach a projected volume of US$3.5 billion.
This rapid growth reflects how gamers and fans alike increasingly view esports as more than just entertainment. To bet on matches now mirrors the excitement of traditional sports wagering. But what is leading to this meteoric rise?
Increase in streaming and viewership
The explosion of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming have a crucial role in the growth of esports betting. As of 2025, Twitch boasts over 240 million monthly active users, with 30 million logging in daily. More than 2.55 million users tune in to watch the live games simultaneously.
These platforms live stream major esports events and create a channel where viewers can engage in real-time, discuss and bet on various games. Top-tier tournaments like The International Dota Championship or the League of Legends World Championship often attract many followers, both in the live arenas and on the streaming platforms.
During these tournaments, the games are fast-paced and interactive. Whereas traditional forms of betting would focus on fixed outcomes, esports bring about a lot of dynamism and interactiveness. Players will bet on small aspects of the game, e.g., which player makes the first kill or which team is the first to take over a tower. As viewership increases on the streaming platforms, so does the rate of betting.
The influence of streamers and content creators
The role of popular figures in the esports community cannot be taken for granted. Popular players and streamers have a big influence on their audiences and can easily sway them to bet on different games. These influencers connect with betting platforms by obtaining sponsorships or personal endorsements. With this, many have influenced many fans of esports to engage in betting activities.
Some of the popular streamers on platforms like Twitch and Kick that have been influencing esports fans include:
- Luis Fernando Villa Alvarez, aka WestCOL: Dominates the Latin American market focusing on variety gaming esports and gambling.
- Tyler Faraz Niknam (Trainwreckstv): Former Twitch and current Kick streamer known for gambling and gaming.
- Ilyas El Maliki (Ilyaselmaliki): Earned a reputation by showing GTA V and FIFA content.
- Adin Ross: One of the most controversial yet followed streamers on Kick.
- Moe “mOE” Assad: Sponsored by a betting company and focuses on the first-person shooter game Valorant.
- Tom “Syndicate” Cassell: Drew huge audiences to CSGO skins gambling
All these streamers and many more have made a name for themselves in the gaming world and are also making a statement in the betting world.
The influence of social media
Social media is one of the channels that have been affecting virtually all industries. For the case of esports betting, social media platforms have been good for esports betting to grow wings as most betting companies use these platforms to connect with their audience.
The most common platforms among esports lovers are X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Instagram and Reddit. Here, fans discuss various strategies implemented by players, share insights and stay updated on whatever is new on the ground. Since betting companies have great opportunities to connect with potential clients, they make use of these platforms to share betting tips and promote upcoming events. The more esports fans see all these promotions, the more they are intrigued to engage in betting activities.
Various operators incorporate campaigns to increase user engagement. Some of these strategies involve:
- Polls
- Quizzes
- Giveaways
- Promos
The strategies help to drive traffic to the betting sites and also create a communal sense between bettors and operators.
Mobile betting
The rapid increase in the number of smartphones has drastically impacted the esports betting industry. As of April 2025, Exploding Topics submitted that there were over 7.2 billion smartphones across the world. With this massive explosion of smartphones, betting has been increasing due to the increase in convenience. In fact, in 2023, esports betting through mobile phones accounted for more than 60% of the total market.
The accessibility brought forth by mobile phones is unmatched. For instance, betting apps provide live streaming services, instant notifications and in-play betting. Imagine being able to bet while watching the maps unfold. This ease of operation has influenced more esports fans to bet on their favorite games. Games like Dota 2, CS2, Valorant and others have especially been fan favorites.
What does the future look like?
In the coming days, you can be sure that esports betting is going to be an ever bigger thing than it is now. Some statistics even project that by 2029, the market might have grown to over US$ 5.9 billion. With the different growth mechanisms pushing for this massive increase, it will not be a surprise when this market surpasses the said projections.
Frankie Wilde – is a content writer at various gambling sites. Also, he is a passionate traveler and a great cook. Frankie shares informative articles with the world.
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