From Megaways to Sports Betting, How has Esports Influenced iGaming?

Esports is a term used to describe playing video gaming professionally at various major competitions across the globe.

Esports events featuring hit titles such as CoD (Call of Duty), LoL (League of Legends), and CS:GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) are now more popular than ever.

Some of the most notable leagues and tournaments are the LOL (League of Legends) World Championship and the Call of Duty League Championship, both of which are helping to shape the gambling industry in more ways than one.

iGaming is a term used to describe the online real money gambling industry, where various socially accepted forms of wagering are legally permitted on licensed and regulated websites, such as sportsbooks, dedicated poker sites, bingo & lottery sites, and casino sites.

On this page, I will focus on how the world of professional Esports is influencing the gambling industry, just like how Megaways fruitys have had a major influence on content design at casino sites.

What is Esports betting?

Esports betting is one of the fastest-growing areas of sports betting and has enjoyed significant growth over the past few years, especially from around 2020 to the present. When I first learned that it was possible to bet on Esports competitions, I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

It was like when I found out that it was possible to bet on the ‘scripted’ WWE. I was intrigued by how it all worked.

However, the more I got into Esports betting and started watching the biggest tournaments, the more I realised how unique and lucrative it could be.

Pro Esports stars take their performances and results extremely seriously, and as a result, betting on Esports tourneys is here today as online bookmakers look to build on the initial interest surrounding Esports and make it more accessible than ever.

It’s highly regulated, just like the real money gambling industry, and there are numerous official Esports organisations dotted around the world.

Just like you must sign up to an online casino when searching for the best megaways slots to play in the real money mode, you must also sign up to online sportsbooks to bet on today’s biggest Esports tournaments.

I’ve found most sites are relatively easy to join, and the sign-up process usually takes less than a minute to complete.

Just like you can play Megaways fruitys from as little as $/€/£0.10 or $/€/£0.20 per spin, you can also place Esports bets from as little as $/€/£0.10 or $/€/£0.20, depending on the market, and depending on the website you have registered a new account with.

For example, some sites let you wager from just $/€/£0.05, while others may only allow you to wager from $/€/£0.50.

In terms of Esports betting markets, things are relatively straightforward. The most popular market is to bet on the outright winner. Don’t forget that in Esports, results cannot end in a tie/draw.

In other words, it’s just a case of carefully examining the odds and implied probability rates before backing which Esports team/player you think will come out on top. Esports betting is just as easy as betting on tennis, boxing, tennis, basketball, and baseball. Well, that’s how I look at it anyway.

In some Esports betting events, you may also find that your online bookmaker allows you to take advantage of handicap betting, which works in the same way it does in any other sport.

In other words, one of the Esports teams will receive a theoretical starting points value, while the opposition must then win that event and get more than the extended points total for you to win your handicap bet. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is.

What are the biggest eSports tournaments still to come in 2024, and what will be contested at these events?

Don’t worry if you have already missed out on some of the biggest Esports competitions so far in early 2024 (January to April) because there are still plenty more to come over the coming months.

Some of the biggest upcoming events I will no doubt be watching and possibly placing a wager on are the following:

• Tournament: ESL One Birmingham 2024. Game(s): Dota 2. Date: April 22-28. Location: United Kingdom
• Tournament: ESL Pro League Season 19. Game(s): Counter-Strike 2. Date: April 23 – May 12. Location: Malta
• Tournament: EVO Japan 2024. Game/Format: FGC. Date: April 27-29. Location: Japan
• Tournament: Mid-Season Invitational. Game(s): League of Legends. Date: May 1 – May 19. Location: China
• Tournament: PGL Wallachia Season 1. Game(s): Dota 2. Date: May 10 – May 19. Location: Romania
• Tournament: Rainbow 6 Manchester. Game(s): Rainbow 6. Date: May 16 – May 26. Location: United Kingdom
• Tournament: DreamLeague Season 23. Game(s): Dota 2. Date: May 20 – May 26. Location: Online
• Tournament: PMSL – Americas Spring 2024. Game(s): PUBG Mobile. Date: May 23 – June 9. Location: China

Others include the PUBG Global Series 2024 Phase 3, the BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024, the Call of Duty League Championships, the PUBG Mobile World Cup 2024, the Riyadh Masters 2024, and the Esports World Cup 2024.

That’s not forgetting the BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2024, the Evolution Championship Series, and the MLBB Mid-Season Cup 2024.

If you want more dates to add to your diary, I can also recommend the MLBB Women’s Invitational 2024, the VALORANT Champions 2024, the Honor of Kings Mid-Season Invitational 2024, and the Free Fire World Series – Southeast Asia Fall 2024, to name a few.

Final note

If you decide to bet on any of these upcoming Esports competitions, stick to playing on licensed and regulated sportsbooks that reputable operators control.

Gambling responsibly and sensibly on these sites is easy, thanks to the many safer gambling tools many of these operators now provide. Some of the tools that I’ve found work best for me and help me stay within my budget are things like session time reminders and win/loss limits.

Other people have said that deposit limits work better for them. Just remember to understand what the odds are trying to tell you before betting, and try to avoid placing too many bets on the underdogs/outsiders. Also, never bet on any Esports events while tired or intoxicated.