From Casinos to Esports – The Convergence of Gaming and Esports
Within days of starting up their businesses, casino gaming and esports quickly realized they can mutually benefit each other. Casinos could increase their appeal to younger audiences by sponsoring esports teams or events; vice versa.
Brick-and-mortar casinos are increasingly providing esports betting options at their locations and creating dedicated esports arenas, like the HyperX Esports Arena at Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.
Sponsoring esports teams
Casinos have shown an increased interest in sponsoring esports teams to reach a younger demographic. Esports share many characteristics with traditional sports such as competition and teamwork; it also attracts passionate fan bases who are willing to spend significant amounts to watch their favorite teams compete – however casinos must take caution not to promote gambling-related products to minors as this could potentially trigger gambling addiction.
One worry regarding esports sponsorship is its potential to promote gambling among young gamers, since tournaments are usually broadcast to a large audience and some gamers use in-game items as wagers, potentially leading to gambling addiction or other problems. Some companies have responded by creating partnerships focused on local, easily measurable partnerships – for instance PC manufacturer MSI has teamed up with French esports team K Corp so as to reach dedicated audiences for regional offerings and products.
Creating dedicated esports spaces
Esports (competitive video gaming), or Esports for short, has gained increasing prominence. Esports teams, made up of both professional and amateur gamers who participate in tournaments to play different video games are becoming more prevalent each year. While these video game fans don’t wear cleats or helmets to show their love of their video game of choice like an NFL team might, their passion remains just as intense for what they love to play!
An effective esports space requires more than PC stations and large monitors; it demands multipurpose layout, turnkey production and broadcast equipment, knowledgeable staff and multidisciplinary facilities management expertise. Primary stakeholders should be included early on in the planning process so they have an in-depth knowledge of power requirements for PCs as well as audio-visual/broadcast layout requirements.
These spaces may be standalone – like Arlington’s Connection City Eplex – or integrated into existing structures, like gyms and conference centers. College campuses also often use them, creating a new avenue for recruiting and sponsorship opportunities. With an expected revenue of $1 billion this year and reaching over 443 million viewers globally, this industry is flourishing quickly.
Creating esports tournaments
Esports industry is expanding at an extraordinary rate. While some may consider it childish hobby, its true that many events are highly competitive and entertaining. Furthermore, their events draw in large audiences willing to spend money for betting services or other related services.
Esports includes more than just broadcasting; it also encompasses other revenue streams, including fantasy (with pro gamers), item marketplaces and merchandising. Esports has attracted major players from the public market such as Tencent and Activision Blizzard – both own shares in Riot Games and Overwatch respectively.
Esports differs from traditional sports in that developers own all intellectual property rights for their games and thus regulate how they are used, including who can play or watch them, how the game is distributed, and whether dedicated servers are necessary to prevent high latency levels that make professional matches unplayable.
Creating esports betting sites
Esports, or Electronic Sports League (esports), is an expanding industry which features competitive video game tournaments around the world. Esports competitions draw players from around the globe and have garnered professional sponsorship. Their popularity has led to growing concerns over gaming addiction, which may become an issue for certain individuals. Recognizing signs of gaming disorder as well as offering resources that assist esports gamers experiencing difficulties are crucial parts of keeping this sector thriving.
Gambling on esports can be done both with cash and with virtual items known as “skins.” The latter are earned or purchased in video games and used to place bets on various outcomes, including esports matches. Skins gambling is particularly popular with younger people and seen as more casual form of betting; several newer esports betting sites now provide this form of wagering while some casinos now accept cryptocurrency payments as payments for bets placed using these items.