eSports betting has really been coming into a league of its own over the past few years, going from a relatively small market, to one of the most popular gambling markets in the world. Following the onset of COVD-19 related cancellations of virtually every sporting event around the world, sportsbook makers have turned to this novel industry in a bid to keep their heads above water.
Late last week, this relatively young market got a rather welcome helping hand from the Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) as it approved eSports betting on four different leagues from around the world. This is a huge deal for American sportsbooks and it will give many Americans a fresh way to bet during these tough times.
More Games for Punters to Bet On
If you’ve been flicking through the markets on sportsbook providers from around the globe in the last month or so, there’s a good chance all you’ve seen is rather obscure markets, such as Belarusian soccer, Nicaraguan basketball and a few Ping-Pong games.
Thanks to this fresh round of approvals from the Nevada GCB, we will now start to see sportsbooks in the US listing some of the biggest eSports events, such as Overwatch League, League of Legends European Championship and the North American League of Legends Championship.
As a rather welcome addition for console fans, the 2020 Call of Duty League is now also available for wagering on.
A Huge Boost for eSports Betting Sites
Until now, eSports has been a relatively small market for sportsbook makers, but this new-found popularity has thrown it into the spotlight. Sportsbook makers from around the world have noticed an uptick in wagers placed on eSports, and with the new addition of four new leagues, we can only expect this popularity to grow.
The addition of the 2020 Call of Duty League is a rather huge boost for the industry, as punters looking to get some action while traditional markets are baron finally have a game to bet on that they have some sort of connection with.
The Call of Duty franchise has been around since 2003, compared to League of Legends launching in 2009. A lot more people understand the Call of Duty franchise and are therefore more likely to start placing wagers on this particular eSports league.
Fortunately for Bitcoin bookies, eSports is not a new market and you can expect to find a more complex range of bets available. Bitcoin bookies have hosted markets for eSports for a number of years, meaning they’re best suited for this new uptick in demand, with many traditional bookies turning to Bitcoin bookies for guidance and advice on how to handle this relatively young eSports market.
Can We Expect More Leagues to Be Added?
Outside of the US, there are wide markets available in the eSports category, but inside the US, punters are rather limited with their options. Given that the Nevada GCB has expanded its eSports gambling regulations already after introducing them only a month ago.
This is an incredibly positive sign and we believe that we could see more leagues added in the months to come, especially if COVID-19 keeps other sports off of the sportsbooks.
While no more leagues are confirmed to be added in the future, there’s a very strong chance we could see more added as we head into the summer months.
This is a huge moment for eSports and if all goes according to plan, we could see eSports sportsbook makers recording huge boosts in eSports related turnover. If you’re looking to get into eSports betting, it’s well worth checking out some of the best eSports sportsbook betting platforms – there’s nothing better than a free bet or two, is there?
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