The Rise of Esports Betting 

Over the years, Esports have become increasingly popular, especially amongst the younger generation. With that said the rise of online games such as Valorant, Mobile Legends and Counter Strike, has piqued the interest of many, leading to more large scale tournaments being held. 

To no surprise, following the remarkable growth of esports, the market for esports betting has also increased. Recent estimates suggest that the market could be worth billions of dollars, with millions of active bettors participating. 

This could be due to: 

Viewership increase-  In the world of technology, live streaming apps such as YouTube & Twitch have fostered a sense of community amongst society, allowing it to become more accessible to the public. Live streaming of major tournaments usually garner massive viewership, allowing viewers to watch the game in real time. 

Youth engagement- With its interesting game play and vibrant graphics, esports have appealed to the younger generation, offering them a topic to engage on amongst each other. Oftentimes, the younger generation would have discussion on forums, talking about the strategies and game play of the groups participating in tournaments.

Diverse betting options-  As esports gains its legitimacy, betting on these events has become more widely accepted. Riding onto the trend, online casinos, particularly in Singapore have also begun offering esports betting options, integrating competitive gaming into their array of gambling alternatives.This mainstream acceptance allows fans to wager on a variety of matches and tournaments, further enhancing their engagement with the esports community. 

In the realm of esports, there are 4 common ways to bet: 

1. Match winners bet: Straightforward as it sounds, this type of bet allows players to just select their desired winning team and place their bets based on how many matches they win. 
2. Tournament winner bet: Similar to match winner bets, bettors can choose their desired team and place their bets on their overall win in the tournament. 
3. Prop bets: Offering a slightly higher payout, prop bets allow members to bet on specifics of the match. For example, players can bet on the first team that scores a kill in the match. 
4. Live betting: Watching the tournament live, online casinos like EU9 offer members the opportunity to engage and place their wages, therefore creating a more exciting environment. 

Undoubtedly, the rise of the esports industry has opened doors for many operators to step up and offer more interesting variations for players, keeping them engaged.