Sportsbook operators are adding esports to attract younger audiences and drive more engagement than traditional sports can. Esports brings in younger bettors, encourages more in-play activity based on the live score today, and increases higher-value bets, boosting both retention and handle.
Between 2023 and 2024, betting volume on top titles like Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends grew by 106%, while activity from the same bettors rose by 70%. This shows esports is no longer a niche but a consistent revenue driver and a strategic pillar for operators. Data has proven its value, evolving it from a test product to a top-three vertical.
The value of esports betting data
Esports betting is no longer a “future play” but a current sportsbook reality. Betting volume on the top four esports titles surged 106% year-on-year, with a 70% growth in activity from the same group of bettors. This shows that esports not only attracts new bettors but also encourages existing ones to bet more frequently and at higher values.
For many, esports has become a top-three vertical by handle, alongside football and basketball. To stay updated on the latest matches and results, check out livescore today and never miss the action!
What we learned about esports
2025 has cemented esports’ importance to sportsbook performance. Three signals stand out:
- An essential demographic: Core esports like Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) attract bettors in their 20s and 30s, a group largely absent from legacy sports.
- Deeper engagement: A 70% rise in activity among sampled bettors shows that esports fans are repeat visitors with high lifetime value.
- A core offering: For many operators, esports now ranks just behind football and basketball by handle.
The takeaway is clear: esports is a proven revenue driver reshaping how bettors interact with sportsbooks, much like the popularity of tennis live scores enhances engagement in traditional sports betting.
Esports betting evolution across regions
Global numbers tell one story, but regional nuances are key to designing a growth plan.
- LatAm: This is the current growth engine. Explosive engagement around CS2 and Dota 2 has pushed esports into the top three sports by handle in many markets.
- United States: The U.S. is a sleeping giant. While most operators still focus on traditional sports, smart ones are laying the groundwork for esports, whose demographic pull is too strong to ignore.
- Africa: Mobile-first markets in Africa show huge potential. eSimulators — fast, digital matches based on traditional sports — are a natural fit, bridging the gap between esports and traditional sports.
- SEA and Europe: In these mature markets, the focus has shifted to differentiation through deep market offerings and innovative engagement layers.
Product innovations driving growth
Early esports offerings were just match odds. Today, bettors expect the same depth as any core vertical. Leading operators are responding with:
- Depth and variety: Player-based markets offer more ways to engage.
- 24/7 content: eSimulators like eFootball and eBasketball keep books active during off-seasons.
- BetBuilder: This tool, now live for esports, allows bettors to combine markets within a single match.
- Interactive viewing: Solutions that turn passive watching into active engagement increase session times and betting frequency.
Building sustainable esports strategies
With esports’ place in the sportsbook secured, the focus now is on long-term performance. Three priorities for 2026 stand out:
- Build for scale: Bettor numbers and volume will keep growing. Operators must treat esports as a core product, not an experiment.
- Think beyond odds: Profitability relies on a combination of data, risk management, content, and engagement, not just data feeds.
- Tailor your strategy: LatAm’s growth, Africa’s emergence, and the U.S.’s future potential each require a unique approach.
The gap between early and late adopters is widening. Those who started early are now refining advanced features, while newcomers face a race to catch up.
