Supplier News
Canada – First Canadian casino to host an eSports tournament
By Phil - 2 November 2016
Elements Casino in British Columbia will be the first casino & racetrack in Canada to host and co-present the inaugural eSports Street Fighter V Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016.
The event will officially launch the Grand Opening of the Elements eSports Lounge, home to all future eSports activities, tournaments and events in British Columbia. eSports is commonly known as electronic sports or competitive video gaming that is played by individuals, teams or professionals and is often accompanied by a large viewing audience. There are five key genres that make up the bulk of video games that are often referred to as eSports: first-person-shooter (FPS), real-time strategy (RTS), multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), fighting games and sports simulation.
“We are absolutely thrilled about this opportunity and ecstatic to be the first casino in Canada to welcome and embrace the eSports culture. I am confident that our dedicated Elements eSports Lounge will deliver an additional entertainment experience for our guests who are seeking another form of leisure or activity,” said Michael Kim, General Manager, Elements Casino.
Elements Casino has partnered with Spawn Point to present the upcoming Street Fighter V Tournament with the prize pool of $1,500. Spawn Point provides a full range of solutions for the burgeoning eSports industry.
“eSports has the ability to attract and entertain an entirely new demographic of casino players,” said Kevin Mercuri, co-founder of Spawn Point. “The opportunity to help introduce eSports to Canadian gaming is a-once-in-a career opportunity for the Spawn Point team. We are glad to play a key role alongside Elements Casino.”
According to the latest research on eSports, it is projected that there will be 145m eSports enthusiasts worldwide in 2017. Research has also indicated that there are nearly as many eSports participants (89m) as hockey fans (94m). The growth and development of eSports has been substantial as the total eSports revenue for 2016 is projected to be $275m in North America.
