esports
Malta – ESports set to challenge football, tennis and basketball
By Phil - 26 February 2024
Esports is raising its position among top sports by bets in 2023 with the product team of the SoftSwiss Sportsbook believing it is now positioned to take on the top three betting segments of football, tennis and basketball.
Over the past three years, the top three sports by bets remain unchanged, with football, tennis and basketball maintaining their leadership. In contrast, esports has demonstrated a consistent upward trend, progressing from the seventh position in 2021 to the fourth in 2023. Notably, Counter-Strike stands out, claiming the sixth position among the top ten disciplines by the number of bets.
Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SoftSwiss Sportsbook, said: “Considering the rise of esports, we guide our partners to focus on cyber disciplines, engaging audiences beyond traditional betting demographics. Highlighting the cybersports potential for operators, Newzoo’s report projects 640 million viewers by 2025.”
Another notable trend in sports betting, which has remained unchanged for several years, is the consistent growth in bets made from mobile devices. According to the SoftSwiss Sportsbook, 80 per cent of bets in 2023 were placed via mobile versus 70 per cent in 2022 and 68 per cent in 2021. This trend solidifies as players increasingly opt for mobile convenience, especially in live betting scenarios. More importantly, it was mobile devices that contributed 92 per cent to the operators’ GGR.
Mr Kamenetskyi added: “Mobile betting is one of our main focuses in product development. We put much effort into improving our mobile application and mobile website. It is specifically important for locations facing challenges with internet connectivity and regions like LatAm and Africa where internet coverage is still growing.
The SoftSwiss Sportsbook team has repeatedly emphasised shifts in player behaviour around major sports events. Specifically, there was a 10 to 20% drop in online casino turnover, coinciding with the World Cup 2022. This highlights a dynamic wherein a significant portion of casino players redirect their focus towards sports betting based on seasonal patterns. Considering audience preferences, reinforcing casinos with sportsbooks is a logical step.
Mr Kamenetskyi added: “This pattern underscores the strategic imperative for iGaming stakeholders to recognise the synergistic relationship between casino ventures and sportsbooks. Combining these options not only enhances casino appeal but also maintains player engagement, especially during sports events. In this context, it is worth mentioning that the SoftSwiss Sportsbook is compatible with any casino platform on the market.”
