Betting on professional gaming has been steadily growing over the past few years and its upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down.
Traditional sports still generate the lion’s share of wagering activity, with competitive gaming viewed as a niche vertical by gambling operators.
However, that perception is changing. Read on as we assess why eSports betting is one of the fastest-growing segments in the online gambling sector.
Betting on eSports is Growing
Betting on eSports is driven by a massive global audience, year-round competition and a generation of fans who engage with sports digitally.
The global eSports market was worth around $2.13 billion in 2024, but has been forecast to reach approximately $7.46 billion by 2030.
The industry is benefiting from the new-age streaming audience, bigger commercial investment and more captivating tournament set-ups.
Reputable betting companies have quickly seized the opportunity, offering odds calculators and other key betting tools to customers.
The wagering requirements tool built by BettingTop10 is a popular example of an innovative tool used to help punters make more informed decisions.
This calculator estimates wagering requirements from three inputs – bonus amount, wagering multiplier and whether the requirement applies to the deposit and the bonus, or just the bonus.
With eSports betting expected to climb to over $40 billion by 2030, digital tools of this nature will become increasingly important to punters.
Why eSports is Booming
Major titles such as Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Valorant, Dota 2 and Mobile Legends stage tournaments across the year, ensuring there is always something to bet on.
The digital nature of eSports has made it perfect for live betting, with punters seizing the opportunity to wager on rounds, objectives and performances.
Industry observers have noticed that betting activity increases when major titles are being played.
There was a considerable increase in betting volumes in 2025 during tournaments for Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Valorant, Dota 2 and Mobile Legends. Intriguingly, the next major catalyst may be just around the corner.
The eSports World Cup is gradually establishing itself as the premier competitive gaming event, and the 2026 edition will be the biggest yet.
Organisers have announced that, for the first time, the tournament will be held outside of Saudi Arabia. It will be staged in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23.
Over 2,000 players, 200 clubs and participants from more than 100 countries will head to Paris to showcase their talents across 25 game titles. They will compete for a prize pool of over $75 million.
Paris Event Could Transform the Landscape
The move to Paris could be especially significant for eSports betting as it places the event at the heart of Europe’s lucrative gambling ecosystem.
Paris offers easier travel connections, better accessibility for European fans and media, and a more convenient time zone for some of the industry’s major wagering markets.
Record-breaking attendance, better media coverage and broader mainstream visibility will contribute to unprecedented levels of betting engagement during the seven-week showpiece.
Accessibility is important when betting. The easier it is for sponsors, media outlets and operators to engage with an event, the larger the surrounding wagering ecosystem tends to become.
Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world and already has the infrastructure to host behemoth international sporting events such as the 2025 Summer Olympic Games.
There is also an interesting overlap between eSports audiences and bettors. Competitive gaming fans are digitally savvy. They are used to live data and watching events on streaming platforms.
These characteristics make them naturally open to live wagering and other forms of micro-betting that bookmakers offer.
The future outlook is undoubtedly positive. Researchers believe eSports betting will continue to record double-digit growth numbers for the rest of the decade.
With publishers investing in competitive gaming, sponsorship revenue grows and international events become larger and more accessible. Betting activity and audience numbers will increase in tandem.
The eSports World Cup in Paris may ultimately be remembered as the moment when competitive gaming finally crossed over into the mainstream.
