Speculation about the future of esports has seen some mixed opinions in recent years, but most people seem to agree that the trend is generally moving forward toward a world where esports are even more ubiquitous.

Nobody can say for sure where esports will end up, and what shape the industry will take, but there are some strong hints at the growth that we are currently seeing, and the way esports are growing.

A Bigger Gambling Scene

Gambling in esports has become much more popular as there are more people watching the tournaments unfold and plenty of companies allowing bettors to place esport bets on many different tournaments. From LoL to Fortnite, there are a lot of different esports where people want to make predictions about who might come out on top of the tournament. Just like traditional sports, plenty of people like to study the form and try to call a winner.

As well as more gambling sites, we’re already seeing more coverage of the events in the form of added markets for people to potentially bet on. People may bet on the head-to-head games throughout a tournament or they may bet on the overall winner of the tournament. You can compare the gambling scene to other sports like football and basketball, with even more markets opening up all the time.

More Women Participants

There are many campaigns that are trying to get women to join the world of esports, as it is such a male-dominated industry right now. There are studies that suggest the number of women participating in esports is growing, and this could soon be seen in the competitive scene.

Some other sports like flag football are also leading the way and people are trying to build more hype around these sports in which women participate a lot more. Society values equality and diversity, and rightly so, which means that in the future it is likely we will see a push for more female players to join in and even reach the very top of the esports world.

It is not like there are no women in esports, as famous player Scarlett has seen winnings of nearly $500,000 playing Starcraft II. Role models like Scarlett could help the future of the sport.

Esports at the Olympics?

The Olympic Committee quickly saw the potential for esports and has made some steps to include esports at the Olympic games. 

The Olympic Esports Series 2023 was a virtual sports competition that was streamed via the Olympics website.

There were some top professionals involved, but some people weren’t too excited about the choice of games, as many of the biggest esports titles were ignored, possibly because of the fact that they included themes that the Olympics didn’t want to be associated with.

In the future, though, it seems likely that the world moving more to this digital way of playing will encourage the Olympics to include esports as one of their events, possibly as a separate event from the main Olympic Games.

More Television Deals

Television feels like an outdated medium to some people who watch esports, and many of the most tech-savvy people are more likely to watch via their mobile devices or computers, but it is still a relevant market as millions of people watch sports on television.

Channels have launched on platforms like Roku that give 24/7 coverage of esports games and tournaments, providing another way for people to tune in and watch the games as they happen. Television deals are complex to put together but it is likely that there will be a lot of different methods for people to watch in the future, including on their television screens and streaming platforms. All of this will contribute to the growth of the industry.

Niche Games Getting Esports Tournaments

In the years gone by, the massive games that are out there have been the main titles that have seen tournaments watched by thousands, but there is a sign that some of the lesser-played games still have an audience and can still provide players with a way to make some money. Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, LoL, and CS2 are still some of the kings when it comes to money in esports, but there is room for some of the smaller games. For example, Age of Empires 2, a game originally released over 20 years ago, has a niche following that has led to tournaments with fairly respectable prizes. We’re not talking millions, but it is still a way to boost the professional scene.

Conclusion

There are always ups and downs in the world of esports and gaming, and some games that are more popular than others, but in general the industry is making massive strides, and we’re seeing arenas built and big tournaments with thousands of viewers. The future looks bright.

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