The Future of Casino-eSports Crossovers

From a business perspective, bridging the online casino and eSports markets will likely prove lucrative in the coming years. According to Rolling Stone , the eSports market is set to rake in over $2 billion in revenue this year. Meanwhile, online gaming is set to balloon to a global worth of over $92 billion by next year.

Clearly, there’s huge money behind both industries. But now that eSports has evolved into a worldwide market, there’s even more interest in the future of eSports-casino crossovers. Now that their intersection seems inevitable, what would a hybrid service actually look like?

Today, playing real casino games at an online casino comes down to knowing where to find reliable brands, quality promos, and a usable interface. As gaming platforms continue to evolve, there are more options than ever before—and they’re developing at lightning-speed.

This correlates to the rise of eSports and the diversification of leagues and teams around the world. Already, casinos have shown interest in helping develop these pursuits with sponsorship deals—but just how deeply will these two industries interact in the near future?

Mundane Connections: Arenas & Advertising

So far, the relationship between casino brands and eSports leagues and teams has been about developing infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, gaming meccas like Las Vegas and Macau are also home to major convention centers, some of which have been repurposed specifically for eSports competitions.

Meanwhile, multiple projects on the Strip have been built specifically with eSports in mind. The Luxor, for example, recently rolled out a 30,000-square-foot gaming hall that will welcome gamers from around the world for major competitions. This helps bridge interest in casinos and eSports organically, as those visiting are likely to take a trip to the tables.

Similarly, major casino brands have also started to sponsor popular eSports leagues, teams, and players in order to boost their visibility. This is a common type of sponsorship in traditional sports, as well. For example, Ninjas in Pyjamas and Complexity, top eSports teams, both have casino sponsors now.

A New Look at Gaming

Clearly, casinos are interested in ‘getting their foot in the door’ with eSports teams and groups early on in their careers. However, the true future of casino-eSports crossovers will come down to actual gaming rather than mundane considerations like advertising. So far, this future hasn’t been fleshed out.

Though some have pointed to loot boxes as proof that gaming and eSports already coexist, loot boxes were designed for a specific purpose. In other words, loot boxes are one facet of a larger storyline and purpose—and they weren’t created with casinos in mind.

A purposeful union between casino games and eSports will be in a new format that draws inspiration from video games and casino titles. So far, the most popular combination includes betting on eSports, but that doesn’t draw on the excitement of classics like roulette or blackjack.

Instead, hybrid games will include elements of accuracy and strategy used in a first-person shooter, battle royale, RPG, or another type of game. Possible releases might even include multiplayer elements to break away from the emphasis of individual play common in casino gaming.

The Future of ‘Gaming’ Culture

So far, the future of eSports and casino games can be chalked up to infrastructural and administrative partnerships, as well as interest in new possibilities for game types. However, there are also a few roadblocks ahead, as eSports remains a ‘young’ industry compared to other entertainment sectors.

The future of gaming culture will be increasingly digital, which bodes well for those waiting on a casino title that includes elements of eSports. However, the reality that sportsbooks are just now moving online in areas like the US and Canada should be a reminder that casinos face red tape when it comes to licensing. This is sure to cause delays for any possible projects.