ESPORTS


The underlying world of esports in Asia


Viktor Block, Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore, and Chief Operating Officer at BETBAZAR, Max Sevostianov, spoke to Rory Kuypers about the presence of esports in Asia and the opportunities that can arise for gambling companies.


Max Sevostianov


PandaScore and BETBAZAR. But, why is the industry so popular in Asia?


Viktor Block, senior sales manager at PandaScore states that the popularity of esports in Asia did not happen overnight. “Esports has been popular in Asia for some time, perhaps more so than in Europe and North America. League of Legends is huge in Asia; in fact, it is the most popular esports title in China and I think there are a few different reasons why it is so popular in Asia. “In countries such as China, Japan, and Korea, there is a strong gaming culture. A love for gaming is evident throughout society, so it is no surprise that esports resonate with these players.


“Gambling is also hugely popular in Asia – you can see that from Asian Handicap Betting and the growing popularity of in-play markets. There is a love for fast action, quick sports, and instant results, so esports align with that culture.”


ith an estimated fan base of around 400 million people, operators should consider the emerging presence of esports in Asia. PandaScore estimated that 57% of esports viewership comes from the Asia Pacific region and the company has highlighted ways that gambling companies can capitalise on its conceived growth.


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PandaScore is a dedicated data and odds provider to develop the esports ecosystem using its infrastructure. With a betting turnover of €480 million plus in 2023, the company also claims to have created the first AI-powered trading team to provide these betting odds to the market, translating information from live streams and live reports which are then used to form match betting odds.


Sharing a passion for esports, BETBAZAR also believes that there is big potential in esports as an industry with a unique dynamic and a passionate fan base. The company has focussed on creating tailored solutions that can easily resonate with esports bettors. The prominence of esports in Asia is catching the eye of operators and providers in other regions, hence the interest of


6 SEPTEMBER 2024 GIO Viktor Block


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