Video games and online gaming are part of a multi-million dollar industry with a massive youth population market base. However, more recently, video games has become a new form of online betting in the gambling industry to attract casual video game players into the betting market. Sites take the phrase “I bet I can beat you” and turn it into a real competition where players can compete against each other for real money prizes.

What is video game betting?

Playing video games is a highly competitive platform that attracts a range of ages to partake. This is one of the reasons eSports has already made headway within the betting industry. Now, betting on video games outside electronic sport are becoming increasingly popular across betting platforms like Findbettingsites.

Putting it simply, it is the same as sports betting but on video games and this now goes beyond the eSports industry; from being able to bet on first-person shooter games like Call of Duty to strategy games, battle games like League of Legends and, of course, still sports centered video games.

Loot Boxes

There was the recent rise of ‘loot boxes’ – a video game that many described as a ​form of gambling for the younger generation​. Loot boxes are in-game rewards that offer a randomized selection of items to players who buy or earn them. They involve an element of change similar to gambling. This is definitely one factor for how video games may be influencing subsequent gambling behaviours and might be one way of introducing the younger generation into how video gaming can lead to gambling behaviours and influence these.

eSports Tournaments

eSports has become a feature of many mainstream betting sites for a few years now. eSports events have the ability to sell out stadiums globally just as the real sports games would be seen to do. They have also had increased coverage in mainstream media that has really seen its growth in popularity among gamers and gamblers. This saw the start of gambling breaking into the world of video gaming.

eSports tends to be a temporary feature on sites when the tournaments are approaching. However, sites like bet 365, William Hill and Paddy Power now have permanent eSports features, truly embracing the rise of eSports betting.

Video Game Betting: How does it work?

Today, many betting sites offer an expansive array of games and waging options for you to choose from. When looking for bookmakers or eSport betting sites, some are definitely better than others as to what they offer. For example, sign up perks as well as ability to stream video games live. It works the same as any other betting online so this shouldn’t be too different from what bettors are used to.

With the eSports becoming a multimillion dollar industry with well-renowned teams taking part in major leagues, it is no surprise that video game has increased its presence in the betting industry to now offer more diverse opportunities to place bets against other game genres outside of sports. This could definitely be the new wave of betting behaviour.