Latest News
Global Esports Betting Monitor: Q4 & FY24
The Global Esports Betting Monitor is a quarterly report developed in partnership with Abios, providing our readers with a holistic snapshot of esports betting trends and activity.
All data is captured from the Kambi network, spanning more than 40 operators in regulated markets across the globe.1
Abios delivers an odds feed with engaging features such as same-game bet builders, player props, and flash markets.
Valorant betting up year-on-year in FY24
- Valorant’s share of esports betting handle nearly doubled on a full-year basis, growing from 3% to 5% between 2023-2024.
- Counter-Strike reached a new apex in the fourth quarter, courting 64% of total betting handle.
- On a full-year basis, Dota 2 handle dropped 4% from FY23; meanwhile, League of Legends’ share grew by 2%, accounting for 26% in FY24.
Gen Z esports bettors outpace Millennials in FY24
- While the average esports fan has continued to age up over the years, Gen Z-aged bettors are entering the betting pipeline in droves.
- Gen Z bettors outpaced Millennials in FY24–making up 44% of betting compared to 36% the year prior.
- Together, customers between 18-43 made up 87% of esports betting last year, while Gen X continued to float between 11-13%.
Prop bets gain traction among Counter-Strike bettors
- Breakout insights show the average age of a Counter-Strike bettor in Q4 was 31-years old; League of Legends, on the other hand, attracted a slightly younger customer (possibly by way of its World Championship event), averaging out at 29-years old.
- Player prop bets, including ‘total kills by player,’ made up 13% of all Counter-Strike wagers in the fourth quarter.
- Live betting accounted for 46% of Counter-Strike betting in Q4; meanwhile only 28% of Valorant wagers were placed in-play.
Shanghai Major, World Championship net close to half of Q4 betting action
- Between the main event and its international qualifiers, Counter-Strike’s Shanghai Major captured 28% of fourth quarter betting handle.
- One of the most-watched esports events globally, the League of Legends World Championship, accounted for 19% of handle in Q4, up from 15% in 4Q23.
- Dota 2 tournaments DreamLeague and PGL Wallachia landed in the top-ten most-bet on events in Q4, collectively drawing 5% of wagering volume.
Trendspotting
Trending up: Riot Games’ temperature to gambling
Riot Games–the publisher behind top games including League of Legends and Valorant–is warming up to gambling.
While other publishers such as Valve and Activision have flirted with betting plenty in the past, Riot Games has long maintained keeping itself at arm’s length.
That changed in Q4 when the publisher revealed it would allow partnered teams to strike deals with Riot-approved betting brands in 2025. There are plenty of stipulations attached, but it’s a signal that Riot’s outlook on gambling is starting to soften up.
There are mutual incentives to do so, though. Esports teams will unlock much-needed sponsorship revenue, while betting operators will have access to what many would consider prime advertising real estate. And of course, there’s the impossible-to-prove-yet-widely-understood belief that betting drives viewership, interest, and engagement back to the rights holders.
League of Legends and Valorant combined made up nearly one-third (31%) of betting handle in FY24 (up from 27% in FY23), and this change in policy may very well drive that figure further up in the coming years as more betting awareness is created.
Trending down: Dota 2
Interest in Dota 2 is waning, and operators are potentially feeling it too.
I was surprised to see that the game’s marquee tournament The International (think: Super Bowl of Dota 2) drew just 3% of wagers last quarter. The downtick was pronounced on a full-year basis as well; Dota 2’s total share of handle dropped to 10% in FY24 compared to 14% the year prior.
The dip could be explained by other additive volume–a boom in new customers or increased betting on other esports–but broader audience trends suggest to me that’s not the case.
The International is a good barometer for interest in competitive Dota 2, and results from last year’s headline event show which direction things seem to be moving in. After setting a viewership record in 2021 with 107M hours watched, ratings have continued to slide. Last year’s tournament viewership was down nearly 50% from the 2021 event, while the 2022 and 2023 editions both came below 70M hours watched each (-38%).
The International’s prize winnings are crowdfunded by players through in-game transactions–in 2021, the event secured a record $40M to be distributed to winners. Since then however, the tournament has seen a 53% average month-over-month decrease in its prize pool–last year’s purse was just $2.5M.
Whatever ground Dota 2 is losing, Valorant seems to be picking up, though. If things continue to trend in this direction, we may see the first-person shooter overtake Dota 2’s position as one of the top-three most-bet on esports next year.
The post Global Esports Betting Monitor: Q4 & FY24 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News
Betting That Works: DATA.BET’s Performance-First Approach to Sports Expansion
We sat down with Otto Bonning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET, to understand the vision behind their expansion from esports dominance into sports, and what this evolution means for operators worldwide.
Why did DATA.BET choose to expand from esports into traditional sports?
Otto: It’s a natural evolution for us. Over the past three years, we’ve built exceptional performance in esports for our clients, and now we’re ready to bring this expertise to the broader market. We have around 150 trading professionals, time-tested models, and proven capabilities – it only makes sense to expand our product offering. This isn’t just an add-on, it’s the next revolution in DATA.BET’s history.
What market gaps led you to develop a unified solution for these betting verticals?
Otto: The market lacks robust sportsbook solutions. Most operators face a choice: either sign up for a complete platform that includes everything from casino to payments, or piece together multiple providers. We identified a massive opportunity for our high-quality, plug-and-play solution that works seamlessly whether you’re a betting operator or a platform provider.
To meet this market demand and ease the integration journey, the DATA.BET team developed a Single Page Application (SPA or iFrame). Its key strengths lie in its flexibility, deep customization options – both visually and technically – and seamless integration.
For casino operators, it’s a simple solution to add quality betting without creating additional pain. It is as simple as adding a new game provider and can be completed in under a month. For betting operators and platform providers, it’s not only an addition of high-quality traditional sports, but also premium esports coverage that will help them earn more. This is a convenient option because they can connect our Odds Feed via API, or our SPA (iFrame) to their platform.
We’re offering a high-quality, personalized solution that really works for both operators and platforms. The achievements that made us a top esports provider – performance, reliability, and ease of integration – now apply to our complete sportsbook offering.
How does DATA.BET differ from competitors when handling both esports and traditional sports?
Otto: Three key differentiators set us apart. First, our technical foundation is built by developers who excel at creating technically complex solutions that are actually easy to integrate and scale for clients. No headaches, just steady performance day after day.
Second, we don’t just provide odds – we create them. Our in-house trading team combined with our data scientists and sophisticated algorithms, delivers consistent, high-performance margins across all sports. We work with official data sources, and our models are continuously tested and improved. This ensures we provide the best coefficients and quality feed.
Third, our betting product suite is comprehensive. Just like with esports, we’re bringing Bet Builder, Widgets, Video Streaming, and full functionality to sports and virtual. It’s not about having separate systems – it’s one unified, high-performance solution powered by our technical expertise, official data, and data science capabilities.
What problems do clients typically face before switching to DATA.BET?
Otto: Integration nightmares are, unfortunately, common in our industry. What we wanted to do was make one product and make it exceptionally high-quality from a technical standpoint, so that integration becomes seamless.
If you’re a casino operator, you can be up and running within 10 days. For B2B integrations, we’ve seen major platforms go live in just five weeks.
Our partnership with NuBet is a great example – they chose us for our broad market coverage, fast and seamless user experience, and a strong feature set, including Bet Builder, Video Streaming, and detailed in-game Widgets. The integration was smooth and collaborative, with both teams working hands-on. As NuBet noted, feature delivery has been rapid, feedback is valued, and issues are resolved promptly, without being left hanging.
The key to success is our integration team – they work around the clock and take an extremely bespoke approach to each client. When our partners are ambitious to go live quickly, we make it happen. The speed ultimately depends on the their readiness, but we remove all the traditional technical barriers from our side.
How do you adapt your solutions for different markets, particularly emerging regions like LatAm?
Otto: Regional differences are significant, from sports preferences to regulatory requirements. Take Brazil, for example. It’s heavily football-focused, which is why we’re enhancing our football content and securing official data rights for major leagues, including the Brazilian Série A and other Latin American competitions.
But here’s what’s interesting: esports ranks among the top three most popular betting categories in Brazil. Since we know how to do esports, combining that with top-tier football coverage creates a perfect solution for the LatAm market. We’re not just translating our product – we’re building it specifically for these markets.
What’s your approach for operators using separate providers for esports and sports?
Otto: We focus on demonstrating superior performance in specific areas. While we respect operators’ existing relationships with other providers, we can showcase our strengths in particular sports and esports disciplines. We’re exceptional at basketball and table tennis, for instance. Our models in these areas consistently outperform the competitors’.
The key is showing operators that consolidating with DATA.BET simplifies their operations and improves its margins and player experience. We work within the frameworks of our partnerships while finding ways to add value that others can’t match.
What’s particularly valuable is feedback from clients who initially were signed for esports, then also expanded to sports, and saw better performance than they had with their previous supplier.
What betting trends are you most excited about, and how is DATA.BET preparing?
Otto: The continued growth of live betting is transforming our industry. Players demand more engaging, responsive experiences – everything needs to happen in real-time. This is where our esports heritage gives us an advantage. Esports taught us that speed, accuracy, and synchronization are non-negotiable.
We’re building products where odds and game statistics visualization are timely matched. There’s no tolerance for a broken streaming feed with 30-second delays while odds update faster – that ruins the betting experience. Our unified approach ensures everything works together seamlessly. Widgets, Video Streaming capabilities, extensive markets – all synchronized and working as one cohesive system.
What’s the core message you want operators to understand about DATA.BET?
Otto: Simple: Betting that works. Stress-free, hassle-free, high-performance.
We deliver a fully functional, customizable sportsbook solution that adapts to your needs. Want to launch a new brand? Easy. Expanding to new markets? We have templates ready. Need to change your entire look and feel? It’s just a few clicks.
Our promise is steady performance, day after day, with all the tools you need to succeed. In an industry full of complexity, we’re the solution that works.
DATA.BET continues to expand its presence globally, with particular focus on emerging markets in Europe and Latin America. Their unified sportsbook solution represents a significant evolution from their esports roots, bringing the same performance-driven approach to traditional sports betting.
The post Betting That Works: DATA.BET’s Performance-First Approach to Sports Expansion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
7777 gaming builds on Italian certification with Octavian Lab deal
7777 gaming has taken a significant step in its international expansion strategy by partnering with Octavian Lab. This strategic alliance reinforces the company’s commitment to establishing a strong presence in regulated European markets and marks a key milestone in its international growth plans. Through this collaboration, 7777 gaming’s certified portfolio of innovative online casino titles will be seamlessly integrated into Octavian Lab’s advanced aggregator called Hub Casino, making the games accessible to a wide network of licensed Italian operators.
“Partnering with Octavian Lab is a landmark moment for 7777 gaming,” said Elena Shaterova, Chief Commercial Officer at 7777 gaming. “Italy is a market we view as both strategic and full of potential. Through Octavian Lab’s Hub Casino, our certified games will reach a broad audience of experienced operators and players. We are confident that our titles will bring fresh energy, variety, and innovation to the Italian iGaming landscape.”
The integration includes 7777 gaming’s newly certified Italian portfolio, which features standout titles such as Crazy 100 Bucks, Cash 100, Thracian Treasures and Devil’s Deal Soul for Sale.
Each title is built for strong player engagement, offering features like bonus games, free spins, WILD symbols, multipliers, and buy-bonus options – meeting the demand of Italian players for variety and excitement.
“We are delighted to welcome 7777 gaming to our Hub Casino,” said Andres Galan Chillon, Senior Partnerships Manager at Octavian Lab. “Their portfolio brings fresh and exciting content that aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing innovative, high-quality gaming experiences for operators and players in Italy. We look forward to a successful partnership that drives growth and delivers real value to the Italian iGaming market.”
7777 gaming is an innovative online casino games provider, committed to delivering unique, engaging content that meets the highest standards of compliance and player satisfaction. With a growing presence across Europe, Africa, and Latin America and a strong focus on regulated markets like Italy – the company builds long-term partnerships that drive sustainable growth and deliver localized, high-performing gaming experiences. By combining
regulatory trust, creative excellence, and a passion for innovation, 7777 gaming continues to strengthen its position as a trusted partner in the global iGaming industry.
About 7777 gaming:
7777 gaming is an innovative and data-driven B2B igaming provider, founded in 2020 with the mission to revolutionize and challenge the status quo in the industry by offering 360-degree platform, state-of-the-art online casino games, iLottery, Jackpot, and marketing solutions, draw-based games, scratch cards, and much more.
The product is built by a dedicated team of visionaries with over 20 years of experience. The games and the RNG are tested and compliant in several highly regulated jurisdictions worldwide. Besides, the company achieved and maintained ISO 27001 certification. 7777 gaming holds a gambling license in Bulgaria and Romania and an MGA Certificate to provide its online casino games to these markets.
7777 gaming is already partnering with the leading aggregators and platform providers in the igaming industry.
Contact us:
https://www.7777gaming.com
Social Media:
Youtube
The post 7777 gaming builds on Italian certification with Octavian Lab deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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CEO of MEDIA24 Interviewed: Industry Scams, Business Insights and SEO
Peaky Ads marketing agency has recently filmed a new burning hot interview with Martins Lasmanis, founder and CEO of MEDIA24, on their YouTube channel. It was a really honest and expert conversation filled with insights as the guys discussed what’s really going on behind the scenes of the SEO business.
Main interview discussion points:
- The real iGaming content worth (spoiler: the amounts are six figures).
- Google Core updates survival history of Martins’ company;
- Scams in the industry and why even experience can’t protect you;
- White strategies and Blackhat SEO: where’s the line?
- Secrets to preserving family values while building an international business.
If you wanna dive deep not only into expert topics like Parasite SEO and AI content usage but also learn personal stories about the guest, that’s a must watch! Spoiler — Martins shares how he teaches his children to understand business and financial issues from early age!
Moreover, this interview allows viewers to look at SEO and affiliate marketing via the eyes of a person who builds a business and gains sustainable results.
Subscribe and watch this and more interviews on the Peaky Ads YouTube channel!
The post CEO of MEDIA24 Interviewed: Industry Scams, Business Insights and SEO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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