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Global Esports Betting Monitor: Q4 & FY24

Published

1 day ago

January 29, 2025

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.

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Oddsgate launches 2025 trend guide for the iGaming market

Published

44 minutes ago

January 30, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The post Oddsgate launches 2025 trend guide for the iGaming market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Quick Custom Intelligence and Modulus Celebrate Success at ICE

Published

44 minutes ago

January 30, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of cutting-edge business intelligence solutions for the casino industry, and Modulus, an innovator in advanced gaming system technology, are pleased to announce a successful showcase at the International Casino Expo (ICE).

Throughout the event, both companies met with dozens of current customers and new prospects, demonstrating the latest in AI technology and data-driven business intelligence tools.

By joining forces in the Modulus booth, QCI and Modulus underscored the synergy of their combined technologies, generating excitement among attendees. The live demos highlighted how these next-generation solutions can empower casinos to make data-driven decisions, enhance customer engagement, and streamline operations.

“The energy at this year’s ICE was truly inspiring,” said Marc Attal, COO of Modulus. “Our newest technology received an exceptional response, and our digitalization strategy for slots and tables resonated deeply with clients who clearly saw the benefits of optimization it brings. Showcasing QCI’s solutions in our booth amplified our message and created an immersive experience that highlighted the potential of the cutting-edge AGI55 platform. The excitement and enthusiasm from both existing and prospective clients made this one of our most successful shows yet, reaffirming our commitment to innovation and excellence.”

“It was fantastic to be part of the show,” remarked Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI. “Meeting so many new customers and prospects has sparked a sense of excitement and optimism for what lies ahead for QCI in the global casino market. We are grateful to Modulus for the opportunity to partner in showcasing how our integrated solutions can help casinos operate more efficiently and profitably.”

Both companies look forward to expanding their footprint in international gaming markets, fueled by the success and enthusiasm generated at ICE. QCI and Modulus remain committed to developing innovative technologies that drive real-world results for casino operators everywhere.

The post Quick Custom Intelligence and Modulus Celebrate Success at ICE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

TEAM VITALITY PRESENTS ITS NEW ROSTER VALORANT THROUGH THE LEGACY CAMPAIGN

Published

44 minutes ago

January 30, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

After achieving an exceptional end to the 2023-2024 season, Team Vitality returns with strong European and International ambitions.
Since the start of the season, two superstars have joined the ranks of the Team Vitality roster: Derke and Less, alongside Sayf (IGL), Kicks and Trexx. The club’s new ambassador: Ardiis, will cast their matches all year round. With this team, the goal is simple but audacious: lay the foundations for a new legacy, make history on this new stage and qualify for the VALORANT Champions.
Thus, Team Vitality is preparing to write a brand new FPS game story supported by the LEGACY campaign. And its first Ice & Fire chapter begins today!

Team Vitality proudly presents its VALORANT roster for the 2025 season. After securing a second European place and qualification for the VALORANT Champions 2024 at the end of last season, the team will endeavour to maintain its high standards and continue to shine on the European (VCT) and international scene. The first key meeting for this team is at the VALORANT Bangkok Masters 2025 on February 27th.

With a combination of youth, talent and experience, Team Vitality is proud to welcome two new international talents to the roster, with an already established track record in the game: Finnish-Russian Derke, the Brazilian powerhouse Less, and a new coaching staff.

A FIVE STAR ROSTER TO CONQUER THE WORLD

Team Vitality returns more determined than ever to the VALORANT scene. With two new players joining Kicks, trexx and Sayf (IGL and Team Captain), hoping to win a VCT title. In addition to this brand new roster, Team Vitality also integrates a new experienced coaching staff with the arrival of Faded.

New players and coaching staff

Nikita “Derke” Sirmation (Finnish-Russian) – 21 years old: Former Counter-Strike player who switched to VALORANT. Considered one of the top three duelists of all time, Derke is known for his exceptional skills and decisive impact during matches and dominated the VCT:2023 LOCK//IN and the VCT Masters Tokyo in the same year – a feat never achieved before. With his international experience, Derke is ready to bring his strategic vision and talent to the team.

Felipe “Less” Basso (Brazilian) – 19 years old: A true VALORANT prodigy, Less quickly gained attention with his excellent mechanics and superhuman reflexes. At the age of 17, he won the VALORANT Champions in 2022 and the VCT Americas League in 2023 and is considered one of the best players in his role as Sentinel.

Daniel “Faded” Hwang (American) – 30 years as Head Coach: Faded has already coached within the TSM organisation and qualified for Ascension Finals in Mexico – all in his first year as a head coach! He has proven himself capable of developing talent and achieving exceptional results.

The new 2025 roster now stands as:

Kimmie “Kicks” Lassner
Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel (IGL)
Nikita “trexx” Cherednichenko
Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev
Felipe “Less” Basso

For this new season, the talented Sayf has taken on the key role of IGL within the team. Elected duelist of the 2024 season in VCT, Sayf will have the important task of leading his team to victory.

With the arrival of two additional superstars to the team, Team Vitality sends a strong message: VALORANT is a priority for the club. While the VALORANT Champions will take place in Paris, the club’s homeland, Team Vitality hopes to make an impression at home.

“VALORANT is a vital scene for us. We were keen to strengthen the existing team with even more experienced profiles as we seek performance and aim for excellence. And this season is special: we hope to be able to defend our chances of victory at home, in Paris.” explains Fabien “Neo” Devide, President and co-founder of Team Vitality.

LEGACY CAMPAIGN: AN ICE & FIRE ROSTER [CHAPTER 1]

Team Vitality is embarking on this new season with a clear and unwavering ambition: to write a new legacy on a key FPS game and shine at the VALORANT Paris Champions. To support this, Team Vitality is launching LEGACY, a campaign that will follow the team in three key chapters until the Champions next September.

https://x.com/TeamVitalityVAL/status/1879931306143887621

The first chapter of this campaign begins at the Bangkok Masters on February 27th and will notably feature the two new stars of the team. The campaign will play on the elements of the roster: Derke, a Finnish player, known for his exemplary composure, embodies serenity and concentration. Less, a Brazilian player, with an explosive style of play, flamboyant actions and an energy capable of igniting his teammates. Together, they symbolise a complementarity of qualities essential for the roster’s goal of reaching the top.

VCT BUNDLE VITALITY: PLAY LIKE LESS OR DERKE!

Team Vitality is proud to announce that its official VCT bundle is now available for purchase via the in-game shop. These exclusive bundles embody the club’s unique identity and allow fans to proudly wear Hive’s colours, while supporting the team in its quest for glory on the VALORANT scene.

Each piece has been carefully designed to reflect Team Vitality’s competitive spirit and boundless ambition.

https://x.com/TeamVitalityVAL/status/1876293118762315799

The post TEAM VITALITY PRESENTS ITS NEW ROSTER VALORANT THROUGH THE LEGACY CAMPAIGN appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.