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How Esports is a real sport, and must not be clubbed with iGaming, Fantasy, or other gaming categories
The tremendous rise of competitive gaming is the greatest phenomenon of the 21st century. Once emerged as a hobby for many, competitive gaming gradually turned into a very professional and disciplined system.
Pandemic 2020 proved a significant year for Esports both in terms of increased engagement and its growing acceptance. With more time in hand being indoors, gaming became a viable option for entertainment. This amazing growth introduced competitive gaming to an entirely new breed of highly engaged audiences. Player participation in competitive gaming along with viewership for Esports events saw a significant spike.
As per statistics, Indian Esports accounted for around 4% of all online gaming users and 9.13% of aggregate revenue in FY20. In 2020, Esports viewership increased to 17 million and is projected to reach 85 million by 2025. India’s esports industry is set to quadruple in size to Rs 1,100 crore by 2025 from Rs 250 crore at present—clocking a compounded annual growth rate of 46%, according to an EY report.
Tarun Gupta, Founder, Ultimate Battle, which is India’s first-ever one-stop online esports platform, explained why Esports should not be clubbed in with iGaming, Fantasy, or other gaming categories.
Online Games are primarily divided into the following categories based on how the game is designed, the way the games are played, and the amount of skill required to play these games:
1. Card-based Games (ex. Poker, Rummy)
2. Casual Games (ex. Pool, Bubble shooting)
3. Fantasy Games (ex. Fantasy Cricket, Fantasy Football)
4. Esports (ex. DOTA 2, BGMI, VALORANT)
In India, people confuse esports with fantasy, rummy, or other casual games. There is no reason to associate these games with Esports. Esports is the organized form of video game competitions online and/or offline including video game genres of traditional sports, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), real-time strategy (RTS), and fighting & first-person shooter (FPS) games.
Esports games are designed with high indulging competitive experience in mind. The games have various elements to them which not only make them sporting in nature but also open opportunities for gamers to learn about the game, grow and become the best at it and compete at a professional level.
Esports is a Real Sport, Here is Why:
When you think of sports, count the things that quickly come into your mind? It surely would be fierce competition, physical activity, fans, practice, and adrenaline rush, etc. Moreover, we think of an Esports player sitting at a desk and staring at a screen all the time. Though Esports may not involve the same level of physical activities as compared to sports like football, athletes do need enough physical stamina, motor skills, and reflex to control gaming devices and compete well with the gameplay.
The amount of effort, practice, and discipline required by professional esports athletes is comparable to many popular sports. Despite all the statistics and data showing the steep growth in Esports over the past few years, there is still a debate going on- “Whether Esports can be categorized as real sports or if it’s a sport at all.”
Global sporting authorities have now started recognizing Esports as a sport. Recently the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced that eight games including FIFA, PUBG, and Dota 2 will be a part of the Asian Games 2022. To recall, Esports was a demonstration event at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta.
Let’s look into the similarities to traditional sports and find out why these similarities match up and make Esports a real sport all the way.
1. Game Mechanics
Game mechanics are the rules and set of methods that guide the gamer’s actions and interactions between the player and the game. The depth and dynamics of in-game mechanics for Esports game titles are just as vibrant as sports in their gameplay and strategic movements. Combining this with the depth of the game’s mechanics which keeps evolving makes Esports a top-notch sporting match. Esports players have to master the game’s mechanics and concentrate on learning and improving game-specific skills. These game mechanics help to make gaming an engaging and fun-filled experience.
2. Learning Curve of the Game
Like traditional sports, Esports has a steep learning curve that helps gamers become more proficient with the game and gain a deeper understanding of the game. The curve elevates further as the player progresses through the game. As difficulty levels add up further, gamers have to play with more refined gameplay strategies to fight and win. To succeed in Esports, you’ll have to be the best in terms of game skills along with team coordination, opponent research, critical thinking, and multi-tasking.
3. Physical prowess and Strategic Thinking
Dive deeper into Esports games and you will find both forms of sports have a lot in common. Throughout the game, Esport athletes are required to sustain high levels of attention to make important decisions under time pressure. This is also true in the case of athletes in Esports. Traditional sports require mostly athletic abilities and then strategies to make scores. Esports, on the other hand, requires players to have flash reflexes, an understanding of deep in-game mechanics as well as coping with changing dynamics of in-game strategies to be implemented during gameplay. Only the players with superb athletic ability and strategic understanding of games can coordinate to strike at the right time.
An esports gamer practices and hones their skills for hours in order to perfect their movements on the keyboard and mouse while simultaneously coordinating with teammates. The Esports athletes achieve up to 400 movements on the keyboard and the mouse per minute, four times as much as the average person. The whole thing is asymmetrical because both hands are being moved at the same time and various parts of the brain are also being used at the same time.
4. Practice and Training is essential
In terms of practice and training, Professional esports and traditional sports athletes share several common characteristics. Like traditional athletes, Esports professionals exhibit a commitment to excellence, perseverance, and a passion for their sport. Moreover, they both go through physical and mental training to fine-tune their athletic and gameplay abilities.
Esports athletes work hard to physically and mentally prepare themselves and practice for each competition that they are competing in.
Conclusion:
It requires rigorous training and efforts to become a professional Esports professional. Like other traditional sports, Esports athletes need to have qualities like concentration, precision, and execution that only come after the solid in-game experience. The government needs to take this into cognizance and bring Esports under the umbrella of policies and legislations of Sports.

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Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 5-11
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
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Bragg Gaming Group confirmed that it will release its first quarter 2025 financial results prior to the opening of the financial markets on Thursday, May 15, 2025. The release will be followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, hosted by Bragg Chief Executive Officer, Matevž Mazij and Chief Financial Officer, Robbie Bressler, to discuss the Company’s financial results and provide a business update. During the call, management will review a presentation that will be available on the day of the call.
Context Networks Inc, the first programmatic advertising platform engineered for the gaming industry, has announced the rollout of its groundbreaking Deep Intelligence Marketing strategy, redefining how brands engage consumers in bars, taverns and on-premise slot route operations. Leveraging the power of AI-driven data analytics, machine learning and context-aware digital couponing, Context Networks is turning local venues into the next frontier of high-impact retail media. Through its Contextual Promotions Media Network (CPMN), Context is converting digital screens—such as slot machines in bars—into dynamic, smart advertising surfaces. These systems use advanced data signals to deliver highly targeted promotions based on real-time factors like venue type, consumer behaviour, time of day, and even emotional context, moving far beyond traditional static or cyclic Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising.
ACR Poker’s Blitz Bonus Boost promotion is back by popular demand to supercharger players’ bankrolls, offering a 50% bonus up to a sizzling $500. To take advantage, players need to deposit $25 or more by 11:59 pm ET on Saturday, May 31 using bonus code: BLITZ and ACR Poker will match 50% of it, up to $500.
Partnerships
International Game Technology PLC announced that IGT PlaySports technology is now powering retail sports betting at Silver Reef Casino Resort in Ferndale, Wash. This technology agreement builds on IGT PlaySports’ leadership in the region, marking the 11th casino in Washington State to deploy the Company’s award-winning sports betting platform, and the 10th casino in the State to leverage its trading advisory services.
Playtech and Hard Rock Digital (HRD) have launched New Jersey’s first-ever dedicated trivia experience on the top-rated Hard Rock Bet online casino platform. This milestone establishes Hard Rock Bet as the first operator to launch a dedicated Live Trivia Game Show in the state. Since the announcement of their strategic partnership in 2024, Playtech has provided a wide range of gaming content through Hard Rock Bet, including slots, card & table games, and live dealer games.
Everi Holdings Inc. announced the Company’s digital CashClub Wallet technology is powering Penn Entertainment Inc’s (PENN) “PENN Wallet” at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, NV. The “PENN Wallet” offers M Resort guests the ability to access cashless payments throughout the gaming floor via integrations with existing loyalty and payments systems. PENN currently utilises CashClub Wallet technology across 22 properties in 11 jurisdictions. CashClub Wallet elevates patron engagement with frictionless, omni-channel payments. Everi’s industry-leading cashless payments solutions drive additional volume, improve operational efficiencies and transform the traditional casino cash-centric environment into a modern, seamless experience for an enhanced player journey.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 5-11 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SBC Summit’s INFINITY Lisbon Levels Up with Timmy Trumpet on the Decks
Blending classical training, jazz roots, and EDM firepower, Timmy Trumpet will take the stage at the INFINITY Lisbon closing party with a high-energy set that promises to close SBC Summit with a bang.
Taking place on Thursday, September 18th at the MEO Arena—which serves as the Super Stage during the day—the venue will transform into the ultimate party setting for the Australian DJ and producer, widely regarded as one of the most explosive live performers in EDM.
Known for his trumpet solos and crowd-hyping energy, his headline set will be open to VIP attendees and complimentary operator and affiliate pass holders.
“The Greatest Show in Gaming couldn’t happen without the greatest showman in EDM! Jokes aside, no one brings the fire quite like Timmy Trumpet,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC. “He’s that rare artist who can blend high-energy drops with live instrumentation and still keep the crowd bouncing from start to finish.”
Timmy Trumpet’s musical journey began at just four years old when he picked up the trumpet. By thirteen, he was named Young Musician of the Year and earned a full scholarship to the Conservatorium of Music, studying under the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Anthony Heinrich. Within two years, he became the lead soloist for the Australian All-Star Stage Band, touring Europe and performing at some of the world’s top jazz festivals.
His evolution into the electronic music scene came naturally, blending live trumpet with high-energy EDM—culminating in his breakout hit Freaks in 2014, which has since surpassed a billion streams across all platforms and contributed to a discography that has amassed over 5 billion streams worldwide.
Trumpet’s Tomorrowland debut in 2017 remains the most-streamed set in the festival’s history. In 2024, he reached a new career high, ranking 5th on DJ Mag’s Top 100. That same year, he closed the main stage at Tomorrowland in both Belgium and Brazil—his Belgium set becoming the most-viewed performance of the year and further cementing his legacy as one of the festival’s most iconic acts.
The DJ’s genre-blending style and electrifying energy have also led to collaborations with some of the biggest names in electronic music. His discography includes powerhouse tracks with global stars like Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, KSHMR, R3HAB, W&W, and ALOK, among others.
“We already announced Alok last month as part of the INFINITY Lisbon lineup, and now confirming Timmy Trumpet means we’ll have two powerhouse DJs headlining the closing party—an experience I’m sure our attendees will truly appreciate,” said Sojmark.
This won’t be the first time SBC event attendees are treated to electrifying DJ performances. The tradition began last September during the debut edition of SBC’s flagship show in Lisbon, with headline acts including Darude, Miss Monique, and Don Diablo. It continued earlier this year at SBC Summit Rio, where Afrojack and Brazilian duo Dubdogz brought the energy behind the decks. Next, the tradition heads to SBC Summit Americas, where Steve Aoki will headline the INFINITY Florida closing party in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s becoming a tradition—and one that both we at SBC and our delegates absolutely love,” Sojmark added. “Industry events are fantastic in so many ways. But they’re also demanding. Closing them with world-class acts creates an experience that’s both celebratory and memorable, which is exactly what SBC Summit is all about.
SBC Summit will return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena on 16–18 September. Set to welcome 30,000 industry professionals from around the world, the event will offer three days of in-depth educational content, a comprehensive exhibition floor, and networking opportunities.
The post SBC Summit’s INFINITY Lisbon Levels Up with Timmy Trumpet on the Decks appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Wikibet.com Partners with iConvert to Power Smarter Conversion Across its Markets
iConvert, the conversion platform built specifically for iGaming, is partnering with online casino and sportsbook Wikibet.com operated by Geeker Technology N.V., to ramp up first-time deposits (FTDs) across all its markets and English-speaking territories worldwide.
Wikibet.com is built for players, including VIPs, who value speed, simplicity, and real rewards. But even the best user experience needs to be matched with conversion flows that deliver. That’s where iConvert steps in.
The goal? Maximise player acquisition without maxing out marketing budgets.
By using iConvert’s behavioural overlays which are tailored by traffic source, GEO, and device, Wikibet.com is now optimising every visit in real-time, ensuring more of the right players convert the moment they land.
Wikibet gets it. They’ve built an operator brand with sharp UX, live dealers, and serious player rewards. Our job is to make sure every marketing dollar they spend results in deposits, not dead ends. This partnership is about precision, targeting bounce points, streamlining the journey, and turning intent into revenue
Ashley Wood, CEO, iConvert: “We built Wikibet for players who care about quality and speed, so it made sense to work with a partner who could bring that same mindset to conversion. iConvert gives us real-time insight, clean integration, and tangible FTD uplift. We’re excited to scale this across multiple markets and see what’s possible.”
Idan Levy, CEO of Wikibet.com: “This partnership marks another strategic step in iConvert’s global expansion, now powering over 140+ operators across 50+ markets, with over 3 million FTDs delivered to date.
Because in 2025, traffic alone isn’t enough. Conversion is the edge.”
The post Wikibet.com Partners with iConvert to Power Smarter Conversion Across its Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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