Esports versus Traditional Sports: The Main Differences In Betting Culture
Anyone with a passing interest in gaming will likely be aware that the huge rise in the popularity of esports has created a supplementary industry of esports betting. The latter has become a significant global market, and it’s one with a huge future. You just need to look at the recent news of PlayStation owner Sony filing a patent for an esports betting platform.
You might say that esports betting is fuelled by many individuals who usually don’t hold much truck with regular sports or sports betting. That’s a generalisation, of course, as many gamers are sports fans and vice versa. But it still holds true that esports opened up a world of betting for many people who wouldn’t have considered having a punt before.
It is worth saying, however, that there are some differences between the two types of betting. Not necessarily in terms of the mechanics, but in terms of the culture. By “culture” we mean how, why and when bets are placed.
Esports betting feels more immediate
For example, we might say that esports betting is more about what is happening right in front of you. A top esports betting platform will have tonnes of betting lines on CS:GO, League of Legends, DOTA, and so on. But there is often a focus on what is on today or the next few days. Moreover, there is a huge emphasis on live betting in esports.
Of course, people look to the daily soccer or basketball matches too, and live betting on regular sports is huge. But the point we are making is that there is much more of an emphasis on the immediate with esports. The idea, you suppose, is that gamers are tuning into Twitch or other esports streaming platforms and seeing what action is taking place, then placing a few bets on the upcoming matches or live in-play. There isn’t the same long-term focus.
We would also say that esports betting is a little less emotional than regular sports betting. You might be a fan of Virtus Pro or Evil Geniuses, but there certainly isn’t the same level of tribalism that we see with regular sports. You wouldn’t expect to see a riot in an esports tournament when two rival teams meet.
More anonymity around esports players
But this less emotional connection is an advantage for esports bettors. We all should strive to be objective when betting, but it’s difficult. A news story about a certain (regular sports) player or team might colour our opinions before we place that bet. There is a little more anonymity around esports teams, particularly when it comes to mainstream media coverage. That can help us be a bit more objective when it comes to placing a bet.
A form guide can work for esports betting, of course. But it is much less speculative than regular sports. There is also less discussion of which external factors may influence the result. Can you, for example, cite the last time a key player was injured and missed a crucial esports game? It rarely happens, and it has probably never happened during a major tournament. It happens all the time in regular sports, and it can have a big impact on the outcome of the match or tournament.
In the end, there are probably more similarities than differences between the two types of betting. Indeed, both usually exist on the same platforms these days. As esports and esports betting grows, we might see more crossover in terms of culture. But we might also see esports betting create more of its own unique culture, and maybe regular sports bettors will start to learn from that.
