Rebecca McCarthy 
The esports industry is constantly growing and changing, and it’s clear that 2024 has become another remarkable year for both player participation and audience numbers, particularly with the increasing popularity of co-streaming. By the end of 2030, the global market is projected to reach around $2.4 billion, indicating that this fast-paced sector shows no signs of slowing down.
Betting and esports have a close connection, and many e-gaming fans enjoy the thrill of placing wagers on their favorite teams and players. According to the 2024 esports betting report, the average bet in these sports is estimated at $29, which is notably higher than the amounts typically wagered on traditional sports like football, basketball, and tennis. The report also indicated that a significant number of bettors focus solely on esports, as they often lack experience with conventional betting environments like physical bookmakers and racetracks.
Younger audiences are particularly drawn to user-friendly betting sites like GG Bet that offer more than just esports odds. While they may not participate in traditional betting markets, these new users are more likely to be interested in features like live streaming and free-to-play prediction contests, where they can earn free spins and bonuses for real money online slots.
Newest Betting Trends
Counter-Strike continues to be the top esports game in terms of overall betting volume and maintains a strong lead with a 64% market share in the fourth quarter of 2024. Several other games have followed behind CS’s dominance over the past year. League of Legends experienced a 2% increase last year, now holding a 26% share of the market. Valorant is also on the rise, with the first-person tactical shooter capturing a 5% market share. In contrast, Dota 2 has faced a decline, dropping 4% from 2023 and recently falling to the second position.
The decline of Dota 2 is quite unexpected, especially considering its previously stable popularity. This might suggest a slight change in the betting habits of esports fans, a trend that could persist into 2025. Last year, The International, its flagship event, accounted for only 3% of total wagers, a notable drop from earlier years. This is a failure for an event that set viewing records just four years back.
Developed by Riot Valorant has been effectively promoted and comes packed with a variety of contemporary features. Often seen as a formidable rival to Counter-Strike, it stands out for its sleek design and minimal bugs. With many well-known content creators, its growing popularity is quite predictable.
The rise of Gen Z bettors has become very notable, too, as they have now outnumbered millennials in 2024, reflecting an 8% increase from 2023. Many of these tech-savvy individuals naturally gravitate towards betting on prominent tournaments and competitions with their unique background in competitive gaming. The dynamic and engaging features of these betting platforms appeal to this younger generation of gamblers a lot.
The previous year is characterized by the fact that a significant 87% of esports bettors were aged between 18 and 44. The average age of players in Counter-Strike was 31, while League of Legends attracted an average age of 29, and Valorant drew in a slightly younger audience at 27. Additionally, some interesting figures show that live betting constituted 46% of all Counter-Strike bets in the last quarter of 2024, with the Shanghai Major representing 28% of total wagers during that period. Meanwhile, the League of Legends World Championship came in second with 19%, marking a 4% increase from the year before.
It’s important to mention that Riot has recently changed its approach to betting, now it allows partnerships between its affiliated teams and iGaming companies, which they had previously avoided. This shift is expected to boost viewership and engagement in 2025, with both Valorant and League of Legends likely to experience a surge in their audience numbers.
