eSports
Odgers Berndtson: Annual income of esports top management can reach $170 000
Headhunters are often among the first to identify trends, thereby making them the people who come to find the best managers.
Odgers Berndtson has interviewed twenty top club managers around the world – from North America to Oceania, including Western Europe, Russia and the CIS countries. The results of this study will be useful for all market participants: clubs to compare themselves with competitors, investors who want to enter the esports market, professionals who want to work in the industry, and for fans who are interested in understanding what’s behind their favorite players.
Organisational structures
During interviews with representatives of esports clubs, we have identified 2 main management models (each of them can be subdivided into 2 subcategories):
The first model is a business structure with traditional key functions inside: Sales, Operations, HR, Finance, etc., which report to the CEO. These structures follow the classic organisational model from the corporate world. 81% of the clubs we surveyed have this type of organisational structure.
The remaining 19% of clubs have only two key managers – CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and COO (Chief Operating Officer), who share areas of responsibility among themselves. The most common configuration is when one manager develops such functions as Sales, Marketing and Gaming, and the another one is responsible for the back-office (accounting, finance, etc.). In 50 % of these companies the club outsources the functions of sales and marketing, and the rest have these functions (including sales and marketing) implemented internally.
Sports management
The main resource of the esports business are players, teams, and sports results. Nowadays, clubs use 2 main models of sports management. 57% of clubs have a Sports Director / Chief Gaming Officer who is responsible for team management and sports performance. In the remaining 43%, this function is linked with one of the top managers of the club (CEO / COO). The main factor in both approaches is the CEO / COO’s personal professional gaming experience.
Compensation packages
After we have gathered and systemized all data of compensation packages in the clubs, we saw a big difference in absolute values (up to 10 times). This is due to the different living standards in the regions where esports clubs are present. To present the relevant average earnings in key positions, we removed 10% of the minimum and maximum values.
Annual income:
• CEO – from $ 70,000 to $ 170,000 gross;
• COO – from $ 50,000 to $ 160,000 $ gross;
• CCO (Sales, Partnerships, Sponsorships) / CMO (Content, Marketing, PR) – from $ 50,000 to $ 150,000 gross;
• HRD / CFO / CIO / Legal Director – from $ 40,000 to $ 120,000 gross.
Compensation packages insights
Over the past 1.5-2 years, the structure of compensation packages has changed towards a form similar to other industries – a fixed part and a bonus (the amount of which depends on the KPIs fulfillment). It is important to note that about 40% of top clubs stimulate their top team with long-term incentives (LTI).
The main KPIs for top management are operational: P&L performance, growth number of subscribers on social networks and active fans, views of matches / team content, users retention, and attraction of partners.
Most of Chief Gaming Officer and the CEO have sports results reflected in KPIs. This distinguishes esports managers from colleagues who manage clubs in traditional sports, where in most cases the entire team of top managers has an additional bonus from the team’s athletic performance.
Market trends
• An esports club is no longer just a collection of players who play for themselves or their investor. It is a full-fledged business with media and commercial parts. Esports has become a valuable part of the entertainment market;
• The staff ranges from 18 to 75 people. Only 21% of the organizations we had surveyed have more than 50 employees. Esports clubs, unlike traditional sports teams, still have compact structures;
• Esports companies are becoming increasingly mature and open toward external markets. They hire people having no professional gaming experience, invite business consultants to tackle recruitment tasks, draft strategy and move the club forward;
• Proper P&L management is a short- or mid-term task for 75% of top clubs;
• Employment’s agreements with athletes have changed:
– KPIs for sports results now included
– employment contracts became long-term;
– the club’s share has increased in the prize money from tournaments.
About the study:
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Adam Conway General Manager of the Esports Business Unit at BETER
BETER strengthens eFootball roster with rollout of 4,200 monthly events ahead of 2026 World Cup
With the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, BETER is assisting operators in providing continuous bettor interaction by adding over 4,200 new eFootball matches monthly.
BETER, the recognized supplier of quick-betting content, live streams, real-time data, and odds for esports and sports, has broadened its eFootball portfolio with new specialized tournaments designed for World Cup 2026, providing over 4,200 events each month to assist operators in maintaining bettor engagement throughout the day, even during lulls and match intervals.
The launch features matches inspired by the World Cup, plus extra events scheduled around peak betting times to maintain bettor interest before, during, and after the World Cup 2026 games, providing operators with expanded eFootball coverage leading up to one of the largest events in the international sports schedule.
The updated material improves BETER’s extensive, dynamic eFootball framework, providing operators with more options to maintain bettor engagement around the clock.
Tournaments tailored to U.S. betting hours, delivering over 4,200 monthly matches
BETER added 140+ daily matches designed to suit U.S. bettors and maintain engagement throughout the day.
All of these matches are delivered in the 2×4 format and are scheduled daily (UTC+2) as follows:
01:00–03:00 — Premier League
03:10–05:10 — World Cup B
05:30–07:30 — Conference League
16:10–18:10 — Serie A
18:20–20:20 — World Cup B
20:40–22:40 — Europa League
22:50–00:50 — LaLiga
This new content addition is focused on supporting operator performance ahead of and during World Cup 2026 by maintaining betting activity across relevant time slots for U.S. audiences and helping fill downtime between major football fixtures.
World Cup–inspired tournaments, delivering over 3,600 monthly matches (within the 4,200+ expansion)
As part of this content boost, BETER is rolling out three dedicated World Cup–themed eFootball leagues. These form a major part of the expansion and mirror the excitement, structure, and national-team focus of the tournament, delivering 120+ matches per day and featuring teams such as the United States, the Netherlands, Norway, Mexico, Morocco, France, England, Portugal, Argentina, Spain, and more canonical world best teams.
The schedule includes the following (UTC+2):
World Cup A: 12:00–14:00 and 01:20–02:20 (2×4 format)
World Cup B: 18:20–20:20 and 03:10–05:10 (2×4 format)
Volta World Cup: 00:10–01:40 and 07:00–08:30 (2×3 format)
These World Cup–inspired eFootball matches reflect the build-up to the tournament and help operators drive bettor engagement ahead of kick-off.
With this rollout, which is already available with the majority of BETER’s partners, the supplier now delivers over 40,000 esports matches each month, further strengthening its position as one of the industry’s most in-demand providers of fast-paced content.
BETER exclusively delivers nearly 500,000 esports events annually through its exclusive ESportsBattle tournaments, which include eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis, offering up to 50 markets per match and an average operator margin of 7.5%+, exceeding the market standard.
Adam Conway, General Manager of the Esports Business Unit at BETER, said: “World Cup 2026 is the pinnacle of football excitement, and it presents an incredible opportunity for operators to keep fans and bettors engaged around the clock. Our expanded eFootball offering is designed to capture that energy, with content built to mirror the drama, intensity, and rivalries of the tournament.
“By combining dedicated World Cup–inspired competitions with strategically timed matches during key betting hours, we’re helping operators fill downtime, bridge match gaps, and keep bettors active before, during, and after every fixture.
“With over 40,000 fast-paced esports matches delivered every month, BETER now offers one of the largest and most dynamic content portfolios in the industry, bringing the thrill of the World Cup straight to every screen.”
The post BETER strengthens eFootball roster with rollout of 4,200 monthly events ahead of 2026 World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Esports Nations Cup 2026 Awards Official Partner Status Across 100+ Nations to Build the Future of Nation-Based Esports
The Esports Foundation (EF) awarded National Team Partner status to organisations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh from November 2-29, 2026.
This marks the first time esports introduces a structured global system for national teams at scale, adding a new layer to the industry’s ecosystem alongside club-based competition. Designed to complement existing frameworks rather than replace them, the ENC will work with local stakeholders closest to the sport to strengthen connections and support long-term national development.
National Team Partners will lead team formation, mobilize local communities and establish the structures needed to enable participation and the growth of esports. To ensure worldwide participation, countries and territories without a partner will be supported through regional structures provided by the EF.
The EF received more than 630 applications from 150 countries and territories, reflecting the global interest in and opportunity for nation-based esports. The partners represent legacy esports organisations that have shaped their national scenes for decades alongside emerging forces driving the next wave of competitive gaming. The list of organisations and individuals who have been awarded this status is available on the ENC website and will be updated as additional appointments are confirmed.
‘The Esports Nations Cup introduces something esports has never had before: a global system for national teams at an unprecedented scale. The response we received from across the world shows that communities are ready for this next step. Together with our partners, we are building the structures that will allow players to represent their nations and compete on the biggest stage in esports. With more than 100 nations now part of the system, the Esports Nations Cup moves from concept to reality, establishing national esports as a lasting part of the global competitive landscape,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.
Recognising that esports has developed differently in many nations, the ENC adopts a partnership-led approach rather than relying on a single model, marking a first in global sport and esports alike. By working with recognised local stakeholders, whether institutions, Clubs or community-led organisations, this model is designed to unlock the full creative and competitive potential of each nation.
National Team Partners will operate through a range of structures, from established national bodies such as the Korea Esports Association and the Saudi Esports Federation, to club-led coalitions in Brazil and the US, and hybrid public-private alliances in countries like Germany, Canada and the UAE.
In markets such as Malaysia, Turkey and Thailand, partners include federations working closely with grassroots communities, while in emerging regions like Indonesia and Mongolia, partners are being supported through structured development to represent their nations on a global stage.
For the first time in the history of esports, national teams will be formed from these local structures, bringing players together to compete for their nation and unlocking a new dimension of fandom built on identity and pride. From South Korea’s legendary League of Legends dominance and India’s Chess affinity, to Brazil’s Counter-Strike tradition, Japan’s fighting games heritage and Southeast Asia’s mobile games’ powerhouses, the ENC creates a new global stage for competition.
The post Esports Nations Cup 2026 Awards Official Partner Status Across 100+ Nations to Build the Future of Nation-Based Esports appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
Team India and Türkiye Win Gold at the Global Esports Games Mumbai
Team India and Türkiye won Gold at the Global Esports Games Mumbai, delivering electrifying performances in front of a packed arena and thousands more tuning in online worldwide. India’s Anuhith Gosala edged Kazakhstan 3–2 in a thrilling Clash Royale Grand Final, while Türkiye secured a commanding 3–1 victory over Mongolia in the Dota 2 Grand Final. With a Gold in Clash Royale and a Bronze in Dota 2, Team India was crowned Overall Champion.
India stormed into the Clash Royale Grand Final with a 2–1 win over the USA in a tense lower bracket decider, setting up a rematch with Kazakhstan. Having fallen 0–2 in the upper bracket, India turned the tables when it mattered most, as Anuhith Gosala delivered a clutch performance to seal a dramatic 3–2 victory and the Gold medal.
In Dota 2, Team India secured Bronze after falling to Mongolia in the lower bracket. Mongolia advanced to the Grand Final, where Türkiye asserted its dominance with a composed 3–1 victory to take the title.
Sharing his thoughts on the victory, Team India’s Clash Royale gold medallist, Anuhith Gosala, said: “This moment is surreal. To win the Grand Finals here in India, in front of a home crowd, makes it even more emotional. The preparation was relentless, the pressure was intense, and every match tested my limits—but that’s what makes this victory so special. Hearing the cheers, feeling that energy, and lifting this title for the country is an indescribable pride. This is for India, and for everyone who believes in us. I hope this win inspires many others to follow in our path.”
Sir Paul J. Foster, President & CEO, Global Esports Federation, said: “As the Global Esports Games Mumbai comes to a close, we celebrate not only the incredible performances of our athletes, but the spirit of unity and connection that defines our global community. Mumbai has delivered exceptional energy, passion, and hospitality, reinforcing our belief that esports transcends borders and brings the world together. We are deeply grateful to our partners in India for setting a new benchmark for excellence—and we now look ahead with excitement to Los Angeles, where this journey continues on an even greater stage.”
Shripad Ashtekar, Founder of Eflag Corp, said: “Over the past few days, we have witnessed not just world-class competition, but the coming together of talent, innovation, and community on a truly global stage. We hope to keep delivering such platforms and strong foundations for future growth by unlocking new opportunities for Indian players, creators, and the broader AVGC ecosystem. We are proud to have played a key role and look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.”
Organized by the Global Esports Federation in partnership with Eflag Corp, with the support of Maharashtra Tourism, the Global Esports Games Mumbai was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Over four days, Mumbai welcomed 48 elite athletes from 19 countries, emerging from a global field of 78 nations in the Regional Qualifiers.
The post Team India and Türkiye Win Gold at the Global Esports Games Mumbai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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