Asia

How Esports is a real sport, and must not be clubbed with iGaming, Fantasy, or other gaming categories

Published

4 years ago

October 5, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

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.

Asia

Spotlight Sports Group Expands its Smart View Global Footprint to Hong Kong

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

spotlight-sports-group-expands-its-smart-view-global-footprint-to-hong-kong

Spotlight Sports Group has launched Smart View for Hong Kong racing, extending the Smart View Engine’s global footprint into one of the sport’s most high-value and internationally recognised betting markets. The product gives operators a proven, scalable tool for engaging Hong Kong racing audiences with data-driven insight. Smart View evaluates hundreds of variables for every runner across seven key performance attributes: Ability, Trainer, Jockey, Course suitability, Distance suitability, Ground effectiveness and Draw bias, distilling that analysis into one clear, definitive rating for every runner.

Happy Valley and Sha Tin are among the sport’s most iconic venues, yet for many punters outside the territory the runner cohort, made up largely of horses bred and raced overseas, can feel unfamiliar. Smart View draws on 40 years of proprietary Racing Post data to remove that barrier, giving punters the context and confidence to engage with one of the sport’s great markets without having to be an expert in it.

The launch adds Hong Kong to an international portfolio that now spans the UK and Ireland, France, USA, UAE, South Africa and Australia.

Sam Houlding, Managing Director of B2B at Spotlight Sports Group, said: “The Racing Innovation Blueprint we unveiled in January set out an ambitious year of product development for Spotlight Sports Group. Smart View for Hong Kong is the latest delivery against that commitment. Hong Kong is one of the world’s premier racing territories, renowned for the quality of its racing and the scale of its betting market. As a data led product Smart View was built to work anywhere in the world and adding Hong Kong is an important milestone as we continue to deliver world-class racing products to our partners around the globe.”

The post Spotlight Sports Group Expands its Smart View Global Footprint to Hong Kong appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Asia

FeedConstruct and East Asia Super League Sign Multi-Year Exclusive Data and Streaming Agreement

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

feedconstruct-and-east-asia-super-league-sign-multi-year-exclusive-data-and-streaming-agreement

FeedConstruct has secured the exclusive worldwide data and streaming betting rights to the East Asia Super League (EASL) under a landmark multi-year agreement. The deal takes immediate effect, covering the remaining final stages of the 2025/2026 season as well as full future campaigns.

EASL, widely regarded as the Champions League of professional men’s basketball in East Asia, features top-performing teams from leading leagues across Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Macau S.A.R.

Through this partnership, FeedConstruct’s global network of partners will gain access to premium, exclusive coverage of EASL action. The agreement spans all international territories excluding Hong Kong, with coverage beginning right away as the 2025/2026 Quarterfinals tip off on March 18.

Narek Harutyunyan, CEO at FeedConstruct, commented: “Signing a multi-year agreement with EASL is an important step for FeedConstruct. East Asia is a fast-growing region for sports, with strong fan engagement and increasing demand for quality content. Through this partnership, we aim to provide our partners with reliable access to EASL competitions across our global network.”

EASL Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins added: “We are thrilled to join forces with FeedConstruct in this landmark partnership. This collaboration reflects our deep commitment to ensuring that EASL’s data reaches the world responsibly, accurately, and with the integrity our league demands. The demand for official, high-quality sports data continues to grow at an extraordinary pace, and we believe that aligning with a partner of FeedConstruct’s caliber and global reputation accelerates our mission to elevate EASL’s profile on a truly global scale. While we recognize the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the betting industry, we are committed to approaching this space thoughtfully and in full alignment with the standards and values of our league and its stakeholders. This is a partnership we are genuinely proud of.”

The agreement creates a direct bridge between East Asian basketball and the global iGaming ecosystem, enabling operators to tap into a highly engaged audience that has historically exceeded 100 million viewers.

This strategic move further strengthens FeedConstruct’s position as a leading provider of sports data, streaming, and technology solutions, reinforcing its role in connecting the worlds of sport and iGaming on a global scale.

The post FeedConstruct and East Asia Super League Sign Multi-Year Exclusive Data and Streaming Agreement appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

BetConstruct AI Fuels Global Innovation Strategy Across Latin America, Asia and Africa

Published

3 days ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

betconstruct-ai-fuels-global-innovation-strategy-across-latin-america,-asia-and-africa

BetConstruct AI is excited to reveal its significant involvement in several top industry events this March: SAGSE LatAm in Buenos Aires, Argentina, GAT Expo in Cartagena, Colombia, SPiCE South Asia in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the Africa Gaming Expo in Lagos, Nigeria. As a worldwide leader in iGaming technology, BetConstruct AI is leveraging these platforms to strengthen its dedication to local development and support operators with the 2026 idea of “The Choice.”

Throughout all three continents, our focus is on a vision of technological empowerment. In a more complex regulatory environment, BetConstruct AI surpasses conventional offerings to provide strategic independence. We think the future of international iGaming relies on the operator’s ability to select the most adaptable, insightful, and scalable technology to propel their distinct vision ahead.

During every event, attendees will discover a complete range of solutions designed to cater to the varied needs of local communities. At the core of our presentation are the top-tier Sportsbook and Casino Platforms, designed for optimal stability and fast scalability.

In addition to the primary platforms, we deliver the fundamental framework for a leading online brand. This encompasses CMS Pro for centralized hub administration, SpringBuilder X for mobile-oriented website development, and BetChain AI, which offers an innovative approach to create and design iGaming websites more quickly and intelligently.

The exhibitions will highlight the BetConstruct AI Suite, a set of advanced tools aimed at enhancing and streamlining the operator’s experience:

● CRM AI: Delivering deep behavioral insights to drive player retention.
● Umbrella AI: Providing real-time risk management and automated player protection.
● AI Game Recommendation System: Ensuring personalized content delivery.
● Betting Mate: An intuitive AI companion that elevates the player experience.

Reiterating its commitment to partner success, BetConstruct AI will present The Last Battle Universe, the first B2B loyalty system in the industry designed to recognize performance. Operators reaching a GGR growth rate exceeding 12% (determined by comparing the third month of the current quarter to the third month of the prior quarter) gain access to unique rewards. This comprises a 51% reduction on invoices for Nebula Badge holders, a 50% setup discount for Zenith Badge holders, and complete setup fee refunds to enable direct reinvestment into the platform.

BetConstruct AI encourages all industry stakeholders, operators, and media personnel to engage with our team of specialists at these locations:

● SAGSE LatAm (Buenos Aires, Argentina): March 18 – 19 | Stand 134
● SPiCE South Asia (Colombo, Sri Lanka): March 24 – 25 | Stand 1017
● GAT Expo (Cartagena, Colombia): March 25 – 26 | Stand A31
● Africa Gaming Expo (Lagos, Nigeria): March 25 – 26 | Stand E17

To foster deeper connections beyond the exhibition floor, we are hosting a series of exclusive Harmony Dinners. These invitation-only meetups offer a unique space for BetConstruct AI leaders and our valued partners to align visions in an atmosphere of world-class hospitality:

1. Buenos Aires: March 18 | Hilton Buenos Aires
2. Colombo: March 24 | Shangri-La, Colombo
3. Cartagena: March 25 | Cartagena, Colombia
4. Lagos: March 25 | Lagos, Nigeria

The post BetConstruct AI Fuels Global Innovation Strategy Across Latin America, Asia and Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.