Asia
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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Supplier to show Zhao Cai Shuang Yu, Sheng Sheng Bu Xi and Cai Fu Tian Jiang, plus Supreme Wang Union multigame, at booth 1701 on May 12-14.
EGT will return to G2E Asia 2026 from May 12 to 14, where it plans to present slot and ETG products positioned for the Asian gaming market. The company said it will exhibit at booth 1701.
The main new focus for the show is a set of Asian-themed, multi-level progressive jackpots: Zhao Cai Shuang Yu, Sheng Sheng Bu Xi and Cai Fu Tian Jiang. EGT said the three systems already have “multiple installations in different markets”.
EGT will also debut Supreme Wang Union, an Asian-themed multigame combining roulette, card games and video slots. The supplier said it can be paired with its S 32 T and GS 32 T terminals and is compatible with other jackpots in EGT’s portfolio.
On the ETG side, EGT said it will show the G RSA roulette center and the G R8 SQ roulette. The stand will also include Bell Link, Bell Link Boost, and Gods & Kings Link jackpots with their latest multigames, alongside slot cabinets from the General and Supreme Series.
Mariana Manchina, Director of EGT Philippines Corp., said: “We are ready to offer local operators solutions that will not only impress them, but will make their business even more successful. Players, in turn, will enjoy gaming content that is tailored to their tastes and preferences. So don’t miss out on visiting our booth 1701 from May 12 to 14 and learn more!”
The post EGT lines up Asian-themed jackpots and ETGs for G2E Asia 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETBY, a Tier-1 sportsbook provider, has announced a partnership with QTech Games, one of the industry’s major game distributors and a fast-growing aggregator across key emerging markets.
The agreement will see BETBY provide its full sportsbook solution to QTech’s global network of operators.
Through this collaboration, QTech partners will gain access to BETBY’s complete sportsbook offering, as the aggregator’s exclusive sportsbook provider, covering more than 500,000 monthly events, proprietary AI-driven tools, and esports feed Betby.Games.
Delivered via a single, seamless API integration, the solution unlocks immediate access to QTech’s operator base, significantly expanding BETBY’s distribution while enabling partners to onboard a premium sportsbook with reduced complexity and rapid time-to-market.
The integration directly addresses key operator challenges associated with launching a sportsbook, particularly the technical complexity and costs of managing multiple platform integrations.
By leveraging QTech’s aggregation platform, operators, especially those with a casino-first focus, can seamlessly introduce a fully scalable sportsbook solution without heavy development overhead, accelerating their entry into sports betting while maintaining operational efficiency.
The partnership also reinforces BETBY’s strategy of expanding its presence in Asia, where QTech Games has built strong distribution channels and local expertise, while also supporting its broader growth across emerging markets such as Latin America and Africa.
By combining BETBY’s sportsbook solution with QTech’s reach, operators will be able to deliver more competitive, localized, and engaging betting experiences.
Stefanos Karakidis, Business Development Director at BETBY, commented: “Partnering with QTech Games is a natural step for BETBY.
They have established themselves as one of the most influential aggregators in Asia, with strong distribution channels and deep local expertise, while continuing to expand across other high-growth markets.
QTech has a clear understanding of local player behaviour and operator needs, and together we’ll be able to deliver a Tier-1, mobile-first sportsbook experience, well suited to the demands of the markets they serve.”
Philip Doftvik, CEO at QTech Games, said: “We are delighted to add BETBY’s award-winning sportsbook to our platform.
Their product is modern, flexible, and designed for fast-growing markets, aligning with what our operator partners are looking for.
From AI-driven tools to a rich e-sims portfolio, BETBY brings a level of innovation that elevates our offering and supports our mission to deliver the best content available across emerging iGaming markets.”
BETBY
BETBY is a leading B2B provider of top-tier sports betting services, renowned for its groundbreaking technology and dedication to excellence.
BETBY’s team of industry veterans tap into their knowledge and expertise to deliver a premium, adaptable, and scalable sportsbook platform tailored to meet the varied demands of operators across the globe.
From dynamic in-play betting options to robust risk management tools and ground-breaking AI tools, Betby is committed to propelling the success of its partners in the rapidly evolving landscape of online sports betting.
For more information visit betby.com
The post Betby partners with Qtech Games and expanding its sportsbook solution in Asia appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
BETBY, proveedor Tier-1 de sportsbook, anunció una asociación con QTech Games, uno de los principales distribuidores de juegos de la industria y agregador de rápido crecimiento en mercados emergentes clave.
El acuerdo permitirá que BETBY ofrezca su solución completa de sportsbook a la red global de operadores de QTech.
A través de esta colaboración, los socios de QTech tendrán acceso a la oferta completa de sportsbook de BETBY , como proveedor exclusivo de sportsbook del agregador, cubriendo más de 500.000 eventos mensuales, herramientas propietarias impulsadas por inteligencia artificial y el feed de esports Betby.Games.
Entregada mediante una única integración API fluida, la solución brinda acceso inmediato a la base de operadores de QTech, ampliando significativamente la distribución de BETBY y permitiendo a los socios incorporar un sportsbook premium con menor complejidad y rápida salida al mercado.
La integración responde directamente a los principales desafíos de los operadores al lanzar un sportsbook, especialmente la complejidad técnica y los costos de gestionar múltiples integraciones de plataforma.
Al aprovechar la plataforma de agregación de QTech, los operadores, especialmente aquellos con foco inicial en casino online, podrán introducir una solución de sportsbook totalmente escalable sin una gran carga de desarrollo, acelerando su entrada en las apuestas deportivas y manteniendo eficiencia operativa.
La asociación también refuerza la estrategia de BETBY de expandir su presencia en Asia, donde QTech Games ha construido sólidos canales de distribución y amplia experiencia local, al tiempo que respalda su crecimiento en otros mercados emergentes como América Latina y África.
Al combinar la solución de sportsbook de BETBY con el alcance de QTech, los operadores podrán ofrecer experiencias de apuestas más competitivas, localizadas y atractivas.
Stefanos Karakidis, Director de Desarrollo de Negocios de BETBY, comentó: “Asociarnos con QTech Games es un paso natural para BETBY.
Se han consolidado como uno de los agregadores más influyentes de Asia, con sólidos canales de distribución y profundo conocimiento local, mientras continúan expandiéndose en otros mercados de alto crecimiento.
QTech comprende claramente el comportamiento de los jugadores locales y las necesidades de los operadores, y juntos podremos ofrecer una experiencia de sportsbook Tier-1, mobile-first, adecuada a las demandas de los mercados en los que operan.”
Philip Doftvik, CEO de QTech Games, afirmó: “Estamos encantados de sumar el premiado sportsbook de BETBY a nuestra plataforma.
Su producto es moderno, flexible y diseñado para mercados de rápido crecimiento, alineándose con lo que buscan nuestros socios operadores.
Desde herramientas impulsadas por IA hasta un sólido portafolio de e-sims, BETBY aporta un nivel de innovación que fortalece nuestra oferta y respalda nuestra misión de ofrecer el mejor contenido disponible en los mercados emergentes de iGaming.”
BETBY
BETBY es un proveedor B2B líder de servicios de apuestas deportivas de primer nivel, reconocido por su tecnología innovadora y compromiso con la excelencia.
Su equipo reúne veteranos de la industria que aplican conocimiento y experiencia para ofrecer una plataforma de sportsbook premium, adaptable y escalable, diseñada para satisfacer las distintas demandas de operadores en todo el mundo.
Desde opciones dinámicas de apuestas en vivo hasta sólidas herramientas de gestión de riesgo y avanzadas soluciones basadas en IA, BETBY está comprometida con impulsar el éxito de sus socios en el panorama en constante evolución de las apuestas deportivas online.
The post Betby se asocia con QTech Games y amplía alcance de sportsbook en Asia appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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