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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Welcoming 2025 in spectacular style, Natural8 India has announced its latest India Exclusive, Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025, to the delight of poker enthusiasts across the country. The multi-table tournament, scheduled to take place on January 19, will offer participants a chance to fight for the massive event prize pool and the glory of winning a prestigious APT Trophy. But that’s not all, for nine finalists will also secure an all-expense paid trip to participate in APT Manila – competing for the grand prize at a grand stage with some of the sharpest poker players in all of Asia!
With a buy-in of only INR 5,500, Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025 will offer flight and stay packages for nine finalists, worth up to INR 100,000 each, for the upcoming APT Manila Classic. In addition, the top four finalists will secure a Main Event ticket worth INR 90,000 each at APT Manila Classic 2025, while the other five will win Mini Main Event tickets worth INR 37,000 each. The tournament also has various satellites running daily from January 12 to January 19, with a buy-in of just INR 550.
Speaking on the upcoming India Exclusive, Kunal Patni, Executive Director and Country Head – Natural8 India, said, “2024 was a spectacular year for Natural8 India and the broader Indian poker community. Throughout the year, we saw a strong response to the various India Exclusives, which not only nurtured the country’s growing poker landscape but also connected poker enthusiasts to the broader Asian poker scene on a more consistent basis. We took 23 players to various APT events in 2024 through these India Exclusive APT events. With the Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025, we expect a similarly stellar response, especially with mega bonus on offer worth up to INR 15 lakh. Our latest India Exclusive will set the tone for the rest of the year and give poker enthusiasts and professional players across the country a chance to start 2025 on a bang!”
The post Natural8 India welcomes 2025 in style with Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
On Jan. 14, 2025, Sands China Ltd., Alipay and Macau Pass jointly introduced the Alipay Tap! service at Sands Resorts Macao. Utilising innovative payment interaction technology, the service will further enhance the payment experience of visitors in Macao and enable new digital business and marketing opportunities. It will also contribute to the city’s smart city development while supporting digital upgrades and connectivity within the Greater Bay Area.
Alipay Tap! is an innovative payment service introduced by Alipay in July 2024 in the Chinese mainland. Users can simply unlock their phones and tap the merchant’s payment device to complete the transaction, without opening the Alipay app. This solution has quickly become popular with both users and merchants and is currently available in over 100 cities and more than 1000 shopping malls and commercial districts in the Chinese mainland. In addition to payments, Alipay has also collaborated with partners to create over 50 Alipay Tap! digital industry solutions, such as “Tap to Order” and “Tap to Open Self-service Vending Machine”.
In this first phase, Sands China has rolled out Alipay Tap! across 300 merchants in its integrated resorts, including The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Londoner Macao and Sands Macao. It can be used for a variety of payments, such as hotel accommodation, dining, shopping and ticketing, providing customers with a convenient payment experience. Chinese mainland tourists using Alipay Tap! in Sands Resorts Macao can also enjoy multiple offers during the promotional period, including an exclusive coupon for the first transaction via Alipay Tap! in Macao and other cross-border travel promotions released.
Merchants can use one terminal to meet the payment needs of both tourists and local residents using mainstream e-wallets. A representative from a Sands Resorts Macao merchant shared, “As Chinese mainland tourists are generally familiar with Alipay Tap!, combined with various recent promotional offers, the number of Alipay Tap! transactions has significantly increased since its launch, greatly enhancing operational efficiency”.
Jiajia Li, Vice President of Alipay, Ant Group, said: “Macao has unique geographic advantages, providing an ideal environment for the introduction of innovative technologies. Alipay and Alipay+’s cross-border services have already covered nearly 90% of merchants in Macao. The successful introduction of Alipay Tap! in Macao will further enhance the convenience of payments for Chinese mainland visitors, accelerate the digital transformation of businesses, unlock more commercial potential, and promote the digital connectivity of digital everyday services within the Greater Bay Area.”
The introduction of Alipay Tap! in Macao is not just a simple replication of the payment model but also creates a local digital business model benchmark. The collaboration between the three companies integrates Alipay’s user experience and membership preferences, Sands China’s unique services and benefits, and Macau Pass’s regional coverage and operational expertise. Together, they have created a new digital business model.
The post Sands China Launches Alipay Tap! in Macao appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bety.com stands out as one of the most versatile crypto casinos in the Web3 landscape.
Bety.com, the first decentralized casino to enter the Web3 scene, continues to lead the revolution in the online casino industry. The platform has been at the forefront of innovation in blockchain-based casinos since its inception. As part of its ongoing development, the team reveals an enhanced offer proving why crypto casinos outrank traditional casinos in terms of user experience and perks.
Decentralized, Fair & Rewarding: An Unmatched Offer of New Crypto Games
Bety.com stands out as one of the most versatile crypto casinos in the Web3 landscape. As one of the pioneers in blockchain casinos, Bety.com built a solid reputation for gaming diversity and unequaled entertainment. The platform offers a wide selection of classic casino table games, including poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, and more. A rich collection of slots, live casino games, Bingo, and game shows round off a unique and engaging offer.
Bety.com hosts 10,000+ games from reputable developers, including PGSoft, Evolution Gaming, Evoplay, Yggdrasil, Red Tiger, EG Games, and many more. These games are available in its casino and sportsbook. They are constantly updated to incorporate the latest industry trends and technological breakthroughs.
Here is some selections of the games Bety.com offers
Slots: With over 3,000 online slots, Bety.com offers something for every player. Explore classic three-reel slots or dive into the latest video slots packed with bonus features and the chance to win big.
Live Casino Games: Experience the thrill of a real casino from home with bety.com’s vast variety of live dealer games. Play Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Gonzo’s Quest and more, streamed live with professional dealers.
Sportsbook: Bety.com offers a comprehensive betting platform covering a wide range of sports and esports. Traditional sports like soccer, basketball, and tennis are featured alongside niche options such as darts, snooker, and volleyball. Esports enthusiasts can wager on over 300 events across multiple popular games, including League of Legends and Dota 2. The platform also supports live betting, enabling users to place bets in real-time for a dynamic and engaging experience.
Introducing Original Bety.com Casino Games
One of the most visited sections at Bety.com is the “Originals” casino gaming page. This part hosts several in-house games with exciting gameplay and appealing RTP rates. Bety.com features its own versions of Plinko, Wheel, Keno, Limbo, Dice, Mines, Coinflip, and more. All of them have a remarkable 98% RTP, inviting players to indulge in their favorite casino games with a Bety.com twist.
Many crypto enthusiasts choose Bety.com for its standout selection of hash games, including Hash Banker Player, Hash Bull, 3-Min Bull, 1-Min Banker Player, and more. These blockchain casino games are an upgrade of traditional casino games, allowing players to predict hash intervals with numerous betting options.
Lastly, Bety.com provides a generous offer of crypto up-down casino games. These exciting games allow players to have substantially high leverage levels of up to 1,000x, generating the opportunity for high returns.
Why Players Choose Crypto Casinos Over Traditional Platforms
The advent of blockchain technology has changed the outlook for numerous industries, including the online betting sector. For decades, traditional online casinos had no competition and, thus, failed to evolve and meet the increasing demands for a better user experience.
As one of the first blockchain casinos, Bety.com saw how it can play a game-changing role in an industry hungry for innovation. The platform rose to the challenge, improving every aspect of the online casino gaming experience. Moreover, it developed its own original games, increased betting options, and boosted transparency and trust. Its probably fair game mechanics established one of the highest standards for fairness in the industry.
Meanwhile, traditional online casinos face the same challenges they did years ago. These platforms are famous for slow payouts, high deposits and withdrawal fees, and improvable game fairness and outcomes. More importantly, traditional casinos can take between 3 and 7 days to process withdrawals, depending on the user’s choice.
On the other hand, Bety.com processes payouts in only a few minutes, sometimes instantly, depending on the blockchain network’s congestion. It also facilitates instant Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals. Players can verify the fairness of each game on the platform’s dedicated verification page, using both server-side and client-side seeds and the cryptographic nonce.
Reshaping the Casino Gaming Industry’s Future
Bety.com allows crypto enthusiasts to play in complete anonymity and privacy. The platform guarantees equal winning odds for all players. It also supports quick deposits and withdrawals, provable fair game odds and outcomes, an exclusive VIP program, and high-quality, 24/7 customer support.
The platform’s rich selection of original, in-house game productions and games from prestigious developers caters to high-end players. The appealing offer of betting options and high-leverage opportunities confirm why thousands of expert players visit it daily.
Ultimately, Bety.com aims to reshape the casino gaming industry through maximum fairness, optimal security, and highly entertaining gaming options. To this end, it combines the best developments in casino gaming with a unique, user-centric approach to deliver a standout playing experience.
The post Bety.com Introduces a New Era of Casino Gaming with Web3 Innovations and Exclusive Perks appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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