Industry News

Examining the Relationship Between eSports and Online Gambling

Published

5 years ago

June 22, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The adoption of most sports within online gambling systems means travelling paths long since forged. Owing to the relatability of existing frameworks, creating new entries for the arrival of a traditional sport is usually a simple pursuit. ESports games buck this trend, with their digital nature creating the potential for unprecedented involvement and unique interconnectivity.

While these aspects of eSports are often fundamentally misunderstood or underestimated, a closer examination reveals how deep these relationships could run and how beneficial for the greater betting industry they could be. From bringing in newcomers to adopting new approaches in viewing, there is a lot of mapped and untapped potential in eSports for the iGaming world to cover.

Raw Numbers
One of the most immediately visible ways in which eSports aids the online betting industry comes from the vast inbuilt audience. According to an article at venturebeat.com, around 2.4 billion people played video games in 2019 alone. At the top of this spectrum are titles likes League of Legends and CS: GO, two popular eSports titles which boast around 115 million and 24 million monthly players respectively.

The Ease of Integration
These numbers are important not just for how they illustrate engagement potential, but also in how eSports engagement relates to digital forms of viewing and gambling. For traditional sports like football or tennis, there is a strong reliance on more established methods of viewing. Most often, punters are relegated to watch only a limited selection of physical sports matches on television or digitally, if they have access.

Esports is very different in this regard, allowing practically every game and tournament, even in minor leagues, to be viewed worldwide over the internet, usually for free. Such a level of integration and mass adoption is not something that can be matched by traditional means, giving eSports a comparative leg-up on physical sports.

Many sports bettors find enormous appeal through cheering through each step of the game and, given the better access which eSports games offer, this provides enthusiasts not just with a way to enjoy their sport of choice but with several opportunities to engage with different brands. Both for eSports fans newly introduced to betting via online infrastructure and established bettors looking for something new, these digital choices are opening doors.

Such advantages don’t only apply to live games either, as the ability to watch replays is another area aided significantly by the digital nature of eSports. For an example of this, readers could look at the Overwatch League Replay Viewer available at playoverwatch.com. This program gives punters the ability to download completed matches and watch them at every possible angle, as they wish. With additions like slow motion, overlays, and other tools, serious gamblers who wish to more closely examine players and teams’ performance are gifted a rare opportunity.

The final advantage for online betting which bears mentioning is the ease of fitting eSports games legally within existing gambling websites and systems. As Legalbetting.com explores, legal online sports betting has been a widely accepted component of the industry for years. In the United States, for example, this kicked off in 2018 and, since this point, considerable work has gone into ensuring all aspects are safe for both the bettors and the bookies.

Rather than requiring expensive and difficult to implement new laws, eSports have slotted into already developed sports betting services. Given just how important and strict the rules around legal online betting are, eSports games have begun their mainstream gambling life with advantages that many other sports took years to find.

As a spectator sport, eSports have accomplished astonishing success in the last two decades. From tournaments held in basements to finding showings on major international channels like ESPN, the world is now taking notice. As an industry with such a strong emphasis on sports and the digital both, online betting services are in a unique position to leverage eSports’ explosive growth. With both online casinos and eSports still far from reaching a plateau of popularity, this relationship is going to be one to watch.

Asia

FUN88 Launches AI Game Recommendations, Setting New iGaming Standard

Published

2 days ago

November 11, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

FUN88, a leading online gaming platform, has introduced its latest breakthrough in the iGaming industry: AI-powered recommendations for slot games. This new feature marks a significant step in enhancing user experience, offering tailored game suggestions based on individual preferences and gaming behaviour.

By analysing user data and local market trends, the AI system recommends popular games tailored to regions such as Thailand and Vietnam, ensuring a more personalised and engaging experience for every player.

Key Highlights of the AI Game Recommendations Feature:

• Personalised Recommendations – AI analyses gameplay history and preferences to suggest slot games that best fit each player.

• Enhanced User Experience – A seamless, customised journey that saves players time.

• Available for Vietnam and Thailand Players – The feature is available to registered FUN88 users in these markets, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to innovation.

• Responsible Gaming Focus – AI technology also supports FUN88’s dedication to safe and responsible play.

This launch marks another step forward for FUN88 in combining technology and entertainment to enhance user satisfaction. The new system not only makes gameplay more convenient and exciting but also aligns with FUN88’s long-term vision of offering safe, smart and enjoyable gaming.

Players can now explore the new AI-powered recommendations by registering on FUN88 or logging in to their accounts. Through the FUN88 app, users can easily access their favorite categories, manage their accounts and enjoy exclusive promotions.

The post FUN88 Launches AI Game Recommendations, Setting New iGaming Standard appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service

AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service Surpasses $80 Million Returned to Players

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2025

Niji Narayan

askgamblers-casino-complaint-service-surpasses-$80-million-returned-to-players

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service is a vital wheel in the mechanism of AskGamblers, and lately, that wheel has been spinning faster than ever. After reaching the $70 million milestone only a few months ago, the service has now gone above and beyond once again.

At AskGamblers, every complaint is handled with care and persistence to ensure fair treatment for players facing issues with online casinos. The most recent case involved a user who had difficulties withdrawing their winnings from Jackbit Casino. The amount in question was significant – $3,311,000.

After the AGCCS team reached out to the casino, the issue was resolved in less than two weeks, and the player successfully received their funds.

Since its launch in 2009, AGCCS has now returned over $80 million to players across the globe.

Dijana Radunović, General Manager at AskGamblers, said: “Every time our complaint team reaches a new milestone, I’m reminded of how much passion and effort they put into helping players. We’re proud of them and the impact they’re making – it’s a reminder that fairness in gaming really matters.”

The post AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service Surpasses $80 Million Returned to Players appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

ANESAR

ANESAR Holds its 43rd Ordinary General Assembly

Published

7 days ago

November 6, 2025

Niji Narayan

anesar-holds-its-43rd-ordinary-general-assembly

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Spanish Association of Gaming and Recreational Hall Entrepreneurs (ANESAR) has held its 43rd Ordinary General Assembly this Tuesday, November 4, in the Carlos Ferret Salat room of CEOE, in Madrid, where it once again brought together a large representation of members, in a meeting marked by reflection, collaboration and the firm will to continue working with data, arguments and responsibility.

Following the institutional opening by Javier Calderón, Director of Companies and Organisations of CEOE, aspects of mandatory statutory compliance were addressed, such as the approval of minutes, the explanation and approval of accounts and budgets, or the approval of the Annual Report of Activities.

Next, José Vall presented the president’s report, in which he emphasised that, although political decisions are often difficult to understand, “our duty is to continue providing arguments and evidence to defend the sector with rigor, knowledge, and sound judgment.” In this regard, he stressed the need to anticipate events, prepare information and coordinate common messages that reinforce the image of a sector committed to legality, prevention and responsible gaming.

For his part, Juan Lacarra, technical general secretary of ANESAR, reviewed the main current issues from a regulatory and operational perspective, addressing relevant aspects such as sanctioning procedures, opening hours, biometrics and hiring difficulties.

During the Assembly, the “Key Data and Sector Dynamics” were also presented, highlighting that there are currently 3600 gaming arcades (more than 240 have closed in the last four years) and 30,060 slot machines. It was also specified that the average spend per visit is €16, that 85% of people are accompanied by family and friends, and that 60% are men around 30 years old. Regarding employment data, it was explained that the sector supports more than 47,000 jobs, including both direct and indirect workers, making it a significant driver of employment. The ANESAR Training Plan was also emphasised, with 8725 students and 16,539 formal enrollments (data as of October 15, 2025). Furthermore, it was noted that, with a real estate investment of €260 million, gaming arcades represent one of the largest private investments in the leisure sector. A sector that, as was recalled, collects more than 320 million euros in taxes annually, which benefit hundreds of thousands of people, as well as society as a whole.

The Assembly also included the participation of experts in politics and institutional relations, such as Jaime Criado, from the firm ACENTO, who provided insights into the current political situation and its potential impact on the sector. ANESAR Vice Presidents Enric Sanahuja, Raúl Rubio and Antonio Fornés also offered their perspectives on current issues affecting the sector. Finally, Ramón Cubián, Director General of Land and Delegate for Gaming Regulation and Management of the Community of Madrid, accompanied by Gracia Martín Duarte, Deputy Director of Gaming Management and Regulation, and their team, officially closed the 43rd ANESAR Assembly.

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