eSports
Exclusive Spanish Market Q&A w/ João Carvalho, Sales Manager at PandaScore
How has PandaScore served the Spanish market thus far?
Spain is a hotbed of activity when it comes to esports, with countless players, teams and tournaments held across the biggest esports titles taking place across the country. But when it comes to betting on esports, the market is still very much in its infancy. That’s not to say there isn’t a significant opportunity for operators to explore, because there is. Not only is esports hugely popular, but so too is betting on traditional sports. The challenge has been to bring the two together, and that’s exactly why PandaScore delivers its esports betting solutions to operators in the market.
Our odds, markets and betting products are second to none and are used by some of the largest operators in the world to capitalise on the esports wagering opportunity. We sit at the cutting edge of esports and betting and have delivered many innovations to the esports market. Today, we cover 308 unique markets across all major esports titles from League of Legends and Valorant to CS:GO, Call of Duty, Dota2 and more. Our markets include Player Props as well as Winner 2-way, Winner 3-way, Maps handicap, Total maps over/under, Correct score, First map/Match result, Most kills 2-way and Most kills 3-way.
We’ve also been hard at work on creating esports dedicated micro markets and will be going big on this throughout the year. We will also continue to push our powerful esports Bet Builder tool, allowing players to curate their own bet slips for next-level engagement.
What are the company goals for Spain over the next 12 months?
Ultimately, we want to help operators unlock the full potential that esports betting has to offer, while also playing our part in educating esports fans that they can wager on players, teams and tournaments with operators that are fair, transparent and reputable. To do this, we will continue to enhance our suite of solutions over the next 12 months and, as mentioned above, will be rolling out new markets on new games – most importantly Valorant, expand out BetBuilder tool, and introduce esports Microbetting. We will also be driving awareness of our recently re-vamped Widgets product which allows Spanish operators to seamlessly integrate our Odds solution into their environment and customise the front end to meet their individual branding and player experience goals. State-of-the-art solutions such as these make it easy for operators to expand into the esports betting space, and this in turn will enable us to engage more operators in Spain throughout the year.
What does the Spanish market need to ramp up its esports betting activity?
Spain is no different to other nascent esports betting markets with tremendous untapped potential. All it takes to fully open the doors is a little education among operators and players, and one or two tier-one brands rolling out esportsbooks for the first time. This is something we have seen in the UK market where we have recently joined forces with William Hill to power its first proper move into esports wagering. Once the big boys are on board, it’s not long before everyone else looks to follow. But this provides a huge opportunity for smaller brands to seize the first mover advantage and push ahead with rolling out an esportsbook now – especially in Spain where there is a strong appetite for this among players but where the competition remains limited (for now). Those that do will be able to build large and loyal player bases before the power players enter the market.
What does PandaScore specifically bring to the Spanish market that will promote esports betting growth?
Esports fans have high expectations from the entertainment options they engage with. This includes intuitive user interfaces optimised for mobile, fast-paced action, a quality product and an experience that provides a sense of community. Our products and solutions have been designed to provide all of these things and more so that operators can deliver esports betting experiences that not only meet but exceed player expectations in Spain and beyond.
What’s more, the team behind PandaScore are first and foremost fans of esports and are incredibly passionate about bringing esports betting to the widest possible audience. We plan to be on the ground at major esports and betting events throughout the year, including FIJIMA, Madrid. This is a key part of our strategy to drive awareness of the world of esports, the potential of esports betting and how all stakeholders can maximise the huge potential of bringing the two together in the Spanish market and others around the world.
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The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.
The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.
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Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
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Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
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Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.
The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage
The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.
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Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
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Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
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Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.
Market Evolution and Key Trends
The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.
| Trend | Impact in 2026 |
| Mobile Dominance | Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware. |
| Beyond BGMI | 2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.” |
| Monetization Shift | Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression. |
| Tier II & III Growth | Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content. |
The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: India has long been a mobile-first gaming market (thanks to PUBG Mobile/BGMI). But 2025 proved that PC esports is not dead; in fact, it’s thriving culturally. Riot’s ability to integrate VALORANT into mainstream Indian youth culture—from “topper” billboards on exam result day to hip-hop festivals—is a masterclass in localized marketing. The success of S8UL Esports in League of Legends also signals that South Asia is finally ready to compete in global Tier 1 events.
The Full Story
Riot Games has released a retrospective on 2025, describing it as the year gaming in South Asia “didn’t feel tucked away anymore,” but rather became an unmistakable part of mainstream culture.
From filled cafés during watch parties to billboards featuring “inside jokes” from voice comms, the publisher’s year was defined by a massive surge in engagement across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan.
The Competitive Surge: LoL and VALORANT The year began with the launch of Legends Ascend South Asia, a structured pathway for League of Legends talent that the region had been demanding. Ninety-five teams competed, culminating in S8UL Esports lifting the trophy and qualifying for the LCP Wild Card Playoffs—placing South Asian talent directly into the global conversation.
Simultaneously, PC esports found its footing in India through VALORANT Challengers South Asia.
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The Numbers: The circuit recorded over 103 million live and non-live views throughout the season.
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The Finals: The LAN event peaked at 50,000 concurrent viewers, proving that the appetite for PC tactical shooters remains fierce in a mobile-dominated region.
Cultural Crossovers: V5 and Rolling Loud Midway through the year, VALORANT celebrated its fifth anniversary (V5) with a campaign deeply rooted in Indian student culture.
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“VAL Toppers”: On JEE results day (a major academic milestone in India), Riot reimagined the traditional “exam topper” billboards to celebrate Radiant-ranked players, sparking a viral conversation.
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Rolling Loud India: In November, gaming met hip-hop. Riot integrated VALORANT into one of the world’s largest hip-hop festivals, with karaoke pods and gaming zones operating alongside performances by Wiz Khalifa and Central Cee.
Management Commentary Anushka Bhatnagar, Publishing Lead for Riot Games India & South Asia, reflected on the shift:
“2025 felt like a year when India’s gaming and esports landscape stepped into the centre of cultural conversation. VALORANT turning five reminded us how deeply the community here has shaped the game. From grassroots watch parties to moments like Rolling Loud, the ecosystem grew with a confidence that felt distinctly homegrown.”
Grassroots Momentum Beyond the flash of festivals, the year was sustained by community energy. College events introduced first-time players to the ecosystem, while local watch parties turned malls into pop-up arenas, ensuring that the growth of South Asian gaming was built “together” rather than just broadcast from above.
The post From Rolling Loud to Riot Games: How 2025 Became the Year of Indian Gaming appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: While many operators treat sports and esports as separate silos, GG.BET spent 2025 actively dismantling that wall. Their strategy isn’t just about slapping logos on jerseys; it’s about content crossovers. Events like the “Match of LeGGends”—where pro footballers played Counter-Strike against NAVI—demonstrate a sophisticated understanding that the modern bettor is often a hybrid fan. This cross-pollination strategy is likely the future of betting marketing.
The Full Story
GG.BET, the international betting brand, has released a comprehensive video recap of its 2025 activity, showcasing a year defined by major traditional sports sponsorships and innovative projects that blurred the lines between the pitch and the server.
The recap, which details the operator’s expansion in both the sports and esports verticals, highlights a strategy built on immersive content rather than passive branding.
Traditional Sports: Boxing and Football In the world of traditional sports, GG.BET secured high-visibility partnerships. The brand served as the official partner for the heavyweight clash between Usyk and Dubois II, executing a global media campaign at Wembley Stadium.
In Ukraine, a key licensed market for the brand, GG.BET solidified its football presence by signing a three-year contract with the legendary FC Dynamo Kyiv, alongside sponsorships of FC Polissya and FC Zorya.
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The “Dynamo 3.0” Campaign: To celebrate Dynamo Kyiv’s 30th championship, GG.BET hosted a “star-studded” press event featuring a short film on the team’s history, custom jerseys, and fan-centric activations, moving beyond standard sponsorship duties.
Esports Innovation: Mapping the Industry GG.BET continued to lead in its native esports territory. A standout project was the launch of the Interactive Esports Map in collaboration with Esports Charts. This tool provides users with retrospective data on global esports trends, including regional top disciplines and prize fund statistics.
The brand also focused on industry education, organizing the “Ukraine in Esports: Myth vs Fact” panel at the SBC Summit Ukraine and curating a unique “Esports Museum” to display legendary trophies and history.
Blurring the Lines: The “Match of LeGGends” Perhaps the most distinct initiative of 2025 was the “Match of LeGGends: Server Derby.” This crossover show match saw the current NAVI Counter-Strike 2 roster face off against footballers from Dynamo Kyiv inside the game server.
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The Format: GG.BET designed unique game modes and special rules for the event, which was streamed with commentary from major figures in sports and entertainment. The project successfully introduced traditional sports fans to esports mechanics and vice versa.
Industry Recognition The efficacy of this hybrid communication strategy was acknowledged by the wider industry, with GG.BET securing the Operator of the Year in CEE title at the EGR Global Europe Awards 2025.
The post GG.RECAP 2025: How GG.BET Bridged the Gap Between Football and CS2 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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