eSports

Exclusive Spanish Market Q&A w/ João Carvalho, Sales Manager at PandaScore

Published

3 years ago

February 21, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.

Berlin Gaming Industry

Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications

Published

4 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

tom-achsel-joins-factory-c-to-spearhead-“home-of-indies”-communications

FACTORY-C, the Berlin-based communications powerhouse specializing in gaming and esports, has announced the appointment of Tom Achsel as Event Communications Manager. Achsel will join the “Home of Indies” team alongside project initiator Christiane Gehrke, focusing on the platform’s global expansion and upcoming presence at Gamescom 2026.

With over a decade of experience in the tech and gaming sectors, Achsel brings a massive professional network and deep operational expertise to the agency.

A Veteran of the Berlin Gaming Scene

Tom Achsel is a well-known figure in the German development community. His career highlights include:

Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
IGDA Berlin: Serves as Vice-Chairman, strengthening ties between local developers and the global gaming ecosystem.

Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at Factory-C

“Tom knows the indie scene from multiple perspectives and has a sharp understanding of the needs of indie developers,” said Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at FACTORY-C. “He brings everything needed to support the continued development of Home of Indies.”

Scaling the “Home of Indies” Platform

Since its debut in 2022, Home of Indies has grown into a central pillar of the Gamescom Indie Area. The platform provides a shared booth for independent developers, lowering the barrier to entry for international studios.

2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
New Features: The project recently added a dedicated Spotlight Stage, streaming booths, and professional networking areas via MeetToMatch.

As Event Communications Manager, Achsel will lead the outreach strategy for Gamescom 2026, ensuring that the creative diversity of the global indie scene receives maximum visibility among press, influencers, and players.

The post Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BlueBottle

BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production

Published

5 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

bluebottle-launches-“league-broadcast”-saas-for-streamlined-esports-production

BlueBottle, the Munich-based esports technology innovator, has officially launched League Broadcast, its professional-grade production software, via a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model.

Announced on January 7, 2026, this B2C release moves the platform from selective partner deployments and its long-standing beta phase into a publicly accessible tool for leagues, tournament organizers, and individual content creators worldwide.

Professional Broadcast Tools for All Tiers

League Broadcast is designed to automate and elevate the visual storytelling of competitive gaming, specifically targeting the League of Legends ecosystem. The software bypasses traditional API limitations by using low-level game data collection to provide real-time, high-fidelity visualizations.

At launch, BlueBottle has introduced a tiered pricing structure to suit different operational scales:

Tier	Status	Key Features	Target Audience
Free	Available	Core overlays, essential team/player data, basic game stats.	Grassroots creators & amateur streamers.
Basic	Available	Commercial usage rights, customizable pre-game elements, professional draft tools.	Semi-pro leagues & small event organizers.
Pro	Coming Soon	Advanced analytics, event-driven automation, premium production tools.	Professional leagues & high-scale live operations.

Supported by Creative Europe Media

The transition to a scalable SaaS model was significantly bolstered by funding from Creative Europe Media, the European Union’s flagship program for the audiovisual and creative sectors. This backing allowed BlueBottle to invest in:

Enhanced Stability: Hardening the software for 24/7 live environments.
Improved Infrastructure: Faster development cycles and dedicated customer support.
Accessibility: Lowering the barrier for European creators to produce “broadcast-quality” content that competes with high-budget international productions.

“This launch represents more than a new pricing model — it’s the moment League Broadcast becomes accessible to the wider esports community,” said Lars Eble, CTO at BlueBottle. “We were able to invest in long-term product quality… ensuring that our B2C customers receive the same level of reliability previously reserved for large partners.”

Strengthening the European Esports Ecosystem

By providing affordable, automated tools for real-time data visualization—such as dynamic gold graphs, inhibitor timers, and 3D in-world branding—BlueBottle is positioning itself as a core infrastructure provider for the digital media age. The platform allows smaller organizations to monetize their formats more effectively through professional-looking sponsor placements and deeper viewer engagement.

The post BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Akshat Rathee

Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone

Published

2 days ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

indian-esports-2026:-strategic-growth-and-the-asian-games-milestone

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.

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.
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.
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.

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.
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.
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.