eSports
Game Changers: A Roundtable on the eSports Revolution
Over the last decade, a significant cultural shift has occurred in the entertainment industry. Esports, the organized and competitive form of video gaming, has gone from a fringe interest to a global sensation, captivating millions of fans and bringing in billions of dollars in revenue. This rapid rise has not only transformed gaming from a casual hobby to a legitimate profession but has also firmly established itself in mainstream culture, challenging traditional sports and revolutionizing the entertainment industry as a whole.
Esports, short for electronic sports, has evolved into a flourishing industry encompassing competitive gaming, live events, sponsorships, media coverage, and an ever-growing fan base. As technology advances, so does the potential for esports to redefine what it means to be a spectator and participant in the world of sports and entertainment. With a structure that mirrors traditional sports leagues, including professional teams, star players, and devoted fan communities, esports has become an influential force, making a significant impact on the gaming world and broader society.
For this roundtable, European Gaming spoke to Kevin des Lauriers, CEO at J3STER, and Kirill Nekrasov, Product Officer at BETBY to delve deeper into the rise of esports, examining the factors behind its explosive growth, the influence it wields across various industries and the exciting possibilities that lie on the horizon. By understanding the transformative power of esports and the remarkable journey it has undertaken thus far, we gain insights into a phenomenon that continues to reshape entertainment, challenge societal norms, and captivate a generation of enthusiasts.
How is the rise of esports changing the way people interact with games?
KDL: Globally, we’re seeing a big increase in arenas being built specifically to draw in fans of esports. We’re also seeing a rise in LAN events across the world, with competitive and even casual players now putting together teams in order to get involved. Smaller sponsors are putting on more tournaments, and there seems to be a plethora of new leagues being created for any and every game imaginable – not just the usual titles, such as Warzone and League of Legends.
KN: There is a vast increase in viewers who passionately follow certain teams and particular disciplines within esports, whether that be soccer, ebasketball or any other sport that they like. This engagement ultimately acts as the spark for viewers to become participants, following in the footsteps of their favourite esports players, getting involved at an amateur level and engaging with the esports that they enjoy most.
Influencers are often the faces of esports. What impact do these figures have on the industry?
KDL: In the industry, we’re in an interesting spot where influencers currently have a lot of power. Prominent players can discover and highlight exploits in games, effectively pushing game publishers to release patches and fixes more frequently. These publishers are also clamouring to release new features to keep these influencers happy and engaged, otherwise they risk them moving on to the next big thing.
There are armies of community managers working with game publishers, ready to provide influencers with gifts such as giveaway items for their fans, card packs, in-game content such as skins and more. Winning these influencers over is a surefire way to garner a positive reception in the esports sphere.
KN: In many industries, influencers are becoming more high-profile, garnering trust amongst audiences and shaping trends. These people within the esports industry are no different, whether they are players who were already in the public eye, or streamers who have amassed an organic following. However, the impact of these figures can both be positive and negative.
If influencers enter the world of esports solely to generate quick success and garner hype, without having an esports background or a noticeable passion, then this can have a negative impact on the long-term development of the industry. If they do not enjoy the content, or understand the complexities and depth of esports, passionate fans will see through this attempt to engage with them and be turned away.
This can reduce the quality of new entrants. Some may also use their popularity to promote products or events that do not align with the values and needs of the esports community. This can also create a negative perception among fans.
Following that, what is the main appeal for both players and influencers to get involved in esports?
KDL: Most influencers are pros (or ex-pros), which effectively makes this relationship analogous to the classic sports commentators. They educate us on how good these “new players” are, and what we can strive to become – or simply admire from afar.
However, pro esports players arguably aren’t as well-known today as the players we grew up with in classic sports. Some influencers host watch parties of big esports events, helping their fans to understand a little bit more about the teams and their players, which opens it up further for newcomers to get involved.
KN: Doing something you love and are passionate about, and competing at a competitive level cannot be underestimated. Entering esports, whether as a participant or influencer, should be a long-term commitment rather than just a temporary one. The esports community is incredibly passionate and this is a key selling point to getting involved, to be surrounded by like-minded people who care about the industry.
Being fully committed can bring a long-term career, and being able to participate in professional competitions, and potentially creating your own brand and personality that generates a following.
In your own opinion, how do you think you’re pushing innovation within the esports industry?
KDL: On paper, J3STER is everything that Twitch influencers and viewers can wish for – community, engagement and monetization. We focus on creating lines for each influencer based on their match data, with the odds generated being unique to that influencer and their community.
Our mission is to increase the influencer’s ability to monetize without requiring any further work. J3STER does all of the work through seamless API integrations. Influencers can sign up through their Twitch account, connect their game data through our publisher API connections, and then send the link out to their viewers. This process can be completed in less than one minute.
For viewers, they have an alternative to tipping through Twitch streams, as each bet placed through J3STER gives the viewer the opportunity to tip the streamer directly. Of course, when there’s a bet on the line, each viewer is much more engaged in the outcome of the influencer’s match.
KN: BETBY has been actively innovating the esports industry since its inception. We started our journey in esports with the Betby.Games project, which is a unique opportunity for bettors to wager on the most popular esports disciplines, providing 24/7 availability, and minimising human error.
Something which is a big bonus to our brand is our trading department, with many being esports fans themselves. Because of this, they are actively searching for new and unique markets and tournaments for our brand to be involved with, and expanding our offering. BETBY was the first company to offer its customers markets on the Pokémon UNITE Championship, Team Fortress 2 and Trackmania.
Of the latest product releases, it is worth highlighting our Betbuilder, which allows you to make combo bets within a single match, and which has already gained recognition among esports fans thanks to the exciting nature of these types of bets.
What are your predictions for the future of esports?
KDL: The eyes on esports have now reached the point where marketers simply cannot resist or oppose it any longer. I believe that, within the next five years, we’ll have more people tune in to watch a major esports competition than will tune into the Superbowl.
It’s also absolutely plausible that esports will very soon have the same energy behind it that the World Cup has – but this will require influencers with the necessary reach and power. Also, which game will headline? Will it be League of Legends, one of the biggest and longest-standing esports games, or perhaps Counter-Strike? Call of Duty is also another contender, as its recent huge rise in popularity is notable.
If the legions of gamers and influencers within the esports industry cannot decide on a headlining game – in order to give esports an ‘identity’ – everything will continue to be grouped under the umbrella of ‘esports’, which could diminish its potential. Evolution is necessary, and I believe it’ll happen very quickly.
KN: The esports industry will certainly continue to grow and become even more professional. In the context of betting, this will mean a transition to a more professional relationship between market participants, whether it is obtaining broadcast rights or using data.
For spectators and fans of esports, the events will become more exciting as participation increases. We are also seeing a strong development in production standards from tournament to tournament, and this is really incredible to see. In addition, I personally expect an active expansion of esports on mobile devices which will widen the audience and will also help the emergence of a couple of exciting new disciplines in the industry.
S8UL’s Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram has qualified for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 Chess main event after winning the Road to EWC qualifier at DreamHack Atlanta, according to the organization. S8UL said the result makes him the first Indian player to secure qualification for the Chess main event.
The qualifier used a group stage and playoffs format, with two games per series and Armageddon as the tiebreaker, played at 10 minutes with no increment. Aravindh advanced from Group B into the Upper Bracket semifinals after wins over Kyler Raines, Justin Liang, Oleksander Bortnyk, and Christopher Woo.
In the Upper Bracket semifinals, Aravindh beat Woo 2-1 after two draws and an Armageddon decider. He then defeated Alexey Sarana 2-1 in the Upper Bracket Final to reach the grand final, where he faced Sarana again. S8UL said the grand final used a double-match format, and after Sarana won the opening two games from the Lower Bracket side, Aravindh came back to win the Armageddon decider to take the qualifier.
The win earned the 26-year-old USD 15,000 (~INR 14 lakh) and one of the eight qualification slots confirmed so far for the EWC 2026 Chess main event, scheduled for August 11 to 15 with a USD 1.5 million (~INR 14 crore) prize pool. S8UL said it is now qualified for three EWC 2026 titles, following Fortnite and Honor of Kings.
“Qualifying for the Esports World Cup this year is a very proud and exciting moment for me, especially with so many top players and organizations from around the world competing at the event. This particular format leaves very little room for error, as every decision matters when you are playing 10-minute games without increment against some of the strongest players in the world. I am also very grateful to the team at S8UL for their consistent support and belief in me since last year. Their approach towards chess and nurturing Indian talent has been incredibly encouraging, and I am looking forward to representing the organization and giving my best at the main event” Chithambaram said.
S8UL added that fellow Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Pranesh M remain in contention to qualify for EWC 2026 Chess via the Champions Chess Tour Leaderboard, Last Chance Qualifiers, and an India Rising slot scheduled to conclude on July 5. “One of the things we’ve consistently focused on at S8UL is creating opportunities for Indian talent to compete and succeed on the biggest global stages. Aravindh Chithambaram qualifying for the Esports World Cup is a huge moment, not just for us as an organization, but for Indian chess overall. The level of competition and pressure in this format is extremely high, which makes this achievement even more special. We’ve always believed India has the talent to stand alongside the very best in the world, and seeing Aravindh become the first Indian to qualify really reinforces that belief,” said Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL Esports.
The post S8UL’s Aravindh Chithambaram qualifies for Esports World Cup 2026 chess event appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Cologne City Hall
Shortlists Revealed Across Categories for the Esports Leaders Honours Awards 2025-26
The shortlists for the inaugural Esports Leaders Honours awards ceremony have been unveiled across categories including Esports Leader, Rising Star in Esports, Standout Esports Advertising Campaigns, Best Product Innovation in Esports, Access & Grassroots Champions in Esports and Industry Development of the Year.
The awards ceremony, where the winners will be revealed live on the night will take place at Cologne City Hall (Kölner Rathaus) on 19 June 2026, with the Lord Mayor Torsten Burmester in attendance. During the invitation-only evening event, winners will be revealed live on the night and receive their awards on stage at City Hall.
Esports Leaders Honours is a new awards programme and platform created by The Esports Radar to celebrate the people, organisations and projects that helped to define the year in esports and deserve recognition. This year the ceremony forms a part of Global Esports Industry Week (GEIW).
Winners will receive their awards on stage at the event at City Hall.
Access & Grassroots Champions in Esports
• Shortlist: Stefy Bau (CEO, Init Esports), Mags Byrne (Founder, EStars), Ole Martin Gjestad (Founder, KRED Norge), Désiré Koussawo (President, SAGES Africa), David Kosir (Founder, Friendly Fire), Elliot Mack (Co-Founder and CEO, DAIGON Esports), Jon Winkle (Founder, EPIC.LAN)
Esports Leader
• Shortlist: Akshat Rathee, Anna Rozwandowicz, Fabien ‘neo’ Devide, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Monica Dinsmore, Niccolo Maisto, Ralf Reichert, Robbie Douek
Rising Star in Esports
• Shortlist: Bilguunbat Enkhbayar (Co-Founder and CEO, The MongolZ), Emanuele Acerbis (CEO & Co-Founder, NOVO Esports), Heloisa Passos (Founder, trexx), Kalam Neale (Head of Education, British Esports), Liam Whitehead (Head of Partnerships, Method), Meg Cabaras (Senior Account Executive, Esports & Gaming, Octagon), Sheridan McGuire (Founder, College Esports News)
Standout Esports Advertising Campaigns
• Shortlist: DHL x EFG x Chew Productions – The Dispatch, G2 x Solo Leveling (Crunchyroll), HEROIC x Razed, Jameel Motorsport x Esports World Cup 2025, Team Liquid x Magnus Carlsen, Team Vitality x Nescafé Latte, Team Vitality x Stake
Best Product Innovation in Esports
• Shortlist: DPM LOL, EVA (Esports Virtual Arenas), Logitech G – the ProX2 Superstrike Mouse, Runestone, Shikenso, UNEVN – the BASE PC Solution, ZOWIE by BenQ
Industry Development of the Year
• Shortlist: BLAST and GamingMalta announce multi-year partnership, including permanent studio spanning over 1,000m², The launch of Esports Nations Cup, India drafts new rules to regulate esports and gaming, with esports formally recognised as sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, The sale of Moonton, creator of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group in a deal valued at approximately $6 billion, Qiddiya-owned RTS fully acquires Evo, Riot Games opening up for betting sponsors in EMEA and Americas, the PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners moving to purchase Electronic Arts (EA) for $55 billion
The “Local Hero” category will see the winner announced on the night too, but this one does not include a shortlist. This category recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to the betterment of esports locally to wherever the ceremony is being hosted. Given this year’s ceremony is taking place in Germany, The Esports Radar has partnered with E-Sport-Bund Deutschland (ESBD), who will decide this edition’s winner.
Sam Cooke, CEO of The Insights Group (The Esports Radar), said: “As ever with this kind of exercise and selecting those who deserve recognition across these areas this was extremely difficult, but we’re really pleased with those we’ve chosen! They’ve all contributed something meaningful in different ways to esports over this past year in particular, and for many of them for much longer than that too.
“We’re excited to celebrate these people, organisations and the space in Cologne at City Hall in June, and even more excited to scale this Honours platform into the future; we want it to be more representative and do the sector worldwide justice; those developments and that process will follow soon after 19th June.”
The post Shortlists Revealed Across Categories for the Esports Leaders Honours Awards 2025-26 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
DATA.BET reported stronger esports betting performance in Q1 2026 across its partner sportsbook network, citing year-on-year gains in gross gaming revenue (GGR), turnover and player activity versus Q1 2025.
The supplier said esports GGR nearly doubled YoY, while turnover rose 70.6%. It also reported higher activity levels, with placed bets up 33.2% and combo bets increasing 72.1%. DATA.BET attributed the combo bet lift in part to recent UX changes to its Single Page Application (iFrame) and said higher-value wagering from “premium-segment partner platforms” supported a rise in average single bet size.
By title, DATA.BET said CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends and Valorant all delivered “strong double-digit growth” across profit, turnover, bet counts and active users. It also highlighted “niche disciplines” as a profit driver, reporting a 245% YoY increase in profit for that segment. Rainbow Six was singled out for growth following the addition of new markets, including combined Total Over + Win and Win First Half + Win Map, and expanded match coverage, with the company pointing to Latin America as a key audience.
Rocket League posted quarter-on-quarter growth, according to DATA.BET, with turnover up 85.3%, bet counts up 18.7% and active players up 50.1%, alongside a stated 94% live coverage conversion rate. The company also pointed to Valorant EMEA Clash 2026 as a contributor to acquisition, saying newcomers made up 68.6% of all new players and 55.4% of total bets placed.
According to Bohdan Holovnov, Head of Esports at DATA.BET, partners increased activity as returns improved: “High margin efficiency has been a real catalyst this quarter. Partners have increasingly recognized that esports can deliver meaningful commercial returns, encouraging them to scale up promotional campaigns and drive more traffic into the vertical. That feeds directly into more new users, higher turnover, and stronger margins. At the same time, we continue to offer the broadest match and discipline coverage on the market, and the impact is also reflected in the rapid growth of combo bets across our partner platforms.”
DATA.BET said official data events were up 5.2% YoY and the overall event calendar increased 10.8%. It added that top-tier events outperformed low-tier events on turnover, profit and bet count, while low-tier volume grew—particularly in CS2—following Valve’s restructured Major qualification system. Holovnov added: “Q1 of 2026 set a new benchmark for what esports betting can deliver. GGR nearly doubling year over year, combined with a player base growing by more than 56% and increasingly sophisticated betting patterns, suggests the vertical is maturing in exactly the right direction. We’re entering the rest of 2026 with strong momentum, an expanding market portfolio, and partners who are seeing tangible commercial impact quarter after quarter.”
The post DATA.BET says esports betting GGR nearly doubles in Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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