eSports
Online esports tournaments deliver more shocks than LAN events
Online esports tournaments deliver more upsets than arena events, data has shown.
The Covid-19 outbreak forced esports to move online across all major games, including CS:GO, Dota 2 and League of Legends.
Tournament organisers were forced to rethink significant events that were due to be held offline, including ESL One Birmingham, DreamHack events and ESL One Cologne.
And the move online certainly seems to favour the underdogs, with data from leading esports betting site Luckbox showing a noticeable decrease in the number of matches ending with expected results.
Luckbox analysed data between March and July, comparing the expected outcome of matches based on pre-match the odds with the final results. The data was compared with the same period last year, when the events were held offline.
The biggest shift came in League of Legends, where 10% fewer matches went as expected, while in Dota 2 it was 5% and CS:GO saw a 3% decrease.
Luckbox’s Director of Sportsbook Metodi Zaburtov said: “Our data shows that we see an increased number of upsets when moving from LAN to Online.
“It’s especially for favorites in ranges 1.2-1.3 and 1.4-1.5, where the trends are clear – there are respectively 6.81% and 11.02% more upsets since the start of Covid-19 pandemic.”
“Apparently, the trend is continuing into August, as fans placing a bet on CS:GO during ESL One Cologne this month have already witnessed a big surprise with 125/1 shot Sprout progressing through their group to reach the playoffs with two stunning victories against the odds so far.”
Zaburtov said several factors could explain why upsets are more likely during online events.
He said: “Online matches are more susceptible to technical issues such as latency, which can sometimes prove a leveller – like a football match on a bad pitch.
“There is also the fact that players are often in their own homes, as opposed to being cheered on by thousands of fans. This often brings out the best in experienced players, while lower-level players might crumble under the pressure. Perhaps playing online suits smaller teams because there is less pressure.”
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Berlin-based initiative will embed researchers with teams and publish findings with partners including German Sport University Cologne.
G2 on 5 June 2026 announced the G2 Performance Lab, an applied research and innovation platform focused on performance development for its competitive rosters. The initiative is based in Berlin and has a dedicated site at.
The lab is launching with support from Red Bull and is designed to combine scientific research with day-to-day performance work across G2 teams. G2 said it intends to share outputs beyond the organisation through scientific publications and academic work with institutions including the German Sport University Cologne.
Launched earlier this year, the Performance Lab is led by PhD candidate and G2 Performance Coach Ismael Pedraza-Ramirez. Its first project, “A Space for Leaders”, focuses on leadership development across G2 staff and sits under one of four stated pillars: coaching and coach development. The other pillars are training design & delivery, player development, and performance health & support systems, with projects planned for 2026 involving academic contributors including German Sport University Cologne and Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
“As a long-standing partner of G2, Red Bull has played a central role in supporting the vision behind the G2 Performance Lab,” said Alban Dechelotte, G2 CEO. “Red Bull’s track record of investing in athlete performance and high-performance environments speaks for itself. Across traditional sports and esports alike, they share our ambition to build something truly impactful. When you have partners around the table who have that same mindset, it pushes ideas further, raises the standard, and helps challenge what’s possible.”
”The work we’re doing at the G2 Performance Lab is truly innovative for esports and sports, and is going to revolutionise how we approach performance improvement at G2 and beyond,” said Ismael Pedraza, Performance Lab Director and Performance Coach at G2. ”Elite esports competitors are incredible at what they do, yet they have the potential to go even further. Little is still known about how to properly develop them into world-class competitors, and we’re taking steps to change that with Red Bull’s support. Through robust scientific research and practical work, we’re designing the tools and building the infrastructure to bring out the best in our competitors, while also sharing our findings with the world to support the entire esports scene.”
The post G2 launches Performance Lab research unit backed by Red Bull appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETER has won the Esports Betting Supplier award at the EGR B2B Awards 2026, securing the category for the second consecutive year.
The company said the win is its fifth industry accolade of 2026. The EGR B2B Awards recognise suppliers serving the global iGaming sector across product quality, innovation, reliability and service.
BETER’s esports offering includes its exclusive ESportsBattle content, which it says delivers more than 550,000 events annually across eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey and eTennis, with up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+. The company also said ESportsBattle received ESIC Gold Standard Accreditation in 2025 and is now available in several US states, including Kentucky, New Jersey, Arizona, Florida and Colorado.
Separately, BETER said it has expanded its eFootball schedule with more than 4,200 monthly events “tailored to key US betting hours”. It also highlighted its Esports Odds Feed, which it says covers more than 450 tournaments globally and more than 40,000 pre-match and live events annually across titles including CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends and Valorant.
Adam Conway, General Manager of the Esports Business Unit at BETER, said: “Winning this award for the second year in a row is a proud moment for our team and a strong sign that operators continue to see the value of our esports products.
“Our products are built to give operators fast, reliable content that performs around the clock, not only during peak betting hours, while complementing traditional sports. That consistency is what makes the product so important in today’s sportsbook environment.
“We have continued to expand the portfolio, strengthen our US presence, and enhance our eFootball offering. Winning this category again reflects the trust that operators, partners, and the wider industry place in our products and people.
“This recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of teams across the business, including product development, trading, technology, integrity, operations, legal, commercial, marketing, and many others who contribute to our success every day. While we are proud of this achievement, it also motivates us to keep raising the bar, expanding further in regulated markets, and maintaining the high standards that have made BETER one of the industry’s leading providers of fast-paced betting content.”
The post BETER wins Esports Betting Supplier at EGR B2B Awards for second year appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Esportes Gaming Brasil director Hugo Baungartner used a panel appearance at BiS Brasília (Brazilian iGaming Summit) to argue that sports and cultural sponsorships should be measured by their long-term impact, not just brand visibility. Baungartner spoke during the session “A Importância dos Patrocínios e das Leis de Incentivo para a Sustentabilidade do Esporte e da Cultura.”
During the debate, Baungartner said sector maturity requires a long-term approach that turns sponsorships into platforms for relationship-building and local ecosystem development, connecting with fans, consumers and communities.
He highlighted the group’s sports partnerships with Corinthians, Ceará, Náutico and Ferroviária, as well as support for Brazilian cultural events including Carnaval, São João and the Festival de Parintins. Baungartner said major events can move entire supply chains by boosting tourism, commerce and job opportunities, and pointed to the importance of working with local suppliers and professionals in Parintins to expand the positive impacts of sponsorship spending.
Baungartner also addressed challenges in Brazil’s regulated betting market, saying consolidation depends on governance, integrity and consumer protection, alongside efforts to combat illegal operators. He said advances in provider regulation and stronger financial traceability mechanisms are important steps to limit unauthorized activity and improve user security.
“Patrocínio responsável é aquele que cria conexão real com o público e deixa legado no território. No esporte e na cultura, isso significa investir com governança, transparência e propósito, fortalecendo um ecossistema que gera renda, emprego e oportunidades”, afirmou.
The post Esportes Gaming Brasil exec calls for ‘responsible sponsorship’ at BiS Brasília appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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