eSports

CS:GO: how to make money on esports?

Published

5 years ago

June 15, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Despite still being a relatively young industry, the esports market is worth being invested in.

CS:GO is one of the most popular esports disciplines in the world. According to Statista, the most watched match of the CS:GO tournament, the group stage battle between Natus Vincere and Team Liquid, was watched by a peak audience of over 596,000 viewers. This peak viewer count is no doubt in part due to the coronavirus pandemic which spread across the world in 2020 and 2021. Andreas Højsleth, known by his online alias Xyp9x, a member of Astralis, has earned over $1.88M playing CS:GO competitively. His fellow countryman, Peter Rasmussen, who goes by the alias dupreeh, occupies first place with incomes of around $1.91M.

Still, is it possible to make money if you are not a pro player?

Long story short, the answer is yes. And that’s because CS:GO welcomes gaming amateurs and professionals to a captivating world that is easy to understand and play: two teams of five play as terrorists or counter-terrorists. The terrorists win if they defeat the counter-terrorist side or plant a bomb and have it detonate. The counter-terrorists can win by either deactivating the bomb or killing the terrorist team before the bomb is planted.

As mentioned before, the popularity of the CS:GO discipline is experiencing its ‘golden era’. So, for instance, the monthly number of CS:GO matches on the ESportsBattle platform has increased from 549 in 2020 to 2,214 in 2021.

Because of increased global demand, ESportsBattle decided to expand its horizons and became the first platform to launch 1×1 CS:GO matches, ensuring CS:GO newcomers an opportunity to have a shot at it. Previously, ESportsBattle had only a 5×5 format and later became the first to introduce 2×2 CS:GO matches.

This variety of formats and modes allows pro and amateur players to participate in Esportsbattle tournaments, as well develop their skills.

Another scenario for making money in esports is betting

There are plenty of betting operators who allow their customers to place bets on CS:GO, among them Fortuna, Fonbet, Lootbet, Parimatch, EveryMatrix etc. This is an extremely simple game and one of the best for newcomers to esports.

You can place a bet on the outcome of the competitive game or just choose your favorite event. For instance:

Match winner (2-way or 3-way)
Match handicap
Total maps
Correct map score
Map winner (2-way and 3-way)
Total Rounds
Rounds Handicap
Rounds Winner
Team 1 Total
Team 2 Total
Total Rounds Odd/Even
To Go to Overtime

The number of outcomes and denominations depends on the match format (Bo1, Bo2, Bo3, Bo5).

Of course, there are many more options because each esports discipline has its characteristics that betting companies take into account. It is also possible to bet on the results of an entire tournament or in ‘live’ (when the match is already underway). That is, the variety of esports events available for bettors is second to none.

ESportsBattle — esports tournaments of the most sought-after and profitable disciplines that fill free sportsbook’s airtime with high-quality, engaging, and fast content 24/7, educational project, and own media with events’ overviews popular with players, fans, bettors.

We offer 15,000 events per month in the following disciplines: efootball, ebasketball, eice hockey, CS:GO.

Dota 2

Global Esports Prize Pools Exceed $270M in 2025

Published

9 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

global-esports-prize-pools-exceed-$270m-in-2025

Global esports prize pools exceeded $270 million in 2025, a 15.5% increase year-over-year, according to new research from eSportRanker. Despite this growth, prize money remains concentrated. Saudi Arabia, China and the US together hosted roughly half of all prize money across the world’s top ten esports nations, highlighting how a few markets dominate major tournament hosting.

The analysis draws on Esports Charts host-country data covering more than 10,500 tournaments across 100+ esports titles worldwide. The research examines not only how much prize money was distributed, but where tournaments were hosted and what structural factors allowed certain countries to rise to the top.

Saudi Arabia ranked first globally with $39.66 million in hosted prize pools, driven largely by the Esports World Cup circuit in Riyadh, which staged tournaments across titles including Dota 2, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Honor of Kings.

China ranked second with $34.82 million, supported by its publisher-controlled domestic league system, including Tencent’s King Pro League Grand Finals 2025, which alone carried a prize pool of nearly $10 million.

The US placed third with $23.12 million, reflecting a diversified esports ecosystem with tournaments across multiple publishers and game genres.

The top ten countries by hosted esports prize pools in 2025 were:

Saudi Arabia — $39.66M

China — $34.82M

United States — $23.12M

Romania — $7.79M

France — $7.57M

Thailand — $7.11M

Canada — $5.28M

Germany — $5.22M

South Korea — $5.03M

Japan — $4.28M

Beyond the leading three markets, prize money drops sharply. The remaining seven countries together accounted for just over $47 million, illustrating the concentration at the top of the global esports hosting landscape.

The research also highlights several structural patterns behind these rankings. Sovereign investment programmes, such as those in Saudi Arabia, can rapidly elevate a country’s esports position. Publisher-controlled ecosystems, as seen in China, generate recurring prize pools. Meanwhile, countries like Romania and Germany reached the top ten by consistently hosting international events rather than relying on single flagship tournaments.

The post Global Esports Prize Pools Exceed $270M in 2025 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETBY

BETBY Expands E-Sim Portfolio with Three Industry-First Titles: eHockey, eMMA and eTeqball

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

betby-expands-e-sim-portfolio-with-three-industry-first-titles:-ehockey,-emma-and-eteqball

Tier 1 sportsbook supplier BETBY has expanded its proprietary esports feed, Betby.Games, with the launch of three industry-first e-sim titles: eHockey, eMMA and eTeqball. The new releases further strengthen BETBY’s high-frequency betting content portfolio, introducing new sports verticals while continuing to deliver fast-paced, always-on content designed to maximise engagement for operators and players worldwide.

Each of the new titles debuts as a first-of-its-kind esports simulation in the betting industry, reinforcing BETBY’s reputation as a pioneer in developing original betting content.

eHockey launches with four tournaments representing the NHL’s divisions: Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, and Pacific. Each match follows a format of three periods lasting three minutes each, delivering uninterrupted action with no stoppages. Designed to replicate the intensity of real hockey, the title offers 15+ betting markets and is expected to generate over 11,000 matches per month, ensuring a constant flow of high-frequency betting opportunities. Arriving just ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs next month, the new title allows hockey fans to stay immersed in the sport 24/7, extending engagement beyond real-world fixtures.

eMMA introduces a fast-paced combat sports experience featuring two tournaments: UFC Legends and UFC Women Legends, where some of the sport’s most iconic fighters face off in simulated matchups. By bringing together well-known names from MMA history, the title creates an instantly familiar environment for fans and bettors alike. The format focuses on quick fights, with each matchup consisting of a single round lasting around one to two minutes on average. Events begin every five minutes, ensuring continuous action throughout the day. Betting markets focus on the fight winner, creating a simple yet highly engaging wagering experience. Combined, the two tournaments are expected to deliver around 15,000 events per month.

Completing the trio is eTeqball, which introduces a brand-new sport to the Betby.Games portfolio. Combining elements of football and table tennis, the rapidly growing discipline brings a unique dynamic to esports simulations. The title launches with the TQX Cup Hungary – Double Mixed tournament, generating around 1800 matches per month. Each match consists of two games played up to 12 points, with over 20 betting markets available.

Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Innovation & R&D at BETBY, said: “Creating original content has always been at the core of the Betby.Games vision. With Hockey, MMA, and Teqball, we’re introducing three industry-first titles that further diversify our portfolio and bring new experiences to esports betting. Each of these games offers fast gameplay, clear betting mechanics, and a constant stream of events, helping operators keep players engaged 24/7.”

The post BETBY Expands E-Sim Portfolio with Three Industry-First Titles: eHockey, eMMA and eTeqball appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

B2B iGaming

Logifuture Joins Forces with BetConstruct AI to Expand Virtual Sports

Published

2 weeks ago

March 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

logifuture-joins-forces-with-betconstruct-ai-to-expand-virtual-sports

Logifuture, a leading B2B provider of virtual sports and instant gaming solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with BetConstruct AI, a global iGaming platform powering hundreds of operators worldwide. This collaboration integrates Logifuture’s flagship products, Zoom Sports and Simulate, into BetConstruct AI’s platform, significantly expanding access to innovative engagement tools for operators.

Expanding Global Reach

The partnership enables operators to offer next-generation virtual sports and instant betting solutions, enhancing player activity and generating incremental revenue.

Zoom Sports delivers ultra-realistic virtual football and tennis events in both full-length and turbo formats, offering thousands of daily betting opportunities.
Simulate allows players to instantly simulate the outcome of betslips, removing waiting times and creating immediate engagement.

These tools extend player retention, increase betting activity beyond live events, and create cross-sell opportunities across the BetConstruct AI network.

Innovation at the Core

Both Logifuture and BetConstruct AI prioritize innovation and product differentiation, helping operators stand out in a highly competitive market.

Niccolò Cassettari, Chief Business Development Officer at Logifuture, commented:
“Partnering with BetConstruct AI is a major step forward. Their global reach makes them the ideal partner to scale Zoom Sports and Simulate worldwide. This collaboration is just the beginning of a long-term partnership to deliver new experiences and stronger operator performance.”

Looking Ahead

The partnership will focus on expanding distribution, delivering new gaming experiences, and introducing innovative products to keep players engaged while helping operators grow revenue worldwide.

The post Logifuture Joins Forces with BetConstruct AI to Expand Virtual Sports appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.