eSports
The Russian esports audience has grown to 15.4 million people in 2020
Nielsen Sports, a leading provider of analytical information and statistics in the sports industry, shared the results of a new Russian esports audience research in his speech at the ESforce Morning Show online conference. According to the company, the audience of esports fans in Russia for 2020 increased by 28% and amounted to 15.4 million people aged 13 and over.
According to a new research, among esports fans, 64% of men and 36% of women, the average audience income is 41,700 rubles per person. In 2020, Nielsen Sports analysts found a significant increase in fans: 25% of fans surveyed began to follow matches during the past year, of which 54% are girls and women.
Michael Heina, Head of esports International at Nielsen Sports: “Esports has a strong fanbase in Russia and as our research shows it is still growing. The growth even got a boost during the global pandemic, as many people turned to gaming as a good and entertaining way to spend their time. And as the growing number of esports fans in Russia shows many of these gamers also discovered how fun it is to follow esports. But, it will be crucial for the rights holders to keep the fans interested and offer them many and attractive ways to engage with their favorite topic so they don’t lose interest.
But not only young males love esports, as many people think, we also see more and more female fans. This is a global trend but the effect is outstandingly strong in Russia”.
Sergey Barkhudaryan, Commercial Director of ESforce Holding: “Such a significant increase in the audience was not a surprise for us, it is in line with our annual forecast for the development of the industry. The entire industry works every day to promote esports and fight for the attention of a wider audience. We try to be relevant to people of different ages, preferences, and interests. ESforce is constantly working on studying the esports audience, as it is critical for us to be transparent and effective for our partners. Of course, our partners also play an important role in the growth of the industry, as they focus their advertising campaigns not only on the target audience of esports, but also on a wider audience of their potential customers and consumers, thereby popularizing the industry. I am sure that in 2021 we will see even more new brands and interesting projects on the territory of esports”.
Nielsen Sports, the global division of Nielsen, is an independent provider of analytics and consulting in the areas of fan research, sports marketing, and sponsorship. Nielsen has previously launched a global online platform, Fan Insights, where copyright holders, brand sponsors and organizers of sports events will be able to get comprehensive information about the audience of various sports around the world: their interests, brand attitudes, media consumption and buying habits.
ESforce Holding is one of the biggest esports organizations in the world and the leader of the Russian esports. The holding company unites all esports business key areas: from its own professional esports club to organization of international tournaments, and from content creation and broadcasting to advertising and infrastructure projects.
ESforce Holding’s business include:
● Virtus.pro, the most renowned and popular esports club in Russia;
● RuHub Studio, the leading Russian-speaking esports broadcasting studio;
● Cybersport.ru, the main esports media in CIS;
● EPICENTER, the largest esports tournament series in CIS;
● Yota Arena, esports-entertainment venue.
ESforce’s resources cover more than 90% of the esports audience in Russia and CIS, as well as a significant segment of the international audience. A marketing agency — a member of the holding — ensures the synergy of the holding’s business units with the clients and partners in mind.
Powered by WPeMatico
Aquisitions/Mergers
GRID Acquires Bayes Esports Assets

Reading Time: < 1 minute
GRID, a game data and technology platform, has acquired the intellectual property assets of Bayes Esports following the company’s liquidation proceedings and will integrate the technology into its GRID Bet division.
The acquisition integrates strategic technology components developed by Bayes over nearly a decade, including live data trading solutions, prediction models, and fan engagement tools, into the GRID Data Platform. These technologies will now be powered exclusively by official esports data available only on GRID, accelerating product development and driving innovation across GRID’s entire portfolio, with a particular focus on GRID Bet, the company’s comprehensive solution for regulated esports betting.
“The acquisition of Bayes assets further accelerates GRIDs capabilities to create value for rights holders in esports and shape the next phase of esports betting in particular,” said Moritz Maurer, Founder & CEO of GRID.
The post GRID Acquires Bayes Esports Assets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BETBY
BETBY CELEBRATES SUCCESS AT SBC SUMMIT LISBON 2025 WITH ESPORTS SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Reading Time: < 1 minute
BETBY, a Tier 1 sportsbook supplier, successfully concluded an impactful presence at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, where its booth became a central hub for clients, partners, and industry professionals. The summit served as a powerful platform for the company to spark new connections, exchange ideas, and engage in discussions on the latest trends shaping the global betting and gaming industry.
Positioned as “the global gaming and betting industry comes to do business,” SBC Summit provided the ideal stage for BETBY to showcase its cutting-edge sportsbook technology and innovative solutions. Visitors to the BETBY booth experienced first-hand the company’s latest tools designed to empower operators with robust, scalable, and future-proof technology.
The highlight of the event came as BETBY was honoured with the prestigious Esports Supplier of the Year Award. This accolade reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and high-performing solutions that address the evolving needs of sportsbook operators worldwide.
“Being recognised as Esports Supplier of the Year at the SBC Summit is an incredible achievement for our team,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO at BETBY. “It validates our focus on pushing technological boundaries and our mission to create solutions that bring real value to operators and their players. SBC Summit not only provided BETBY with the opportunity to highlight its achievements but also reaffirmed its position as an industry leader driving innovation in sportsbook technology.”
As BETBY looks ahead, the company is already preparing for its next major industry showcase at the SiGMA Europe Summit in November 2025, which for the first time will be held in Rome. There, BETBY will once again present its cutting-edge tools, insights, and expertise to operators across the globe.
The post BETBY CELEBRATES SUCCESS AT SBC SUMMIT LISBON 2025 WITH ESPORTS SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ASUS Republic of Gamers
ASUS Republic of Gamers Partners with PlayVS

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG), the ASUS sub-brand creating the world’s best gaming hardware and software, and PlayVS, North America’s leading scholastic and collegiate esports platform, announced a new partnership to deliver premium gaming technology for the PlayVS Championship League (PCL) during the 2025-26 collegiate season. ROG will champion PCL’s marquee live events by equipping athletes with its flagship products including the ROG G700, ROG GM700, along with other ROG products. These desktops, along with future models, will be powering the mainstages of all the tournaments, including floor practice and mainstage setups. ROG gaming PCs will guarantee powerful, industry leading performance for PlayVS’ College league, the largest collegiate esports league in the nation supporting student-participants at over 900 college campuses.
Through this partnership, ROG aims to deepen its commitment to education by supporting esports as a powerful tool for student growth. The initiative helps students foster critical skills like teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking, while also opening doors to careers in STEM, game design and content creation. By delivering elite gaming setups and immersive experiences, ROG drives engagement and empowers the next generation of digital innovators.
“Republic of Gamers has always been about pushing the limits of gaming performance. Partnering with PlayVS and the PCL allows us to empower the next generation of esports athletes with the hardware and experiences they need to reach their full potential, build valuable skills, and prepare for future careers in the digital world,” said Benjamin Yeh, ASUS Computer International President.
Kicking off the partnership, ASUS devices will be powering the inaugural PlayVS College League (PCL) Fall Championships, taking place December 13–14, 2025 at The University of Akron. The first PCL Fall Championships will feature top collegiate esports teams from across the US and Canada over a two-day event. Players will compete on ROG-powered setups in front of a live audience, with matches broadcast on Twitch to thousands of fans worldwide.
“At PlayVS, we are committed to giving student-athletes the very best environment and experience to showcase their talent. Partnering with ASUS Republic of Gamers ensures our players have access to the most advanced gaming technology available, creating unforgettable live experiences for competitors and fans alike,” said Jon Chapman, CEO at PlayVS.
With this collaboration, PCL Championships will not only showcase elite collegiate competition but also highlight the role of the newest technology shaping the future of esports.
The post ASUS Republic of Gamers Partners with PlayVS appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
ACMA5 days ago
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites
-
ABSG5 days ago
UK Gambling Commission to close Advisory Board for Safer Gambling
-
ArenaPlus4 days ago
DigiPlus Announces Partnership with PhilFirst
-
Asia4 days ago
Gamban Now Available in Japanese
-
Baltics4 days ago
HIPTHER Baltics 2026: Powering iGaming & Tech Connections Through 3 Premier Events
-
BETBY5 days ago
BETBY CELEBRATES SUCCESS AT SBC SUMMIT LISBON 2025 WITH ESPORTS SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
-
Johann Schembri5 days ago
National Lottery of Malta Joins ULIS
-
Latest News5 days ago
FROM PIXELS TO POLICY – THE ULTIMATE SHOWCASE OF EUROPE’S VIDEO GAMES SECTOR