The number of people interested in eSports betting grows daily because this sport provides many opportunities. You don’t need to be an experienced punter to notice that some eSports titles have lucrative markets and some of the highest odds. Yet, not everyone is willing to bet on eSports because they are afraid of a lot of things.
The data provided by www.uebas.net shows that some professionals in the betting industry are not keen on betting on eSports yet. “There is no arguing that eSports betting will have a crucial role in the future of sports betting. With more and more computer games to bet on, this thing will become the go-to option for everyone. However, there are a couple of downsides that users must know”, said Veselin, the eSports expert at Nostrabet.
Some of the more experienced online bettors are probably aware of the most common threats to the growth of the eSports betting industry. However, others haven’t considered those things, so let’s learn more about them.
Not enough detection systems and tools for fraud and cheating
There are all sorts of eSports titles that you can choose from. Most bookmakers provide games like CS:GO, Dota 2, Overwatch, League of Legends, and much more. Even though some of them are entirely different, they have a lot of things in common, such as the fact that most tournaments are held online. Even though some games have good anti-cheat systems, others are lacking in this department.
Unsurprisingly, people who like eSports betting are afraid of not punting someone who cheats. As a result, 51% of experts in the industry think that most eSports titles do not have an adequate detection system. They also believe that there aren’t enough tools to prevent from fraud and cheating.
Of course, not everyone is cheating because some of the biggest eSports tournaments are played in a LAN format. The International, for example, is Dota 2’s primary event of the year that gathers teams worldwide, and they play on the big stage. Unsurprisingly, it is almost impossible to cheat.
Sadly, many people who bet on lower-tier events on all sorts of games could find themselves in situations where they’ve wagered against a cheater. That’s why you have to be careful and do your research before betting.
No oversight of eSports from a governing body
Playing and betting against cheaters can be problematic, but it does not happen as often as some think. That’s why some eSports enthusiasts are afraid of other things, such as the lack of a governing body for eSports.
Unlike football or basketball, where every country has its own associations and regulations, eSports is different. The only authority that can make an impact on the game is the developer, which means that players and teams don’t really have to adhere to any strict regulations. Of course, there are many exceptions because some tournament organizers have certain rules that everyone has to follow while playing.
According to around 40% of betting professionals, the lack of a governing body for eSports is problematic. Game developers don’t need to adhere to specific rules, and the tournament organizers rarely impose sanctions on players who break the rules. Although this may not affect eSports betting, it is something that you need to take into account.
Esports betting limits
The betting limits are another thing that people assume is a threat to the growth of the eSports betting market. Unfortunately, not every top-tier online bookmaker realizes the importance and potential of eSports. Hence, some sites often impose all kinds of limits on those who bet on games like CSGO and Dota 2.
When talking about betting limits, you can expect to find a wide range of things. Some sports betting sites do not allow users to wager on multiple eSports titles, whereas others only have a few markets. There are also cases where bettors can’t use a specific bonus. Hence, 33% of betting experts are of the opinion that the betting limits will have a negative role in this industry’s growth.
The good news is that not all iGaming operators impose such restrictions. Users can come across eSports-exclusive bookies where they have access to everything they can choose from. Unsurprisingly, those places gain new fans daily.
Match-fixing
One of the biggest problems that definitely affects the growth of eSports betting is match-fixing. Albeit problematic in every sport, match-fixing is huge among some eSports titles, especially if you bet on games in certain regions. So, don’t be surprised that 24% of betting experts consider this to be a problem for the development of this industry.
One of the worst things about match-fixing in eSports is that it is tough to prove it. Even if you are 100% sure that a given team/player is losing on purpose, it will be almost impossible to prove it so he can be punished. Esports athletes who know how to play will fake everything and make sure that it seems like they lose normally.
An important thing to remember about match-fixing in eSports is that this is usually a problem among lower-tier competitions. Hence, wagering on the industry’s biggest events means you do not have to worry about this thing.
The lack of eSports knowledge
Despite the boom in eSports in the last couple of years, not everyone is familiar with them yet. In fact, some people still believe that playing computer games for a living is not a real job and that players are just wasting their time. Needless to say, this can’t be further from the truth.
The bad news is that not all experienced online bettors are aware of those things. Many of them prefer punting on football and other popular sports, despite the fact that eSports often provide better odds. As a result, 22% of betting experts believe that the lack of eSports knowledge harms the industry.
One of the reasons why people are not as familiar with eSports as they should be is because the big media outlets rarely share any information about them. Consequently, the only way to stay up-to-date is by reading information online. Sadly, not all bettors do that.
Betting on traditional sports matches is becoming popular yet again
Although the eSports betting industry has grown immensely in the last couple of years, not everyone has realized its potential yet. Consequently, many people interested in online betting have started wagering on traditional sports. Football is definitely the leader because almost every online bookmaker provides tons of matches, markets, and good odds.
Although these sports have many fans and a key role in online gambling, they negatively affect eSports’ popularity. That’s why 12% of betting experts believe this is a threat to the industry’s growth.
Other reasons
Aside from everything mentioned, 2% of the betting experts have stated other threats to the growth of the eSports industry. To be fair, there are several other things that users have to consider, such as the lack of strict regulations. This is somewhat related to the absence of a governing body because the game developers, players, and tournament organizers rarely have to adhere to any specific rules.
Despite all of the negatives, betting on eSports will probably continue to become more popular in the future. Besides betting on computer games, many operators also offer mobile betting options. The latter is becoming highly sought-after in many parts of the world, so it will definitely affect the betting industry.
