Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Betby Games.

Despite the perceived rivalry and comparisons between esports and traditional sports, the fanbases of these sectors often overlap. Delving into the trends reveals a significant intersection in the types of events that captivate fans, especially from a betting standpoint. Far from being competitors, esports and traditional sports can and do complement each other.

Recognizing this synergy, it’s crucial to construct a bridge between the worlds of esports and traditional sports, allowing them to coexist and enhance each other’s appeal towards creating a more holistic betting environment. Football, in particular, presents a prime opportunity to serve as this bridge.

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar, for instance, attracted nearly 3 million fans from around the globe, converging to witness the crème de la crème of international football. Such events, like the World Cup, are not just powerful drivers of economic growth but also pivotal in popularizing sports as a whole.

Moreover, the heightened excitement and interest generated by major sporting events consistently attract casual bettors to sportsbooks. This wave of interest often serves as a gateway into esports betting, especially through the medium of efootball competitions.

Using the Qatar World Cup as a point of reference, its unique timing during the peak winter football season left bookmakers with several days devoid of major league matches, as all the top leagues paused for the World Cup. This scenario led to a reduced offering of traditional events on bookmakers’ websites, compelling betting operators to seek out similar, appealing alternatives. E-football emerged as an ideal solution, filling the void left by the paused fixtures and maintaining bettor engagement. A similar shift was observed when multiple football competitions had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic a couple of years ago, thrusting football simulation video games into the spotlight. The heightened excitement after a major event often drives bettors to continue seeking betting opportunities even when live matches are not available.

Diving deeper into the topic of why esports complement traditional sports, one key reason is the constant availability of content. Having 24/7 access to betting opportunities significantly increases engagement among bettors who seek entertainment on their own schedule. Fast-paced efootball matches allow for more bets to be placed within a shorter period compared to traditional football games, which typically last 90 minutes. This has been a transformative development in the betting industry, catering to next-gen players who prefer quick results. Additionally, this variety of content provides bettors with more options and enhances the overall accessibility of the betting experience.

Furthermore, providing esports offerings that traditional bookmakers are familiar with can create an effective gateway into competitive gaming. When bookmakers start with a product they understand, they may be more inclined to explore more mainstream esports titles in the future.

From a betting perspective, a successful virtual sports game needs to offer players betting markets similar to those found in real sports. The presentation of odds should allow players to make informed decisions about different levels of risk and potential profit. Additionally, the format and duration of virtual sports games should enable quick game cycles, allowing players to complete bets in short periods.

A diverse array of bet types and a user-friendly interface are essential to maintaining a balance that provides exciting and engaging gameplay. Realism in graphics is vital to delivering a lifelike experience for players, while incorporating engaging gameplay features can further enhance the appeal of the games. The right combination of these elements is crucial to meeting users’ expectations for virtual games.

Essential components of any successful virtual game include high-quality, realistic graphics coupled with the excitement generated by frequent gameplay. Offering localized tournaments is also important to ensure they resonate with specific markets, which has proven to be highly effective for our partners who offer localized e-sim football tournaments to their players.

Ultimately, if implemented correctly, esports can serve as a complementary addition for bookmakers, running parallel to traditional sports offerings. This approach provides a more holistic and comprehensive betting experience, catering to a broader range of player preferences and ensuring continuous engagement. By embracing both traditional and esports betting, operators can offer a richer and more varied betting landscape, appealing to a wider audience and maximizing engagement.