Electronic sports, also known for short as eSports, are the competitive subset of video gaming. The popularity of eSports has surged in the past few years, drawing myriads of viewers and transforming casual gamers into professional eSports competitors who make their living by sitting in front of their screens. So, eSports: yay or nay? Read our post to find out more!
eSports: Basics
Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Essentially, eSports are video games played in a competitive mode. Teams compete against each other in regular or impromptu events with the goal of winning cash prizes.
This genre has become su-u-uper popular in recent years due to the evolution of the core relationship that young adults have with sports in general. They enjoy doing sports from their comfy beanbags! Courts and fields are definitely outdated. The popularity of traditional sports is fading, while the number of eSports aficionados is surging.
Video Games That Qualify as eSports
This is a complicated issue to review. Despite its recent popularity, electronic sport is quite challenging to define. When it comes to gaming and eSports, it is often unclear where one ends and the other begins. eSports is basically competitive gaming; however, not every competitive game is regarded as an eSport. Tricky, huh? Below is the list of the big-league eSport games that even random people heard of:
- League of Legends
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
- Dota 2
- StarCraft II
- Overwatch 2
- Fortnite
All things considered, video games turn into eSports when they offer a competitive scene, a devoted player base, and the infrastructure to hold official tournaments and events. Of course, as the industry develops, more games are added to the list, reflecting eSports growing popularity.
Where to Watch
Most popular betting platforms offer eSports options both for viewing and for betting. However, the African region is not yet profoundly developed in terms of electronic sports (in the section below, we will explain the reason for that). We will name a few bookies that offer betting on eSports in Kenya.
1xBet
1xBet is probably the most well-known online betting giant worldwide, including Kenya. Kenyan punters adore this platform due to its versatility and intuitive interface. Plus, the bookie is 100% safe and secure in terms of executing payments and storing your private details.
22Bet
22Bet is one of the most-loved bookmakers in Kenya. And you know why? It offers everything online wagering has to offer, you name it. The platform boasts a plethora of betting markets on all eGames, easy payment options, fast deposits and withdrawals, and even a special loyalty program for devoted punters.
Kwikbet
Kwikbet is a kinda new addition to the online betting arena in Kenya. The bookie was launched in 2017 and has gained a reputation as a trustworthy platform since then. Aside from traditional betting, here you can bet on eSports and choose from a total of 97 leagues. To wager on the go, you can download the neat and user-friendly Kwikbet app available for Android phones and tablets. The app is a blast!
eSports Betting
Similar to conventional sports betting, in eSports, punters place bets on the team or individual they believe will succeed and win. Betting platforms that offer betting on eSports provide various betting options and markets.
eSports Teams
The Internet is booming with websites that offer in-depth statistical data about eSports teams worldwide and their rating. For your information, we share a list of top 10 teams:
- Natus Vincere
- G2 Esports
- Astralis
- FaZe Clan
- Team Liquid
- Team Vitality
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- MOUZ
- Cloud9
- Fnatic
Players of the Industry
This industry leans on five pillars:
- Developers
The basic element of the ecosystem, developers are businesses that use their resources to create and promote video games. Also, they handle distribution issues by negotiating deals with platforms, distributors, and retailers. - Competition organizers
Organizers get the necessary licenses to plan and broadcast eSport competitions, schedule the lineup, and create amateur and professional tournaments in accordance with the guidelines set by developers. - Teams
The teams are associations that choose and invite players to participate in competitions on their behalf. Most teams are not linked to one game or league only. - Professional players
Great players get hired by team managers to take part in leagues, tournaments, and competitions. - Audience
There is no fun competition without devoted viewers and bettors. They provide their emotional support and create a vibe of excitement during the tournament.
eSports: What’s the Catch
eSports are an attraction for a plethora of reasons. The main factor is probably its social component. Any gamer can easily connect with professional gamers via social media sites like Twitch, YouTube, and Discord.
eSports vs. Traditional Sports
eSports are in many ways different from traditional sports.
However, the main difference is not obvious to many. See, in contrast to physical sports, available to everyone at any time, eSports are dependent on the decisions made by their developers. You will never be able to play your favorite online game if its developer decides to shut it down completely. Usually, such decisions are made to stop losing money from running an unprofitable product or give way to a new project. Developers are the only ones who own the IP rights to the games.
If your region is showing little promise to the developer, they will not provide servers, which will result in major lags. Players from such regions will not stand a chance to enter the professional realm or even enjoy playing their favorite game if the developer decides it makes no financial sense to service their particular area.
For this particular reason, African countries are only developing in terms of offering watching and betting on eSports.
Conclusion
As you can see, eSports are vibrant initiatives that are gaining popularity and drawing thousands of enthusiasts. At some point, eGames were largely disregarded and are only now getting the credit they deserve. By reading our review, you can understand the basics of the industry and probably try your luck!
