With 2022 ending, unconventional circuits like eSports find themselves becoming part of the mainstream industry. The eSports community witnessed several milestones during the year, one of them being House Bill 4826.
Passed by West Virginia lawmakers, the bill is an amendment that appeals to the state, making sports betting legal. It also allows game operators to accept bets on global eSports events.
Besides this, the industry also witnessed the Nevada Gaming Control Board entertaining the idea of permitting eSports betting in 2023. On that note, let’s take a look at the top stories that defined the eSports industry in 2022:
Twitch Takes a Stand Against Gambling Content
Everyone was surprised by Twitch’s strong stance against gambling content, as several of the platform’s most popular creators thrived through gambling content. Robot was among the platforms that were banned by Twitch, which came right after its partnership termination with Astralis.
GG.Bet Making Headlines Across the Domain
As one of the most popular betting platforms, GG.Bet took the center stage by sponsoring Dota 2’s biggest competition, The International 2022. The platform collaborated with Andrew Jenkins, Torte de Lini, James Banks, and Team Vitality for the event.
Midnite Raising 16 Million Dollars in Funding
Midnite shook the industry by concluding a whopping 16-million dollar funding round. The company also partnered with LOUD, the popular Brazilian team, to boost its market presence.
EEG Closing Curtains on VIE.gg
A couple of months ago, EEG announced it was shutting down its popular venture, VIE.gg. However, the company also earned a significant incentive by acquiring a betting license in New Jersey.
Rivalry Breaking the Cycle of Continuous Loss
With the eSports industry and the global market in general under pressure, Rivalry showcased major profits in October. The company also reported improved betting handle and revenue in 2022 Q3. They topped it all off by releasing a Dota 2 team with Blacklist International.
Casinos Supporting eSports Content
Aside from bookmarkers, a number of well-known casinos have entered the eSports market. Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, the US-based casino, released the initiative “eSports After Dark” in 2022. Similarly, BC.Game partnered with Cloud9, entering a multi-year deal that promised collaborative content.
Going into 2023, eSports enthusiasts are expecting more partnerships and collaborations between casinos and competitive projects.
