Esports Wagering Market Set to Double by 2028, Report Finds

A Fast-Growing Niche Goes Mainstream

A newly published market report projects that global esports wagering handle will roughly double over the next two years as more jurisdictions bring the category under regulated sportsbook licenses.

Key Findings

• Regulated esports betting handle is projected to grow at a compound annual rate well above traditional sports betting
• Titles like competitive shooters and MOBAs dominate current betting volume
• Younger bettors are significantly more likely to wager on esports than any other demographic

Operators Race to Add Markets

Several major sportsbooks have expanded their esports betting menus this year, adding live in-play markets for major tournaments. "Esports bettors expect the same live, granular markets they'd get on a football game," one sportsbook trading manager explained.

Challenges Remain

The report also flags integrity concerns, noting that match-fixing risks are harder to monitor in esports due to fragmented tournament organizers and inconsistent data feeds. Several regulators have called for standardized integrity monitoring across titles.

The Takeaway

As esports viewership continues to climb globally, regulated betting markets are following closely behind, with operators positioning themselves early to capture a young, digitally native audience.