Based on the Abios Leaderboard 2023 report, it was found that Counter-Strike comprised the majority, accounting for 56% of all eSports wagers on the Kambi Network in 2023. Following closely behind were two eSports games: League of Legends (LoL) with 24% and Dota 2 with 14%.
Data provided by Abios shows that Valorant accounted for 3% of the betting turnover, making it the fourth most popular game. The information was sourced from Kambi-powered sportsbooks operating in regulated markets. According to its website, Kambi has a presence on six continents and collaborates with over 40 operators.
In terms of the wagered leagues in Counter-Strike, the Intel Extreme Masters held a 10% share of the betting turnover across the Kambi network, while the ESL Pro League followed closely with a 9% share in 2023.
Counter-Strike was the most bet-worthy in both North America and Europe. On the other hand, League of Legends dominated the gaming scene among Latin American consumers. Notably, Mobile Legend: Bang Bang secured the spot for popularity in LATAM, while Starcraft 2 claimed ninth place in both NA and Europe.
These are the five teams that were considered favorites throughout the year in Counter Strike:
- G2 Esports
- Team Vitality
- FaZe Clan
- Team Liquid
- Cloud9
Match Odds is topping the eSports betting market, followed by Map Handicap and Total Kills (player proposition).
In addition to providing statistics for 2023, the report also highlighted developments that could impact the eSports betting market in 2024. It discusses the impact of betting markets on the eSports ecosystem and the role co-streaming can play in the industry.
eSports titles experienced growth in 2023
For instance, League of Legends reached its peak with 6.4 million viewers, showing a 25% year-on-year increase. Additionally, Counter Strike saw records tied to its player base before the CS2 release, with a peak of 1.8 million players in 2023.
There were also acknowledgments given to player propositions (betting on players) and the distinction between pre-match and live eSports betting. According to the Abios report, 60% of all bets placed are centered around live, in-play wagers.
The CS eSports tournaments that garnered betting attention in 2023 were quite predictable, as stated by the eSportsBets platform. Leading the pack was IEM, followed closely by the ESL Pro League and BLAST Premier.
In the Abios report on industry performance in 2022, things remained largely unchanged. For example, the top five eSports games remained identical. A few League of Legends tournaments and teams managed to secure their positions in the rankings for eSports bets.
According to Niclas Sundell, Abios’ Head of Sales, “As esports continues to mature and become an integrated part of any modern online sports betting offering, it is essential for sportsbooks and other industry leaders to understand what products and services esports fans are looking for.”
LoL downsizes 11%
In another related development, League of Legends creator Riot Games has laid off 11% of their staff.
In a message to the employees released on Monday evening, CEO Dylan Jadeja and cofounder of Riot Games Marc Merrill stated that the decision was made with the intention of “prioritizing our goals and working towards a stable future.”
They mentioned that 530 positions were being terminated, making up 11% of the company’s workforce. It is important to note that Riot Games is under the ownership of the Chinese technology giant Tencent.
Ultimately, it’s fascinating to observe the direction in which esports betting is heading as the industry continues to grow.
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