News

The esports industry spent years promoting record-breaking viewership as the ultimate indicator of success. Every major event boasted new highs—peak viewers, hours watched, concurrent streams, regional milestones. Yet in 2025, the disconnect between esports viewership and actual revenue has never been more obvious. Despite millions of fans tuning into competitive gaming, many organizations, leagues, and tournament operators are struggling to monetize effectively.

Bet365 has unveiled a specialized esports betting platform in collaboration with leading game publishers, introducing live betting, in-play options, and tailored features for competitive gaming events. This launch targets regulated markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, integrating seamless wagering on titles such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and Dota 2. The development enhances accessibility for global bettors and aligns with the sector's projected €5.2 billion valuation by 2029.

The esports industry is entering a new era—one in which human referees no longer bear the full responsibility for maintaining competitive integrity. In 2025, the rise of AI-powered officiating systems is redefining how rules are enforced across the global esports scene. From detecting illegal scripts to monitoring timing exploits and identifying suspicious behavior, AI referees are becoming central to the structure of competitive gaming. What once relied heavily on manual review and subjective judgment is now shifting toward automation, precision, and real-time decision-making.

Regulators and integrity bodies intensify efforts to educate stakeholders and combat match-fixing, fostering trust in emerging markets across APAC and EU.

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has integrated Rollbit into its tier 1 anti-corruption supporter program, bolstering global efforts to detect and deter match-fixing and suspicious betting in esports. This partnership equips ESIC with enhanced data-sharing capabilities from Rollbit's betting operations, enabling faster identification of irregularities across international tournaments. For the esports betting ecosystem, the collaboration underscores a proactive stance against corruption, fostering trust among operators, bettors, and stakeholders in regulated markets like the EU, UK, and Asia.

India's Supreme Court has directed the central government to respond within two weeks to a petition demanding a nationwide ban on over 2,000 online gambling and betting platforms masquerading as esports games. The order, issued on November 4, 2025, by Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, targets apps that exploit regulatory ambiguities to offer real-money wagering under the guise of skill-based gaming. This intervention highlights escalating concerns over consumer protection and financial crimes in one of Asia's fastest-growing digital markets, where esports betting has surged amid lax oversight.

GRID has unveiled GRID Bet, a dedicated esports betting solution designed to enhance operator offerings through exclusive data integrations and AI-driven tools. This launch coincides with leadership appointments and a strategic pivot toward deeper involvement in the global esports wagering ecosystem. The move addresses the growing demand for reliable, real-time betting products amid esports' projected $4.8 billion revenue milestone this year.

ESIC enforces sanctions against multiple players and teams for match-fixing, underscoring the need for robust anti-corruption measures in global esports betting markets.

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has unveiled enhanced anti-corruption measures to strengthen oversight in the rapidly growing esports betting ecosystem. Announced within the last 48 hours, these initiatives target match-fixing and betting fraud, reinforcing ESIC’s role as a global leader in safeguarding competitive integrity. This development signals a proactive step to protect operators, bettors, and the broader esports industry from illicit activities.

The Illinois government has introduced a new 50-cent tax per wager on sports betting, including esports, effective September 1, 2025. This regulatory change, enacted through recent legislation, applies to all bet sizes and has sparked debate among operators and bettors. The tax aims to boost state revenue but raises concerns about its impact on the growing esports betting market.

Recent developments at the Esports World Cup have highlighted both standout performances and surprising setbacks, capturing the attention of fans and bettors worldwide.

FURIA and LOUD are set to face off on August 30th during the LTA South Split 3 Elimination Stage, marking a pivotal moment in their quest to secure a spot at Worlds 2025. As both teams gear up for this high-stakes encounter, analysts note that while LOUD is climbing steadily towards a top-three ranking despite recent setbacks, FURIA has been grappling with underwhelming performances this season.

India is emerging as a powerhouse in esports, marked by historic milestones and ambitious industry plans. The nation recently celebrated its first-ever esports World Champion when Ved Bamb (Beelzeboy) claimed victory at the Pokémon GO World Championships.

Gamdom has rolled out an innovative sportsbook platform on August 25, 2025 that redefines online betting with real-time functionalities and mobile accessibility designed to engage its 16 million users. This launch underscores innovations in technology integration, secure payments, and a commitment to responsible gaming.

DATA.BET is set to showcase its state-of-the-art sportsbook technology at SBC Summit 2025, running from September 16 to 18. The event marks the first offline presentation of its complete sportsbook solution since its May launch, underscoring the company's commitment to enhancing the betting experience for both operators and clients.

The CS2 Esports World Cup 2025 kicks off in Riyadh from August 20–24, bringing a $1,000,000 prize pool and a brutal single-elimination format where every match is do-or-die. With top teams like Team Vitality, Team Spirit, and NAVI in the spotlight, fans can expect a week of intense clashes and shifting narratives.