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The evolution of pro-gaming is adding new standards to the whole industry

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The iGaming industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years, evolving from a niche market to a mainstream entertainment force. This evolution has not only reshaped the gaming landscape but has also created new opportunities for professional players and related professions. But does the igaming industry shape the pro-gaming scenario or is it happening the other way around?

The global iGaming industry has experienced exponential growth, driven by advancements in technology, increased internet accessibility, and changing consumer preferences. According to industry reports, the global online gambling market is expected to reach over $127 billion by 2027. This rapid expansion is fueled by the legalization of online gambling in several countries, the proliferation of mobile gaming, and the rise of new gaming formats such as crash games and virtual sports betting.

Gaming as a profession

For professional players, the trends have closely followed the growth driven by these evolving scenarios. According to data from Statista, the United States leads with the highest number of active professional players, followed by China and Brazil. This ranking mirrors the list of countries with the most gamers overall, highlighting the correlation between a large gaming population and the development of professional gaming talent. The increasing number of professional players in these countries underscores the expanding opportunities within the iGaming industry, driven by technological advancements, increased accessibility, and a growing acceptance of gaming as a legitimate career path.

However, striking the right balance between work and life can be tricky. Players like Larsen from the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) often work 14-hour days, making it one of the longest workweeks of any job in the United States. This intense schedule includes more than 12 hours of daily practice, with usually one day off per week. In addition to practice, players have obligations such as being available to sponsors and the media, and streaming their gameplay online for a contractually stipulated number of hours, which can be around 30 hours per month for teams like Team Liquid.

Financial rewards and recognition

The rewards for top players are substantial. Average salaries for LCS players are in the low- to mid-six figures, with Overwatch players earning an average bordering on six figures. These earnings are in addition to any prize money from competitions, with pools sometimes reaching into the tens of millions of dollars. 

In addition to salary and advertisement, major leagues also receive great payments from tournaments. In 2023, the greatest tournament prize pool was Dota 2, worth $30.82 million. This level of financial reward and recognition is transforming professional gaming into a lucrative career path.

The new standard in iGaming

Technological innovations are at the forefront of the iGaming industry’s evolution. The introduction of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is creating immersive gaming experiences that were previously unimaginable. These technologies allow players to engage in realistic environments, enhancing gaming experience. It improved the overall experience and love for traditional titles such as Resident Evil, Skyrim, Phasmofobia, and the VR-only title Beat Saber.

As per legalization and regulation of iGaming, it has played a crucial role in the industry’s growth in various regions. Countries that have embraced legal iGaming frameworks, such as the United Kingdom, Brazil, and several states in the U.S., have seen significant economic benefits. These regulations ensure fair play, protect consumers, and provide a secure environment for both players and operators. According to research by KTO, an online casino based in Brazil, the future of online gaming is being shaped by the expectations and behaviors of the players themselves. As the market progresses, there is an anticipation of games that not only offer quality entertainment but also reflect the cultural nuances and individual preferences of gamers. The iGaming community in countries like Brazil seeks to influence and see their ideas and preferences reflected in the games they consume.

The evolution of pro gaming is fundamentally reshaping the iGaming industry by setting new standards for professionalism and performance. Professional gamers, now regarded as athletes, adhere to rigorous training schedules, dedicating upwards of 14 hours a day to practice, strategy development, and physical conditioning. This level of commitment has introduced a new standard of discipline and excellence within the industry, comparable to traditional sports. The structured environment, complete with coaches, analysts, and support staff, mirrors that of professional sports teams, elevating the prestige and legitimacy of competitive gaming. As a result, the industry has attracted significant investments and sponsorships, further professionalizing the ecosystem and setting a high bar for aspiring gamers.

Moreover, the financial rewards and recognition associated with pro gaming are driving the industry towards unprecedented growth and innovation. This influx of skilled players is fostering intense competition and pushing developers to create more sophisticated and engaging games. The integration of streaming platforms and social media has also amplified the reach and influence of pro gamers, turning them into global influencers. This symbiotic relationship between pro gaming and the iGaming industry is propelling both sectors forward, establishing new standards for entertainment, engagement, and economic potential.

As the industry continues to evolve, it will likely become an even more integral part of the global entertainment landscape. For professional players and those aspiring to enter the field, the future looks promising, with the potential for substantial rewards and the chance to be at the forefront of a dynamic and rapidly growing industry.

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SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP LAUNCHES HALO CONTENT DESTINATIONS

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Spotlight Sports Group (SSG), a world-leading technology, content, and media company specialising in sports betting, has today announced the rebrand of its content site builds to ‘Halo Content Destinations’.

Halo – Spotlight Sports Group’s premium content destinations built for sports betting, horse racing and fantasy sports – evolved from the ever growing need for sports-related content.  While not every company has the technical resources to build specialist sites and provide bespoke, engaging content, Spotlight Sports Group does and it comes with decades of experience in the space.

Spotlight Sports Group content destinations have already been utilised by companies such as William Hill and Sky Bet, for major sporting events. Whilst always on site builds have been undertaken for Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life and a number of other global partners.

Halo is built on a proprietary platform and is an ideal solution for rights holders, sports media organisations, affiliates and operators who are seeking to leverage content for their wider business. The combination of the technical platform and the ability to create and manage the engaging and insightful content, which is available in any language, allows Halo Content Destinations to stand out as a leading content service in the sports, betting and fantasy sectors.

Sam Houlding, Director of B2B for Spotlight Sports Group, explained the importance of the Halo: “Content has become a non-negotiable for operators, affiliates and rights holders in the current climate and with the rebrand of our unique content destination offering to Halo, we want to put our name at the forefront of that conversation. With capabilities in any language, across multiple sports, SEO tools and access to quality sports data feeds, Halo Content Destinations is an all-in-one solution for anyone looking to increase fan engagement or monetise their offering via subscriptions or sports betting”.

Eliot Crist, CEO of Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life, shared the benefits of using Spotlight Sports Groups’ content solutions: “We talked with the team at Spotlight Sports Group and were able to get a site up within 45 days and immediately started to deliver value to the end user. From there we were able to build tools that our users were seeking to keep them on our platform.”

Spotlight Sports Group aims to support the global betting, horse racing and fantasy sports industries. To find out more about the services provided, including Halo Content Destinations, please visit spotlightsportsgroup.com/

 

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Oddsgate highlights success in data management for robust iGaming operations

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Oddsgate, a leading B2B iGaming platform, has shown the importance of careful planning through its expansion initiatives. The company is now highlighting another crucial element of its strategy: effective data management. This has been vital in reducing failures, risks, and losses in the large-scale operations it supports.

A well-structured data architecture is essential for sustaining large-scale operations like Oddsgate’s. The company has invested significantly in its technical team to ensure effective data management. Thanks to its extensive industry expertise, Oddsgate can swiftly and efficiently address complex challenges, demonstrating its ability to adapt and drive continuous innovation.

With cutting-edge technology and solid strategic management positions, Oddsgate is a trusted partner, offering a key differentiator: specialized business consulting services that enhance its clients’ operational success.

Among the most critical aspects of large-scale operations are managing high access volumes and conducting continuous reviews to ensure an excellent user experience, even during peak traffic.

Oddsgate understands the importance of mobile usability and believes that betting success depends on having an intuitive, user-friendly front end and a highly functional back end system.

The platform’s architecture is designed to create a more convenient, instinctive, and enjoyable betting environment with integrated gaming, payment systems, and affiliate networks. The platform offers a visually appealing interface that loads quickly and engages users.

Critical functions such as processing large volumes of data, including player statistics and team performance data collected from online sports sources, are efficiently managed on the back end.

The ability to provide real-time updates allows players to place bets based on the latest information. At the same time, the robust infrastructure ensures stability even in scenarios of high unpredictability in data traffic – one of the primary causes of platform failures.

Challenges of Unexpected Traffic and Scalability

Tiago Almeida, CEO of Oddsgate, emphasizes the importance of being prepared for unexpected challenges: “Influencers and affiliates often fail to launch campaigns as planned, resulting in unexpected spikes in website traffic.

For instance, a campaign expected to generate 10,000 hits in a day might occur the following day instead, catching them off guard. Additionally, CRM campaigns can also drive traffic at unforeseen times.”

He adds: “These sudden surges in requests can happen anytime, requiring an elastic infrastructure capable of scaling with demand. However, ensuring this is challenging due to latency, especially when servers are far from end users, such as outside Brazil. When multiplied by thousands of simultaneous users, latency can overload the system. The ideal solution is a self-scaling data architecture that prevents issues before support is needed. That’s our focus.”

Continuous Growth and Solid Results

Oddsgate remains confident in its performance, and the CEO emphasizes the company’s continuous growth potential: “In large-scale operations, we ensure system integrity, providing secure payment gateways, safeguarding user account and protecting financial data. Our numbers demonstrate our capability to meet these demands.”

In a recent report, the company highlighted its key results from August:

  • Monthly business volume among partners exceeded €1.3 billion;
  • Over 5 billion bets were processed in a single month;
  • 2.3 million active players with a stable infrastructure and no latency;
  • More than 24 million deposits and 6 million withdrawals were processed;
  • Achieved 99.99% uptime for partner sites and the game integration layer.

These results demonstrate Oddsgate’s readiness to take on new, complex, and large-scale operations, further solidifying its leadership position in the market and expanding into new territories that demand even greater attention to data management and operational efficiency.

 

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S8UL strikes big at MOBIES 2024; first Indian esports organisation to bag nominations in four categories

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S8UL Esports, India’s leading esports and gaming content organisation, continues to make waves on the global stage with multiple nominations at the prestigious MOBIES 2024 (Mobile Gaming Awards), set to take place on November 12th in Los Angeles.

The organisation, a three-time winner at the global Esports Awards, is now nominated in four key categories, highlighting its influence and growth within the esports and creator economy ecosystem.

S8UL’s Gaming Festival 2023, a two-day gaming spectacle that drew over 13,000 attendees from the Indian gaming community, has been recognized in the highly competitive “Live Event of the Year” category. This nomination alongside globally renowned events like the Esports World Cup, PMGC, Mobile Legends Bang Bang World Championship and more underscores the festival’s success in uniting the gaming community with engaging experiences and immersive content.

Adding to this remarkable achievement, Naman ‘Mortal’ Mathur, Co-Founder of S8UL and widely known as the ‘Face of Indian Gaming and Esports,’ has secured a nomination in the “Mobile Content Creator of the Year” category. Mortal’s continued dedication to the mobile gaming scene has earned him global recognition as a leader in the community at multiple international stages.

S8UL Esports also stands strong in the “Mobile Organisation of the Year” category, reinforcing its status as a trailblazer in the mobile gaming industry. The organization’s commitment to creating impactful, entertaining, engaging content and fostering a vibrant esports community has once again been acknowledged on the global stage.

Top S8UL content creators, Parv Singh aka Soul Regaltos and Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming, have been honoured with nominations for “Streamer of the Year” at MOBIES 2024. Their outstanding talent and passion have been instrumental in growing India’s esports culture, and this recognition is a testament to their influence and fan engagement in the gaming creator economy.

S8UL Esports continues to elevate Indian esports and the creator ecosystem on the world stage, driving innovation and community engagement in gaming and these nominations at the The MOBIES 2024 nominations further highlights the organization’s leadership and the individual contributions of its creators to the global gaming landscape.

Individuals can vote for team S8UL for MOBIES 2024 here: mobileawards.com/vote/

 

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