The Ultimate Guide to Esports and iGaming

One of the biggest tech and entertainment sectors on the planet right now, we can’t ignore gaming - nor do we want to. The industry could be worth as much as $189 billion by the end of the year. That boils down to a whole lot of people downloading and playing games!

The truly impressive thing about this? Digital gaming is still sort of a teenager compared to other mainstream forms of entertainment like music. The biggest developments have all been in the past three decades, so all the Elder Millennials and Gen X’ers out there have been alive long enough to see gaming go from niche hobby to global empire.

This has, of course, triggered some major tech innovations, with the way we play and consume games going from expensive home consoles to smartphones in just a blink. Meanwhile, as gaming activities have shot up in popularity, the variety of gaming markets has expanded too. We’re focusing on two sectors today: esports and iGaming.

What Is iGaming

Although it can cover a few different industries - basically any online gambling and real money activities, from sports betting to lotteries - most gamers associate the term with online casino gaming. Think poker, blackjack, slots, and roulette.

That’s not all, though. The variety of casino games that are now playable in the digital realm is hard to estimate - it’s far more than you can typically find at your local brick-and-mortar casino. It’s this variety, and the fact that playing real money games online throws any barriers to access out the window, which contributes to its popularity among gaming communities.

Getting Started with iGaming

Not sure where to start? The joy of iGaming is that you don’t need to be an expert! There are loads of demo modes out there where you can try a selection of games like slots or blackjack for free before putting any real money on the line. This way, you can learn the rules, figure out the flow of the game, and start honing your approach.

The key to excelling in any online casino vertical is consistency and understanding everything that’s in play. Don’t make the mistake of thinking everything is about chance. Sure, games like online slots are completely random, but card and table games including poker and blackjack actually have layers of strategy to them.

First up, familiarity. You need to know the rules. You need to get a sense of the odds. Blackjack, for instance, has three potential outcomes: player win, dealer win, or a push. Knowing the probabilities of all three can help you calculate when to hit or stand in a game.

Maximizing Your Wins

Okay, so say you’ve developed a good grasp of the intricacies, rules, and odds of a game. What next? You can maximize your potential for wins by playing strategically. Ask any casino or poker pro the secret to their success and you’ll soon learn it’s about crafting and sticking to a responsive strategy.

If that sounds a little too complex, here’s a basic strategy to start with: bankroll management. What does this mean? Basically, you set limits for how much you’re willing to wager and you stick to it. This ensures that your gaming sessions remain fun and sustainable.

Esports: Pro Video Gaming

Next esports. The competitive gaming sector where accomplished players battle it out on the professional stage.

Over the past decade, esports has exploded in popularity. We’ve seen a constant raising of the stakes as video games are turned them into a spectator sport. We’re talking live tournaments in stadiums and arenas, captive audiences from around the globe, and multi-million dollar prize pools on offer. Electronic sports aren't called sports for nothing!

What Makes a Game an Esport?

Electronic sports are competitions contested in the digital realms of video games, but not all video games are considered esports. What is it about certain titles, then, that classifies them as recognized esports?

Well, first, the game needs to be competitively balanced. It’s got to offer a level playing field in which success is determined by the skill of a player and not by having an advantageous character or in-game attributes. League of Legends - a super established esport - demonstrates this aspect well.

Speaking of skill, games in the esports sector have what is deemed a high skill ceiling, meaning they’re not just your run-of-the-mill platform game.

Look at a title like Dota 2, for instance. While it’s beginner-friendly (to some extent), there’s ample opportunity for improvement and mastery. No wonder, then, that The International tournament has some of the biggest prize pools and attracts elite-level players in the esports scene.

Climbing the Ranks

If you're serious about getting good at esports, the bad news is there's no shortcut. You have to know the game you want to compete in inside and out. The good news, if you’re a keen gamer, is that to do this, you need to play more and learn more. Watch tournament streams, study the top players in the field, and break down their tactics.

Grinding is all part of the process. Whether you’re mastering micro gameplay in LoL or perfecting your aim in VALORANT, all these moments add up.