The popularity of eSports has grown immensely as the gaming industry continues to rapidly evolve at every turn. Multiplayer video game tournaments are now watched by thousands of spectators, wagered on, and streamed online all across the world. This world has grown into a proper competitive sport that requires just as much desire, passion, and skill as any athletic sport.
As the iGaming industry continues to grow in popularity, eSports enthusiasts and online gamblers can now actually bet on eSports, too. Since regulations in the US vary from state to state, finding online platforms isn’t always easy. However, offshore sportsbooks provide the opportunity for online betting across all major sports and events in a safe and secure digital environment (source: https://readwrite.com/gambling/betting/offshore-sportsbooks/).
With eSports becoming more and more popular in the digital age among players, punters, and fans, here’s a look at the most popular eSports to watch, play, and bet on in 2024.
There are a variety of factors that determine how popular an eSport is. Chief among these metrics are things like viewership numbers, the size of the prize pools, and which ones attract the most online betting. On those fronts, League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena game published by Riot Games.
It’s developed a huge following and has over 140 champions. It won The Game Award for Best eSports Game. By January 17, 2024, it had a prize pool in excess of $970,000.00 and over a million viewers.
As one of EA’s most iconic games, FIFA capitalizes on the world’s love affair with the beautiful game of football. Officially licensed and featuring the world’s most famous players, teams, stadiums, and exceptional gameplay, it’s a perfect fit to be an eSport since it's based on the world’s most popular sport.
It so far has a prize pool of half a million dollars and over 300,000 viewers. With the concept’s popularity naturally built into it by its source, it’s easily one of the most likable games a sports fan will ever come across.
Developer Respawn hit a home run with Apex Legends, which is set in the Titanfall universe. With a great selection of interesting, beautifully rendered characters, and amazing weapons to choose from, the game features clever communication tools and allows players to travel between its dimensions.
The game’s ongoing tournaments known as The Apex Legends Global Series continue to grow its popularity. It currently sits third on the eSports charts and has steadily growing viewership numbers in excess of 178,000. Billed as a free-to-play battle royale-hero shooter game, it’s currently bringing in higher viewership numbers than many games with far more legendary titles.
Call of Duty is such a title, one that needs no introduction, since it’s been one of the world’s most popular games since it was first published in 2003. A warfare simulator, it’s since grown into a full-blown media franchise.
While lagging in the eSports charts at fourth so far in 2024, it remains a colossus of the gaming and eSport worlds. There are so far over 130,000 viewers for its eSport tournament.
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