Professional gaming represents an exciting industry that is steadily growing in popularity, as eSports statistics clearly show. Since the first eSports event in 1972, playing and watching online games attracts more and more people each year.
So, how big is the eSports market? How does it generate revenue? How popular is it? What about betting on eSports? We have the answer to these questions and much more, so keep reading.
eSports Market Statistics: The State of the Market
We have collected the most critical information you need to know, such as the industry’s worth, segments, and the most active countries in the eSports world. Continue reading below to find out more.
eSports Stats About the Global Market
Market revenue has grown at a record level in the last few years. While there was a drop in 2020 due to the pandemic and all the uncertainties that came with it, eSports market revenue has increased substantially in 2021.
On top of that, the future forecast looks promising, expecting the industry to potentially reach over $1.6 billion. Video games, in general, keep rising in popularity too, with games like Minecraft selling nearly 240 million copies.
Take a look at the chart:
| Year | Revenue (in millions) |
| 2019 | $957.5 |
| 2020 | $947.1 |
| 2021 | $1,084.1 |
| 2024 (forecast) | $1,617.7 |
Sponsorships brings the highest revenue to the eSports industry. Keep reading to find out the most significant sources of income.
Global Market Revenue: eSports Statistics by Segment
| Segment | Revenue (in millions) |
| Sponsorships | $641 |
| Media Rights | $192.6 |
| Publisher Fees | $126.6 |
| Merchandise & tickets | $66.6 |
| Digital | $32.3 |
| Streaming | $25.1 |
eSports Facts About Revenue by Region and Country
Players from almost 150 countries have taken part in eSports and earned money. While some countries and regions have barely made anything, others are bringing millions of dollars.
eSports Industry Statistics: Market Revenue by Region
The United States and China are the leading regions when it comes to proceeds. The two countries account for over half of the global revenue. Read further below for a detailed breakdown.
| Region | Market Revenue (in millions) | Percentage of world revenue |
| China | 360.1 | 33.2% |
| United States | 243 | 22.4% |
| Western Europe | 205.8 | 19% |
| Rest of the world | 275.2 | 25.4% |
eSports Market Statistics and Facts: Gaming Revenue
China and the United States once again lead the global market. At the time of writing, both countries were neck and neck fighting for the top spot. The top three countries, Japan included, are way ahead of the rest of the world.
- China: $44.2 million
- United States: $42.1 million
- Japan: $20.6 million
- South Korea: $7.3 million
- Germany: $6.1 million
- United Kingdom: $5.5 million
The Highest Earnings by Country According to Stats on eSports
Players from a few countries have earned over $100 million at the time of writing. eSports is becoming a very lucrative business with high rewards. Below, you will find the top countries that lead the way in earnings.
| Country | Number of players | Earnings (in millions) |
| The United States | 19,469 | $169.1 |
| China | 4,839 | $128.3 |
| The Republic of Korea | 4,169 | $100.5 |
| Sweden | 2,689 | $40.5 |
| Denmark | 1,670 | $40.0 |
| France | 4,300 | $33.6 |
eSports Popularity Statistics: How Popular Are eSports?
eSports have been gaining popularity across the world. More and more viewers are watching their favorite games. Between the occasional viewers and diehard fans, eSports are attracting millions of people.
eSports Fan Base Facts: How Big is the Following?
The industry has millions of followers. Some regions, like Europe, enjoy steady growth, while some countries see over 30% of the fans being women.
Statistics on eSports Audience by Type of Viewers
The number of both enthusiasts (regular viewers) and occasional viewers has been increasing over the last few years. In 2019, there was an estimated total of 397.8 million viewers.
Stats predict over 577 million by 2024. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown of the regular enthusiastic viewers, occasional viewers, and the total viewers by year.
| Year | Regular(mil) | Occasional (mil) | |
| 2019 | 197 | 200.8 | |
| 2020 | 215.4 | 220.5 | |
| 2021 | 234 | 240 | |
| 2024 | 285.7 | 291.6 |
eSports Growth Statistics of the European Audience
As everywhere else, Europe’s audience has seen growth in viewers. In 2018, the total number of viewers in the region was 79 million. In 2019, there were 86 million, and in 2020 viewership reached 92 million, with 33 million enthusiasts and 59 million occasional viewers.
Women in eSports Statistics: Female eSports Fans by Country
eSports’ gender statistics reveal that female fans comprised about 22% of total global viewers. In some countries, like South Korea, women had a much larger share. Read below for further breakdown.
- South Korea: 32%
- China: 30%
- United Kingdom: 25%
- United States: 17%
- Global average: 22%
The Most Popular Games According to eSports Statistics in 2021
Stats show that there are about 3.1 billion gamers in the world. Everyone has their favorite game, but not all games are equally popular. A select few, like League of Legends, come with very high financial awards and are usually the ones that are streamed the most as well.
eSports Game Stats: The Games with the Highest Prize Money
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive attracts the most players, but what about prize money?
The winner here is definitely DOTA 2. At the time of writing, the game, players, tournament, and prize money in millions are:
| Game | Players | Tourn | Prize |
| DOTA 2 | 4,028 | 1,511 | $233.6 |
| Counter-Strike: GO | 13,801 | 5,696 | $114.2 |
| Fortnite | 4,725 | 707 | $102.6 |
| League of Legends | 7,733 | 2,588 | $83.8 |
| StarCraft II | 2,087 | 6,067 | $34.7 |
eSports Streaming Statistics by Streaming Hours
Some of the most popular games are also the most-watched and streamed. While DOTA 2 has the highest prize money, it does not hold the top spot.
So, which games are the most streamed in terms of hours?
- League of Legends: 348.8 million
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: 215 million
- DOTA 2: 198.8 million
- Overwatch: 109.9 million
- Hearthstone: 37 million
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege: 32.4 million
Facts About eSports Betting
As the popularity of eSports is increasing, so is betting on it. While it currently holds a small fraction of the online gambling industry’s worth of $67 billion, forecasts are pointing to that changing soon.
So, what are the most popular games and teams? Which countries are the most active? Keep reading to find out.
Statistics About eSports Betting and Its Increased Popularity
While numbers for 2020 might have been affected by the pandemic, 2021 looks promising in regard to seeing much higher numbers.
Games by Average Bet Size and Volume
Some games achieved a higher average bet amount than others. According to Loot.bet, one of the leading eSports betting operators, eSports facts of 2020 reveal the top three games:
- League of Legends: $39.43 (€32.34)
- King of Glory: $37.37 (€30.60)
- Call of Duty: $33.16 (€27.20)
Interestingly, some of the most popular games, such as Fortnite and Counter-Strike, did not rank too high.
When it comes to volume, things are a bit different. According to eSports gaming statistics, the top spot goes to Counter-Strike with over half of all global bets. See below for details:
- Counter-Strike: Global Offense: 53% of all wagers
- DOTA 2: 35% of all wagers
- League of Legends: 7% of all wagers
- Other: 5% of all wagers
In 2020, the biggest winning bet was $7,974 (€6,540) on a $24.40 (€20) bet. Now that’s an excellent way to spend $25 bucks.
eSports Stats Per Country on the Bet Per User Activity and Median Odds
Not all countries follow the same pattern in terms of activity (average quantity of bets per client) and the median odds. Let’s take a look at some examples.
| Game | Most active | Least active |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Hungary | Poland |
| DOTA 2 | Japan | Russia |
| League of Legends | Switzerland | Ukraine |
- Highest median odds: India, Philippines, Poland
- Lowest median odds: Spain, Indonesia, South Korea
eSports Team Statistics: The Most Popular Teams for Bettors, by Game
When it comes to the most picked teams, bettors had their favorites:
- Counter-Strike: Global Offense: Na’Vi
- DOTA 2: Team Nigma
- League of Legends: T1
eSports Statistics: What does the Future Hold?
So, what’s in the future for eSports? Multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, sports and eSports betting being legalized across the US, and the increase in new eSports demographics, all contribute to the industry’s rapid growth.
What future eSports trends should we expect to see based on eSports facts and statistics? Read below for some of the most significant forecasts.
Mobile eSports have been increasing in popularity. In fact, games like PUBG mobile and Garena Free Fire have started to beat traditional PC games like Counter-Strike and DOTA 2 in peak viewership.
Mobile eSports stats show that while the PC games still have the highest viewership in terms of hours, some mobile games have moved into the top five. And when we add the growth in mobile eSports in China, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, we can say that the future is bright.
Regarding eSports teams, facts show further diversification.
eSports teams have been traditionally structured like regular sports teams. However, that’s changing. eSports organizations are moving towards positioning their companies as a lifestyle brand or moving towards content creator strategies.
By positioning itself as a lifestyle brand, an organization enters pop culture and can diversify its income streams while reducing the risks. That can also help eSports teams better adjust to new challenges, such as the pandemic.
Moreover, by signing content creators, companies will get more exposure and new sponsors. Having those influencers on board will also improve negotiations with various platforms.
eSports vs real sports stats point towards traditional sports looking more like eSports.
Traditional sports have been taking cues and expanding in eSports. Even as those organizations are starting to get back to normal, expectations are to continue.
Growth of non-gaming content on streaming platforms.
eSports youth stats show that younger audiences are moving away from traditional TV towards streaming. Today, Twitch and Youtube are thriving and have become essential platforms for non-gaming streaming content.
Many companies and brands are now looking for more innovative ways to engage younger audiences. Expectations are high for shows, events, and concerts to expand into streaming.
FAQ
Is eSports the fastest growing sport?
While the answer might not be as clear as yes or no, we can safely say that eSports is among the fastest-growing sports. Data show that in 2020, it was only behind the NFL in terms of viewers. And it has grown 163% in the last seven years.
Why is eSports so big?
There are many reasons why eSports are so popular. One is leisure — you can watch eSports right from your couch or computer. It’s also very accessible, meaning that you can play or watch from multiple types of devices.
Also, there are many games and sports to choose from, keeping it exciting and engaging. Many professional players across multiple sports have embraced and started participating as well, helping to increase the popularity of eSports.
What are the benefits of playing eSports?
Playing eSports is not only fun but beneficial too. Experts agree that eSports help with cognitive and social development, such as critical thinking and socializing. It also improves problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
And on top of all that, with the growth of eSports, there are many possibilities for college scholarships, and the future job market looks bright.
Is eSports the most-watched sport?
While eSports is growing in popularity, soccer is the most popular and watched sport. There are an estimated 4 billion soccer fans in the world.
How big is the eSports market?
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the eSports industry and its worth in 2020, and it saw a decrease to $947.1 million in 2020 from $957.5 million in 2019. The good news is that the eSports market is expected to grow to $1.08 billion in 2021.
What is the eSports market growth?
The forecast for eSports is to reach $1.08 billion in 2021. That is a staggering 13% growth from 2019 and 14.5% from 2020. The forecast is for the industry to reach $1.62 billion in 2024, a mind-blowing 69% increase from 2019.
Conclusion
eSports is growing in popularity. More and more professional athletes and teams are starting to participate in eSports. The industry’s market share and revenue are projected to grow significantly in the next few years.
That’s why we are confident that our eSports statistics will help you get an insight into the industry and perhaps even increase your chance to place a winning bet.
