SIS predicts sports sim esports sector poised for growth in 2025

The global esports betting market is set to expand in 2025, with reports predicting even bigger player numbers. Despite this, with impressive growth come great challenges. What challenges do you think stand in the way of esports betting reaching new heights? 

“Tournament-based esports betting will continue to see its demand increase over the course of 2025 with numerous million-pound events already in place, including IEM Katowice 2025 which ended February 9th. The event’s previous instalment generated millions of views and interactions across social and streaming platforms with impressive live figures for audiences watching live.  

“Viewing numbers are expected to continue on a sharp upward trajectory and the ever-strengthening demand paves the way for tournament-faced esports betting to become a valuable asset for operators.  

“Nevertheless, despite the justified excitement, quite a lot of tournament-based esports betting still contains an element of risk for operators. Low-tier tournaments can be prone to integrity issues with significant latency and lengthy matches restricting the number of operators that are able to generate serious profits when hosting such events on their platforms.  

“The SIS H2H Global Gaming League, which includes 24/7 eBasketball and eSoccer matches, enables operators to maximise betting revenue with our team of expert traders providing an extensive range of pre-match and in-play markets and prices.  

“Our high-quality production with on-screen graphics also help to drive bettor engagement, and competitive match-ups between high-skilled gamers help to generate a consistent margin for our customers. To help provide context to end users, we also display data points including previous head-to-head results and the recent form of the respective gamers.” 

Technology plays a pivotal role in the esports vertical. How do you believe technology is changing and shaping the viewer and bettor experience? Can that experience have a significant impact on player engagement and retention? 

“Developing technologies continue to have a critical role in enhancing engagement and retention. To improve the experience for the bettor, operators will need to integrate products that showcase close to real-time streaming.  

“In the case of esports events that simulate real-life action, betting markets that are either the same as (or very similar to) those traditional sports can have a big effect in attracting activity. These can include same-game parlays, for example, and high uptimes are also key.  

“For us, all of this can be enabled through sub-second latency streams delivered in full HD, with real-time pricing powered by AI technology. As technology continues to involve, I would expect tailored betting prompts to be rolled out, along with improved graphics.” 

What role do you see real-time analytics playing in esports, and how can this help operators to develop their offering even further? 

“As the esports betting industry grows, with multiple estimates projecting that the sector generates multiple billions in annual revenue, so does the importance of real-time data. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are likely to improve the way data is captured, processed and analysed in real-time.  

“As esports betting continues to learn from mainstream sports, we can also expect more sophisticated tools to emerge offering deeper insights into player performance and game strategies. Graphical representations and relevant stats that are paired with live gameplay also help to guide operators on how they can elevate their offering and mirror the engagement and thrill that is captured from typical live sports betting.

“We use the latest CVAI technology to collect data directly from our live video streams, providing sub-second data and pricing to our customers. We also use cutting edge AI and Business Intelligence tools to measure thousands of data points in relation to gamer and pricing performance. These advanced data approaches allow us to ensure our competitive gaming markets resonate strongly with existing sports and esports bettors, providing profitable markets that suit all betting styles.” 

Do you think we will see more diversified streaming platforms or will the big players we’ve seen in 2024 continue to dominate? How has the esports streaming landscape evolved, and how does SIS’s custom streaming platform fit in? 

“No longer a niche interest, esports has become a cultural phenomenon with a loyal and growing fan base, meaning the playing field has become increasingly accessible for streaming suppliers. The SIS streaming platform, specifically designed for short-form content in the betting industry, showcases unmatched stability. 

“Supplied as a complete end-to-end solution for both retail and online operators from our secure UK studios, our product differs from tournament-based esports contests which rely on delayed feeds from mainstream platforms. Built exclusively for betting, our product’s direct access to live game data allows for real-time betting opportunities and more engaging streams, differentiating us from tournament-based offerings and many of our direct competitors.” 

Much like other areas of igaming, there is a spotlight on responsible gambling in esports in 2025 and better strategies to enhance the safety of players. How do you see safer gambling initiatives and esports evolving this year? What strategies do you think we could see to help player well-being?  

“In 2025, we expect to see advanced technologies play an increased role in promoting responsible gaming. AI can analyse user behaviour in real-time, detecting signs of problem gambling before they escalate, and we should expect new tools to surface allowing operators to customise alerts and prompts to encourage responsible play.  

“Moreover, new responsible gambling tools can also be expected to leverage players’ data to recommend tailored spending and time limits, helping users set responsible boundaries based on their behaviour patterns.  

“From a supplier perspective, it remains vital that we expand our collaborative approach with operators surrounding responsible gambling. This means incorporating features and best practices where possible into our products that ensure all bettors are able to enjoy their experience in a sustainable and safe manner. A vital feature of SIS Competitive Gaming is the fact all gamers are over the age of 18 and the vertical’s content and annual events are unavailable on platforms where minors are able to gain access, including the likes of Twitch or YouTube.” 

As more and more markets open across the world for the igaming industry, like Africa and Latin America, there is particular interest in where esports could find success next. What do you think are the most exciting emerging markets we could see come into play for esports in 2025? 

“eBasketball and eSoccer content has garnered significant interest among many customers in Latin America due to their deep-rooted interest in sports, particularly football and basketball which SIS Competitive Gaming centres around. The barrier to entry is very low; if a bettor is familiar with real-life soccer and basketball, they will immediately recognise the sports sims equivalents and the relevant pre-event and in-play markets we can offer.  

“Mexico is making great progress in this area as there is a substantial interest in esports. Some football clubs are developing their own esports teams, leading to an increase in audience awareness. Interest is also growing in other South American countries, such as Peru and Colombia, where the cultural exposure to esports is extensive.” 

With emerging markets comes new regulation, however. What regulatory changes and trends in the esports sector will we see in 2025? 

“The United States represents a massive opportunity as it slowly regulates betting, thanks to its large size, high internet penetration and major appetite for esports. Sports betting continues to be embraced by an increased number of states across the US and with a number of regions pushing for the green light in 2025, esports in turn stands to benefit.  

“SIS proudly increased the American footprint of SIS Competitive Gaming with 12 US states live with the product before the turn of the new year. Annually, over 200,000 eBasketball and eSoccer games are offered through FanDuel and bet365 sportsbooks. The H2H Global Gaming League (H2HGGL) eBasketball and eSoccer games are now approved for sports betting in states including New Jersey, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona, North Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kansas, Connecticut, Wyoming and Vermont. 

“As regulatory acceptance grows, SIS will be ready to extend its comprehensive competitive gaming offering which has already resonated with the US’ leading sportsbooks and their players – boosted by the Gold Standard certification we received from the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC).”