iGaming Industry
Where sports fall, eSports rise
eSport enthusiasts utilize apps and online sites to connect with eSporting communities and forums.
It used to be that a sports team was comprised of neighborhood friends; now it would be quicker and easier to hop on a computer or PlayStation and connect with a gamer in South Korea faster than it would be for the average person to find a soccer ball in their garage. And that is the world we now live in, thanks to eSports.
But what exactly is eSports?
Imagine professional sports mixed with competitive video gaming. According to Owen Good at Kotaku.com, eSports’ humble roots began at Stanford in 1972, as students were invited to an “Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics,” whose grand prize was a year’s subscription for “Rolling Stone.”
Even though the physical talent might be a little relaxed on the eSports side, the competitiveness doesn’t slack off in the slightest.
“Everyone has a great time with it, but there is constantly a lot of competitive talking,” Pensacola State College (PSC) Intramural Coordinator Doug Rogers said.
Who could have imagined that it would only take 45 years for eSports athletes to go from competing for a magazine subscription to battling it out for millions of dollars in tournaments watched by millions of people? One of these million dollar tournaments,“The 2016 League of Legends Championship,” had more viewers than the NBA Finals.
With recruitment scholarships going out to top high school athletes countrywide, it was only a matter of time before colleges started recruiting for eSports. Schools such as Boise State, Columbia and Georgia State have started awarding scholarships to their eSports clubs and the clubs’ top recruits.
With the only requirements being a student’s gaming console of choice and lot of skill, it’s no wonder that eSports is gaining popularity across the globe.
One eSport that the world has seen take off on a very mainstream level is Fantasy Football.
ESPN has a week dedicated to it every year, and you’ll see advertisements for it everywhere (Yahoo, ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
With NFL ratings going down and the eSports side of the NFL growing rapidly, it’s hard to definitively say the NFL would still be around without Fantasy Football.
According to Sports Illustrated, “Monday Night Football is down 24% from last year at this time, Sunday Night Football is down 19% and Thursday night is down 18%. ”
This in contrast to fantasy football which has seen skyrocketing numbers. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association’s Industry Graphics website, usage started at 500,000 users in 1988 and has jumped to 59.3 million in 2017.
Skill and time spent is a big part of the prerequisites, even for eSports such as Fantasy Football.
“I spend a few hours every weekend looking at certain matchups, even height differences, between positions like cornerback and wide receiver to choose who to bet on. I even look at kicker matchups, and I usually pick the kicker who is playing indoors and is used to that,” said former-PSC student, Charles Marek, when describing a method that has worked quite well so far for him.
Even PSC is getting in on the fun by offering Fantasy Football leagues and College Pick ‘Ems to students and faculty.
“Our leagues and picks are open to all students, faculty and staff. Each week the winner of our Pick ‘Ems gets a reward, and the overall winner gets a gift pack at the end of the season,” said Rogers.
It’s not only Fantasy Football and other athletic-based eSports that are taking off. Many video games have also developed their own eSports communities.
“League of Legends” even has different leagues for different regions of the world in addition to having world wide tournaments known as “World Championships.”
Another video game, Counter-strike: Global Offensive has tournaments around the world. Sponsored by the company Valve, majors for Counterstrike have become such a big deal that they are defined by having over one million in their prize pools.
One of leagues, known as the eLeague, is televised. eLeague features production values rivaling ESPN with its own announcers, hosts and experts.
This abrupt change in the definition of sports has come from traditional sports’ lack of acceptance when it comes to athletes.
Someone who stands six feet tall would never make it in the NBA due to their size and lack of athleticism. If that same person wanted to spend the majority of their time playing video games, chances are that they could make a professional eSports team once they became proficient.
With eSports, it doesn’t matter how you look or how fast you run — all that matters is what you can do.…
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Source: EEGaming.
Alejandro Navarro
Betski Secures $345,000 in Pre-Seed Funding for First-ever Tokenized Casino Ownership Platform
Betski is set to launch its online casino ownership platform in Q1 of 2025, enabling users to earn casino profits through digital tokens. The system will allow anyone to receive a share of casino earnings without managing casino operations, marking a new chapter in the multi-billion-dollar iGaming industry. Supported by a $345,000 pre-seed funding round, the platform aims to democratize access to casino earnings and reshape the multi-billion-dollar gaming industry.
Opening Casino Ownership to Everyone
The platform’s tokenization system reshapes traditional casino business rules through an automatic profit-sharing program. Token holders receive a percentage of every bet placed on the platform.
This system eliminates steep entry costs, such as operational expenses, licensing fees, and administrative management. Users can start earning returns without previous casino experience or large capital investments.
“A small group have exclusively enjoyed casino industry profits until now. Our platform opens these earnings to everyone through our tokenized profit-sharing system, turning users into online casino owners,” said Alejandro Navarro, founder and CEO of Betski.
Direct Profit-Sharing Through Tokens
Through a verified digital system, the ownership program distributes Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) among token holders. Investors have recognized this potential, contributing $345,000 in pre-seed funding that combines gaming entertainment with digital asset ownership. The platform maintains strict security protocols and automated distribution systems for reliable profit sharing.
“The platform distributes real money to token holders from every bet placed by players. This creates a steady income stream for online casino owners – something the traditional casino structure has never offered,” said Navarro.
Global Growth of Online Casino Ownership
The platform has attracted 2400 active Discord members and over 20,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). These early adopters are expected to participate in test runs of the profit-sharing system once it goes live. Over the next 24 months, the platform will roll out first in Latin America, followed by expansion into European and select Asian markets.
Betski offers casino games, live casino experiences, eSports betting, global lotteries, fantasy sports, and traditional sportsbooks. This variety creates multiple revenue streams for online casino owners. Players can access all gaming options through a single interface, which streamlines the betting experience and maximizes potential returns for token holders.
The team has partnered with major payment processors and marketing agencies to support the platform’s global expansion. These collaborations will facilitate smooth transactions and user acquisition across different regions. The platform meets all regulatory requirements in its target markets, certifying long-term stability for token holders.
New Opportunities for Investment
Following the successful pre-seed round, Betski is now opening its seed funding round to welcome additional participants into its casino ownership platform. This investment opportunity enables individuals and entities to join the platform’s growth journey ahead of its official launch in Q1 2025.
eCOGRA, a leading international authority in Testing, Inspection and Certification services for the iGaming industry, has secured new regulatory approvals across three key jurisdictions: Arizona, Indiana and Panama. With these developments, eCOGRA strengthens its position in the U.S. and Latin American markets, offering excellence in compliance through their Quality, Speed, and Service promise.
This strategic expansion allows eCOGRA to conduct independent compliance audits and certification services in each region, addressing the growing demand for rigorous regulatory oversight in the fast-evolving global iGaming industry.
Securing approval in Arizona, where eCOGRA has now been licensed as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier, enables the International Testing Laboratory (ITL) to audit event wagering licensees in line with Arizona’s expanding regulatory landscape. Indiana, which introduced online sports betting in September 2019, has authorised eCOGRA to perform regulatory compliance audits, providing licensed operators with crucial assurance in meeting the state’s high standards.
In Panama, the Board of Gaming Control officially recognised eCOGRA as an Authorised Entity for Compliance Certification, specifically for slot machines and gaming software. This endorsement reinforces eCOGRA’s role as a trusted partner for operators seeking to meet stringent regulatory requirements in Latin America’s emerging iGaming sector.
“Our recent approvals in Indiana, Arizona, and Panama underline our dedication to continually expand our offering, to support our growing portfolio of clients with their global growth plans. We are committed to ensuring that we bring the same quality, speed and service that marks us out to both our clients and regulators in these dynamic markets,” said Will Shuckburgh, Group CEO of eCOGRA.
Bradley Khoury, Chief Technology Officer at eCOGRA, said: “Securing licensure as an Event Wagering Ancillary Supplier in Arizona and an Authorised Entity in Panama underscores our dedication to supporting responsible and sustainable iGaming operations. We are committed to driving trust and accountability within the industry by providing compliance solutions that uphold the highest standards.”
BetConstruct, a global leader in the iGaming industry, is going to showcase its cutting-edge solutions at the highly anticipated Global Gaming Expo (G2E), taking place from October 7-10.
As the premier event for the global gaming industry, G2E serves as a hub for innovation, driving growth by bringing together industry professionals from around the world to foster business opportunities.
Taking place at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, this all-in-one event features both an education program from October 7-10 and an expansive expo hall running from October 8-10.
BetConstruct’s stand is 5230, where the team will showcase an exciting range of products, including the newly launched the Last Battle, a novel loyalty system that is the byproduct of BetConstruct’s commitment to innovation. The company will also demonstrate its comprehensive Sportsbook and Casino Suite, along with DECA, its next-level decentralised casino platform, and Umbrella, an AI-powered risk management solution. These offerings are designed to meet the needs of a diverse range of operators, ensuring seamless and engaging experiences for players across the regulated market.
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