eSports
Odds on: Unlocking the potential of AI for esports betting
Jordan Peltier, Chief Data Officer at PandaScore, says that humans and machines must work together if businesses are to maximise the potential of AI when it comes to esports betting odds.
Artificial intelligence has been one of the most discussed industry topics over the past 12 months and it’s easy to see why. AI can be transformative for operators, suppliers and bettors, and while there are concerns around adversarial AI, when used in the right way, it’s a game-changer.
At PandaScore, AI plays a crucial role in the odds we deliver esports betting operators. This is because it is incredibly effective at handling complex, high-dimensional and unstructured data and finding patterns within it – these patterns are needed to predict the outcome of events.
This, of course, is the foundation needed for determining the odds for each market that we offer. But the power of AI goes beyond this.
It can adapt dynamically to new data which is just not possible with old statistical models like parametric distributions as they struggle to capture the non-linear relationship between variables so require additional manual engineering which takes time and resource.
But does this mean the AI machine is taking over from human trading teams? Absolutely not.
Leveraging the capabilities of AI and combining it with specialist human traders is the optimal approach because you have models that can capture the complexity of esports supported by human traders with a deep understanding of each discipline.
Odds should always be based on true probabilities and while there have been significant breakthroughs in AI – I’m talking about transformer-based models such as Large Language Models – it is still prone to making errors, especially when it comes to forecasting.
Let me explain by way of percentages. AI alone can get you 90% of the way to determining the true probability of an outcome but you need the human specialist trader to get you the final 10% of the way to perfection. And perfection is a must when it comes to odds.
Ultimately, this is what allows operators to offer high-value odds to their customers while ensuring a strong and stable margin from their esportsbook. What’s more, it only takes one small error for sharp, savvy bettors to exploit a mistake and that’s not what operators expect from their data partners.
It must be remembered that AI models are only as good as the data they feed from and still require training. Human traders help in this regard, providing a layer of security for core actions like settlement and odds checking when the model goes off market.
In some instances, the trader will have access to data the model doesn’t see of wasn’t trained on – things like a last-minute change to the player roster.
This is why our human traders are responsible for picking the tournament and market coverage that will most appeal to our operator partners, and our traders are on hand 24/7/365 to support operators in their efforts to offer a top esports betting experience to their players.
The training of AI models is crucial and again sees our trading and data science teams work together during the entire lifecycle of each AI model we build from designing the model to testing and interacting with models in production to ensure they are performing.
This is a virtuous cycle with our data scientists training the most optimal models that prove to be the easiest for our traders to manipulate. Traders also give a ton of deep and detailed feedback which our data scientists can use to improve the models.
The idea here is that the trading team has little input once the model is rolled out and often only make one input per match with the AI model then calculating all of the odds and markets. This ultimate is what powers our BetBuilder and PropBet products.
Having specialist traders for each esports discipline is also important. Each video game is like its own sport and while there are some similarities between some titles, the differences have an impact on the markets and odds offered and that’s exactly why specialist traders are a must.
Take shooter-round based game like CS2 and Valorant and MOBA games like Dota2 and LoL. With the former, there’s a lot of repetition in the gameplay which takes place round after round. This means betting markets are focus on rounds and kills for teams and players.
With MOBA games, there are objectives within the game that have a direct influence on who wins the match – things like kills, towers, nashors, inhibitors and dragons. This is complex – and doesn’t exist in traditional sports betting – and is why pricing teams must master in-game dynamics.
Again, this is something that AI can’t do on its own right now.
AI is a key pillar of our business, and we are incredibly proud of how we have used it in collaboration with our data scientists and traders to create models that deliver top odds for our operator partners and their players.
But working with AI is all about staying ahead of the game and our work is never done. This is why we continue to test, iterate, innovate and do all we can top perfect our models. This would not be possible without our incredible team which stands as a testament as to how machines and humans can work together in harmony.
The post Odds on: Unlocking the potential of AI for esports betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The International Esports Federation (IESF) is thrilled to announce a major milestone as 136 nations have officially registered for the National Qualifiers of the 2025 esports season. This record-breaking level of participation underscores the remarkable growth and global appeal of esports, uniting athletes and fans from every corner of the world under one shared passion.
The National Qualifiers, which commenced on January 15, 2025, mark the start of an exciting journey for millions of athletes. Competing across a diverse range of PC, mobile, and console titles, these athletes are fighting for the opportunity to represent their nations on the largest stage of esports.
Highlighting the significance of this achievement, IESF General Secretary Boban Totovski stated:
“The participation of 136 Member Federations in this year’s National Qualifiers is an extraordinary accomplishment. It reflects the deep passion, dedication, and unity within the global esports community. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the emergence of this year’s national champions and the incredible talent that will define the 2025 season.”
As IESF celebrates its 16-year legacy, the 2025 season is another step forward in showcasing esports as a powerful unifying force. The federation remains committed to supporting the growth of the esports ecosystem, encouraging the next generation of athletes, and celebrating the diversity within the global esports community.
The 2025 season will bring nations together to honor the competitive spirit and creativity of esports. With 136 nations involved, IESF reaffirms its dedication to fostering collaboration, inspiring excellence, and showcasing the exceptional talent of athletes from all over the world.
The journey to an unforgettable year in esports has begun, as IESF continues to bring the world closer through the shared passion for competitive gaming.
The post The World of Esports Unites: 136 Nations Registered for 2025 Season appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
With the start of the year behind, the company reflects on the key milestones.
Business Development
In 2024, the company experienced significant expansion, reflecting the increasing demand for progressive esports betting solutions. The total volume of bets processed grew by 74.2%, aided by the efficiency and dynamic scalability of the company’s trading team, alongside new collaborations from partners and clients. Otto Bonning, Head of Sales, said: “Our new partnerships with companies such as Altenar, NuBet, Airhead Ventures, and TurboStars have significantly strengthened the portfolio. These collaborations demonstrate our expanding influence and commitment to delivering exceptional solutions in the esports betting industry”. Clients also experienced an improvement in GGR, demonstrating the impact of the solutions on profitability.
The company’s user engagement rates also reflected the sizable uplift seen in 2024, with active users rising by 97.3% and average bet size increasing by 7%. Meanwhile, DATA.BET continued to broaden its presence in key markets, including Canada, Brazil, Finland, and Poland, further strengthening its global reach.
Esports Trading and Content Coverage
DATA.BET focused on strategic growth, enhancing its esports content to offer prosperous and dynamic opportunities for clients and their users.
Making focused improvements in popular markets resulted in growth. “We’ve expanded our offerings by adding 38 new markets, creating more opportunities for bettors and driving engagement,” said Thomas Donson, Head of Trading. “Our event coverage has also grown by 11%, adding over 10,000 events to ensure a more diverse and comprehensive experience. Ensuring 24/7 trading process, DATA.BET offers the highest quality market availability.”
The trust earned through high-quality product features, including the new Scoreboard and Pitch Tracker widgets, as well as the Bet Builder based on official data, all launched in 2024, has been instrumental in enhancing the customers betting experience. Scoreboards deliver detailed statistics, interactive visualizations, and comprehensive insights, helping users make informed decisions while boosting engagement through features like live betting, analysis, and availability for LoL, CS2, Valorant, and Dota 2.
Pitch Tracker, supporting our top tier titles, offers a 2D map as a visual representation with advanced tools for data analysis and in-game tracking, delivering detailed insights that enhance user engagement and decision-making. Additionally, the Bet Builder enables personalized betting by allowing users to combine multiple selections into a single wager, meeting the demand for tailored and dynamic betting experiences.
DATA.BET also broadened the scope of disciplines, adding 6 new games, such as Deadlock, Street Fighter 6, GeoGuessr, Teamfight Tactics, Hearthstone, Apex Legends, complementing client content with distinctive choices that amplified diversity and engagement.
Customer Support & Risk Management
The company provides a seamless customer experience and robust Risk Management, continuing to deliver swift and practical assistance.
With an average response time of up to 5 minutes, the dedicated team remains extremely efficient, addressing client concerns promptly while maintaining the highest quality standards. Between Q2 and Q4, handled around 1,500 client requests and completed more than 150 technical tasks effectively and precisely, ensuring high-quality 24/7 support and maintaining consistent service standards.
This is due to our proprietary trading platform that enables the generation and customization of content – specifically, markets – to align precisely with each partner’s distinctive requirements while accommodating their existing settlement rules. This approach ensures a seamless transition to the solution, eliminating the need for adjustments or reconfiguration after working with a previous data provider.
DATA.BET’s Risk Management team efficiently handled over 1,700 client requests. Over time, the number of requests from long-term clients noticeably decreased. The team’s familiarity with clients’ audiences and operations reduces risks through proactive measures. By identifying patterns early, the team prevents issues, ensures smooth operations, reduces reactive interventions, and builds client trust while improving system efficiency.
In 2024, DATA.BET strengthened its presence in the esports betting industry by showcasing its solutions and engaging with audiences at premier exhibitions, immersing attendees into the vibrant world of esports. Moving into 2025, DATA.BET remains focused on leveraging this momentum to drive further success and prospects for everyone involved in esports betting.
The post DATA.BET Reflects on 2024 Milestones, Growth, and Achievements appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The global esports organization GIANTX has launched its new jersey for 2025. This jersey will be worn by professional players from the different teams within the organization in their national and international competitions this year.
The color blue takes center stage in a design that evolves the wave pattern used in the previous collection. The jersey is already available on GIANTX’s official channels and will debut in competitive play this week with the first matches of League of Legends and Valorant.
As a novelty, the new GIANTX jersey pays homage to its history by including an ‘08’ on the front of the collar. 2008 marks the founding year of the Málaga-based club Giants, whose merger with the British Excel led to the creation of GIANTX, one of the longest-standing esports brands in Europe.
This jersey is part of a collection that also includes hoodies and other products available in both blue and black. It is not the only new offering from GIANTX for its fans and video game enthusiasts.
In esports, fan loyalty goes beyond the action on the server. It’s about building community, offering added value, and connecting with the audience authentically. For this reason, GIANTX has launched an exclusive membership for fans of the club or esports in general who purchase the giants’ skins in Valorant.
The GIANTX VCT Membership offers unique rewards such as access to giveaways, gifts, passes to learning platforms for professionals, meet-and-greets with players and creators, and even trips to Berlin to support the team kicking off the Valorant Champions Tour this Wednesday. The skin pack is already available in the game.
With the launch of this GIANTX package in Valorant—one of the most-played games in the world with over 20 million active users, developed by Riot Games—the club takes another step in one of the most solidified club-fan relationships on the continent.
These announcements set the stage for the return to competition, which kicks off in style this week with the start of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), and Spain’s Superliga by Liga de Videojuegos Profesional (LVP).
The post GIANTX launches jersey and membership for 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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