Esports Betting to Overtake Virtual Sports in 2026
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Key Takeaways
- Industry leaders predict esports betting will surpass virtual sports in several major non-US markets in 2026, fueled by youth adoption and mobile trends.
- Regulatory alignment and multi-country compacts, particularly in Africa, emerge as potential stabilizers for responsible growth and integrity.
- Persistent integrity concerns, including match-fixing risks in titles like CS2 and VALORANT, underscore the need for stronger monitoring partnerships.
Esports Betting Set to Outpace Virtual Sports in Key Markets
Industry executives forecast that esports betting will eclipse virtual sports wagering volumes in multiple significant jurisdictions during 2026. This shift stems from rapid youth engagement, mobile-first consumption, and the expansion of local esports scenes across Europe, APAC, and LatAm. Operators highlight the structural advantages of year-round esports events over seasonal traditional or virtual offerings, positioning the vertical for sustained momentum. These developments signal maturing market dynamics, with licensed platforms prioritizing compliance to capture growth from unregulated channels.
Source: iGaming Business
Africa Eyes First Multi-Country Regulatory Compact for Gambling Standards
Africa's gambling regulators may establish the continent's inaugural multi-country regulatory compact in 2026, aligning standards on responsible gambling, payments oversight, data sharing, and integrity measures. This coordinated approach among select regulators aims to address fragmented enforcement and combat issues like match-fixing that affect esports betting ecosystems. Such harmonization could enhance consumer protections and operator confidence in high-growth APAC-adjacent and African markets, where esports adoption accelerates.
Source: iGaming Business
Ongoing Integrity Focus in Esports Amid Match-Fixing Risks
Recent cases and publisher policies emphasize integrity enforcement in esports, with implications for betting markets. ESIC continues partnerships, such as its Tier 1 collaboration with operators (e.g., BETBY in prior announcements), to monitor suspicious activity. Riot Games maintains strict anti-match-fixing measures through Sportradar monitoring across LoL and VALORANT competitions, including global betting market surveillance. These efforts highlight persistent challenges from organized syndicates, particularly in APAC regions, reinforcing the need for robust data sharing to safeguard betting integrity worldwide.
Source: Esports Insider, Riot Games Competitive Operations
CS:GO Betting Momentum Builds in iGaming Sector
Counter-Strike betting gains traction within the broader iGaming landscape, with market estimates projecting continued expansion from $2.5 billion in 2024 toward $2.8 billion by end-2025, extending into 2026. Platforms are increasingly integrating live match wagering and virtual item features, driven by strong player engagement in Europe and APAC. This growth reflects esports' transition to mainstream betting, though it demands vigilant integrity safeguards against manipulation risks inherent in high-volume titles.
Source: Hipther (Eastern European Gaming)
