The eSports industry continues to grow rapidly: the segment is becoming increasingly widespread and strengthening its position in the landscape of betting software products. Nevertheless, for many operators, the rising interest in cyber markets is not converting into high audience engagement and stable retention.
The main challenges are not related to the availability of disciplines or wagering lines. It is more about the quality of the user experience, from the perception of live events to the ease of interaction with the platform during a session.
Casino Market’s team has analysed the main reasons for the decline in engagement in the eSports segment. Our specialists can consult you on launching and scaling a betting project.
Industry Prospects and Development Features
Operators are incorporating cyber stakes into offerings based on obvious benefits:
- access to a new generation of gamblers;
- natural integration of live wagers on traditional platforms;
- regular competition cycles that maintain stable interest and conversion.
In practice, these expectations are not always realised. Many entrepreneurs note a discrepancy between anticipated figures and the final revenue.
Against this backdrop, Oddin.gg’s experts have concluded that the eSports market is gradually entering a maturity phase. According to their 2025 research, the betting volume of the 5 largest disciplines in the industry grew by 18–62% per year.
Demographics are also noted: the median age of the cyber audience is approximately 23. This generation of users grew up on Twitch and is accustomed to real-time interaction with services and the community.
Most of them expect:
- instant feedback;
- deep immersion in the session;
- a high level of control over the process.
Static information delivery, more common in traditional bookmaker projects, is less well received by these gamblers. Such models do not always align with their pace of content consumption.
Vertical positioning remains an additional obstacle. In many cases, eSports is integrated into betting projects as an additional product rather than a standalone one. Many leaders are already reconsidering this approach: for major brands, cyber stakes rank among the most popular offers by total turnover.
Converting Demand into Consistent Activity
The main challenge for operators is not generating interest in the segment but turning it into sustained engagement. Initial attempts to address this issue centred on expanding the product range and functionality: adding live streams of local matches, new odds, and more markets. Nevertheless, this strategy proved insufficient.
Users do not abandon their sessions because of limited choice. The essential reason for declining activity is the inability to quickly and fully evaluate events and, based on that estimation, make a confident betting decision. Any break in this journey leads to a fragmented experience and ultimately hinders the potential of the entire vertical.
Marek Suchar, the Head of Strategic Transition at Oddin.gg-owning Realms Group, believes that the problem has never been drawing in an audience. The question is how they feel once active on the platform.
His central thoughts on the matter:
- Initial breakdown. Most operators have streams and extensive betting markets, but the first glitch often occurs during live events.
- Specific features of the niche. High dynamics and a complex context are usual for the eSports sphere.
- Pain point and consequences. Without a clear understanding of what is happening, gamblers become more cautious, which naturally affects wagering volume.
In practice, standard bookmaker interfaces rarely provide sufficient explanation for a match. It is especially noticeable in CS2 and Dota 2, where users are often forced to access 3rd-party resources to clarify details. This interruption undermines the integrity of the experience.
The solution lies in providing quick and complete access to the context of an event. Instead of encouraging off-platform data searches, the operator should create an environment where all necessary explanations are readily available.
An effective approach is the integration of interface widgets that reveal:
- real-time statistics;
- tools for instant betting;
- data on teams and players;
- analysis of previous games, etc.
The higher the user’s comprehension and control over product details, the greater the trust and long-term loyalty to the business.
Variable Wager Slips as a Personalisation Tool
eSports fans typically come to the platform with a fairly clear and detailed understanding of how a match might unfold. Their stakes reflect not only interest but also a deep knowledge of the discipline and the current game situation.
By ignoring this characteristic, operators commit a systemic error, offering a universal set typical for football, tennis, cricket, and other mass-market options. This approach provides broad coverage, but it significantly limits personalisation within specific eSports events.
Mr Suchar notes that experienced customers do not seek simple bets. They are deeply involved in the dynamics of CS2 or Dota 2 and have already formed an understanding of how a match will unfold.
If the website lacks flexibility and contains only standard solutions, users either compromise or abandon participation entirely. Over time, it impacts both audience engagement and the product’s value.
One possible solution is AI-powered Bet Builders, which allow for combining various outcomes in real time and creating personalised options for a specific game. Their development helps bring the offering closer to audience expectations and deepen engagement with the platform.
Nuances of Retention During the Off-Season
Conversion most often declines between major tournaments and matches. Contrary to popular belief, cyber sports is not a continuous stream of events but a calendar-aligned flow with natural pauses after competitions at different levels.
Mr Suchar recommends that operators not rely solely on the local schedule, as regional activity peaks often do not coincide with global tournaments. As a result, those who were recently placing bets suddenly find themselves in a waiting mode, and their sessions are naturally interrupted.
The platform’s key task during such periods is to avoid breaks and fill the gaps with relevant content:
- replays of past matches’ highlights;
- sports simulations and extra incentives;
- communication within thematic groups/services;
- additional package offers related to current/upcoming events.
Improving the user experience during games directly affects their value. Nevertheless, it is precisely filling the pauses between them that determines whether the audience will retain and return for the next bet.
The Main Things About Cyber Sports in 2026
Today, simply having a niche product is no longer enough. Effectiveness in this vertical depends directly on how thoughtfully the operator designs the user experience and covers all touchpoints.
Key elements that can significantly improve business results in the eSports segment:
- advanced statistics and analytics that provide a deep understanding of what is happening in a match;
- more flexible betting tools that take into account the audience’s engagement level, as well as knowledge of the mechanics and possible outcomes;
- filling gaps in the event calendar with fast-paced content formats and social offerings that maintain activity between games and competitions.
Mr Suchar also emphasises that the optimal strategy for operators is to implement all these solutions simultaneously, as they cover different stages of the user journey. Such an approach ensures a cohesive experience, deterring customers from resorting to 3rd parties for details or from getting bored with betting options due to a lack of alternatives.
Feel free to contact Casino Market’s team if you would like to launch a profitable online gambling business with a multi-vertical portfolio and an effective development strategy.
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