In just a few years, esports has established itself as a truly international spectacle. Stadiums are filling up, audiences are exploding, teams are becoming brands… and now betting is entering the arena. This shift towards the practices of traditional sport arouses as much fascination as vigilance. But what is really happening in our country?
Esport, a digital spectacle turned gambling ground
As esport competitions develop, the industry surrounding them becomes more structured and attracts new players. Competitive video games no longer just fill venues or break streaming records. They are also generating a parallel economy, inspired directly by traditional sport: the betting market.
It is now possible to bet on the victory of a Counter-Strike or League of Legends team in the same way as you would bet on a football match or a horse race. This development seemed inevitable: increased visibility, professionalisation, global audiences… everything points towards a system that is already well known to traditional sports fans.
Looking beyond our borders, esports betting is enjoying impressive growth. According to estimates by the Statista platform, the global market will reach $2.8 billion by 2025. In the United States alone, it will be worth more than $857 million.
While these figures vary from one source to another, they bear witness to a strong dynamic and growing demand. Betting operators have understood this well: in regions where the practice is authorised, most of them have been quick to include esport in their catalogues.
Belgium, a small market far from the global buzz
In Belgium, esport betting has been authorised since 1 June 2016. Magali Clavie, Chair of the Commission des Jeux de Hasard at the SPF Justice, explains the approach:
‘When we saw the phenomenon developing, we wanted to clarify the situation.’
She insists on one essential point: betting on video game competitions is considered to be betting on events, not sports betting. This categorisation determines the rules to be followed by operators, who can only offer such bets online or through agencies.
However, despite this legal framework, the reality of the market is clear: only 0.44% of bets registered in Belgium in 2022 concerned esports. An almost invisible proportion.
There are several reasons for this: a different betting culture, an esport audience that is particularly young and therefore more regulated, and a generally lower level of interest in betting in the Belgian video game sector.
Studies into the risks of addiction reinforce this impression of relative harmlessness. Sports betting is not one of the most problematic practices. This reassuring finding contrasts sharply with other forms of gambling that are regularly singled out for criticism.
Titles that captivate punters
While the Belgian market remains discreet, global trends clearly show which games are monopolising punters’ attention. Sharpr’s data highlights four major titles:
- Counter-Strike, a veritable titan of the sector, has accounted for more than half of all bets over the past two years.
- League of Legends, one of the most followed games in the world, alone accounts for more than 20% of bets.
- Dota 2, renowned for its technical nature and dizzyingly lucrative tournaments.
- Valorant, the recent FPS that quickly found its audience.
Belgian operators are logically following this trend: most offer their customers these same games, although some limit themselves to the less attractive virtual sports versions such as EA Sports FC or NBA 2K.
While esports continues to grow and the betting that goes with it explodes elsewhere, Belgium remains a cautious territory, almost impervious to the trend. The market exists, but it remains marginal; demand is growing, but without reaching global peaks.