As a sportsbook software provider, Altenar offers must-have content, features, and technologies that have elevated numerous global operators who have achieved significant success with sportsbook solutions tailored specifically to them.
Part of this success stems from Altenar’s deep understanding of niche markets, player-preferred content, and the importance of staying up to date with emerging regulations and content trends in the sports betting space.
Esports has been around for some time; however, during the global pandemic, the demand for this form of digital escapism skyrocketed as a result of live sports being paused and retail betting shops closing indefinitely.
So, as a force to be reckoned with, how has Esports taken the sports betting world by storm—and what exactly is Esports?
What Is Esports & How Has It Bolstered the Betting Industry | Altenar & Online Betting
Esports—or its less commonly used full name, Electronic Sports—is a form of competitive video gaming where teams or individual players face off in organized tournaments and leagues. Esports has grown immensely in recent years, becoming a global phenomenon as millions of viewers, players, and fans engage worldwide.
Esports involves a variety of video games, from first-person shooters to multiplayer online battle arenas, attracting younger and more digitally engaged bettors to the world of online gambling. This has helped expand the overall player base for many international operators. Popular games include, but are not limited to, League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2.
With potential cash prizes, Esports attracts thousands upon thousands of participants from around the world, with major Esports events drawing large crowds and viewers—both online and in person.
Now a booming industry, Esports offers significant opportunities in sponsorships, advertising, and media rights. Many companies, including major brands and traditional sports organizations, have begun investing in the Esports space and are offering this content as part of their betting portfolios. By reaching younger audiences, iGaming businesses are able to capitalize on the growing popularity of video games and the broader gaming industry.
In addition, many global operators are exploring ways to add Esports to their content lineup. But how do you choose the right countries to enter—and how can you tell if their player base will embrace this new addition? Let’s explore some top tips.
Insights Into Choosing the Perfect Country for You & Your iGaming Business
Before diving into Esports specifically, it’s important to step back and assess how selecting the right betting market can strengthen the overall success of your iGaming venture.
With Altenar, operators span the globe and attract players from across the world to participate in their favorite local, national, and international competitions. These events not only draw thousands to in-person matches and tournaments but also capture the attention of millions of online viewers—creating lasting value and growth potential for businesses that tap into this demand.
When selecting a country—and by extension, its bettors—it’s essential to understand the nuances of that market, including what kinds of content and sports resonate most with local players. Altenar equips operators with years of expertise in both online betting infrastructure and market-specific insights.
Conduct Your Research: This step is one of the first—and potentially one of the most important—in successfully analyzing a sports betting market. Gather as much relevant information as possible about the teams or players involved in local events, what bettors in the region are likely to wager on, and any legal or regulatory requirements. This is likely just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to evaluating sports betting markets. With a wide range of legal and cultural differences across countries, conducting thorough due diligence is not only essential—it can lay the groundwork for long-term business success. Knowing your players and the region in which you operate is key.
Assess the Numbers: Once you’ve gathered insights into your target country and understand what aligns best with your business and the local bettor profile, you can begin analyzing how potential competitors are performing and how long they’ve been active in your chosen market landscape.
Look for Value: A key to launching a successful sports betting business is identifying value in a specific market—and then building on the success and momentum that market already holds. For some operators, value lies in highly regulated environments where compliance fosters innovation. For others, value may come from regions with deep-rooted cultural traditions around sports and betting.
Consider the Market: It’s equally important to look at the broader market landscape. Some countries will offer large bettor populations and a wealth of innovation, while others may lead in regulatory development. It’s up to you to decide which factors—volume, compliance, growth potential—best support your sportsbook and iGaming goals.
How to Choose the Country That’s Best for Your Betting Operations | Further Insight
Identifying the right country can be a daunting task. However, with the right sportsbook solutions provider by your side, you’ll be equipped to find the ideal market and bettor base for your business goals.
Take a look through the list below to explore key areas you’ll need to consider.
Legal Framework: As mentioned above, when starting a sports betting business, it’s essential to carefully review—and then double-check—the legal framework of the country or countries you plan to operate in. Some nations have strict prohibitions on online gambling, while others maintain more favorable regulatory environments. Understanding the legal landscape can be a significant advantage. Additionally, as sports betting becomes more widely viewed as a form of entertainment, more countries may open their markets to online betting in the coming years. When selecting your country of operation, it’s best to choose one with a clear, well-established legal framework for online sports betting.
Target Market: Evaluate the target market and potential customer base in the country. This analysis can reveal a lot about the types of bettors you're likely to encounter and how they engage with sports betting content. Your ideal target market may include players with higher disposable income, a strong generational culture of betting and gaming, a passion for sports, and growing interest from younger bettors.
Payment Processing: Ensure the country you select supports reliable and secure payment processing for both deposits and withdrawals. Players want flexibility in how they pay—and just as importantly, confidence that their financial and personal information is safe. Offering a variety of trusted payment methods and holding the appropriate regulatory certifications will help establish long-term brand trust among your player base.
Taxation: Many countries impose taxes on sports betting and iGaming operations, which often support national development and help fund improvements in the gaming industry. Tax rates vary significantly by country, so it’s important to identify a jurisdiction with a taxation model that aligns with your business strategy.
Infrastructure: Assess the country's infrastructure, including internet connectivity and technological readiness. These factors play a crucial role in giving players seamless access to your iGaming content and are often required in regulated markets around the world.
Top Tips for Analyzing New Countries for Esports Businesses | Altenar & You
Analyzing an Esports market is essential—especially in a segment of iGaming that is evolving rapidly. With Altenar, you gain access to tier-one Esports and sportsbook content, and benefit from a trusted solutions provider that ensures regulatory compliance, due diligence, and the delivery of cutting-edge technologies.
Altenar also supports you in identifying the most suitable Esports markets for your iGaming business.
Understand the game: The first step in analyzing an Esports market is to understand the specific game being played—and what’s drawing your players and bettors to this high-growth area of sports betting. This includes knowing the rules, popular strategies used by top teams or players, and recent game updates that may influence betting behavior. With this insight, you can more effectively engage your audience and expand your player base.
Gather information: Once you understand the game, the next step is to gather as much relevant information as possible about the teams or players participating in each event. This data allows you to optimize odds, features, bonuses, and margins across the most relevant content on your sports betting platform. Consider recent performance, head-to-head records, preferred strategies or play styles, and any other key influencing factors.
Consider the meta: In Esports, the “meta” refers to the current state of the game, including which strategies or tactics are most effective at the moment. Understanding the meta is crucial when analyzing an Esports market, as it can significantly impact the outcome of matches and bettor behavior.
Keep up with news and events: Esports is a fast-moving industry, and staying informed about the latest news and developments is vital. While this may apply to any iGaming vertical, Esports changes particularly quickly—making real-time awareness a critical component of ongoing success.
How to Choose the Best Sports Betting Content for Your Platform | Altenar & You
Now let’s talk content—this is where players make quick, decisive judgments about whether to return to your sportsbook or Esports betting platform. For many bettors, platforms that deliver a more personalized experience will gain a clear advantage. This type of customized content and features can significantly improve engagement and help boost player retention rates over time.
Discover more about how to choose the best sportsbook content below…
Relevant Sports: Selecting sports that are popular and relevant to your target audience is essential. This helps reinforce your brand as a go-to platform where players know they’ll find the content they care about most. Consider factors like the sport’s popularity, key leagues and tournaments, overall betting interest, and the frequency of events. Focus your platform on sports with high betting activity and a wide array of betting options to maximize engagement and revenue potential.
Timely Updates: Delivering timely, accurate information on upcoming events, breaking news, live scores, and results is vital for bettors who are wagering on the go and consuming your content in real time. One effective solution is integrating automated feeds to push real-time updates directly to your site. With Altenar’s widget-based front end, you can achieve seamless updates and keep your customers consistently engaged.
High-Quality Content: Your content must be high quality and sourced from premium data providers—something Altenar’s award-winning solutions deliver with ease. This includes detailed analytics, in-depth insights, coverage of global leagues, Esports offerings, and more. Pair this data with high-resolution visuals and videos to elevate the user experience and drive retention.
Diversity: Offering a diverse range of content to meet different interests and preferences is essential in a world where no two bettors are the same. By including betting options across various sports, leagues, and events—as well as multiple bet types like live betting, futures, and prop bets—you’ll be delivering a tailored experience that resonates with your player base.
Personalization: Leveraging data and analytics to personalize content for your customers is crucial. A widget-based front end enables real-time updates and empowers operators to deliver highly customized content. This not only improves the player experience but also strengthens brand recognition and loyalty.
An Overview of Top Leagues & Esports Content
Here’s a quick overview of the types of leagues and Esports content you can offer to your players—along with an opportunity to explore each title in more depth to understand its market appeal.
With sportsbook solution providers like Altenar, you can deliver the Esports content your players are looking for.
League of Legends (LoL): LoL is one of the most popular Esports titles in the world and boasts a massive global fan base. Offering this game and its competitive ecosystem on your platform allows you to tap into a highly engaged community of bettors and fans. The game is played in teams of five, and features multiple leagues and tournaments throughout the year—including the prestigious League of Legends World Championship. For iGaming operators, there are substantial advantages to offering betting markets around LoL competitions.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO): CS:GO is a first-person shooter with a vibrant competitive Esports scene. Including this title in your content offering is essential—especially for appealing to younger and first-time bettors. Played in a five-versus-five team format, CS:GO hosts major tournaments such as Intel Extreme Masters and ESL One, both of which generate significant betting interest.
Dota 2: Dota 2 is a highly popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, similar to League of Legends, and saw widespread adoption during the pandemic. It’s played in a five-on-five team format. Major tournaments include The International and the Dota Pro Circuit, both of which draw global attention and create strong betting opportunities.
FIFA: FIFA is a globally recognized soccer video game with a well-established competitive Esports scene. Matches are played in a one-on-one format, with each player controlling a team of virtual athletes. Major events include the FIFA eWorld Cup and the eMLS Cup. Titles like FIFA help bridge the gap between traditional and Esports betting, allowing you to further expand your potential player base and engagement opportunities.
Discover more about Altenar, its sports and Esports offerings, as well as the provider’s technologies and sportsbook features, by contacting the provider today!
