The eSports market has boomed in recent years with more and more viewers tuning in to watch their favorite games being played by some of the best gamers in the world. By 2025, there are expected to be over 318 million eSports enthusiasts worldwide, a significant increase from the 215.2 million in 2020. Additionally, some 322.7 million people are forecast to be occasional viewers of eSports by 2025.

Leading eSports tournaments The most watched eSports event of all time is the 2021 Free Fire World Series, a Garena Free Fire tournament hosted by Singapore. With millions of viewers tuning in to watch expert gamers battle it out, it is unsurprising that large sums of money are at stake. The International 2021, which was the tenth edition of the annual DOTA 2 world championship, had a combined prize pool of over 40 million U.S. dollars. In addition, the cumulative prize pool for DOTA 2 tournaments around the world in 2021 stood at a huge 47.8 million U.S. dollars.

The eSports market has exploded in recent years with more and more viewers tuning in to watch the best gamers in the world do battle. The League of Legends 2024 World Championship became the most watched eSports event of all time, with a recorded 6.86 million peak viewers. The second most viewed tournament was the League of Legends 2023 World Championship in South Korea, with 6.4 million peak viewers. eSports on the rise The eSports audience size in 2021 stood at a considerable 234 million enthusiasts, on top of 240 million occasional viewers. If these figures were not impressive enough, they are forecast to grow even further in the next few years. The enthusiasts are spread across the world, but the Asia Pacific region seems to be a particular hotspot for eSports. In the United States, meanwhile, some 13.4 percent of internet users in 2021 watched eSports, with the figure expected to rise to 15.5 percent by 2023. League of Legends tournaments Although League of Legends was released some 12 years ago, it has only recently exploded into life thanks to the eSports market. With the increased viewership comes increased revenue, and this means that the League of Legends tournaments are worth big money. The game’s cumulative prize pool for tournaments across the world amounted to over 7.82 million U.S. dollars in 2021. As well as the Mid-Season Invitational tournament, the best LoL players also fight it out in the annual League of Legends World Championship. The stakes were higher than ever in 2018 as the total prize pool stood at 6.45 million U.S. dollars. The most recent World Championships in 2024 ended in a final match up between T1 and Bilibili Gaming, from South Korea and China, respectively. T1 emerged as champions following a 3-2 victory, pocketing prize money of almost half a million U.S. dollars.

The United States is projected to be the leading in the global eSports market in 2025, with 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. China, meanwhile, followed in the ranking with revenues amounting to 537 million U.S. dollars. The global eSports market represents the competitive video gaming industry, where professional players and teams compete in front of live audiences and online viewers. How big is the global eSports market? The eSports industry, which appeals particularly to younger, tech-savvy audiences, has experienced growth recently. From 2023 to 2024, the global eSports market value increased from around 2.3 billion U.S. dollars to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars. The market was forecast to exceed 16.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate of almost 22 percent during this period. What is the most popular eSports tournament? Many eSports enthusiasts tune in to watch the best gamers in the world participate in tournament-style events. As of January 2025, the League of Legends 2024 World Championship ranked as the most watched eSports event of all time, with a recorded 6.86 million peak viewers. The next most viewed tournament was the previous installment of the tournament, the League of Legends 2023 World Championships, with a peak audience of 6.4 million concurrent viewers.

The eSports market has boomed in recent years, with more and more viewers tuning in to watch their favorite games being played by some of the best gamers in the world. During a survey in the United States in October 2022, just over one quarter of respondents who watched eSports remotely stated that they spent between 25 U.S. dollars and 99 U.S. dollars a year on their hobby. Meanwhile, four percent of respondents claimed to spend more than one thousand U.S. dollars annually on eSports.

The eSports market has experienced a boom in recent years, with the amount of people tuning in to watch gamers play their favorite games also rising rapidly. During a 2024 survey, around 67 percent of eSports viewers in Europe were male, while just over a third were female.

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Esports Market Size 2025-2029

The esports market size is forecast to increase by USD 4.34 billion at a CAGR of 21.2% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth and transformation, driven by several key factors. Firstly, brands are increasingly recognizing the value of esports as a platform for reaching and engaging with a young, tech-savvy audience. Esports events and tournaments offer unique opportunities for brand activation and sports sponsorship, providing a return on investment that traditional sports marketing may struggle to match. Another significant trend in the market is the surge in esports betting.
With the rise of online platforms and the global reach of esports competitions, betting on esports has become a lucrative industry in its own right. This trend is expected to continue, driven by the increasing popularity of esports and the growing sophistication of sports betting platforms. However, the market is not without its challenges. The cost of game development and production is a significant barrier to entry for many new players. Esports titles require a high level of investment in terms of development resources, marketing, and infrastructure. As a result, the market is becoming increasingly consolidated, with a few large players dominating the scene. 
Despite these challenges, the market presents significant opportunities for companies seeking to capitalize on the growing demand for competitive gaming content. By staying abreast of the latest trends and developments, and by investing in the right areas, companies can build successful businesses and thrive in this dynamic and exciting market.

What will be the Size of the Esports Market During the Forecast Period?

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Millions of gamers and fans engage in league tournaments and infrastructure, with tickets and advertising revenues contributing significantly to the market's growth. Event organizers are investing in advanced technology and infrastructure to enhance the fan experience and ensure esports integrity. Influencers and social media platforms play a crucial role in expanding audience reach and engagement. The revenue model for esports is diverse, with streaming platforms, sponsorships, and merchandise sales being key revenue streams. The Esports Integrity Coalition is working to maintain the integrity of the industry and address challenges related to fair play and ethical conduct. Overall, the market is poised for continued growth, offering exciting opportunities for investors, sponsors, and fans alike.

How is this Esports Industry segmented?

The esports industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Revenue Stream

  Sponsorships
  Media rights
  Publisher fees
  Advertising
  Merchandise and ticket sales


Genre

  MOBA
  FPS
  RTS
  Others


Device

  Smart phone and smart TV
  Gaming console
  Desktop / laptop / tablets


Geography

  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  Europe

    Germany
    UK
    France
    Italy


  North America

    Canada
    US


  South America



  Middle East and Africa

By Revenue Stream Insights

The sponsorships segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Esports have gained significant traction as a lucrative and engaging industry, attracting a large, tech-savvy audience with substantial purchasing power. Sponsors capitalize on this demographic by investing in esports through event organizers, teams, and individual players. Esports players, many of whom are celebrities In their own right, have significant social media followings and influence consumer behavior. Colleges and universities offer dedicated esports programs, further legitimizing the industry and providing opportunities for scholarships. Consumer spending on high-tech gadgets and gaming, as well as ticket and merchandise sales, contribute to the industry's revenue model.

However, concerns regarding addiction, sedentary lifestyles, and health issues, such as metabolic disorders and musculoskeletal injuries, necessitate ongoing dialogue and infrastructure improvements. Event organizers and the Esports Integrity Coalition work to ensure fair play and ethical business practices. Esports is a rapidly evolving industry, with game developers and publishers benefiting from game publisher fees, microtransactions, and a recurring revenue model. Streaming platforms, including video-on-demand and live streaming, enable user interaction and virtual reality, enhancing the overall experience.

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The sponsorships segment was valued at USD 769.40 million in 2019 and showed a gradual increase during the fo

The eSports market has experienced a boom in recent years, with the amount of people tuning in to watch gamers play their favorite games also rising rapidly. During a summer 2024 survey, around four in ten eSports viewers were millennials. Meanwhile, Baby Boomers made up just four percent of eSports viewers in Europe.

T1, an eSports team based in South Korea, was the most watched eSports organization in 2024. A total of over 195 million hours of T1 eSports content was consumed by viewers that year. T1 competed in various eSports events and franchises, most notably League of Legends. Other leading organizations included RRQ Hoshi and Gen.G, which ranked second and third, respectively. How successful is the eSports organization T1? The South Korean organization T1 (previously known as SK Telecon or SKT1) is one of the most successful, and highest-earning, eSports organizations in the world. As of February 2024, the tournament in which South Korea achieved the best results by prize money won was the League of Legends 2016 World Championship. By the end of the tournament, 30 Korean players won a total of around 3.6 million U.S. dollars, and T1 won the tournament overall. How many professional gamers in South Korea play League of Legends? eSports are widely popular in South Korea, and the country is a hub for professional gamers throughout the industry. In 2024, there were over 50 professional eSports gamers playing League of Legends in South Korea. The country ranked among the largest eSports markets in the world, outpacing other contenders such as Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

In January 2025, LCK was the most popular YouTube Gaming eSports channel, with approximately 5.08 million hours of watch time during the measured period. BLAST Premier was the second-most popular YouTube Gaming eSports channel, with about 2.66 million hours watched during that month.

In 2024, about 57 percent of eSports viewers in the United States were super gamers, meaning they viewed gaming as their primary source of entertainment and followed gaming content online. Meanwhile, just eight percent of eSports viewers in the U.S. were non-gamers.

League of Legends was the most watched eSports discipline of 2024, with combined viewer hours for the game exceeding 749 million. Mobile eSport game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang came in second place, with the multiplayer online battle arena game watched for a combined 475 million hours across 2024.

The Asian Games 2022, due to be held in China in September 2023, will feature eSports as an official medal sport. Three in five eSports fans in China had expressed a strong interest in watching the program, as per survey results in May 2023.

The Esports World Cup 2024, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 3 to August 25, generated a total of 103 million viewership hours across 22 tournaments. Overall, the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game Dota 2 was the most popular of the World Cup, accumulating 26 million hours watched during the event, and it was followed by Mobile Legends: Bang Bang with 25 million hours watched. Other popular games included PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike.

The eSports industry has become an increasingly significant part of the entertainment sector in recent years. Players can compete against each other, individually or in teams, in a multiplayer video game tournaments across the world. In a survey conducted in April 2023, around 16 percent of respondents aged 35 to 44 were avid fans of eSports in the United States.

In 2024, the most popular eSports game worldwide in terms of peak viewership was League of Legends. The game's 2024 World Championships Final attracted over 6.8 million viewers at its peak.

A 2023 survey conducted in Indonesia revealed that a vast majority of respondents used Youtube to watch eSports games or events, reaching around 63.68 percent. It was followed by Facebook, with a respondents share of approximately 18.38 percent.

The eSports market has boomed in recent years, with millions of gaming fanatics tuning in online to watch the world's best eSports players take each other on in a wide range of online games. During an October 2022 survey in the United States, 58 percent of all respondents who had heard of eSports stated that they had never remotely watched an eSports event. However, nine percent of respondents claimed that they watched eSports remotely several times a week.

The eSports market has boomed in recent years with more and more viewers tuning in to watch their favorite games being played by some of the best gamers in the world. Players can compete against each other, individually or in teams, in multiplayer video game tournaments across the world. According to a 2019 report, concurrent eSport viewers on Facebook are estimated to reach around 476 thousand in 2023.

The League of Legends World Championship in 2023 was the most popular eSports tournament of that year based on peak viewers. Worlds 2023 drew in a peak audience of over 6.4 million viewers during the grand final between Weibo Gaming and T1.

A 2024 survey in selected European countries revealed that respondents from Poland and Spain watched the most eSports. Meanwhile, 41 percent of respondents from the United Kingdom had watched eSports content.