The field of esports betting is at a critical period of accelerated transformation. Marek Suchar, co-founder and managing director of Oddin.gg, states that as players' demand for real-time interaction and personalized experiences continues to rise, B2B providers must create more flexible infrastructures to keep up with this trend.
Player Demand Drives Industry Evolution
In the past, betting players were often satisfied with single pre-match bets, but now they want a betting experience that is available anytime, anywhere, and personalized, just like using streaming services. This expectation, especially in the field of esports, is reshaping the technological foundation of the industry.
Suchar points out that the growth of the industry depends on two different audiences:
Core esports players: Deeply involved in competitive games like Counter-Strike and League of Legends, they play, watch, and also bet, mostly consisting of millennials and younger demographics.
Electronic simulation game players: Interested in digital versions of traditional sports like electronic football and basketball, their audience is closer to regular sports fans.
"These two groups have completely different needs, so a single system cannot meet the market. Our BetBuilder is designed around flexibility, serving both core esports and electronic simulators like eFootball," Suchar says.
BetBuilder: The Core of Real-Time Betting
Oddin.gg launched BetBuilder in 2023, allowing players to freely combine multiple betting options during a game. For example, up to 97 choices can be combined in Counter-Strike 2, while in electronic football, there are 26 options.
Unlike traditional pre-match betting, BetBuilder focuses on real-time gameplay. "In core esports, 80% to 90% of bets occur during the match," Suchar emphasizes. "Real-time is where the real fun is."
To achieve this, the BetBuilder internal system performs hundreds of thousands of simulations before each bet to ensure that odds are updated instantly, avoiding long waits for players.
Technological Advances and Pandemic Acceleration
The rise of esports betting has been aided by the proliferation of internet gaming and live streaming platforms. The explosion of Twitch and YouTube has gradually accustomed viewers to real-time interaction, and the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed this trend to a climax—when traditional sports events were suspended, esports and electronic simulators became the "firefighting options" for operators.
Today, even as traditional sports fully recover, operators still view esports and electronic simulation content as important tools to fill schedule gaps and provide round-the-clock betting experiences.
Growth Data and Product Expansion
According to the "2024 Esports: Betting Growth and Milestone Review" report, the betting volume in esports betting has doubled year-over-year, with an average increase in betting frequency of 83%, and the amount per bet is also much higher than traditional football.
Oddin.gg has expanded its product range:
In terms of electronic simulators, more electronic football and basketball events have been added, and an American football model is being developed.
In core esports, products like CS2 and VALORANT are continuously optimized, and new markets such as racing and player props are being explored.
"We keep introducing new gameplay, such as player duels and kill count markets. The richer the market, the greater the value of BetBuilder," Suchar says.
Responsible Gambling and Partner Ecosystem
However, round-the-clock betting also raises concerns about responsible gambling. In response, Suchar explains, "We only work with licensed operators, such as Betano, ESPN Bet, Betway. They are responsible for regulation and setting limits, while we provide technology and content. Operators ensure that players do not overspend, and we ensure a smooth, seamless experience."
Looking to the Future
Oddin.gg plans to continue expanding the market depth and title coverage of BetBuilder, while enhancing visualization and interactive experiences. "Our goal is to let players combine bets, instantly check results, and re-engage at any time, just like using Netflix," Suchar says.
As technology continues to evolve, esports betting is moving towards a new stage centered on real-time interaction, flexible structures, and diversified content, and BetBuilder is a microcosm of this evolution.
