The Rise of Videogaming as a Sport

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Video games used to be a recreational activity. But now, they’ve reached a whole new level as a multi-billion dollar industry.

Video games in recent years have become a competitive sport among people of all ages. Esports have become a very common way for users to compete against one another – both professionally and recreationally. Today, this activity is considered a sport and for several good reasons. Let’s dive into a history of eSports and how players are getting involved in this industry today.

Introduction to Esports

It was back in 1972 that the very first Esports event took place. Students attending Stanford University competed against one another playing the video game Spacewar. The prize for the winner was a yearlong subscription to the Rolling Stones magazine.

In 1980, the very first video game competition was held with an attendance of 10,000 participants. From this point forward, video gaming began to be looked upon as a sport because of the competitive nature of gaming and the surprising number of fans it attracted. Following the Atari competition in the ’80s, many companies began to record high scores and sales.

Fast forward to the 1990s, video games were all over the internet. Gamers could now connect virtually and compete in tournaments from the comfort of their home. There were many gaming tournaments in the ’90s including the Red Annihilation, which then led to the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL). The CPL also brought forward larger monetary prizes up to $15,000.

By 2017, Esports prize money amounted to $110.6 million. Today, it’s safe to say that Esports is a thriving industry that only continues to climb in popularity. This sport is such a hit especially because anyone can participate.

Should E-Gaming Be Considered a Sport?

Video gaming is considered a sport, and for good reasons. To begin, this activity involves rivalry and competition. There is a losing team or participant as well as a winner. It also involves fans, entertainment, stadiums, arenas, and sponsors.

This sport also requires practice, hard work, patience, and a little bit of talent. A great player needs to be able to think quickly and professional gamers know when to strike at the right times. It’s the same for other sports like baseball; the pros know exactly when to swing and how to hit a grand slam.

Also, just like with traditional sports, Esports have attracted numerous excited bettors. There are many ways to wager and bet on video games, from wagering on the outcome of a head-to-head match to wagering within games. Sites like Sbobet make Esports betting easy with a secure platform for placing wagers and receiving payments, as well as updates on the latest stats of your favorite gamers.

Video gaming is considered a sport for these reasons among others. Many pro gamers even make more money than professional athletes!

How Much Can You Make as a Gamer?

It’s not just the qualities of video games that qualify Esports as a sector of sports: there is also serious money in gaming.

Pro gamers and Esport players can make anywhere from $1,000+ per month. Esportsearnings.com reported that in 2017, the top player made $2,436,772.40 that year. This money came from tournaments and winning prizes. Professional gamers who receive a regular salary can expect anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per month.

There are so many ways to make money from playing video games. You can participate in competitions, obtain a sponsor, or use an online streaming service. If video gaming is something that interests, you could easily become part of this sport!