When people think of sports, they usually envision athletes competing with each other in physically demanding activities like basketball or football. But with the rise of eSports, the need to exert physical effort is replaced by mental skill, as gamers around the world fight for supremacy on the video screen.
Esports, which is short for “electronic sports,” encompass a wide range of video games that are played in a highly competitive organized environment. Despite the prevailing stereotype of video gamers as jobless and socially inept individuals, the esports industry actually attracts people from all walks of life. In fact, more than 380 million people watch esports tournaments both in person and online.
Esports is different from traditional sports, because the former is played in a virtual environment, while the latter is performed in the real world. Just like traditional sports fans watch their favorite athletes like LeBron James and Lionel Messi perform in the basketball court or the football field, esports fans also watch the top players compete with each other in computer screens.
The top individual esports players earn money by streaming themselves playing or by participating in competitive tournaments. The esports industry has grown so much that some of the top players have their own fan bases, and players regularly engage with their fans on social media and live streaming platforms.
Fans can also bet on esports (as well as other sporting events) on platforms such as GGBET, which allows anyone of legal age to win prizes by rooting for their favorite players and teams. It is an information portal that helps users make predictions on the outcome of sports matches, as well as provide information on legal bookmakers.
The eSports Industry in the Philippines
In Asia, the Philippines is a major player in the esports industry due to the proliferation of mobile phones and the low barriers to entry.
Even before the esports boom, Filipinos have a long and colorful history of being enamored with video games. The typical Filipino gamer spends several hours every day playing popular games such as Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) at homes or in Internet shops.
Gaming is so popular in the Philippines that the government has moved to ban high school students from playing video games during class hours. Some Internet shops were even fined because they were caught allowing students to play video games in violation of the law.
Some of the most popular games in the Philippines are Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends, and DOTA 2. Not far behind are Valorant, Call of Duty, and Ragnarok.
During the 2019 Southeast Asian Games that was held in the Philippines, esports was introduced for the first time as a medal event. Esports is also recognized as a legitimate sport by the Philippine Games and Amusement Board.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that esports is here to stay. Thanks to easy access to the Internet and the mainstream acceptance of video games, esports will continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Take advantage of the esports boom by betting on your favorite esports players and teams on GGBET.
