Esports and casino experiences might not be two words you often hear together, but that is rapidly changing. Between esports arenas in Las Vegas to casino games on esports betting sites, the lines between competitive video games and other popular forms of gaming have begun to blur.

Revenues from traditional gambling declined under pandemic lockdowns and have only just begun to recover. Over the last several years, forward-thinking casinos and bookmakers have turned to esports as an evergreen source of entertainment and revenue. Traditional casinos have seen an opportunity to reach younger gamblers and cash in on the growing esports industry. This trend began as far back as 2017 but has become more commonplace since then, especially during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Casinos aren’t the only entities that benefit from such a partnership. Last year, Esports Entertainment Group launched its proprietary mobile sports betting product in the state of New Jersey through a partnership with Twin River. The latter company was in the process of acquiring Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey at the time.

Of course, the esports betting industry would not be a success if it couldn’t provide its users and partners with the most up-to-date odds possible. Because of this, esports data and odds have become big business. Looking forward, the gaming industry revenue in 2021 is off to a blistering start. According to the American Gambling Association, iGaming (online casinos, sports and esports betting) rose 644.9 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2019.