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eSports betting vs classic sports betting in North America, a hot topic at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America

Published

5 years ago

June 12, 2020

All major sports leagues have been postponed and most of the major sports leagues have been cancelled until further notice – more and more countries are banning major events, fewer and fewer sporting events are taking place. But how should sports betting providers react when enthusiastic betting customers, who want to pursue their hobby, no longer have an offer to bet on? What can you do as a provider who wants to remain relevant and maintain a corresponding offer for your players?

The answers are Virtual Sports (betting on virtual sports events) and eSports (betting on competitions in computer games).

Bets on popular online video games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Starcraft 2 and CS: GO can hardly be ignored on today’s betting market. Especially in the target group of under 30s, eSports are becoming more and more popular and are now being broadcast 24 hours a day via channels such as Twitch. The worldwide turnover on eSports betting amounts to more than USD 1.8 billion, a figure that is all the more impressive considering the comparatively small fan base. But eSports are steadily gaining more fans, on the one hand due to an aging target group and on the other hand due to an increasing awareness.

The top players themselves, who are comparable in their professionalism and skill to professional soccer or tennis players, are now activating more fans than the Superbowl, for example. The Intel Extreme Masters eSports tournament in Katowice, Poland welcomed more than 173,000 spectators on site and 46 million online in 2019. With prize pools of up to USD 100 million (Fortnite World Cup 2019), player salaries are in no way inferior to those of many professional footballers.

Just like with traditional sports, bets are placed on individual teams and players in eSports. Due to the large number of different types of eSports, the resulting number of betting markets is enormous – the simplest and most suitable betting type for beginners, of course, remains the bet on the overall winner of the game.

The offer of eSports betting is growing steadily – and since it is already common in eSports to play without an audience (most of the season matches are held in small studios), eSports events are a great alternative to the sports events that are currently being canceled.

Depending on the legislature of the respective target market, eSports can complement their offer and are becoming increasingly important. Particularly during the current crisis, interest in eSPorts is likely to experience a rapid increase.

The top industry companies have all confirmed their interest to join the Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference), which will open its virtual doors between 23-24 June.

The virtual seats are limited, so hurry and register now to secure your seat(s)! REGISTER HERE

And among the many topics, we are putting together a special panel discussion which is titled “ESPORTS BETTING VS CLASSIC SPORTS BETTING IN NORTH AMERICA”

Stake - Best Online Casino & Sports Betting Platform

The panel discussion will be joined by leading experts such as J Moses (Investor & Board Advisor of Bet.Works), Grant Johnson (CEO at Esports Entertainment Group), David McDowell (Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at FSB) and Mark Robson (Co-Founder at Champion Sports). The discussion will be moderated by Marek Suchar (Head of Partnerships at Oddin.gg).

J Moses

Investor, Advisor at Bet.Works

I have nearly 40 years of experience in sports, entertainment, technology, betting & games as a CEO, Founder, Investor, Advisor, Producer & a Director for public & private businesses around the world.

Currently I am hyper focused on the confluence of Technology, Games, eSports, Sports, Betting and Entertainment. I serve as a Director at Take-Two Interactive (Nasdaq: TTWO), publisher of Rock Star, 2K & Private Division Games. I’m also an investor & Board Advisor of Bet.Works (sports betting), ReadyUp (eSports team building), Prize Payments Pro (eSports), and SimulMedia.

After Princeton, I had the dream job of working at ABC Sports where I worked on sporting events around the world, including 4 Olympic Games. I spent 2 years as Special Assist to Roone Arldege, President of ABC News & Sports.

Read full bio here!

Grant Johnson

CEO at Esports Entertainment Group

Grant Johnson, B.A., Chairman and CEO, Esports Entertainment Group

Grant has served as Chairman and CEO of Esports Entertainment Group since 2015, where he oversaw the Company from its’ inception as an esports wagering company long before most of the world knew of the existence of esports, to a successful NASDAQ IPO and $8.4M raise in April 2020.

His experience in online gambling came from 1996 to 1999 where has Vice President of Vancouver based Starnet Communications International, Inc. a recognized leader in the Internet gambling industry. As Vice President of Business Development, Mr. Johnson led Starnet’s sales team and was a driving force behind Starnet’s leading market position in the B2B sector of the Internet gambling industry.

Mr. Johnson was instrumental in the business development activities at Starnet and was directly involved in establishing many of Starnet’s strategic industry partnerships. A subsidiary of Starnet, World Gaming, still exists today.

Read full bio here!

David McDowell

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at FSB

David is the co-founder and CEO of FSB. FSB was established in 2007 with the vision to build the industry’s first highly automated sports betting platform driven by live data. The company has become established as a leading B2B solutions supplier best known for its live sports betting technology and as a pioneer of delivering fully managed trading services.

Read full bio here!

Mark Robson

Co-Founder of Champion Sports

Mark Robson is the co-founder of Champion Sports, an innovative sports betting platform licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. Over the last 15 years, Mark has held a number of high-profile positions within the iGaming industry, including the Head of eGaming for the Department of Economic Development on the Isle of Man.

Read full bio here!

Marek Suchar

Head of Partnerships at Odding.gg

Marek Suchar, Head of Partnerships at Odding.gg started his career in financial services where he held senior and managerial roles in various areas including business development and sales. His passion for esports brought him to the industry, specifically to the betting vertical. Leveraging the newest technologies at Oddin, Marek aims to significantly improve the engagement within esports betting and build partnerships that will shape the future of esports and esports betting.

Read full bio here!

Do not miss this unique opportunity to attend a virtual conference that gathers all North American gaming industry experts for 2 days of discussions and networking. Register your seat now!

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TIED! UP COINS

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1 day ago

September 15, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

All tied up with many riches!

Rooted in rich, oriental traditions, Tied! Up Coins draws players into a world where prosperity is passed down through delicate coins strung together over time. Watch accumulators merge and unlock a thrilling Bonus Link filled with fortune and grand wins!

MORE CONCEPT. MORE GAMES. MORE FUN.

Experience Tied! Up Coins first at G2E Las Vegas.

More fortune-filled games to be revealed—stay tuned!

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TaDa Gaming to Participate in G2E 2025

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

TaDa Gaming is going to participate in G2E 2025. Billed as the catalyst for gaming through fostering innovation and driving growth, G2E, Las Vegas, is the place to be this 7-9 October. TaDa’s stand 4030 will host its impressive Experience Zone with new fish-shooting release Fortune Zombie 2 leading the way.

As the No.1 provider for these immersive casino games in addition to its innovative range of slots and Plinko, TaDa’s global expansion strategy has already produced significant results in a short timeframe across the US.

Fish-shooting title Fortune Zombie is a key draw through its U.S. centric narrative, cinematic graphics, multiplayer gameplay and Boss battles that have captivated players from the first shot.

New release Fortune Zombie 2 has amplified the action and the wins in a stunning new shoot to win game that takes players on a roller coaster journey with even bigger Bosses to take down.

This will be a highlight feature release, ready for delegates to play at the Experience Zone and relish the thrills of the Zombie Universe.

The triple pot TriLuck series, which includes U.S localised titles 3 Coin Treasures 2, 3 Rich Piggies, and 3 Pot Buffalo is already outperforming KPIs, with nearly 300K daily active users and players averaging 230 rounds per session.

With TaDa’s Leaderboard gamification tool now applicable, the already immersive gaming experience is further heightened with a resultant improvement on retention numbers.

TaDa’s innovative content is available through multiple casino operators including Ceasars and BetRiver: while the recent partnership with EveryMatrix and Bet MGM has opened up Michigan and Pennsylvania. These fast growing provider has successfully created wide exposure of its brand to players across America.

Combining TaDa’s expert localisation across all content and delivered by a U.S. led team for Account Management and Business Development, G2E is a prime opportunity for ambitious operators to meet TaDa to connect, learn, and share insights. Meetings can be pre-booked by emailing [email protected].

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “For anyone attending G2E, Las Vegas who wants to stay ahead of evolving gaming trends, especially in mobile-first, socially engaging gameplay, then TaDa Gaming’s Stand 4030 is a must-visit. We offer immersive demos, marketing innovation and a window into how we are gearing up to redefine player engagement in the U.S. market.”

Conferences

Gaming Industry’s Top CEOs Bill Hornbuckle, Peter Jackson & Jason Robins to Keynote G2E 2025

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

The Global Gaming Expo, presented by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and organized by RX, announced its highly anticipated main stage programming for G2E 2025. Over three days, G2E will feature conversations with some of the most influential voices in gaming and offer diverse perspectives on the future of the industry. G2E 2025 takes place Oct. 6-9 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas and marks the event’s 25th year.

“We are honored to welcome a distinguished lineup of key industry leaders to the G2E main stage. As we mark 25 years of G2E, we’re proud to continue to be a catalyst for gaming’s growth, and our programming reflects the ideas and leadership shaping the industry’s future,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

Progress or Pressure: How Tribes Can Harness Innovation on Their Terms

Monday, Oct. 6 at 4 p.m.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. will open the main stage by underscoring the central contributions of tribal operators to the U.S. gaming landscape and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Bringing together leading tribal voices, the program will explore how tribes embrace innovation on their own terms—balancing growth with sovereignty and long-term success. Panelists will address how emerging technologies, evolving business models, and the rise of illegal, unregulated markets are reshaping the competitive environment. The dialogue will highlight both the opportunities to harness new tools for sustainable growth and the pressures of protecting the industry’s integrity in a rapidly changing landscape.

Moderated by IGA’s Executive Director Jason Giles, the conversation will feature:

• Rodney Butler, Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

• James Siva, Chairman, California Nations Indian Gaming Association

Additional participants may be announced in the coming days.

Inside the C-Suite: Gaming’s Future in Focus on Stage

Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8:45 a.m.

Doors open at 8:15 a.m.

AGA President and CEO Bill Miller will open G2E 2025’s keynote session, welcoming global gaming professionals and underscoring the strength and momentum of legal gaming upon the opening of the industry’s biggest gathering of the year.

Following Miller’s remarks, Hope King, founder of Macro Talk, on-air contributor to Yahoo Finance, and events host and moderator for Axios, will lead an impactful series of one-on-one conversations with top global gaming CEOs. Discussions will address key trends and challenges shaping the industry—including investor expectations, domestic and international expansion, and intensifying competition in regulated and unregulated markets. Featuring:

• Bill Hornbuckle – CEO & President, MGM Resorts International

• Peter Jackson – CEO, Flutter Entertainment

• Jason Robins – CEO, DraftKings

The session will conclude at 10 a.m., immediately followed by the opening of the expo floor.

Breaking the Stigma: An Honest Dialogue on Mental Health

Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 9 a.m.

Doors open at 8:45 a.m.

Multi-sport athlete and mental health advocate Kendall Toole will share her personal journey in a conversation moderated by Global Gaming Women (GGW) Sip & Social Chair Meghan Speranzo. Presented by GGW, the session will foster an open dialogue on mental health, designed to reframe how attendees think about wellness and inspire stronger voices across the gaming industry and beyond. This conversation will be open to all badge holders. Ahead of the discussion, GGW will host their Sip & Social event from 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. in the same room.

Presented by the AGA and organized by RX, G2E’s full education lineup features more than 100 sessions. G2E 2025 runs from October 6-9 (Education: October 6-9 | Expo Hall: October 7-9) at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

Since 2001, G2E has served as the premier global event for the legal, regulated gaming industry, fostering innovation and driving growth across casinos, hospitality, technology, iGaming, sports betting, and more. The event will welcome over 25,000 industry professionals from more than 120 countries, regions, and territories, and nearly 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest global gaming technologies.