eSports
Winning With Online Sports Betting, I-Gaming, and E-Sports: CEOs of GAN, FansUnite, DraftKings, and fuboTV Embracing Interactive Millennial Mega-Trends

Wall Street Reporter, the trusted name in financial news since 1843, has published reports on the latest comments and insights from leaders at: GAN Limited (NASDAQ: GAN), FansUnite (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS), DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG) and fuboTV (NYSE: FUBO).
Multiple trends are converging, creating massive opportunities for the new paradigm of wagering. As millions of millennial consumers embrace online sports betting, esports, and I-Gaming – governments are increasingly eager to legalize, and drive desperately needed tax revenues. Online sports betting is emerging as the dominant growth theme of the decade, with billions of dollars in revenues generated worldwide from video games, streaming to online casinos and sports betting. Wall Street Reporter highlights the latest comments from industry thought leaders:
FansUnite (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS) āPositioned for Exponential Revenue Growth in iGaming, E-Sports, Online Sports Bettingā
In a recent presentation at Wall Street Reporterās NEXT SUPER STOCK livestream, FansUnite (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS) CEO Scott Burton explained how the companyās latest distribution deal with an online casino games aggregator, sets the stage for exponential revenue growth opportunities. In the next 12 months, FUNFF plans to expand its current line from three games to twelve – while adding multiple aggregators for each game – reaching millions of new online casino customers worldwide. With each game generating as much as $500,000 in revenue per month for FUNFF – per online casino – and the potential to be in hundreds of online casinos – these numbers can quickly add up.
December 16 – FUNFF gains first-mover advantage into the U.S. esports betting market, as itās long-term partner GameCo joins US Bookmaking and Sky Ute Casino to establish the first dedicated esports sportsbook in the United States. FUNFF wholly-owned subsidiary Askott Entertainment will supply its iGaming platform, Chameleon, as part of a fully integrated esports betting solution. Through GameCo’s partnership with Sky Ute Casino and US Bookmaking, FansUnite will be the first iGaming solutions provider to receive significant exposure in the U.S. esports betting market.
December 7 – FUNFF receives Malta Gaming Service License and Critical Gaming Supply, and will now be able to offer a full spectrum of online gambling services in Europe, covering Casino, Fixed Odds Betting, Pool Betting and Controlled Skilled Games. With MGA approval received, FansUnite will be joining other highly respected gambling companies such as PokerStars, Betfair and Unibet in operating their business within MGA regulations.Ā
DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG), CEO Jason Robins: āHuge Pent-up Demand for Sports Betting”
ā…As sports have started to return, we saw revenue improve sequentially each month in the quarter, with June revenue increasing 20% year-over-year on a pro forma basis. This strong overall results and improvement are due to our product innovation, our entry into new jurisdiction, and pent-up demand for sports betting as Live Sports like Golf, European Soccer, NASCAR and UFC started to return. In the first two weeks of MLBs return, we saw three times the handle compared to the first two weeks of the 2019 MLB season. In the first week of the NHLās return, our handle is more than twice the handle of first week of 2019 NHL playoff…ā
ā…We significantly expanded our eSports offering and have seen exponential growth in this category. We added popular Madden simulated games and began to include streaming sports within our app, which has become a very popular feature. In fact, since the return of the NHL, the NBA, and Major League Baseball, users have continued to engage with eSports, which gives us confidence in that productās futureā¦.We believe eSports is going to be a huge category – it’s when not if…we believe ultimately eSports betting will be if not the biggest, certainly one of the biggest categories of sports betting over the long-term.ā
GAN Limited (NASDAQ: GAN) CEO Dermot Smurfit: āOn Path To $100 Million Revenue with Online Sports Betting and Casinosā
ā..While both the consumer attention and client demand remains focused on sports betting, the real core of the U.S. internet gambling profit opportunity lies inherently within the online casino, which is only unlocked by the mass market appeal of sports betting being a technical and operational capability, we will shortly possessā¦ā
āWhen you combine online casino gaming with internet poker, and of course, internet sports betting, New Jersey generated in excess of $132 million of gross operating revenue in that single state in the single month of October. This amount would have seemed implausible just two years ago. New Jersey is now on a path where internet gambling revenues could be on a monthly run rate to exceed pre-COVID retail gaming revenues by the end of 2022. Iāll state this again, because it is incredibly important for everyone to understand the magnitude of the structural shift in the retail casino industry. New Jerseyās internet gambling market is on a growth path to exceed pre-COVID monthly retail casino gaming revenues within 18 months, possibly less. This all points to bright line a truth that COVID combined with the advent of internet sports betting and the associated strong cross-sell of sports gamblers into online casino gaming has manifestly altered expected future growth opportunities in this industry for decades to come…Our continuing mission is to bring retail casinos online with our technology platform focused principally on delivering all forms of internet gambling content, including casino gaming and sports betting.ā
fuboTV (NYSE: FUBO) CEO David Gandler: āAt Intersection of Sports Streaming and Wageringā
ā…From an execution standpoint, Q3 was by far the strongest quarter in the company’s history. Our results have exceeded previously raised guidance with solid growth across every KPI we track. Revenues were up 47% to $61 million. That’s well ahead of the guidance range we provided of $52 million to $55 million. …Paid subscribers at quarter end totaled 455,000, and that’s 58% above the 288,000 last year. Net additions came in at 167,000. That’s up almost 100% year-over-yearā¦FUBO sits firmly at the intersection of 3 megatrends: The first is the secular decline of traditional television viewership; the second is the shift of TV ad dollars to connected devices; and the third is online sports wagering, a market we absolutely intend to enter. Our growth opportunities are numerous, and there are great many reasons for us to be optimistic given the optionality in the business…ā
āWe’re super excited about wagering. I would say that we’ve already started executing on our strategy. And at the appropriate time, we’ll provide more details. But the way we think about wagering is we look at it from a 3-bucket perspective: we have an acquisitions advantage, we have an engagement advantage and we have a monetization advantage. For acquisitions, you should think of it that we’re starting with 500,000 paying subscribers. And what you’ve heard from our ability to sell attachments this quarter, we think that we’re going to be able to also sell in a lot of wagering opportunities. Number two was on the engagement front. We have over 50,000 sporting events on the platform, and we’re getting people to watch over 120 hours per month. So there are going to be ample opportunities for us to really sort of drive that forwardā¦āĀ fuboTV (NYSE: FUBO) Q3 2020 Earnings Highlights:Ā https://bit.ly/2HcPk0I
awards
BETBY SHINES AT SiGMA AMERICAS WITH LOCALISED STRATEGY AND WINS ESPORTS AWARD

BETBY, the cutting-edge sportsbook provider, has further cemented its position as one of the most innovative suppliers in the sports betting landscape following a standout appearance at SiGMA Americas, the leading event for the iGaming industry in Latin America.
Hosted in SĆ£o Paulo, Brazil, SiGMA Americas brought together the industry’s most influential stakeholders, with a spotlight on the dynamic and fast-growing Latin American market. BETBY stood out at the event by showcasing the full strength of its flexible sportsbook solution, designed to empower operators with complete control over the betting experience.
A major highlight of the exhibition was BETBYās showcase of its hyper-localised content capabilities, which empower operators to engage regional audiences with culturally relevant offerings. This strategic focus was exemplified by the industryās most comprehensive Vaquejada betting solution, a rodeo-style sport particularly popular in northeast Brazil. BETBYās unique content portfolio, which includes both pre-live markets and an immersive e-sim version of the sport, resonated strongly with operators and attendees. It demonstrated not only a deep understanding of regional preferences, but also the supplierās ability to create tailored content for any market.
Alongside this, BETBY exhibited continued innovation through its proprietary esports feed BETBY Games, and its comprehensive suite of AI tools AI Labs, which leverages artificial intelligence to deliver personalisation, real-time recommendations, and enhanced operational efficiency.
As further recognition of its ongoing innovation in the iGaming industry, BETBY was honoured with the Best Esports Product award during the SiGMA Americas Awards ceremony. This win underscores BETBYās vision to redefine the esports betting experience through its BETBY Games solution, which is designed to deliver unmatched flexibility, customisation, and engagement for operators and players.
āThis recognition at SiGMA Americas is a proud milestone for our entire team, even though our presence in Brazil this week was about much more than awards,ā said Leonid Pertsovskiy, BETBY’s Chief Executive Officer. āIt was about connecting with the region, understanding what local players truly value, and showing that we have the technology and vision to meet those needs. Weāre building products that scale globally but connect locally, and thatās what sets BETBY apart.ā
eSports
PlayVS Announces Multi-year Partnership with Zenni Optical

PlayVS, the leading esports platform in North America, announced a multi-year partnership with Zenni Optical, the worldās leading online eyewear retailer. This partnership establishes Zenni as the official eyewear partner of PlayVS, bringing exclusive benefits to PlayVSā esports community.
As part of this collaboration, Zenni will serve as the official eyewear partner of the PlayVS Cup, the annual national esports championship for high school students. The Cup provides top scholastic esports teams from across the country with an opportunity to compete for a national title and earn recognition and awards, including college scholarships. Zenniās partnership will help power scholarship prizes for Cup finalists, furthering PlayVSā dedication to empowering students and supporting their educational and athletic ambitions. These scholarships not only aid with alleviating financial strain, but also highlight esports as a viable pathway to academic and professional success.
Zenniās eyewear will also be included in the prize packages that PlayVS Cup champions and PlayVS Awards winners receive, providing students with high quality eyewear to complement their gaming performance. Additionally, Zenni will offer members of the PlayVS community exclusive discounts on eyewear.
āWe are excited to partner with PlayVS and expand our ongoing support of the gaming and esports community. Empowering a dedicated high school esports program that not only will generate awareness around the importance of eye health to a new generation of gamers but also support their academic pursuits is such an amazing opportunity for Zenni to partner with,ā said Robb Chiarini, Head of Partnerships, Licensing, & Events at Zenni Optical.
Through this partnership, Zenni will also be integrated into PlayVSā content series, Road to the PlayVS Cup, a set of videos showcasing different esports programs across the nation as they compete to earn a spot in the PlayVS Cup.
āPartnering with Zenni is a natural fit for us as we continue to grow the high school esports community. Zenni shares our commitment to supporting students in both esports and academics. By joining forces with Zenni, weāre empowering students with scholarships and enabling them to partake in healthy competition to foster their esports careers. Weāre excited to work together and bring Zenniās eyewear to our community of gamers,ā said Jon Chapman, CEO of PlayVS.
eSports
Esports Highlights: Trends to Watch in 2025

Esports, the competitive side of video gaming, has evolved exponentially over the past few decades. From small gatherings of friends competing in local tournaments to massive international leagues and arenas filled with thousands of fans, the landscape of esports has dramatically shifted. With its growth, new trends continue to emerge, bringing about changes in both the games that dominate and the ways in which audiences experience these events. As we look ahead to 2025, several key trends will shape the future of esports, from technological advancements to shifts in fan engagement. In this article, weāll explore the most significant trends in esports that will likely define the landscape of 2025 and beyond.
1.Ā Rise of Mobile Esports
One of the most important trends in esports in 2025 will be the further rise of mobile gaming. Traditionally, esports has been dominated by PC and console games, but with the advent of powerful smartphones and mobile devices, mobile gaming is now on the rise as a competitive platform. Games like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, and Brawl Stars have already carved a niche for themselves, attracting millions of players and viewers globally.
Mobile gaming has the distinct advantage of the fact that itās played on whatās already in your pocket. The fact that 4.3 billion people own at least one smartphone (compared to 1.86 billion PC gamers and 1.6 billion console owners) means that the bar for entry has never been lower.
Historically, esports has been dominated by North American (NA) and European (EU) players, with EU players typically having the edge in skill and performance. However, as the mobile esports scene continues to grow, emerging regions will most likely play a much bigger part in the global esports scene. Indeed, mobile esports has already gained immense popularity in regions such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and India, where smartphones are more prevalent than gaming PCs or consoles.
In 2025, we can expect to see more titles being optimized for mobile platforms, leading to more inclusive and geographically diverse esports tournaments. Furthermore, the integration of 5G technology will significantly enhance mobile gaming experiences by heavily reducing latency and increasing connection speed, making it even more appealing for professional players and fans.
2.Ā The Continued Convergence of Traditional Sports and Esports
Esports and traditional sports have already begun to overlap in several areas, and this convergence will only grow stronger by 2025. Traditional sports leagues, teams, and athletes are increasingly investing in esports teams and tournaments. For example, major soccer clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona have their own esports teams competing in popular games such as FIFA and Rocket League. Similarly, the NBA has its NBA 2K League, which draws in a new generation of fans while also engaging current basketball enthusiasts.
Notably, certain motorsports leagues have begun trying out notable āsim-racingā champions and giving them chances and tryouts in real race cars. This style of esports to real sports promotion could prove even more common as more real-life sports leagues more closely examine the talent found in esports champions.
The online betting scene has also begun to take notice of the rising popularity of esports and competitive gaming. Most notably, Stake offers both sports betting and eSports betting, which are easier to have fun with than ever.
The collaboration between traditional sports and esports will likely intensify in the coming years, with more partnerships, cross-promotion, and even possible hybrid events. These collaborations will provide new opportunities for esports to reach wider audiences and gain mainstream legitimacy. Fans of traditional sports who may not yet be engaged with esports will become more familiar with the esports scene as their favorite teams and athletes become involved.
In recent years, major TV networks have increasingly embraced esports, recognizing its immense popularity and potential to attract younger, tech-savvy audiences. Networks such as ESPN and TBS have begun broadcasting major esports tournaments, including events like the League of Legends World Championship and NBA 2K League. These partnerships have helped legitimize esports as a mainstream form of entertainment, drawing in millions of viewers and boosting sponsorships and advertising revenue. The inclusion of esports in traditional media platforms also reflects the growing popularity of esports as a whole.
3.Ā The Growth of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in Esports
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are two of the most exciting technologies poised to revolutionize the gaming and esports industries. By 2025, VR and AR are expected to enhance the way fans and players experience esports, providing more immersive and interactive environments.
In esports, VR has the potential to offer a fully immersive competitive gaming experience. Players may be able to step into digital worlds with greater interactivity and presence than ever before. VR was in a bit of a slump before Facebook Inc. notoriously changed its company name to Meta Inc., while betting everything on VR and the āMetaverseā being the next big thing. While the Metaverse hasnāt quite yet gained popularity as Meta had hoped, the big push has definitely revived VR and VR gaming, and player numbers are at an all-time high. VR esports could be a lot more prominent in the near future, with some possible contenders for games being Beat Saber and Pavlov.
AR, on the other hand, could change the way fans watch live esports events by overlaying real-time stats, player profiles, and other dynamic content directly into the live broadcasts, as well as onto the smartphones of live attendees. Some traditional sports, (such as Formula 1) have already begun doing so, and esports could very well follow.
4.Ā Increased Focus on Content Creators, Streaming Platforms, and Online Betting
Esports and streaming platforms like Kick, Twitch, and Youtube are deeply intertwined, with content creators and streamers playing a pivotal role in driving viewership, engagement, and revenue. By 2025, these figures will continue to be central to the esports ecosystem, bridging the gap between professional players and casual fans by offering entertainment, educational content, and community-building activities.
Notably, in the past few years, weāve seen many different Content creators and streamers popularize the genre of speedrunning, the concept of competing in order to fully beat a single-player game in the shortest possible time. In the days of the COVID-19 pandemic, hours-long video essays covering different gamesā speedrunning scenes exploded in popularity and viewership, driving never-before-seen audiences to speedrunning events and tournaments.
Examples like these show that online personalities have a huge influence on the popularity of esports and gaming tournaments, both in offline single-player gaming and online hyper-competitive multiplayer tournaments.
Moreover, online betting platforms, particularly Stake.com, will see greater prominence within the esports landscape. As esports fans continue to engage with their favorite games, teams, and events, platforms like Stake will allow users to bet on outcomes, adding an exciting new dimension to the esports experience. This integration of online betting with streaming and content creation will provide fans with even more ways to interact with the esports world, further blurring the lines between gaming entertainment and real-world stakes.
5.Ā Increased Professionalization of Esports Leagues
As esports continues to mature, the structure of its leagues and competitions will become more professionalized. By 2025, we can expect a more established framework for esports leagues, akin to the way traditional sports leagues such as the NFL or NBA are organized. This shift will include increased focus on player welfare, standardized rules, and higher production value for events.
We could very possibly see esports organizations implementing stricter player contracts, better health and wellness programs, and improved support systems for players transitioning into new stages of their careers. Additionally, esports leagues will likely aim for better governance to ensure fairness and transparency in player management, league operations, and tournament outcomes.
Large corporations such as Valve Corporation and Riot Games have already been funding entire leagues on their own, but we could expect to see these leagues become more self-sufficient, as well as potentially new grassroots esports leagues popping up.
6.Ā Expansion into New Games and Genres
While League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2 dominate the esports scene today, new games and genres will continue to emerge and challenge the status quo. We are poised to see new competitive games in genres never before heard of appear in the future.
The current mainstream of 5v5 first-person shooters and top-down MOBAs is definitely popular for now, but the future is, as always, unpredictable. As the esports audience diversifies and seeks new experiences, the demand for new games that offer different styles of gameplay will grow. One game thatās earned a lot of recent attention is Valveās Deadlock, a fresh take that attempts to wrap a MOBA and a third-person shooter into one game. It borrows all kinds of mechanics from both genres and is currently available for beta testing.
Additionally, one historical genre of gaming thatās been somewhat neglected in the mainstream esports scene is fighting. Popular fighting franchises such as Tekken and Street Fighter are ultra-competitive 1 on 1 experiences that would fit into the modern esports scene incredibly well. They would also fit incredibly well into a traditional tournament bracket, which most modern esports leagues use in their events. It could be a matter of time until we see these games truly explode into the mainstream esports scene.
7.Ā The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning on Esports
AI and machine learning are increasingly being integrated into esports, both in-game and behind the scenes. In-game AI can be used to enhance the gameplay experience, provide better matchmaking, and even develop more intelligent NPCs (non-playable characters) for single-player games. Additionally, AI and machine learning are already being used in order to develop more sophisticated anti-cheat software. More advanced and sophisticated anti-cheat will ensure that anyone from regular run-of-the-mill players to battle-hardened esports competitors is all on a completely level playing field.
Behind the scenes, AI can help analyze player performance, predict outcomes, and optimize tournament structures. As these technologies advance, their role in esports will grow, providing more personalized and efficient experiences for players and fans alike.
8.Ā Gender equality in Esports
The future of esports holds immense promise in terms of gender equality, offering the opportunity for both men and women to compete together at the highest levels. Unlike traditional physical sports, where physical strength can be a determining factor, esports provides a level playing field where skill, strategy, and teamwork take precedence. This opens up a world of untapped potential, where an equal participation of men and women could elevate the entire industry, driving innovation and diversity.
By 2025, as barriers to entry continue to diminish, the growing recognition of female players, content creators, and professionals will help shape a more inclusive esports scene. Once we overcome societal hurdles and biases, the industry will see a more unified, competitive, and dynamic environment.
9.Ā Esports as a Career Path
In 2025, esports looks sure to continue to be a legitimate career path for players, coaches, analysts, and content creators. As the industry matures, more individuals will pursue esports as a viable career option.
In addition to competitive gaming, roles such as event organizers, team managers, game developers, and data analysts will become more prominent within the esports ecosystem. The increasing number of job opportunities within esports will help professionalize the industry and ensure its growth in the future.
Educational institutions will most likely offer more dedicated programs and degrees in esports management, broadcasting, and game design, offering professional pathways for future talents. Some high schools and universities have even been starting up their own amateur esports clubs and leagues, as a way for students to socialize and find common interests with each other.
Conclusion
As we head into 2025, esports will continue to evolve, with major transformations driven by mobile gaming, VR/AR integration, and the growing influence of content creators and streaming platforms. The professionalization of leagues and the expansion into new genres will ensure esports remains dynamic, offering exciting opportunities for players, fans, and industry professionals alike.
-
Latest News7 days ago
THE VISUALIZE GROUP TO ACQUIRE BMM TESTLABS, PARTNERING WITH CEO MARTIN STORM TO ACCELERATE GROWTH IN REGULATED GAMING
-
Latest News7 days ago
Experienced provider, Strive to provide its award winning player account management system and apps to Delta Bingo & Gaming Online
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
ESA Gaming gains Brazilian Certification
-
Latest News7 days ago
INTRALOT extends contract with New Hampshire Lottery through 2033
-
Latest News7 days ago
Todd Cravens Named President of Betson Gaming Division
-
Latest News7 days ago
Rivalry Reports Strong Q1 2025 KPI Growth, Validating Strategic Pivot Amid Temporary Margin Variance
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
Nebraska: Proposal to Legalize Mobile Sports Betting Advances
-
Latest News7 days ago
Rivalry Announces Application for a Management Cease Trade Order for Late Filing of Annual Filings