One of the biggest growing trends in the gaming and gambling space is esports. Video games have been a concept for decades now, and their competitive nature has made them a hit with players around the world. But the idea of turning video game playing into a competitive sport on the level of football or basketball has proven to be a winner.

While we're seeing much more attention from both consumers and corporations towards esports, not every country has embraced it at the same pace. In this article, we'll look at why some countries are fast becoming hotspots for esports and why others are lagging behind.

Existing Infrastructure

While esports are not played in the same way as physical sports like football and basketball, it does rely on some level of infrastructure, and this is where divergence in adoption begins to emerge. For example, esports thrives partially because of the huge betting culture around it. Consumers are always happy to place wagers on their favorite players and teams, and thus, a country with an inbuilt betting culture will do well.

For example, the United States already has a well-established culture of betting on major tournaments like the Super Bowl and the NBA. As gambling expert Carlos De Lanuza explains, offshore casino sites for US players and even local ones have fully embraced esports because of this. In the countries where gambling is banned, the esports market is less likely to thrive because avenues for consumer participation are more limited.

The same applies to things like electricity and steady internet. You can't broadcast esports tournaments if the country has poor electricity, and the internet infrastructure is lacking. By simply having the right infrastructure in place, countries can go far beyond their peers in the esports market.

Concentration Of Players

A major factor in the growth of esports in certain countries is simply the concentration of players. Think of how South America and Europe are the biggest hubs for soccer, partially thanks to the concentration of players there. While you can argue that it is a chicken and egg scenario of an industry taking root there first versus players emerging, it is nevertheless a Factor. Certain countries simply have a bigger video gaming culture than others.

And if they have a thriving video game culture, more people will emerge from that country who will compete in esports tournaments. This, in turn, means that the local esports industry within that country will grow much faster. On the other hand, countries with a low concentration of video game players and a lack of video game culture will produce fewer esports competitors and thus will lag behind other countries in this regard.

Digital Adoption

Naturally, you can't have a video game culture, much less esports tournaments, without digital adoption. This means a significant portion of the population is making use of devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and so on. A country that has a huge digital adoption will find esports growth easier because citizens are already used to the tools that are used within this activity. If most of your population uses mobile phones, laptops, VR headsets, and the like, embracing video games and eventually esports will not be a huge hurdle. It also means that people will find it easier to compete in these tournaments and watch them as they happen. A healthy number of competitors and viewers means more revenue for the esports sector and thus, more growth in the short and long term.

Another angle to this is digital adoption. It is pretty clear that embracing digital initiatives such as mobile devices and esports will have a certain financial requirement. Thus, the higher a country's GDP and standard of living, the faster esports will grow there. A country that struggles with basic amenities for its citizens will not likely see growth of esports. On the other hand, wealthier countries with a higher standard of living will see more acceptance of esports since basic needs have already been met.

Government Policies for Video Game Businesses

Just like with players, a high concentration of companies in the video game space will make one country adopt esports faster than the other. This applies on many levels, including everything from tax to the overall business environment. A country with favorable tax policies, grants, infrastructure, and other factors will attract more companies in the video game sector. A thriving video game industry within a country means that, as esports take root, it will be at the top of the food chain. This applies not just to the companies that create the games themselves but also to the various bodies that organize esports tournaments in the first place. Then you have things such as ease of acquiring visas to travel for such tournaments, the right to work for individuals in the video game space, and much more.

Some countries have seen the benefits of esports have further encouraged the growth through initiatives. These include grants, tax benefits, positioning within mainstream media for wider visibility, and so on. The idea is that as the esports sector grows and more jobs and revenue are generated, which is a net positive. Thus, countries that take this attitude will almost certainly see growth in the industry. Offering companies the resources and environment to engage in such activities means that esports will take root faster in some countries than the others.

Conclusion

While the esports sector has seen impressive growth over the years, it has not been the same across the board. As we've explained in this article, certain factors will lead to one country having greater development of the sector compared to others. If various governments can invest the time and effort into developing the esports sector via these various factors. Not only will esports be more popular within these countries, but the associated benefits, such as tax revenue, jobs generated, and boosted public morale, will be seen.