As the popularity of eSports and eSports betting is surging in the United States and around the globe, an increasing number of US colleges are offering eSports programs and scholarships. In the UK, despite the growing demand from students, universities still lag behind schools across the pond.
Researchers at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimate that $6.7 billion is wagered globally on professional eSports every year. While this number encompasses the bets placed both legally and illegally, the legalized market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Betting on eSports such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike, has become hit in North America, especially among younger bettors.
Although casino gambling and betting on traditional sports is still huge, many operators have introduced sections dedicated to competitive video games. Interestingly enough, the sector is seeing the largest increase in Canada, where the legal betting platforms are quite limited as they are state-operated while betting on offshore websites is not allowed. In British Columbia only, bets on eSports have increased 600 per cent from April 2017 to July 2018, according to official statistics from the provincial gambling regulator.
Due to the growing demand, governments and gambling operators are seeking ways to embrace this type of betting. Universities, on the other hand, have started to invest significantly in eSports programs in an attempt to tap into this flourishing sector. Four years ago, Robert Morris University in Illinois announced a scholarship-sponsored League of Legends team, becoming the first university to introduce a varsity eSports program. There are now more than 80 schools in the United States and Canada that have competitive gaming programs, data from the National Association of Collegiate Esports states.
Moreover, several educational institutions in Ohio, including the University of Akron, Kent State University and Miami University are offering partial tuitions to students who take part in their eSports teams. Earlier this year, Ashland University launched a scholarship for Fortnite players. These are just a small part of the universities and colleges where professional video game players can benefit from small tuitions and other financial incentives.
New Opportunities for eSports in UK Universities
Betting on football, tennis, and horse races is traditionally loved by many people in the United Kingdom, although eSports are slowly gaining popularity, as well. Most of the large bookmakers already offer odds on highly competitive multi-player video games. With the development of new online and mobile platforms, this type of gambling is growing. Still, the market here is significantly smaller than in North America and the options to play video games professionally in the university and not many.
Until recently, there were no college programs and scholarships dedicated to video gaming. Pro players would find it very hard to go into university by playing League of Legends or Fortnite. In July, the University of Roehampton announced a new scholarship of up to £6,000 for students on four-year courses who are interested in eSports. Those who participate in national and international championships will receive between £500 and £1,500 a year. The university has prepared 10 eSports scholarships for students enrolling in 2019. Applications will be expected from September 2018.
So, far, this is the only option for professional players in UK universities. Still, there are great new opportunities for eSports for students such as taking part in championships and other events. In October 2017, the National Student eSports organization was created and through its partnership with the British Universities and Colleges Sport body, it tries to improve the accessibility of university eSports.
Recently, the organization launched its digital community platform where students can find information about different types of video gaming and in which university to find it. They can also share experiences and knowledge, search for teams, and etc. One of the main purposes of the platform is to offer educational and career opportunities for students who want to work in content creation and production, or who want to be referees or casters.
- Author
Daniel Williams
