- Esports betting has been steadily rising in the past few years, the UKGC emphasized
- Young men are much more likely to engage in esports betting than others
- They are also much more likely to use self-exclusion tools when their gambling habits spiral out of control
The young people of the United Kingdom have been increasingly interested in the various gambling options available to them, especially esports betting.
The British Youth Relishes in Esports Betting
With the popularization of esports, millions of people have grown aware of the potential of gaming as a betting discipline. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in esports betting has skyrocketed, bringing many passionate punters into the world of video games. According to the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission, this growth trend is a stable one and has existed even before the pandemic.
In its latest analysis of “Consumer experiences and attitudes to Free Bets & Bonuses” in Britain, the commission explained that more and more young people develop an interest in esports betting. The statistics demonstrate that esports betting has consistently grown by 8.5% a year between 2016 and 2019.
The majority of people interested in wagering on video games are young men between 18 and 24-years-old. This demographic makes up 36% of the esports bettors in Britain. However, not only young people bet on esports. It was estimated that 9% of the adult bettors in 2019 have placed at least one bet on gaming.
The Young Bettors Are More Curious yet More Responsible
The British youth have distinguished themselves as avid bettors. The survey demonstrated that they also have an interest in in-play sports betting as well as online gambling. Half of all young bettors would use their phones to bet on sports or esports. Here is what the UKGC had to say on the matter:
“The extent to which in-play betting has taken hold, and the growth of esports, is also clear to see. While online gambling does skew more towards younger people, and especially younger males, these activities are by no means confined to the younger generations.”
While the trend is good for the industry, it becomes even better as the young bettors are the most familiar with the self-exclusion tools available to them. It was estimated that 14% of the bettors between 18 and 24 are likely to use a self-exclusion solution – more than any other age range.
Furthermore, it turns out people’s opinions are difficult to be swayed with bonuses as 61% claimed that they are not influenced by promotions.
It is curious to see how the young ones will reshape the future of gambling. We can expect to see much more esports wagering opportunities as the esports and gambling industries continue to grow.
