Esports vs Traditional Sports Bets: What Are Bettors Choosing in 2025?
Sports betting has evolved a lot with time. With the mix of traditional sports betting trends and cutting-edge modern technology, today sports betting has taken a new face, esports. The blend of traditional sports betting and technology has also pushed the market of betting.
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Right now, both traditional betting platforms and esports betting platforms are popular. Keeping the numbers of esports betting market ($2.5 billion in 2025) in mind, whether you want to bet on any sporting event or want to invest in sportsbook software solutions, both are great choices. But, the question remains, which one to choose between traditional sports betting vs esports?
In the following blog, we will learn how both of them vary and where are more bettors.
Esports vs Traditional Sports Betting – Market Size & Growth
As of now, the market of traditional sports betting is higher than esports market. According to Business Research Insights, the market of traditional sports betting is expected to grow upto $94.7 billion by 2035 at an estimated CAGR of 7.2%. The faster internet facility and the ability to wager online via mobile phones is backing this market for faster growth.
Established sports-betting formats across major leagues and events continue to draw large volumes, meaning that for most bettors, the core appeal of traditional sports remains strong.
In contrast to this, the esports betting market is still smaller in absolute size, but growing at a much faster pace as compared to traditional sports betting market. For example, according to the Grand View Research, the global esports-betting segment was worth $16 billion in 2024, and is projected to reach up to $40 billion in 2030 at a CAGR of ~16.4% from 2025 to 2030.
The core abstract is,
- Traditional sports betting remains the large-volume, established market.
- Esports betting is smaller today but accelerating rapidly.
From a bettor’s viewpoint, the choice is no longer simply “esports vs traditional betting”, but also about platform features, speed, digital convenience and demographics.
The trend of online sports betting trends is evolving. Younger, digital-native audiences gravitate towards esports markets, while more traditional bettors may stick with the legacy sports leagues.
In 2025, if we look at the esports vs traditional betting statistics, the takeaway is clear. Volume still sits with traditional sports, but growth momentum lies with esports.
Bettor Demographics & Behaviour – Who’s Betting on What?
Whether it is esports vs traditional sports bets, bettors are everywhere. Here is a brief overview of who is betting on what.
| Traditional Sports Betting | Esports Betting |
| Traditional sports bettors tend to be older and more established in the sports-wagering world. | The demographic for esports betting skews younger and more digitally native. |
Major events in this category include
And other flagship league games. | The games that take the center stage here are
|
| Their betting habits often reflect fandom. They follow favourite teams or leagues, place wagers tied to those allegiances, and use mainstream sports betting platforms 2025 that emphasise respected outcomes & known variables. | Behavioural traits of these bettors include placing smaller-stake bets more frequently, engaging heavily in live esports betting features and micro-bet markets during in-game moments. These bettors also use cryptocurrencies/mobile wallets on specialized best esports betting sites and apps built for fast action. |
| Geographically, these bettors are most strongly represented in developed markets such as North America and Europe, where well-established sports infrastructure and regulation support high volumes. | Growth is particularly strong in regions such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. |
| The average sports bettor is around 35 years old, frequently male, and many place wagers via mobile apps. | Around 44% of esports bettors are aged 18 to 27, and when extended to the 18 to 43 age group, they account for about 87% of the audience. |
Esports vs Sports Betting – Key Drivers & Differentiators
When it boils down to the key differentiation between the two, the answer is affected by two key factors.
Technology & Platform Impact
Technology plays a starring role in how bettors choose. esports thrive on mobile apps, live streaming, interactive formats & integration with gaming culture.
While traditional sports betting is also evolving, esports platforms tend to innovate faster, offering real-time odds, in-game micro-markets, AI integration, & seamless mobile/crypto payment methods.
Regulatory & Trust Factors
Regulation and trust remain foundational in sports betting. Traditional sports betting benefits from mature regulatory frameworks in many markets, which gives considerable reassurance.
By contrast, online esports betting still sits in regulatory grey zones in many jurisdictions, with integrity concerns, such as match-fixing more prevalent in less-regulated tiers.
Bettors increasingly weigh transparency & regulatory oversight when choosing which market to participate in.
Why Bettors Choose Specific Solutions?
There are different reasons for bettors to go for respective betting category.
Why Bettors Choose Traditional Sports?
Many bettors gravitate toward traditional sports betting because of
- Longstanding fan loyalty
- Familiar structures
- Trusted markets
The legacy leagues and marquee events, such as major football or basketball championships create predictable rhythms & strong emotional attachments. The regulated nature of these markets & the established infrastructure give bettors confidence around integrity and fairness.
In the world of online sports betting trends, mature sportsbooks with full licences provide a safe-feeling environment. For a bettor who values familiarity and a regulated marketplace, traditional sports remain a dependable choice.
Why Bettors Choose Esports?
The appeal of esports betting 2025 lies in its speed, volume, & adaptability. Esports events occur frequently, often with shorter match durations & rapid turnover. This is ideal for bettors seeking faster pace & more action. Younger, digital-native audiences feel at home with these experiences, preferring apps, streaming integration & mobile first access.
The bets themselves are often more varied, such as in-match prop bets, micro-markets around first kill, map winner or objective control become standard in an esports betting guide to the market.
This dynamism and novelty is a key differentiator in the broader esports vs sports betting comparison.
What Are Bettors Choosing in 2025 – Insights & Patterns
In 2025, the betting landscape shows clearly evolving bettor preferences. Based on the overall analysis, the decision isn’t solely esports vs sports betting. But, rather which platform aligns with their preferences, such as
- Speed of event resolution
- Bet type innovation
- Accessibility
- Technology
Large-scale data from Q1 demonstrates that the vertical of online esports betting surged by about 75% year-over-year, making it one of the fastest-growing segments in the broader wagering world. Meanwhile, traditional sports wagering remains firmly dominant in volume, with global betting estimated at ≈ US$191 billion in 2025, yet growing at a more modest rate (~6.1% CAGR) compared to esports.
If we look at it from the user-behaviour angle, bettors are increasingly crossing the boundaries between verticals. Younger bettors under 35, are converging toward esports markets, preferring micro-bets, live props and mobile-first experiences.
At the same time, more established bettors in traditional sports markets are beginning to sample esports offerings as platforms integrate both verticals.
Ideally today, there is a need for traditional sports bettors to transition to esports betting and there are several reasons for the same.
- Market Growth
- Mainstream Legitimacy
- Analytical Overlap with Traditional Sports
- More Volatility
- Value in Odds
Conclusion
If you are wondering, which is better esports or sports betting, here is the answer! While the market size of traditional sports betting holds high volume, the esports market is also racing at a remarkable pace. In the future, the market of esports is expected to touch the sky, making it an informed choice for you to invest in.
As esports events are short-termed, deliver rapid turnover, and are populated among younger audiences, it is undeniably the best way to generate revenue from a growing market. And to get the best esports betting platform with live betting features, TRUEiGTECH can be your perfect partner.
With the experience of over 7 years, we can help you create the ideal betting platform that can set a new milestone in the iGaming market. To get your first professional consultation, contact us today!
FAQs
Traditional sports bettors bet on physical-sport events like football or tennis. In contrast, esports bettors place bets within competitive video-game titles & digital tournaments.
Legal status of online esports betting varies widely by country & state. Therefore, it is always crucial to check local gambling laws and choose licensed platforms for safe participation.
The best esports betting sites offer remarkable experience via multiple features, including
- Competitive odds
- Strong regulation
- Live-streaming features
- User-friendly interfaces
The fastest growth trends for online sports betting in 2025 are
- Mobile access
- Live/in-play markets
- Crypto payments
- Crossover between sports and esports verticals
Yes, many sites offer live betting features for esports, enabling bets on evolving in-game events & outcomes.
Esports appeals more to younger, digital-native bettors, especially in Asia-Pacific & Latin-American markets.
Yes, if we analyze the market, traditional sports betting remains larger in volume. But, esports betting shows much faster growth rates.
Yes, esports markets often feature micro-bets, such as first kill, map winner, etc., and prop bets tied to in-match events.
Before you choose between esports and sports betting platforms, consider the following!
- Regulations
- Market size
- Bet types
- Demographic fit
- Technological features
- Trustworthiness of the platform
A reliable esports betting guide should cover legal status, bet types, best platforms, & responsible-gaming practices. Bettors should look for these aspects in an esports betting guide.
Written by: Prish K
Prish K, Head of Marketing at TRUEiGTECH, holds an experience of more than 10 years in the iGaming domain. Starting from strategic planning and digital marketing to team leadership and cross-functional collaboration, he is a master of his domains. For more than a decade, he has shown a promising commitment to fostering result-driven and creative work outputs. Beyond guiding newcomers and established iGaming operators with the right software solutions for their business needs, Prish also wants to share his industry expertise and knowledge through insightful blogs and articles
