Is Esports a Sport?

What Does it Mean to be a Sport?

A sport is an activity where individuals or teams participate against one another for victory. Skill is always a key element of any sport, while some people also think that physical exertion is required for something to be considered a sport. 

We can all agree that traditional activities like football, tennis, rugby, basketball, and hockey are sports, but what about activities that require less exertion? Pool and snooker, for instance, are sports, but they’re not physically taxing. The same is true of darts and bowls.  

This is where the Esports debate becomes interesting. There’s no doubt that elite gamers are exceptionally skilful, but there’s no physical exertion required to compete. But it would be fair to argue that Esports is no less taxing than a sport like darts, meaning the two can be viewed similarly.  

Therefore, if we understand that sports are organised, competitive activities in which a high degree of skill is exhibited, then it’s fair to regard Esports as a sport. 

Which Countries Recognise Esports as a Sport?

Esports is a global phenomenon, with millions of players and fans from all around the world. It’s particularly big in Asian countries like South Korea and China, where the esports landscape is vast. Russia has been a vocal supporter of Esports as a sporting event. South Africa was among the first nations to accept Esports alongside popular sports like cricket and rugby.  

In Europe, Italy, Finland, and Denmark have pronounced Esports industries, while recognition of Esports as a sport in Germany is also growing. As for the US, opinion is divided, with some commentators believing that Esports is too sedentary to be regarded as a sport, while others concede that the industry has become so big that it should be given sporting status. 

Is esports considered a sport in the UK?

In the UK, Esports is currently classified as a game. This puts it in the same bracket as activities like chess and bridge, as opposed to games like football, cricket and rugby. 

That being said, the Esports industry is viewed positively in the UK, with some global tournaments taking place in the country to satisfy the growing number of Esports fans. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London has a growing reputation as one of the world’s leading Esports venues. 

Will Esports Ever be in the Olympics?

Esports is already part of the Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the 2023 Olympic Virtual Series.   

What is the Olympic Virtual Series?

In March 2023, the IOC announced the Olympic Esports Series, a 100% virtual sporting event collaborating with game publishers and various international federations. The event features games across nine sports – archery, baseball, chess, cycling, dance, motorsport, sailing, taekwondo, and tennis. 

Unfortunately, this excludes popular first-person shooter and MOBA games like Dota 2, Fortnite, and CS: GO. However, the precedent means that a global Olympic event might be on the cards for such titles shortly. 

Will Esports Overtake Traditional Sports?

The recent rise in Esports suggests that the industry can compete with traditional sports, particularly with people under 30. Research indicates that over 250 million people watch Esports throughout the year, competing with some of the most significant traditional sporting events in the following areas: 

Overtaking viewership  

Research from Syracuse suggests that Esports viewing figures may already usurp those of the most popular sports in the US, excluding American football. According to the study, the predicted 84 million esports viewers in the US would be more than MLB (79 million), NBA (63 million), NHL (32 million) and MLS (16 million).  

The fact that Esports is free to view and not rooted in any culture or society is one of the main reasons why it’s so universally popular, and there’s no reason why Esports numbers can’t continue to rise. 

Overtaking prize money 

We have seen a huge increase in the prize money available to Esports competitors. The International (Dota2) has a prize pool of $40 million, while the Riyadh Masters delivers $15 million in prize money.  

In contrast, the UEFA Champions League has a prize pool of over €2 billion, with the winning team pocketing €20 million. Clearly, the prize money in real sports exceeds the biggest Esports prizes, but the latter has come a long way in a relatively short time. 

Overtaking revenue 

Statistics show that the global Esports market is valued at over $1.38 billion and is forecast to grow to more than $1.87 billion by 2025. While major sports like football generate much more revenue than this, Esports already exceeds the revenue generated by several less popular sports. 

What Skills Are Required to be a Competitive Gamer?

There’s a high degree of skill involved in video gaming; just ask anyone who has played any game on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Nintendo, or any other platform. To be a competitive gamer, you must be experienced and highly skilled at at least one game. 

Concentration is hugely important, as is hand-eye coordination. Gamers must also show composure and restraint, as losing your temper while playing video games won’t help you beat your opponent. 

Advantages of Recognising Esports as a Sport

The jury is still out on whether Esports can be categorically defined as a sport, but many countries are coming around to the idea. As such, we want to leave you with three reasons why it’s advantageous to regard Esports as a sport: 

Even the playing field for men and women  

More so than most traditional sports, Esports provide a level playing field for men and women. As a result, men and women can compete for the same amount of prize money, and there doesn’t have to be separate competitions for both. This is hugely beneficial and is great for sporting equality and integrity. 

Hugely monetisable  

Esports is hugely monetisable through sponsorships, streaming, and various other mechanisms. We’ve already touched on the huge prize pools in the biggest Esports tournaments, while individual gamers have a raft of personal and team sponsorship opportunities.  

Better regulated  

The way that Esports is organised is somewhat confusing, as every game and competition has its own regulatory body. However, if it were to be officially recognised as a sport everywhere, a global Esports body could be established, much like FIFA in football. This would improve tournament regulation and could help Esports grow more generally.  

You can bet on all significant Esports fixtures and tournaments at Parimatch – sign up today and place your bets ahead of the most significant Esports events on the calendar. 

Always remember to gamble responsibly, whether playing a casino game or placing sports and Esports bets. Our Safer Gambling Portal is an ideal starting point to learn more about responsible gambling. 

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