Author: EuropeanGaming.eu

Esports solutions provider Abios launches a new esoccer experience for sportsbooks utilising official real-time data from BETER, a betting content and data company. The solution features live odds, real-time widgets, and streams, enabling sportsbooks to curate an engaging all-in-one betting experience with consistent and interactive content around the clock.

In sports, there is natural downtime between matches in the tournament calendar. Tournaments in soccer or tennis often span a few months, with significant stretches of time in between. Not to mention the breaks amidst periods of high-tier matches that inevitably occur due to travel times, injuries or scheduling. This volatility can leave periodic gaps in content among sportsbooks.

Esports can mitigate this issue by providing fast-paced, engaging year-round action. Esoccer, and BETER’s ESportsBattle in particular, have tournaments sprinkled throughout the year, allowing sportsbooks to reach a new audience with content in the convergence between esports and sports.

Esoccer is built on a soccer game where professional players control one team each, competing in 8-minute matches to score as many goals as possible. As such, it provides sportsbooks with engaging and consistent content in a manner that sports fans understand.

Oskar Fröberg, CEO and Founder of Abios: “With long experience creating highly technical data-driven products and data visualisations, we wanted to combine our different product arms to create something unique. As such, we are very happy to announce our new all-in-one product for esoccer, developed in collaboration with BETER.

“Our real-time odds are highly automated and produced through 3rd generation trading. This creates higher uptime, better accuracy and odds less prone to human errors, which can improve quality significantly.

Our streams and widgets add to that experience by allowing fans to watch and receive live statistics from the matches directly in the sportsbook.”

Evgeniy Bekker, General Manager at BETER Esports, said: “Esports contests can help operators fill gaps in the sports calendars, creating new opportunities for acquisition and retention. That said, having access to quality data is essential for creating an immersive esports betting experience. Therefore, it’s vital for providers to utilize official data and collaborate with trustworthy partners.

“BETER has emerged as the reliable provider of live data, live streaming, and odds for esports, and it’s great to see that such companies as Abios using our official data to build out engaging products and experiences for its operator partners to offer to their players. This will undoubtedly be a successful partnership for BETER and Abios.”

The International Esports Federation (IESF) 2023 World Esports Championship Finals officially kicked off on August 25 with a grand Opening Ceremony at the Palace of Culture in Iași, Romania. A record number of 111 countries from six continents have qualified and will compete for national pride and the coveted WE Championship trophy. The competition will conclude on September 4.

The Opening Ceremony, hosted by prominent esports presenter James Banks and former professional player Jon Kefaloukos, featured electrifying performances from KISS FM radio Romania, fireworks, and a drone show that celebrated the historic and youthful energy of Iași, as well as IESF’s commitment to diversity and reaching international audiences. The Ceremony for the 15th edition of the WE Championships had 5,000 fans in attendance and also featured a parade of nations, highlighting IESF’s rich tradition of hosting the sole international esports competition where athletes compete representing their flags.

IESF President Vlad Marinescu said during the Ceremony:  “As we gather here in the vibrant city of Iasi for the opening of the 15th World Esports Championship, we celebrate not just a tournament, but a global family brought together by our shared love for competitive gaming. In the heart of this city, let us remember that Esports isn’t merely about victories and defeats—it’s about forging connections that span cultures and continents.”

Iași Mayor Mihai Cirica was present at the Ceremony and said:  “The spirit of Esports resonates deeply with our community. My gratitude goes to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this happen. Together, we embrace the values of competition and unity that IESF represents. Let’s make history for Iasi in this global Esports arena.”

Prior to the Opening Ceremony, IESF held a special pre-ceremony event where the CS:GO theme song was played by a philharmonic orchestra for the first time in honor of Romania’s rich and historic culture. This year’s WE Championship will be unlike any other, complete with concerts and performances from top artists such as Armin van Buuren, a ComicCon festival, and activations with IESF partner FitGMR to ensure mental and physical well-being throughout the competition.

The world’s best esports players will compete across six featured game titles: CS: GO, Tekken 7, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Dota 2, and eFootball™ for a grand prize of USD 500,000. During the 2023 WE Championship, all participating countries competing with live results and schedules can be accessed through IESF’s World Esports Championship platform.

FanClash, Asia’s largest fantasy Esports platform has announced the launch of Spectatr, its groundbreaking tech platform that aims to redefine the landscape of interactive fandom with innovations for sports and Esports enthusiasts.

By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a resolute vision, Spectatr will bring a paradigm shift in fan engagement that transcends traditional boundaries. The platform is designed to cater to the fans of sports such as Cricket, Kabaddi, Basketball, and Football as well as high-profile Esports titles including BGMI, DOTA2, CS:GO, Valorant, PUBG, and more to deliver an unprecedented interactive experience.

Sharing his thoughts and vision of the pioneering platform, Rishabh Bhansali, Co-Founder of Spectatr commented, “The launch of Spectatr marks a significant milestone in our journey of reshaping the way sports and Esports enthusiasts engage with their favourite games. Our vision is to bridge the gap between technology and fandom to offer a seamless and immersive experience to users. The entire team’s passion for innovation has driven us to create a platform that not only captivates but also empowers fans, giving them a more interactive and personalized way to connect with the sports they love. We believe that the future of fandom lies in interactivity, and with Spectatr, we are leading that charge.”

With the aim of taking Spectatr’s game-changing solutions to international audiences, the platform has partnered with global fantasy operators, data providers, and tournament organizers to create an ecosystem that reinvents fan engagement on a global scale.

“We are excited to extend Spectatr’s transformative solutions to audiences around the world by partnering with global stakeholders. As we step into this new era of interactive sports fervour, we want to elevate the entire fan experience. Together, we will set the stage for a future where every moment of a game is an opportunity for fans to engage, connect, and celebrate,” added Rishabh Bhansali.

Spectatr’s diverse product portfolio will set new industry standards by offering innovative solutions such as:

• Seamless Plug-and-Play Daily Fantasy Solutions: Encompassing both Esports and traditional sports like Cricket, Soccer, Kabaddi, and Basketball, Spectatr’s daily fantasy solutions offer a seamless and immersive experience for fans.
• Groundbreaking “Live” Fantasy Experience: Originally pioneered for Cricket and extended to Kabaddi, Basketball, Football, and DOTA2, Spectatr introduces an innovative “Live” fantasy experience that keeps fans engaged in real-time action.
• AI-Generated Highlights: Tailored for CS:GO and Valorant, this innovation captures riveting in-game moments and seamlessly shares them on social media, enhancing the overall spectator experience.
• In-Stream Fan Engagement Suite: Spectatr’s carefully curated suite for streaming platforms provides fans with an immersive experience, enhancing the enjoyment of live matches.
• Inventive Free-to-Play Prediction Solutions: Perfect for B2C platforms aiming to captivate their user base, Spectatr introduces engaging free-to-play prediction solutions.
• Real-Time Data Chatbots: Spectatr’s chatbots, starting with the CS:GO-focused bot, provide fans with real-time data about their favourite sports, enhancing their engagement and understanding.

According to the “Windows of opportunity: India’s M&E sector maximizing across segments” report by FICCI-EY, fantasy sports revenue grew from INR 33 billion in 2022 to INR 42 billion in 2022, with its user base estimated to have grown by at least 14% in 2022.

Additionally, as per the ‘Global Fantasy Esports Market, Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecast 2022 To 2029’ report by Global Market Vision, the global Fantasy Esports Market is expected to grow from USD 6.45 billion in 2022 to USD 12.87 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of +12%.

These numbers are a testament to the rise of fantasy sports and Esports in India as well as all over the world. Spectatr will offer this rapidly growing player base an unparalleled level of interactivity and excitement to engage with their favourite game.