Among its afflictions, the coronavirus outbreak has caused a severe entertainment drought. Favourite sporting pastimes were gone like the wind; the wider implications of which trickled downstream in a myriad of ways.
One by one, sports betting operators watched as leagues bid temporary farewells to live games in order to comply with local health and safety mandates. With traditional sports leagues out of the picture, sportsbooks revenue streams were reduced to mere watering holes, and the walls were closing in fast.
These combined events gave esports its 15 minutes of fame, calling up the industry to play a major role in the pandemic’s motion picture.