Market intelligence firm Newzoo recently projected the esports industry in North America would reach $409 million in revenue in 2019. That number accounts for revenue streams such as media rights deals, sponsorships, advertising, game publisher fees, and ticket and merchandise sales, but not a single dollar comes from wagers placed on esports.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last May to overturn the federal ban on sports betting, seven states have joined Nevada in passing full-scale legalized sports betting legislation. While states and casino operators are rushing to create regulated betting solutions to fit traditional sports, the infrastructure for esports betting has been slower to develop.