ESI Digital Spring 2021 by Esports Insider focuses on esports payment processing and e-commerce opportunities available to competing teams, players and tournament organizers.
Who is this?
Dan Hole , Head of Esports and Gaming at Nuvei
Han Pak , general manager Payment Labs
Gin Cold , CEO of Starladder
What do they say?
Discussing the ever-increasing prize pools in esports, Park said, “I think it goes back to how competitive gaming started on a mainstream level. It has always been about bringing multiple players and teams together in a small environment where they charge an entry fee and part of that entry fee is prizes for winning teams or players.
“Because it has evolved this way, there has always been a direct relationship between the quality of the event and the size of the prize pool. Now you see the prize money - especially in international tournaments, where it reaches almost $40 million - where the quality of the event is now tied to the amount of the prize pool.
“So when you see the prize pools are so big, the quality of the production and the number of viewers goes up and the sponsorship goes up. I think that's where it all started at the grassroots level, and that prize money has always been tied to events."
Responding to Hole's statistics showing that the current Counter-Strike prize pool is $14.75 million, Khladky exclaimed, “I think that’s enough, to be honest! I think the level at which the teams play and the level of organization of tournaments, Counter-Strike can do a lot more, especially with the number of spectators and teams that participate in this competition. They show incredible skill and I believe CS:GO can get a lot better.
“If Valve decides to go for a compendium like they did with Dota 2 , it will be a smart move - they will receive the largest prize pool in the world, even more than Dota."
Why should I watch this?
To understand how the esports payments ecosystem operates and why prize pools continue to reach new heights.
Where can I see more?
Source: Esports Insider YouTube channel
ESI Digital Spring 2021 Post: How can esports better manage their e-commerce offering? first appeared on GamblingTV.com.