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The research firm SuperData Research this week released its forecasts for the explosive growth of eSports in the U.S., with growth expected to reach over $1.9 billion by 2018.
The industry, which was started in South Korea in the late 1990s, is said to be valued at $748 million today. It is also developing a significant following among fantasy enthusiasts thanks in part to startups AlphaDraft and Vulcun.
Much of the growth is anticipated within the U.S. and throughout Europe.
“The Asian market is still growing, but it’s saturated,” said Stephanie Llamas, director of research and consumer insights at SuperData, in an interview with Fortune.com. “With live-streaming channels like Twitch and YouTube, we’re seeing a lot of Western companies investing in eSports and there’s a lot of room to grow in those markets.”
The industry is also being fueled by corporate interests.
“Companies like Coca-Cola and Red Bull are growing their marketing budgets specifically for eSports in the U.S.,” Llamas says. “While there are still a number of brands that are slow to catch on, those brands and advertisers that would benefit from sponsoring eSports will start to trickle into the market and that will generate money.”
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
