Experts on sports wagering are saying that wagering on esports, currently in the process of gaining regulatory approval in several jurisdictions, will not cause a large ripple in the overall sports wagering world.
In comments to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jay Kornegay, executive vice president of sports operations for the SuperBook, which takes bets in six states, including Nevada’s Westgate, and Brett Abarbanel, director of research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute, said not to expect a large blast of esports wagering when regulations are approved.
“It’s not going to blow the doors off. I expect it will slowly accumulate here and there,” Kornegay said. “We have so much sports betting year round with professional leagues and collegiate sports that esports probably isn’t going to move the needle.”
He predicted the effect will be similar to when sportsbooks take wagers on Olympic sports or the National Finals Rodeo. “Some will want to bet them. And, as far as Olympic sports is concerned, there’s some interest in hockey and basketball, but people don’t get too excited about betting the giant slalom or speed skating.”
Kornegay added that interest in esports is much bigger in Europe and Asia than it is in the U.S.
Regulators in New Jersey are classifying esports as internet gaming, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board established an expert committee of esports executives who began meeting quarterly in March to develop rules for taking bets in that state.
