Winnings for the top eSports players continue to grow as figures released by Mobile eSports platform Skillz show its top 10 players made $2.7 million in 2017.
The figures show that winnings for eSports played on mobile devices is growing, though still behind traditional eSports contests. For example, professional Dota 2 player Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi earned more than $2.4 million during 2017.
Traditional eSports include games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. However, mobile eSports has been attracting fans with games such as Clash Royale, Strike of Kings, and Vainglory, according to a report at casino.org.
The Skillz list also shows that women are playing more eSports as seven of the top 10 players are female, including the top two finishers.
“Just as Shaun White defined snowboarding and Tony Hawk popularized skateboarding, Skillz competitors are defining what it means to be an eSports athlete,” said Andrew Paradise, Skillz CEO in a press release.
In another story, a survey conducted by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming and reported in its Esports & Gambling Monitor found that 31 respondents from eSports related websites expect eSports to grow in 2018. About 82 percent of respondents also felt that eSports wagering will equal traditional sports wagering within two years.
Driving the increase in betting is the growth of existing major eSports events along with the introduction of new leagues, the survey found. The survey also pointed to existing sports experimenting with eSports concepts such as the NBA’s 2K League or MLS’ deal with EA Sports to launch eMLS.
