Esports Set to Become a $6B Industry By the End of the Decade

More than a decade since the first esports market boom started, the entire sector continues to surge, with most forecasts pointing to steady growth ahead. What started as niche LAN tournaments has evolved into global entertainment, attracting huge sponsorship deals, bringing head-spinning prize pools, and creating new revenue streams like esports betting. Now, the market is edging closer to a record valuation, proving esports momentum is far from over. According to data presented by Skinsluck.com, esports is set to become a $6 billion industry by 2030.    

Revenue To Surge by 31% Over the Next Five Years, Fueled by Sponsorships, Advertising, and Esports Betting

Not many markets in the entertainment industry can match the unique combination and broad appeal of esports. It combines the excitement of live competition with the easy access of gaming and streaming, letting fans watch top players in real time from anywhere, interact on platforms like Twitch or YouTube, and even play the same games as the pros, something traditional sports can’t match. On top of that, the industry has attracted major sponsorships, media rights, advertising, and even betting, creating multiple revenue streams that continue fueling its growth.

While skeptics question how sustainable that growth really is, pointing to profitability issues, concentrated viewership, and the “hype cycle” effect, where big sponsorships and media buzz don’t always translate into steady, long-term returns, the latest market forecast shows that esports is still on track for years of steady growth ahead.

According to Statista Market Forecast, the global esports market is expected to hit $4.7 billion value in 2025, up 10% from $4.3 billion last year, and more than double its valuation just five years ago. Revenue is expected to continue growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.56% over the next five years, resulting in a market volume of over $6 billion by 2030. Nearly 60% of that value, or $3.4 billion, will come from esports betting, which is expected to surge by 21% over the same period. The market`s second-largest revenue stream, sponsorships and advertising, will make up around 20% or $1.2 billion by 2029, 14% more than this year.

While much smaller in revenue, other segments will see an even bigger growth. For example, esports streaming and media rights are expected to grow by 36%, reaching $196 million and $498 million, respectively, over the next four years. Merchandise and ticketing follow with a projected 30% growth and $354 million in revenue by 2029.

A $6 Billion Industry with Close to 800 Million Users by 2030

Besides posting impressive double-digit growth, the esports industry is also set to add tens and even hundreds of millions of new fans in the following years. Since 2017, the global esports audience has nearly doubled, rising from 345 million to 664 million. But the growth won`t stop there. Statista projects the total number of esports fans to hit over 770 million by 2029, rising by an average of 25 million each year. At this pace of growth, the global esports audience is expected to reach nearly 800 million by the end of the decade.