Mobile gaming has experienced tremendous growth, especially during the pandemic. Fortnite alone generated over $745m (£536m) in revenue from its iOS platform between March 2018 and July 2020.
While many mobile games are free to play, there has been an increase in the amount users are spending. Research from Interpret shows that nearly a quarter of iPhone users and 22% of Android owners spend over $100 per month on mobile gaming.
With over 90% of Americans owning smartphones, it is no surprise that revenue from mobile gaming continues to rise. Sportsbooks need to be aware of this trend and be prepared to capitalize on the growing number of gamers who invest their money in mobile gaming.
Currently, more than 40% of smartphone owners spend at least $50 per month on games, amounting to $600 per year. A quarter of users even spend up to $1,000 per year on mobile gaming.
While the future of gaming used to be in PC gaming, it is evident that the future is now in mobile gaming. However, the esports betting industry should not rush to introduce mobile gaming options just yet. Most competitive gaming and revenue still come from PC-based games.
In addition, the age demographics of mobile gamers may not align with the intended audience for betting options. Therefore, sportsbooks need to focus on collecting data that will be instrumental when mobile gaming tournaments become mainstream.
Although it may be challenging to gather accurate statistics from mobile gaming tournaments, it is crucial for sportsbooks to stay ahead of the curve. As mobile gaming revenues increase, so will the focus on this platform, leading to more tournaments and betting opportunities.
By preparing for this shift from PC to mobile gaming, sportsbooks will be well-positioned to take advantage of the rising popularity of mobile gaming. The infrastructure is already in place; it is just a matter of recognizing the trend and getting started early.
