Betgenius’ Moritz Maurer – LoL Worlds will be esports’ biggest betting event

06 October 2016

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Moritz Maurer, Head of Esports at Betgenius, told Totally Gaming about his belief that the ongoing League of Legends World Championships will be the biggest betting event in esports to date. 

Moritz Maurer, Betgenius
Moritz Maurer, Betgenius

Whilst the format, the longevity and the sheer popularity of the game and tournament Maurer pointed out another key factor in his prediction.

Unlike Dota 2’s The International, the LoL Worlds will be played out on a match by match basis which should increase viewership and general interest in each. 

As Maurer put it this increases “the betting potential per single event significantly due to the viewers’ attention not being split. This means the in-play betting offering can be consumed by more participants”.

The longevity also means that bookmakers have ample opportunity to promote their markets via content and a planned and detailed marketing strategy. 

Maurer, who is speaking at Berlin’s EiG Conference this month, also discussed how in-play is better suited typically to MOBAs such as League of Legends and Dota 2, as opposed to FPS (First person shooter) games. He also noted however that FPS titles are easier to understand and have less barriers to entry for newcomers to the scene, in terms of complexity, than MOBAs. 

Esports Insider says: A big claim from Maurer but an agreeable one given the growth of regulated betting this year, and the immense popularity and coverage of the Worlds. The likes of Betway, Sky Bet, Pinnacle, Dafabet and Unikrn are extremely well placed to capitalise on this tournament.