Online sports are steadily increasing in popularity. Thanks, possibly to streaming platforms like Twitch, major brands are beginning to recognize that there is a vibrant and sustainable appetite for people willing to watch other people play video games.
Hundreds of millions of people consume this content worldwide. Perhaps not surprisingly, a lion’s share of them were men. In fact, a survey taken of the general population revealed that 40% of male respondents indicate an interest in e-gaming.
You can place wagers on websites like YouBet. And if you’re a parent who has been limiting your child’s screen time up until this point, you might want to think twice about that. There are even scholarships for people who are particularly good at competitive gaming.
In this article, we provide an overview of how the game has grown and what it currently includes.
Esports Overview
Esports has become, with almost rapid speed, a billion-dollar industry. What was once niche and local is now consumed globally. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the United States is a particularly vibrant market for esports.
Not only have there been significant investments in the form of large-scale teams, but the US also hosts some of the most significant gaming events in the world. Many events are hosted not necessarily on major networks, but on the streaming platforms that made competitive gaming popular to begin with.
Most prominently, Twitch and YouTube play a considerable role in proliferating access to video game-related content. The typical viewer is a male aged between 18-34, but there is growing interest from females within the same age range.
The type of games that get played will vary, but team shooters tend to be very popular. FPS is an acronym that you will see a lot in the world of virtual gaming. It stands for first-person shooter, and it is a description that includes games like Overwatch and Counter-Strike, two of the most prominent titles in competitive gaming.
Other, more team-based competitive games include titles like League of Legends, which is what fans call a MOBA. MOBA stands for multiplayer online battle arena. Try saying that four times fast.
In MOBAs, players are able to choose from a select number of prefabricated characters. The strategic element requires them to think tactically about how to stack abilities to defeat opponents who have access to the same or similar abilities. In this way, MOBAs and indeed any competitive video game can take on planning aspects not dissimilar from competitive sports.
Why Are Esports Growing So Rapidly Now?
One of the major reasons that esports are growing so significantly is that they’ve found welcoming platforms in the form of Twitch and YouTube. Fifteen years ago, ESPN would never have broadcast a major virtual gaming tournament, but in an age of digital content creation, you don’t need major networks to reach major audiences. Esports has more than proven this.
Beyond easier accessibility, though, games themselves are just more common across demographics. What was once primarily the pursuit of young boys is now something that virtually everyone does with at least some of their spare time.
No, not everyone is logging hours on a PlayStation 5. But an estimated 61% of Americans are gaming somehow, even if it just means on their cell phone. Ease of access, combined with greater familiarity, has helped esports reach more people than would have ever been assumed possible just a few years ago.
The NFL Connection
What does any of this have to do with professional football? Well, in 2025, the NFL initiated a partnership with We Play Studios. The result is a game show called NFL Offsides.
NFL Offsides pairs NFL superstars with video game creators and esports personalities to create unique game show-style challenges not seen anywhere else. The show is hosted by Cameron Dicker, who kicks for the Los Angeles Chargers. There are physical components to the show, but most viewers are interested primarily in the video game component.
What does this say about the development of esports? Well, there’s hardly a hotter brand in the United States than the NFL. The fact that they recognize the growth and potential of e-gaming speaks volumes to its future.
Tipping point theory, flawed though it might be, indicates that widespread adoption eventually leads to total normalization. In other words, something can start out as niche, but once a certain segment of the population begins to embrace it, virtually everyone else will follow. That’s what we’re seeing with the normalization of video games as a competitive sport.
First, they were recognized by colleges, then by competitive leagues, and now by major institutions like the NFL. Who knows what the future holds? One thing is for sure—esports are here. Interest is only likely to increase in the future.
