Esports has been a rapidly growing industry in recent years and the interest in this domain has been increasing constantly. With the growth of esports, it’s no longer just a hobby or a pastime but has become a lucrative business too. With the popularity of esports, more and more investors, sponsors and partners are investing their time and money into the industry. In this regard, Evil Geniuses has recently announced a new partnership that signals esports industry’s continued interest in crypto and betting sponsors.
Evil Geniuses, one of the biggest esports organisations in the world, has partnered with Esports Entertainment Group, Inc., a fully licensed online gambling company. Under the terms of the partnership, Esports Entertainment Group will serve as the team’s official esports tournament and betting sponsor. As part of the deal, Evil Geniuses will promote Esports Entertainment Group’s online betting platform, which is powered by the innovative, decentralized cryptocurrency, VIE.gg.
The partnership between an esports organisation and a betting sponsor is not new but what makes this one noteworthy is the partnership between Evil Geniuses and Esports Entertainment Group is the use of cryptocurrency. The integration of cryptocurrency shows how the esports industry has embraced technology to provide the best experience to its consumers. The VIE.gg platform, which is powered by the cryptocurrency, offers secure and transparent gambling experiences, as well as fast and easy payment methods.
Apart from the integration of cryptocurrency, this partnership also highlights the growing interest of the esports industry in the involvement of betting sponsors. Betting sponsors are a key source of revenue for esports organisations and events. Betting has grown to be a significant part of the esports industry, where players and fans can get involved in placing bets on their favourite teams and players. With the increasing numbers of esports fans worldwide, the growth of betting in esports is expected to increase even further.
Esports Entertainment Group CEO Grant Johnson expressed in a statement that the partnership with Evil Geniuses is an exciting opportunity for both companies to collaborate in the growing multi-billion dollar esports industry. The CEO further stated that the Esports Entertainment Group’s ability to offer a fully integrated esports betting platform that accepts cryptocurrencies will ensure superior user experiences for Evil Geniuses fans.
The continued interest of the esports industry in collaborating with crypto and betting sponsors can also have a significant impact on the growth of cryptocurrency adoption across the globe. As esports continues to grow, the use of cryptocurrency as a means of payment could become more common, and this can lead to an increase in the acceptance of cryptocurrency in other industries too.
Furthermore, this partnership also highlights the changing landscape of sponsorship in esports. Esports has come a long way from its early days where sponsorship deals were only limited to gaming peripheral and hardware companies. Today, esports is attracting a wide range of sponsors from different industries, including the automotive industry and the beverage industry. The partnership of Esports Entertainment Group and Evil Geniuses is another example of the esports industry’s ability to bring in sponsors from different domains.
In conclusion, the partnership between Evil Geniuses and Esports Entertainment Group highlights the growing trend of partnerships between esports organisations and crypto and betting sponsors. This partnership is a significant step towards the growth of esports and has the potential to shape the industry’s future. The increasing involvement of cryptocurrency and betting sponsors in esports can also lead to the adoption of cryptocurrency in other industries, opening up new revenue streams for organisations and businesses. As esports continues to expand, there will be more opportunities for sponsorship deals and partnerships, leading to a bright future for the industry as a whole.
Esports organization Evil Geniuses has announced a new partnership with Thunderpick, a crypto and online esports betting platform, for its three “Counter-Strike” teams. This shows that some brands are still interested in using esports orgs to reach gaming fans and that esports orgs are still open for business with cryptocurrency companies. The partnership with Thunderpick is a multi-year deal and will include branded tournaments, giveaways, and watch parties to support Evil Geniuses’ female teams and women in gaming in general. Thunderpick aims to leverage its relationship with Evil Geniuses to raise its profile within the “Counter-Strike” community, which Thunderpick believes is more open to betting than other prominent esports scenes.
This partnership also highlights Evil Geniuses’ strong brand identity, which distinguishes it in an increasingly crowded field. The organization has a mission of diversity and equity, and its partnership with Thunderpick aligns with this mission. The timing of the recent betting sponsorships was more of a “happy coincidence” than an intentional strategic shift, said Evil Geniuses Chief Innovation Officer Chris DeApollonio. Brand partnerships are the lifeblood of most esports organizations, and signing a new sponsor indicates to Evil Geniuses’ investors that the company is still chugging along despite the mounting esports winter.
Esports orgs are increasingly willing to partner with brands in growing industries such as crypto and betting. Despite the fact that some orgs were burned last year after teaming up with doomed cryptocurrency partners such as FTX, Evil Geniuses’ recent partnerships with Thunderpick and VKGAME show that esports orgs are willing to take on the higher category of risk that comes with betting companies and particularly crypto betting companies. It is up to the organization to decide whether it wants to lend its name and fan base to this kind of endeavor, said Jason Chung, director of esports and gaming at New York University.
Thunderpick’s partnership with Evil Geniuses is evidence that brands that find the right audience alignment are still ready and willing to work with esports orgs to reach gaming fans. The companies’ representatives declined to comment on the financial details of the partnership, but it is clear that Thunderpick is tapping into the more mature audience of “Counter-Strike” players and bettors, some of whom are going into their 30s and early 40s. On the other hand, some brands are reducing their esports marketing spend, anticipating a recession. However, this partnership shows that Thunderpick and Evil Geniuses remain open for business to reach gaming fans.
