BY THE NUMBERS
SkInS In the Game
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n recent months , a new phenomenon known as skins gambling has grown tremendously . The process involves video game players — some of whom are not of legal age to gamble offline — using in-game collectibles as currency to wager on games of chance ; the most common example arose from the game CounterStrike : Global Offensive , in which skins refer to unique camouflages and ornaments for players ’ weapons . The trend has expanded to the point where the skins can be transferred or redeemed for use on other platforms than the original games .
A recent study published in the Journal of Gambling Studies by Nancy Greer and colleagues from Australia ’ s Central Queensland University sought to identify whether those who participate in esports cash betting , esports skin betting or third-party skins betting were more likely to develop problem gambling tendencies .
Despite some limitations , the findings showed that of the three categories , only third-party skins betting resulted in higher rates of problem gambling or gambling harms . For every one-unit increase in third-party skins betting , the study said , respondents were 1.322 and 1.170 times more likely to experience an increase in problem gambling and gambling harms , respectively .
Fantastic Fantasy
In recent years , fantasy sports have emerged as yet another avenue for bettors and bookmakers to wager on their favorite players and teams , and a recent report from Grand View Research has predicted that the global fantasy market will balloon at a compound annual growth rate ( CAGR ) of just over 14 percent from 2023 to 2030 , thanks to a number of factors , including the proliferation of highspeed internet and smartphones as well as increased sports viewership overall .
The 140-page report , titled “ Fantasy Sports Market Size , Share & Trends Analysis Report By Sports , By Sports Type , By Platform , By Gameplay , By Device , By Demographics , By Region , And Segment Forecasts , 2023 - 2030 ,” also posited that the U . S . market specifically will grow at a healthy CAGR of 12 percent . In 2022 , the global market was estimated to be worth US $ 20.3 billion , with the U . S . accounting for at least $ 6 billion of that total .
Another key factor mentioned by Grand View is the legalization of traditional sports betting in a number of new jurisdictions and U . S . states in the last five years . Not only that , but the scope of betting and data partnerships between operators and leagues themselves has accelerated the number of players and offerings .
6 Global Gaming Business AUGUST 2023