ESports – Thailand has become one of the World’s leading eSports market
Thailand’s eSports industry has grown significantly in recent years, transforming the Asian country into one of the world’s largest gaming marketplaces. In numbers, Thailand’s gaming population is estimated to be 18.3 million people.
This places it as one of Southeast Asia’s most major gaming markets, second only to Indonesia in terms of market size.
eSports will attract even newer clients as digital breakthroughs such as 5G technology advance. Additionally, the rising popularity of esports has drawn many interested in professional gaming as a source of income. Technology remains vital in the evolution of digital or online gaming, and the Thai gaming sector has been the focus of innovative technologies in recent years. More than ever, you can enjoy a wide array of the best online slots in Thailand, as well as eSports.
Conventional corporations moving into the eSports market and startups aiming to profit from increased demand have been active. The telecoms powerhouses have sparked the most business interest in Thailand. Due to high mobile penetration rates and the expensive hardware costs of PC gaming, Thailand remains a mobile-first gaming market, unlike the United States or South Korea.
As a result, True and AIS have begun sponsoring eSports streaming and tournament management, seeing the business as a way to diversify income streams while also cross-selling their core goods. Due to the significant financial needs for game creation and publication, startups such as Thailand’s Infofed and Indonesia’s Evos focus on event planning and the professional gaming industry to boost Southeast Asia’s players’ competitiveness.
What to expect
For the eSports market in Thailand, there are still significant limitations. The most notable impediment has been traditional Asian society’s attitude toward video games, which regards them as a juvenile pleasure. However, attitudes toward e-sports have improved over time, with more backing from government agencies and colleges. According to Garena’s projections, successful players may make up to THB 5 million per year through streaming and contests.
Leading education centres, such as Bangkok University, have begun developing eSports curricula, which could help Thailand generate more competitive gamers who can compete on an international level. Other possible advancements in the Thai sector include Thai national eSports teams or formal university leagues.
While COVID-19 has temporarily slowed the pace of eSports investment, community involvement has increased during the lockdown. When competitive events begin, industry analysts predict a rise in Thai e-sports as the skill pool grows.
Fintech has so far been involved, allowing microtransactions and wallets for purchasing in-game products from a financial services standpoint. However, the emergence of competitive eSports offers financial service providers a chance to reach out to a younger audience looking for bank accounts, wealth management products, and other financial services to supplement their expanding earning potential.
eSports can give financial institutions alternative marketing options searching for new ways to interact with the younger generation of customers, similar to other sporting professions or influencer sectors.
eSports has gone even bigger in 2021, mainly because it is a consumer-friendly sport. It is safe to say that the introduction of new technologies will further influence the curiosity of potential fans into joining the sport and enhance the interest of current fans in continuing to patronize the sport.
The idea of gaming in Southeast Asia is ripe for study, and Thailand can serve as a launching pad for influence in other Southeast Asian countries.