Global spending on esports sponsorships and advertising has skyrocketed over the years, rising from $340 million in 2017 to around $980 million last year.
Despite the annual growth slowing in the past five years, the market is still set to reach a historic milestone in 2025.
According to data presented by Betideas.com annual spending on esports sponsorships and advertising is projected to surpass the $1 billion mark this year.
Competitive gaming draws a massive audience, and esports sponsorship and advertising have naturally surged alongside it.
According to Statista Market Insights survey, the global reach of the esports market has doubled in five years, rising from 385 million in 2017 to 726 million in 2024. In 2025, nearly 50 million people are expected to flock to esports, pushing the market`s total reach to a whopping 770 million. This huge audience has been a magnet for companies wanting to promote in the esports market.
Back in 2020, global spending on esports sponsorships and advertising topped half a billion dollars for the first time, a massive leap from roughly $340 million just three years before. By the end of 2022, this figure swelled to nearly $800 million, even as growth rates began to slow.ย Over the next two years, the annual spending on esports sponsorships and ads increased by another $200 million, hitting $982 million last year.
While 2025 is expected to see the smallest annual growth in five years at 7.5%, total spending will still hit a record-breaking $1.05 billion. To put that into perspective, esports sponsorships and advertising alone will generate three times more revenue than media rights, nearly four times more than merchandise and ticketing, and a staggering seven times more than esports streaming.
When it comes to global esports sponsorship and advertising, China and the United States lead the pack, accounting for nearly half of total spending this year. China alone will hit over $305 million in total spending, roughly $20 million more than last year. Although the United States has twice higher esports revenue than China, American brands and companies will invest around $100 million less, bringing their total to $204 million.
South Korea, Germany, and Spain round the top five countries with $128 million, $84 million, and $36 million in total spending, respectively. All these markets will see substantial spending growth in the following years, with countries like South Korea and Spain expected to increase spending by over 30%. As sponsorship and ad investments continue to rise, the entire market is set to continue expanding and reach a $1.28 billion value by 2029.
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