GRID Expands Esports Betting with GRID Bet Launch

GRID has unveiled GRID Bet, a dedicated esports betting solution designed to enhance operator offerings through exclusive data integrations and AI-driven tools. This launch coincides with leadership appointments and a strategic pivot toward deeper involvement in the global esports wagering ecosystem. The move addresses the growing demand for reliable, real-time betting products amid esports' projected $4.8 billion revenue milestone this year.

The initiative builds on GRID's established partnerships with major rights holders, including Riot Games, ESL FACEIT Group, and BLAST, providing access to official match data for titles such as League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. By embedding live feeds, predictive analytics, and customizable widgets directly into betting platforms, GRID aims to streamline operations for licensed operators in regulated markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. This development matters for the esports betting sector as it mitigates integrity risks associated with unofficial data sources, fostering trust among bettors and regulators while capitalizing on the 175 percent year-over-year surge in Valorant wagering activity reported in early 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Operators gain immediate access to over 30 esports disciplines with sub-second bet delays, enabling innovative in-play markets that boost engagement by up to 40 percent.
• Regulators benefit from enhanced transparency via official data partnerships, aligning with stricter licensing requirements in markets such as Germany and Sweden.
• Bettors experience safer, more accurate odds, reducing exposure to match-fixing vulnerabilities highlighted by recent ESIC investigations.

GRID's expansion into esports betting arrives at a pivotal moment for the industry, where wagering volumes have eclipsed $2.8 billion globally in 2025, driven by tournament prize pools exceeding $100 million and mobile integration. Founded in 2020 as a sports data provider, GRID has evolved from traditional sports analytics to specialize in esports, recognizing the unique challenges of video game competitions—such as rapid match pacing and publisher-specific rules. The GRID Bet platform introduces modular tools, including trader portals for dynamic odds adjustment and streaming embeds that sync with live events, allowing operators to tailor experiences for regional preferences, such as Asia's focus on mobile-first betting.

This launch responds to regulatory shifts emphasizing data integrity, as seen in Peru's 40% reduction in illegal gambling following 2024 reforms and Brazil's licensing of 78 operators, which generated $3.2 billion in the first half of 2025. For operators in the EU and UK, where the Malta Gaming Authority mandates real-time monitoring, GRID Bet's AI-powered insights detect anomalous betting patterns, supporting compliance with anti-money laundering directives. In emerging Asian markets, the platform's crypto-friendly integrations align with partnerships, such as BETBY's recent deal with Satoshi Gaming Group, which expands access to over 50 esports titles.

The implications extend to competitive ecosystems: by prioritizing official feeds, GRID reduces reliance on gray-market data that has fueled past scandals, such as the 2023 CS:GO match-fixing probes by ESIC. Industry experts anticipate that this could accelerate esports' share of the $187 billion global sports betting market by 2030, with CAGR projections of 11 percent, fueled by innovations in live wagering. For bettors, particularly millennials and Gen Z, comprising 60 percent of participants, these tools promote responsible gaming through personalized limits and educational overlays.

As esports tournaments proliferate— with events like The International 2025 drawing 1.5 million concurrent viewers—GRID's infrastructure positions operators to capture untapped revenue from micro-bets on in-game objectives. However, success hinges on collaborative enforcement; publishers like Riot must continue evolving policies, as evidenced by their 2025 approval of betting sponsorships in Valorant, to balance commercialization with fairness. Ultimately, GRID Bet reinforces the maturation of esports betting, transforming it from a niche vertical into a regulated powerhouse that sustains long-term growth.

Sources: Esports Insider, iGaming Future