Manchester-based esports publication GGIntel has received financial backing from the co-owner of the famous Betfred chain of bookmakers in the United Kingdom.
Fred Done, the owner of the popular betting site, has invested an undisclosed sum of money in the new startup, stating that:
“Esports is only going one way and that’s up, and I’m really excited to be involved with GGIntel.”
“I’m looking forward to working with this small but passionate team to create a unique business in an emerging sector.”
Global Leader
Speaking about the partnership, the managing director of GGIntel, Chris Young, commented;
“I am delighted to have launched GGIntel in one of the most rapidly growing and exciting industries in the world. The aim of GGIntel is to be the global leader in providing transparent, in-depth esports information and education through engaging content written and produced by experts in the field.”
“We are already off to a blinding start and we’ve only just begun.”
Experience
Although Fred Done’s experience in the esports industry is likely to be relatively small, the businessman has already made a number of shrewd moves in the past. He founded his company, Betfred, back in 1967 with his brother Peter Done and he remains the company’s chairman and CEO to date.
However, Betfred is one of a number of betting organisations that began in the bricks and mortar betting shop trade, that have moved online during the digital age and who have also decided to offer a range of different types of esports betting on the site.
Indeed, the company is one of a growing number of sites that offers a specific esports betting sign up offer to their customers, where you can bet £10 and get £30 of esports bets free. A similar offer to that you can get when signing up to enjoy sports betting.
Currently Betfred carries markets on the most popular esports games including CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, Call of Duty, Overwatch and StarCraft.
Done and Dusted
It is not difficult to see why Mr Done has been enticed to team up with GGIntel, when you consider the latest industry figures regarding the popularity of esports and esports betting, especially when you compare it to sports betting.
The esports industry is expected to turn over more than $1 billion in revenue in 2020, with viewership expected to exceed 600 million. More people watched the biggest esports event of 2019 through a variety of streams and sources, than watched the Superbowl.
Mr Done follows a long line of famous investors within the esports industry in recent years, with a number of famous individuals and companies, ranging from Lebron James, Stan Kroenke and Robert Kraft, through to companies like Red Bull all having significant interests within the esports industry.
It remains to be seen whether Mr Done will bring anything more than additional finance to the table with the deal with GGIntel, but having his name attached with the company will not harm GGIntel’s reputation. Mr Done is well-known for some of his publicity stunts over the years including twice paying out early on his beloved Manchester United to win, 2008 and 2012, when in both years the Red Devils were pipped to the league title.
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Image courtesy of Betfred
