Top 5 Esports Betting Deals/Moves Of 2021

As we are heading towards the end of 2021, now is as good a time as any to take a look back at what has been another incredible year in the esports and the esports betting industry.

We have decided to take a look back at some of the most eye-catching partnership and sponsorship deals that have been agreed upon this year.

These are the deals that we think will have far-reaching implications for the parties involved, but also for the wider esports and esports betting communities.

So let’s begin our countdown with what we felt was a landmark deal struck between two giants of the esports and esports betting industries.

1. FazeClan and DraftKings Form Key Betting Partnership

draftkings fazeclan esports betting deals

FazeClan is one of the biggest names in esports and back in November, it announced major plans to go public, valuing the company at a staggering $1 billion.

Just a short time after that announcement, FaZeClan also announced that it had struck a landmark deal with one of the biggest sports and fantasy sports betting companies in North America, DraftKings.

The deal made sense for both parties. Both have become household names across North America and outside of that part of the world in their own particular fields and by combining their talents, they open up many different avenues of opportunities for them to explore together to promote their respective brands.

2. Entain Purchases Unikrn With Site Relaunch Expected In 2022

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Rahul Sood’s Unikrn Esports was one of the most impressive esports-specialist betting sites available in the world today. The site not only featured a vast array of different esports betting markets, many of which you could not find with other operators, but it also led the way in terms of cryptocurrency betting and many other site innovations.

In August 2021, Unikrn was acquired by the UK betting giant, Entain, owner of big names such as Ladbrokes and Coral bookmakers. Unfortunately, bad news was to follow shortly after the takeover was confirmed; Unikrn was shut down, with customers advised to withdraw their funds from their accounts with the company.

However, the good news is that Unikrn is expected to return with a fresh and newly revamped site at some point in 2022.

3. Rivalry And Pinnacle Major Site Updates

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There have been so many innovations in the esports industry, and the esports betting industry, in recent years that a number of sites decided that it was time for a major overhaul of their offering to customers.

Both Rivalry and Pinnacle were two sites that made a number of massive changes to their sites, both updating and upgrading their sites to bring them kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

With changes to the site’s looks, mechanics and animations, combined with the addition of several new features, plus a host of other features set to be released on the site in 2022, it is certainly an exciting time for members of these two forerunning esports betting sites.

4. Rivalry Releases Casino Game Specifically For Esports Fans

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If you think of casino games, you tend to think of roulette, blackjack, slot games and the like and while there have been a few slots developed on an esports theme, they are fundamentally still slot games and don’t have any broader appeal to esports fans than the subject of the game.

However, this year Rivalry esports released a brand new casino game called Rushlane. This is arguably the first casino game designed to emulate the esports experience. Simulating playing a multiplayer game, or watching a Twitch stream, with the added attraction of being able to stake money and win cash prizes.

This promises to open up a whole new era of casino gaming and offers esports fans the chance to play esports in a different way.

5. Betway Continues To Develop Partnerships In 2021

Betway partners with Brazilian esports team FURIA

For a long time Betway has been amongst the most prominent bookmaking services within the esports industry, sponsoring both tournaments and teams, starting with their partnership with Ninjas in Pyjamas many years ago.

This year the company has struck a further two key deals with esports teams, first they signed a deal with Brazilian esports teams FURIA at the beginning of June and then joining forces with the German-based esports giants G2 Esports around three weeks later.

The moves will certainly help Betway expand its presence in both Europe and Latin America, two markets that the esports-friendly betting service has long had designs on making a strong move into.

With growing numbers of esports teams, tournaments and streamers developing partnerships with esports betting companies, 2022 promises to be another year of exciting partnerships that will drive both the esports and esports betting industries forward at an increasingly faster pace.

Ian John
Ian John

Since: August 10, 2015

Ian is a regular contributor to EsportsBets. Ian is well-versed in the world of esports betting and casino gaming and has written extensively on the online gambling industry. Ian brings fresh insight into all facets of gaming.

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