Esports in Canada: Players, Games, and Tournaments

It is now anticipated that the ESI industry would be valued at $1.1 billion in 2021, with an annual growth of 15.7%. In the meantime, Esports viewing numbers have also increased. In 2021, around 495 million were counted as members of the global audience. Canada is already one of the countries with a significant footprint in Esports. In a short period, Canada has promoted players, tournaments, and teams, which have gained fame and placed the “Great White North” on the map of Esports. Whether you are a Canadian, a simple fan, or a bettor who is interested in esports betting in Canada, you will find this article useful.

General Overview

The popularity of video gaming is based on Esports in Canada, which has proved itself a viable sector. In terms of game sales, Canada ranks #8 in the world, valued at $2.3 billion in 2018. It is projected that there are 21,2 million active gamers in the country. Another fact that is fascinating is that games are sex-neutral in Canada, with nearly the same number of men and women involved with video games and Esports, according to Newzoo. Canadians choose League of Legends as one of the most widely viewed Esports games, but there are no specific stats on that.

Most Popular Games

League of Legends is perhaps one of Canada’s most observed games, yet most teams are more likely to take part in other games. Canadians play a wide range of Esports games, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, StarCraft II, Overwatch, the Heroes of the Storm, and the Rocket League, based on team numbers and overall revenues. Many people search for Dota 2 Canada as well. The information is processed on the basis of the participation in domestic or international competitions of all Canadian Esports teams. Canada currently has players in several different sports games, such as Dota 2, StarCraft: Brood War, Hearthstone, and League of Legends.

Best Teams

Canada has at least three successful Esports competitive franchises that enabled Canada to compete under its own flag in international competitions. It is crucial to prevent Esports from relying on the player’s country at this point, in contrast to traditional sports. Instead, all firms are trying to establish the finest team which works together successfully and guarantees titles. Canada has certainly had more successful players than teams in its history. Until now, Luminosity Gaming with $1,347,382 for prize-winning is the competitive outfit that represents the country.

Vancouver Titans, a Vancouver-based Overwatch League (OWL) franchise, has achieved a win of $950,000. Toronto Defiant, another OOL team has won a prize of only $30,000 but is nevertheless highly valued by Toronto, Ontario’s local community. Loyal Esports supporters support their passion by online wagering on sportsbooks that offer sports betting lines for events, teams, and players alike. Next, Canada has a Team NP that has secured up to now $224,679 in turnover profits. Canada encouraged a number of players to pursue grandeur in Esports outside those four teams.

Major Tournaments

Esports has no localized character, as previously noted. Concurrences are worldwide and take place mostly in various locations worldwide or online. Since the new pandemic of coronavirus started in February 2020, several organizations have chosen to change to an online model. Some of the most prominent Esports tournament hosting companies, such as ESL, Blast Pro, and DreamHack, have all changed to online or LAN events. The Overwatch League and the Call of Duty League have chosen to follow the lead and establish an online structure while the pandemic lasts in two franchise games traditionally played personally on the physical arenas of North America.

Fortnite and Dota 2 have postponed the largest tournaments – both the Fortnite World Cup and The International – that Canadian Esports professionals and teams are looking forward to. Both events were replaced in 2021 on a date not yet set. League of Legends also chose to cancel the American Super Bowl’s video game community, League of Legends Worlds, and to push it back until the time when COVID-19 cases were manageable.

All Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six: Siege events are currently held online, however, hosts invite Tier One teams, i.e. companies with a long history who can be confident that they will not utilize prohibited software when playing on the remote. With regard to specific events and tournaments in Canada, at least three groups currently organize small-scale events to encourage the local community. Among them are OeSL (Ontario ESP), Red Bull, and the ESP Canada League (CEL).