Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is now circulating in the United States and worldwide. Although a lot of attention has been paid to cancelling major esports legends and tournaments, the income from the esports industry and digital gaming will also be reduced this year.
In addition to a suspension of the NBA and the NH LNS season and delays at the beginners of the MLB, the World Health Organization has formally listed COVID-19 as a pandemic, resulting in a cancellation of NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
With the interactive nature of video games, you might think that it is free of this disturbance, but it is as much a spectator event as any other esport that is expected to compete in esports and leagues.
The end of these activities will almost certainly push the income of esports down from their peer sports, as it is expected to stick to 1 billion dollars in 2020. The list of current coronavirus-cancelled, postponed or otherwise affected esports tournaments and leagues is given below:
Esports Gambling Industry Taking A Hit?
Like sports, tournaments are being cancelled or postponed due to the virus. Sports events like the UK’s Premier League had been cancelled.
Some of the biggest betting sites and esports betting sites that are publically traded are taking huge hits due to the virus. But, interestingly you can bet on coronavirus, with different prop bets and odds.
With hundreds of thousands affected by the virus, different industries across the planet have been affected like the travel industry to the food industry.
Impact On Esports Tournament Industry
Call of Duty, League of Legends, Dota 2 and Call of Duty tournaments have been affected by the killer virus. Organisers like ESL, LEC and NBA 2k Esports have postponed events resulting in tens of thousands needing their tickets to be refunded.
Many of the best esports tournaments have been postponed and many more to come.
