Since 2017, the amount of money brands and companies pour into esports sponsorships and advertising has more than tripled, reaching over $1 billion for the first time this year. And while annual spending growth has slowed significantly since the market peak in 2019 and 2020, the industry is still far from cooling.
According to data presented by Betideas.com, by 2030, annual spending on esports sponsorships and advertising is set to grow by another 25% and hit over $1.3 billion.
Esports Sponsorships to Grow by an Average of $50 Million a Year
In 2025, over 660 million people worldwide watched esports, more than double the number reported just eight years ago, and this massive user base became a major draw for brands and companies looking for a new way to promote. Since 2017, the number of brands promoting in esports has grown tremendously, just as the amount of money they`re willing to put into sponsorships and ads.
According to Statista Market Forecast, back in 2020, brands and companies spent around half a billion dollars on esports promotions. Just two years later, that figure was already close to $800 million, despite annual growth slowing down. The market continued adding hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue, and over the past three years, annual spending on esports sponsorships and ads has jumped by $200 million, surpassing over $1 billion for the first time.
While this huge milestone is impressive on its own, Statista expects brands and companies to continue adding around $50 million in new spending each year, pushing total esports ad and sponsorship revenue to over $1.3 billion by 2030. More than half of total spending in 2030 will come from China and the United States, the world`s leading esports markets.
China, home to some of the biggest global esports events and the largest esports audience of more than 400 million people, is expected to spend $333 million on esports sponsorships by 2030, roughly $30 million more than this year. The United States will see similar growth, with ad spending rising from $205 million to $240 million in this period.
Sponsorships Generate More Revenue Than the Next Four Streams Combined
Although still far behind esports betting, the industry`s largest revenue stream, esports sponsorships, still far outpace all other market segments. With $1.3 billion in revenue by the end of the decade, esports sponsorships and advertising will generate more revenue than the next four streams combined.
In comparison, media rights are expected to bring in $531 million by 2030, or 60% less than sponsorships. Merchandise and ticketing, streaming, and publisher fees are even further behind, with projected revenues of $375 million, $208 million, and $168 million, respectively.