Kenya and other African countries have seen an upswing in cybersports activities and betting. This is partly due to the increased availability of the internet and devices such as smartphones, personal computers, and consoles. The most popular games are EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Tekken.
In order to meet the growing demand of Africans for cyber sports, professional teams at different levels have been created, and quite large and significant events have been organized. This is because interest in video games is growing in Africa, the continent with the youngest population. Between 2015 and 2021, for example, the number of video game consumers in Africa grew from 77 million to 186 million. And some of them have become professional gamers over time. For example, the Ace Gamers team recruits and trains players for EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, “Mortal Kombat” and other games.
There is nothing better than large-scale cybersport events, such as the two-day Carry1st Africa Cup finals, to increase the interest of experienced gamers in games and attract new ones. Prior to this, qualifying events were held for seven months in the most developed African countries, from Egypt to South Africa. More than a hundred teams participated.
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Cybersports are based on online multiplayer games, which disadvantage African players. The continent’s infrastructure for this type of game is not the most developed. However, Carry1st is working on a solution to this problem. Over the past two years, the company has partnered with many game development companies to help them launch servers in Africa. This has been done for Call of Duty: Mobile and the tactical shooter Valorant.
Along with cyber sports, e-sports betting is also growing in popularity. This is because Africans have recently gained access to many bookmakers. Among the latter, Melbet, Mostbet, and 1win are particularly noteworthy. However, Melbet stands out with unique bonuses and high odds, so many players choose it. To start betting on cybersports, you just need to go through Melbet login registration and replenish your balance.
The financial issue also remains difficult, as it is not easy for players to find sponsors and big-money tournaments are rarely held. For example, the total prize pool for the same tournament in Nairobi was $15,000. Such restrictions are causing significant harm to the cybersports sector in Africa. To solve this problem, it is necessary to prove that African cybersport is interesting and is watched by many people. If it succeeds, then money will be invested in it.
So, the prospects for cybersports in Africa look attractive, provided certain current problems are solved at the local level. It is important that African players are on an equal footing with other cybersports players.