Multiple market-research firms released updated esports industry sizing this year, and they don't agree by a wide margin. ResearchAndMarkets puts the current market at $3.6 billion in 2026, growing at a 20.8% CAGR to $7.7 billion by 2030 -- but a separate ResearchAndMarkets release projects growth all the way to $17.42 billion by 2031, an implied 29.8% CAGR. Grand View Research lands closer to the conservative end ($3.3 billion in 2026, $12 billion by 2033), while Mordor Intelligence puts today's market well above the rest at $5.34 billion, growing more slowly (4.89% CAGR) to $6.78 billion by 2031.

The spread comes down to what each firm counts. Analysts note that including gambling and streaming revenue alongside traditional esports income (sponsorships, media rights, tickets, merchandise, publisher fees) roughly doubles the estimated market size, from around $3.3-3.5 billion up toward $4.8 billion or higher.

What the reports agree on: sponsorship investment, digital viewership, and major tournament ecosystems (this month's Esports World Cup finale in Paris among them) keep expanding. How big that translates to in dollar terms depends entirely on which report you read.

Source: E-Sports Market Report - Research and Markets, Esports Market Size Report - Grand View Research