PandaScore takes first dip in US esports betting space

PandaScore, a leading provider of esports odds and data feeds, has marked its inaugural step into the American betting scene with a newly acquired license in Colorado.

The Centennial State stands among a select few jurisdictions in the country to have embraced esports betting, paving the way for companies like PandaScore to introduce their offerings, Casino Guru News learned in an email press release.

PandaScore launches US expansion with Colorado entry

Now positioned to expand its products to local operators, PandaScore uses a blend of advanced AI algorithms and human expertise to deliver precise odds and comprehensive data feeds.

This move underscores its commitment to cater to one of the world's largest and most lucrative esports markets, as it seeks to remain competitive against increased competition from established rivals such as Oddin.gg, which recently teamed up with Sportradar and Betsson, and Bayes Esports. Both companies are similarly positioned to reap benefits as the esports betting market continues to expand.

Bayes Esports and PandaScore have had a few in-runs in the past, with the former successfully suing PandaScore to drop the word "live" from the way it advertises its data products, arguing that both companies simply "scrape" the data, resulting in delay. Bayes Esports was vindicated in a court of law in Germany.

This has not stopped PandaScore from remaining the go-to choice for many prominent betting companies, however, including Betfred and William Hill, both of which have chosen to work closely with the company to strengthen their esports betting offer.

PandaScore CEO Flavien Guillocheau has commented on his company securing the newest opportunity in the US market, and said:

"For esports to succeed in the US, suppliers must lead from the front. Suppliers need to address the uncertainty around regulation which has held back operator investment and thus growth of the vertical."

Essentially, Guillocheau argues that for the ecosystem to thrive, it would need the technological infrastructure that companies such as PandaScore bring to the table. Guillocheau is determined to show existing and future clients that the US market could be a strong opportunity for them, and that there is a viable path to pursue when seeking an entry.

Esports betting to only grow in the United States, PandaScore believes

This expansion is also an act of prescience and business acumen, according to PandaScore Legal Counsel Alexis Brunet. Brunet admitted that the regulatory landscape around esports in the United States is often challenging, but the esports betting ecosystem is headed one way – expansion.

"We intend to provide our best-in-class products and services to our customers no matter where they are, and service one of the largest markets in the world," Brunet noted.

PandaScore, which has been steadily adding to the games that it keeps track of and provides esports betting data and feeds for, has done well to single out Colorado as its entry point for the United States.

The Centennial State is similarly keen on creating a flexible ecosystem that deals away with the shibboleths of old, such as legalizing every single event separately. Instead, Colorado has given a reasonably free hand to regulated operators to run and offer esports betting markets as they see fit.

PandaScore’s arrival to the market will put to a test how prepared the industry is to take up a new opportunity locally and expand. Presently, Colorado features 18 regulated sportsbooks, among which many with a strong track record of hosting esports betting markets, such as bet365.

In the meantime, PandaScore powers a number of sports betting and gaming brands, including 3ET and STS.

Image credit: Unsplash.com