What Esports Insider does

Esports Insider is an independent digital-first esports media publication founded in 2016 and operated by ESI Media Inc. (registered in the Marshall Islands). It produces news, features, interviews, originals, and educational explainers covering more than 20 competitive game titles, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, VALORANT, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Chess, Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Sim Racing, and Mobile Legends. The publication targets three overlapping audience segments: esports enthusiasts, esports bettors and gambling users, and esports industry professionals, and distributes content globally through its owned website with regional coverage spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Oceania, and South America.

The core product is the esportsinsider.com platform built on a standard web content management system, with no disclosed proprietary technology stack. A dedicated Esports Betting vertical layers betting news, site reviews, and a tiered operator ranking system (S-Tier, A-Tier, B-Tier) on top of the editorial site. The business model is dual-stream: display advertising and sponsored content from esports organizations, betting operators, and gaming companies, combined with affiliate/referral revenue from gambling platforms targeting US, UK, and Canadian markets. The company operates with 1–10 employees and is led by founder Rasmus Sojmark (CEO) and David Knight (Group COO).

In 2024, parent company Clickout Media executed mass layoffs at Esports Insider alongside The Escapist and Videogamer, restructuring toward AI-generated editorial output staffed by 'AI Editors,' with departing employees required to sign NDAs to receive severance. The publication holds responsible-gambling partnerships with GambleAware and the US National Problem Gambling Clinic, and participates in industry initiatives such as the Mishcon de Reya Sports Law Academy Respawn 2025 panel and publishing partnerships for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 with Chess.com, SNK, and MOONTON Games.

Name

Esports Insider

Legal name

ESI Media Inc.

Website

https://esportsinsider.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Esports Insider is an independent digital esports news publication covering competitive gaming and the gambling ecosystem globally across 20+ titles, monetizing through advertising, sponsorships, and gambling affiliate referrals targeting US, UK, and Canadian markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Esports Media & News

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Esports & Gaming Events (THAJAFAG)

Keywords

• Esports news coverage
• Esports betting guides
• Gambling affiliate marketing
• Esports industry reporting
• Digital media publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Advertising & Sponsorships: The publication monetizes through display advertising, sponsored content partnerships with esports organizations, betting operators, and gaming companies.
2. Affiliate/Referral (Gambling): ESI generates revenue through gambling site affiliate links and recommendations, particularly in the betting guides and casino review sections targeting US, UK, and Canadian markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Esports Insider is an independent digital media publication that delivers comprehensive esports news, features, interviews, and betting guides covering 20+ competitive game titles including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, VALORANT, and others. The platform monetizes through display advertising, sponsored content partnerships with esports and gaming companies, and tiered affiliate referrals to gambling operators targeting US, UK, and Canadian markets.

Product overview

Esports Insider is a proudly independent esports news publication that covers the global esports industry and gambling ecosystem. The platform operates as a unified news product with interconnected sections: the main news platform provides coverage across 20+ esports titles (including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, VALORANT, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Chess, Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Sim Racing, and Mobile Legends); the Esports Betting section offers betting site reviews, gambling guides, and tiered operator rankings (S-Tier, A-Tier, B-Tier); Features and Interviews provide long-form content and industry interviews; Originals offer ecosystem deep-dives and FAQs; and Explainers provide educational betting content. The site also organizes coverage by esports ecosystems, commercial/partnerships, regulation/legal, and Web3/blockchain gaming topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Esports Insider News Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Content cited by Forbes, Mashable, TechCrunch, and The New York Times

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Mishcon de Reya (Sports Law Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2024Esports Insider participated in a Respawn 2025 panel hosted by Mishcon de Reya's Sports Law Academy alongside BLAST and Fnatic, examining esports sector trajectory, post-pandemic trends, and regulatory challenges.
• GambleAwareminorOthersResponsible gambling partner providing resources and support links for users seeking help with gambling problems. ESI displays GambleAware branding as part of safe gambling messaging.
• National Problem Gambling Clinic (NCPG)minorOthersUS-based problem gambling support organization partnered with ESI for responsible gambling messaging and resources.
• Chess.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChess.com became a partner for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, announced alongside SNK and MOONTON Games as publishing partners for the inaugural event.
• SNKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSNK joined Chess.com and MOONTON Games as publishing partners for the Esports Nations Cup 2026.
• MOONTON GamesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMOONTON Games partnered with Chess.com and SNK as publishing partners for the Esports Nations Cup 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dexerto: Dexerto is a leading esports and gaming digital media outlet covering news, lifestyle, and creator content across similar game titles to Esports Insider. It competes directly for the same advertising and audience pool.
• DOT Esports: DOT Esports is a major esports news publication covering titles like League of Legends, Dota 2, and VALORANT with both editorial and betting-related content. Directly comparable in audience and revenue model.
• Esports.gg: Esports.gg is a digital esports media platform combining news coverage with strong betting and odds integration, making it a direct functional and content peer to Esports Insider.
• Dexerto: Dexerto is one of the largest English-language esports and gaming culture publications, covering similar tournament news, interviews, and lifestyle verticals. Direct competitor for the same readership and advertiser base.
• Esports Insider (ranking-tier affiliate peers): Within the betting-tied vertical, betting-focused media properties such as EsportsBettor and similar affiliate-led outlets use the same operator ranking and review model. These are the closest functional comparables on monetization.
• HLTV.org: HLTV is the dominant Counter-Strike-focused news, statistics, and community platform. It is a direct peer for the most heavily covered title in ESI's archive (403+ pages) and competes for the same CS-adjacent betting and audience ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• PC Gamer: PC Gamer is an established gaming media brand owned by Future plc, covering PC gaming, esports, and adjacent verticals. Larger and broader than ESI, but competes for overlapping advertiser dollars and reader attention in esports coverage.
• IGN Entertainment: IGN is a major global gaming and entertainment media outlet with broad esports coverage across consoles, PC, and competitive titles. A broad incumbent that overlaps with ESI on esports news but with vastly larger scale and a different revenue mix.
• Polygon: Polygon is a Vox Media-owned gaming and entertainment publication covering esports, games, and culture. Overlaps with ESI on esports event coverage and industry analysis but serves a broader entertainment audience.

Emerging players

• Esports Charts: Esports Charts provides data and analytics on esports viewership and tournament performance, which intersects with ESI's analytical content. An emerging specialized data player that complements or partially substitutes for some of ESI's industry analysis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/esportsinsider
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10915835

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Esports Insider