How Pervasive Is League of Legends Across Canadian Provinces?

The League of Legends has been a global success since launching in 2009 and the game has been one of the biggest influences on the esports industry. Players from around the world have joined local and national leagues to battle it out against their fellow warriors.

In Canada, the League of Legends has been hugely popular and some of the elite players from Canada have competed in the League of Legends World Championship. Canadians such as Eric ‘Licorice’ Ritchie, Brian ‘TheOddOne’ Wylie and Jason ‘WildTurtle’ Tran have made big names for themselves within the LoL global community through their successes in the game.

eSports Success In Canada

The eSports industry in Canada has generated over $150 million and the LoL has played a major role in this. Canada ranks 10th in the world in terms of eSports gaming revenue and Canadian players have won over USD $45m in total, showing that eSports has become a realistic profession for many Canadians.

Vancouver recently hosted a Mid-Season Invitational tournament for League of legends players, the first time the country has hosted an international LoL competition. The prize money was USD$2m, with 10 teams taking part.

The North American League of Legends Championship Series has been running since 2012, with a large number of Canadians making the cut. The competition attracts huge TV audiences across Canada and around the world.

Which Provinces Dominate LoL?

Some of the top teams playing in Canada include University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Impact and University of Western Ontario, showing that there is a large spread across Canadian provinces.

Montreal and Toronto regularly host local events and Canadian content creators have also seen successes with LoL streaming and YouTube content creation. LL Stylish, for example, has amassed 870,000 YouTube subscribers, through his LoL tactical training content.

Is There A Crossover With iGaming?

There are lots of commonalities across playing LoL and iGames, and unsurprisingly, many people who enjoy playing LoL in Canada also like playing slots and casino table games. The appeal of the games has many similarities, providing digital entertainment and for many, the pursuit of reward is a high motivation.

The strategic thinking that is required in LoL fits perfectly into the strategic approach that is required in games like poker and blackjack. However, the faster reward loop of casino games provides LoL players with a different type of excitement when gaming.

Playing slots offers a style of game that does not require advanced strategic decision making, so players can take a break from LoL for a quick session of slots to try and see quick returns.

There is a huge choice of slot games available at online casinos and some are inspired by the League of Legends gameplay. Visuals have taken inspiration from games like LoL and storylines often replicate the fantasy-champion style.

Casinos also offer great welcome bonuses for new players as you can see for slots like these, where a 100% deposit match is available and there are regular promos on different slots. Playing LoL matches can take between 15 minutes and an hour, which is a similar session time to poker. However, for LoL players who want to try a faster paced game, slots are ideal and digital savvy players will find familiarity within the online casino platform design.

Canada’s iGaming Industry Developments

Canada’s iGaming industry has been experiencing rapid growth, particularly in Ontario, where a new regulatory framework has been established to allow private operators to gain licenses in the province. Revenue growth in Ontario’s iGaming industry highlights the strong demand for gaming opportunities in the province, something that is also evident in the popularity of LoL in Ontario.

Major investment is going into the development of new gaming tech, including VR casinos, which LoL players will be curious to try. Live dealer casinos with engaging, real-life interactions also provide an extension to the gaming experience that attracts a large volume of interest.

Other provinces including Quebec and Alberta are looking to follow the lead of Ontario to introduce a new regulatory framework for the province, which will provide players with more opportunities for iGaming in the future. Players who have enjoyed the thrill of LoL over the years will be able to bet on LoL outcomes, something that Ontario players already have the option to do.

There is a clear overlap between games like LoL and iGaming and as more provinces roll out a gambling model for private online casinos, LoL players in these provinces will be able to bet on their favorite games or simply enjoy the similar psychological rewards they get from playing digital games.