GGBET.UA discusses esports betting at SBC Summit Ukraine

Esports is rapidly closing the gap with traditional sports in Ukraine, according to a panel hosted by endemic betting brand GGBET.UA at the SBC Summit Ukraine 2025 in Kyiv.

The event, held at Unit.City, brought together leading experts and stakeholders to challenge persistent myths about esports and highlight the sector’s growing influence on the national sports and betting landscape.

The panel, titled ‘Ukraine in Esports: Facts and Fakes’, marked the first professional dialogue on esports at the SBC Summit Ukraine.

Speakers tackled three common misconceptions: that esports isn’t a serious industry, that it can’t rival traditional sports in popularity, and that success in esports is easier to achieve than in classic sports.

Yevhen Zolotarov, CEO of NAVI, Ukraine’s most successful esports club, emphasised that esports organisations now boast balanced business models and diverse monetisation formats, often outpacing traditional sports in digital engagement.

Vitalii ‘v1lat‘ Volachai, a renowned commentator, noted that NAVI’s CS2 World Championship final in 2024 ranked among the top three most-watched sports events in Ukraine, trailing only major football matches.

Viktor Proniakin, Head of Product at Esports Charts, highlighted that qualifier esports matches now regularly attract 30,000 to 50,000 Ukrainian-language viewers.

The discussion also explored esports’ broader societal role. Andriy Hryshchenko of the Ukrainian Esports Federation described initiatives using esports to help reintegrate soldiers and veterans, reflecting the industry’s expanding social relevance.

GGBET.UA further showcased the sector’s heritage by presenting a museum exhibition of trophies won by Ukrainian teams and sharing milestones from the country’s esports history.

GGBET UA, a licensed bookmaker and premium sponsor of the summit, underscored esports’ mainstream status by noting that CS2 and Dota 2 are among the top 10 sports on its platform.

Sergii Mishchenko, CEO of GGBET UA, noted: “We have collected assumptions about esports that are widely held, but controversial. This enabled us to facilitate a lively and open discussion.

“For a long time, esports has had its fans, its system of tournaments, its structure and partnerships, and disciplines such as CS2 and Dota 2, which are now included in the top 10 sports on GGBET UA.”

The event concluded with a raffle of exclusive CS:GO record books, emphasizing the deep connection between esports, fans, and betting in Ukraine.