Video gaming has been quite popular for several years now. This trend began in the late 1950s, when physicist William Higginbotham created a video game called ‘Tennies for Two’.
As the years passed, people graduated to playing online real cash games like poker and online Rummy on computers that supported the internet.
They also played:
- First Person Shooter Games or FPS Games
- Role Playing Games or RPGs
- Massive Multiplayer Online Games or MMO Games
- Games involving real cash
This led to a rise in e-Gaming and i-Gaming.
Continue reading to understand more about them below!
What Is e-Gaming?
It refers to teams or groups of people playing against one another globally to win cash prizes. Generally, esports is played on mobile phones and PCs.
Some e-sports games or matches involve single-player games like Clash Royale, which requires strategy and battle tactics to destroy the opponent’s towers.
Moving on to PC and console-based games, these are some of the games played commonly during esports tournaments:
- Counter Strike Global Offensive
- League of Legends
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
- Rocket League.
They are played during competitions like ESL India, Indian Esports League and UCypher. Big brands like Revenant Esports and Puma, Mercedes Benz, and Hyper X sponsor these competitions.
So you need not worry about poor arrangements or outdated systems. Apart from that, when big companies like Mercedes Benz sponsor the event, it helps the competition become more popular for people worldwide.
What Is i-Gaming?
Unlike e-Gaming, i-Gaming involves mathematical skill, calculative strategy, and analytical abilities. In other words, it involves online real cash games like online Rummy, Teen Patti, Omaha Poker, Texas Hold ‘Em and Seven Card Stud Poker.
You can play these games on regulated platforms or official websites that are licensed to host and organise tournaments. You must visit these websites, sign up by creating a profile or using your mobile number, and select your desired match. There is no need for Rummy game download as you can just get the app instead.
Players generally play these games to improve their skills and win cash prizes.
These games involve paying a buy-in fee and a rake fee, using virtual chips to wager on specific outcomes and winning.
For example, say you lay a bet of Rs. 50 on a Red Number Seven when you’re playing online Roulette, and the odds are a:1. Here, ‘a’ refers to the amount you bet. You’ll win Rs (50+1).
Some platforms also offer bonuses, membership programs and rakeback offers as well. You can get the rake amount you paid back with the help of these Rakeback offers.
On the other hand, you can enjoy special discounts, easy cash withdrawal options and a priority customer service when you opt for their membership programs.
Key Differences Between e-Gaming and i-Gaming
You can find some of the key points that differentiate i-Gaming and e-Gaming provided in the table below:
| e-Gaming | i-Gaming | |
| Nature | E-games or E-sports games are quite competitive in nature. They involve teams or single players competing against each other to win cash prizes. These games are divided into mobile video games, console video games, and PC-based video games. | Unlike e-games, i-games require players to lay strategic bets on the game’s outcome.These bets are placed either upon a single outcome or during several rounds during the game. For example, players place single-outcome bets in games like Roulette, while they place multiple bets during online Rummy. |
| Skill vs. Chance | You have to have the skills to play and win esports competitions. So, it’s not possible to win these tournaments if you don’t practice thoroughly. | These games are quite unpredictable. That’s because their outcomes depend on the cards that other players draw and discard. |
| Regulation | Esports competition organisers mainly consider factors like the participants’ age, and the rules unique to each tournament. For instance, some rules include teams of 5 players each, and winning 16 rounds to be declared winners of a particular map. | Heavily regulated, i-Gaming laws vary by country | i-Gaming websites are quite strictly monitored in contrast to e-sports games since players can earn money from playing online real cash games on their website. Additionally, each country has different rules for these games. |
| Target Audience | Players of all ages can participate in esports competitions . | Only adults who enjoy online real cash games involving wagering and winning games can play these games. Additionally, their country or state’s laws must allow them to participate as well. |
The Final Word
As the years go by, you can continue to witness many advancements in the field of online real cash games in i-Gaming and competitive online games in e-Gaming. For instance, you can witness Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in these fields.
Augmented Reality is used to showcase player data like number of chips, cards held and so on in games like poker and online Rummy.
Virtual Reality is used to make players enjoy an immersive experience in games like Fortnite. Players wear VR headsets to “become part of the game”.
Cryptocurrency also influences how players carry out micro-transactions (laying bets, collecting their winnings).
As you can see, it is no surprise that both i-Gaming and e-Gaming have a bright future.
We wish you all the best in your gaming journey!