These Australian esport and gaming stocks have been making waves in 2023
Pro gaming is entering the realms of pro sport in terms of its earning potential and ability to attract big name sponsors.
Australia is a gaming hot spot, both in terms of esport and traditional gaming. Some of the major players are listed on the ASX, so it is no surprise that given the health and profile of the market, it is directly under the microscope of Australian investors. Here are some of the stocks that are causing ructions.
Market data is correct at time of writing, but subject to change.
iCandy Interactive – a blockchain pioneer
Market cap: AU$49.73 million; share price: AU$0.039
iCandy started out as an investment holding company in 2015. The company develops and publishes blockchain-based games and these have a global audience of over 350 million players. The portfolio of games is impressive and incorporates some household titles that include Astro Boy Games, Garfield Games, Dark Dot and Ancient Secrets of the Mummy.
The company came in at number 25 on Australian Financial Review’s Fast 100 list, which picks out Australia’s fastest-growing companies. One of its titles,
Aristocrat Gaming – the grandfather of casino gaming
Market cap: AU$26.62 billion; share price: AU$41.05
Australia’s gaming sector is perceived as relatively young, and is occupied by dozens of start ups. Aristocrat is not one of them. Founded in 1953, Aristocrat is the largest slot machine manufacturer in Australia. In more recent years, the company has branched out into software for online casino games, primarily sticking to the pokies that have made the company famous.
It also has several distribution agreements outside Australia with businesses like Sammy Corporation in Japan, Grand Vision Gaming in the US and the New England Patriots NFL team.
PlaySide Studios
Market cap: AU$197.6 million; share price: AU$0.49
This Melbourne-based game developer has built up a robust business model by forming collaborations with some of the biggest names in entertainment, such as Warner Brothers, Disney, Nickelodeon and Pixar. The company’s impressive game portfolio includes titles that span PC, mobile, console and VR. Some of the most famous titles include Age of Darkness, World Boss and Dumb Ways to Die, to name just three.
Last year, PlaySide’s share price took a leap when the business announced the launch of its all new third-party publishing division “PlaySide Publishing.” This encompasses a variety of services, from project funding to marketing and communications. This division has been set up to support independent game developers for PC and consoles across the world.
SportsHero leverages Australia’s passion for sport
Market cap: AU$9.56 million; share price: AU$0.018
SportsHero is a mobile app software development company that is firmly focused on the sports gaming market in Australia and also serving customers in Singapore.
The company’s main app is called OlahBola. This provides information on the world’s major soccer leagues such as the EPL, La Liga and the Bundesliga, specifically presented for audiences in Asia Pacific. In April 2021, OlahBola topped an important milestone with four million new unique users.
Last year, the company further strengthened its position through its subsidiary ESportsHero, when it established a distribution partnership with ecommerce giant Blackhawk Network. This will guarantee ESportsHero commissions on a collaborative range of gift cards.
Emerge Gaming
Market cap: AU$ 7.49 million; current share price: AU$0.008
Emerge Gaming is best known for its esport platform, ArcadeX, which launched in 2016. The platform has so far hosted more than 10,000 online esport tournaments. The platform provides more than just a virtual battleground. It also generates player rankings and gives users the chance to compete to earn rewards and prizes such as digital assets and merchandise.
The ArcadeX platform has extended in a variety of ways since its initial launch. The most significant was when it entered the US market in March 2019, through a partnership with Digital Circus. Weeks later, a similar deal with Netsport Media meant ArcadeX would now be able to leverage the Network’s 49-country reach across African and the Middle East.
Last year, Emerge Gaming announced yet another distribution partnership, this time with MTN, which provided access to the huge South African market. Emerge launched in style, with a view to hit the market hard and win new subscribers in a nation where esport is still very much in its infancy.
