Gratisfaction Ranks Among the Highest Paid eSports Professionals

Esports is more popular today than ever, even jostling for a spot in the Olympic Games. Video games are now accessible worldwide, with competitors from different parts of the world raking in the millions from professional play. New Zealand is one of the countries at the forefront of eSports. With top players in popular games like Rocket League, Fortnite, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, New Zealand has played its part in the explosion of eSports into the lucrative industry it is now.

Gratisfaction Leads the Pack Among New Zealand's CS Contingent

According to a study by Esports Earnings, the top five gamers in New Zealand have pulled in a total of over $600,000 between them. Gratisfaction emerged as the top earner among the leading Kiwi gamers, with earnings of over $165,000 on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Sean 'Gratisfacton' Kaiwai does not adorn the typical gamer facade and would easily be mistaken for a hipster away from the controllers. With his scruffy facial hair and disarming smile, Gratisfaction does not look one bit like one of the top gamers worldwide, let alone Aotearoa.

Kaiwai, who took his gaming skills to the pro level in 2016, emerged as the star sniper for his Australian-based team, the Renegades. After moving to the popular Renegades team from Grayhound Gaming, Kaiwai stole the show thanks to his eclectic style, gaining worldwide prominence. With his facial hair being the highlight for fans attracted to his playing style, Gratisfaction continues to amass more of a worldwide following. Within weeks of showcasing his skills at IEM Sydney, Kaiwai would see his stock grow and gain a worldwide fanbase in the gaming community.

A Player for the Big Matches

Over the years, the eSports player has put New Zealand gaming on the map thanks to his exploits on big stages. Clinching top placement in 25 tournaments throughout his career, Gratisfaction has repeatedly proved himself to belong at the very top among professional gamers.

Gratisfaction's main game is the lucrative Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which has made stars out of many a gaming prodigy. The esports player has steadily risen to the hallowed place he sits in today, with the occasional yet gut-wrenching early exit now and again. Snipers have been the most ranked players in teams, with moNESY being the latest sniper to be recognized. In recent times, Gratisfaction has gained online notoriety for his expert sniping skills, which have seen his team rank among the top three in their last five competitions.

Highest Earnings Among New Zealand Pro Gamers

Gratisfaciton, under the Renegades team, enjoyed an amazing run of form at the tail end of 2022. With his team cutting through opponents and making qualifications in different competitions, Gratisfaction's sniping skills were one of the team's strengths. Better earnings follow from consistent wins.

Gratisfaction has a reputation for always competing for the top spot, in addition to his good run of form. The esports player has been with seven teams since entering the professional stage, always posting good numbers and attracting a pay package. Gratisfaction's best year as a professional gamer came in 2019 when he made $56,400 from all competitions. This was the year he officially announced his arrival among the highest-earning professional gamers worldwide. Having made $123,890.93 on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Gratisfaction blazes the trail for the top earners in eSports in New Zealand. The next big match Gratisfaction is preparing for is the qualifications for IEM Road to Rio 2022 Asia. Maybe Gratisfaction will note another huge win in his career after attending this tournament.

Betting on eSports

Every eSports player dreams of getting paid to play their favorite games. While this may not be the case for all players, betting gives them a chance to live vicariously. The rise of eSports tournaments has made it the norm to back favorite teams and players by placing bets online. Fans can pick casinos and betting sites that are top ranked in New Zealand and place bets on teams and players. The convenience of online casino betting allows you to bet from anywhere and at any time. To get the most out of your online casino experience, you should consider some of the top 10 online casinos in New Zealand. This facet of online gaming has added pomp and importance to championships and the industry.

Ranking Among the Top in the World

New Zealand has played host to more and more eSports competitions, elevating the status of professional gamers. Efforts put in by stakeholders have borne fruit, with Gratisfaction breaking into the top earners across the world. While eSports is relatively new in New Zealand, the top players have shed more light on the games to get fans more interested. With its growing popularity comes support from the government. The establishment of the New Zealand eSports Federation (NZESF) is a step in the right direction.

As it is shaping up to be a billion-dollar industry, eSports is now attracting more sponsors. Brands are taking advantage of this new advertising alternative and putting their logos on shirts, banners, accessories, and anything else they can. It is little wonder why companies are coming into the industry, as eSports are popular and had an audience of 532 million people in 2022. Some good news that gamers in New Zealand can get excited about is building a new gaming hub in Auckland. In collaboration with Spark, Guinevere Capital will create an arcade-style hub for aspiring and seasoned gamers.Nestled at Eden Park, the gaming hub will provide a dedicated hub with fiber and 5G connections, broadcast facilities, training rooms, and a venue for all the main eSports events.

At number 57, Gratisfaction just nicked the top 60 worldwide, which is an amazing achievement. He would only need $62,000 in winnings to get him into the top 50 eSports earners worldwide. With the quality of gaming he has put on display, it is only a matter of time before Gratisfaction gets much higher up the rankings.

Conclusion

In New Zealand, eSports are growing to be a thriving industry. Betting on eSports has also become very popular, and more eSports tournaments are happening in New Zealand, and the winning prices are higher than before. Casino software developers, inspired by eSports's popularity, have created eSports-themed slots that fans can play on the top 10 Kiwi online casino sites.

With more of the corporate world coming into eSports and more gamers breaking into the top earners, the eSports industry is enjoying what could be said to be a golden era. Gamers like Gratisfaction are among those breaking glass ceilings and setting new limits on what you can and cannot achieve in eSports. As more famous people enter the race, we can anticipate a buzzing scene. Additionally, the industry's overall market size will keep expanding.