Esports is a buzzword, but there’s little evidence of location-based esports generating real profits for operators. Renting out computer games by the hour is a low-margin business. It’s hard to make money with something people can do at home for free.

Since less than 10% of households own a gaming VR headset, VR esports offers operators the potential to build VR gaming communities that visit frequently and spend. 70% of gamers are middle or high-income, and two-thirds of Americans identify as gamers. VR esports requires a similar effort as league bowling. For the operator that commits it can be a profitable addition to their entertainment business.