NIP Group Inc. (NASDAQ: NIPG), celebrates its initial public offering and listing on the Nasdaq as it continues to build a comprehensive entertainment business on July 16, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of NIP Group

 Chinese esports organization NIP Group went public on Nasdaq on Friday, officially becoming the first esports stock from China. Mario Ho (He Youjun), 29, the “gambling king's son” is the company’s controlling shareholder, becomes the “youngest Nasdaq-listed company founder in Asia.”

“In the past decade, public perception of esports has changed significantly. Previously, many considered esports merely as ‘playing games’ and a pastime. With the professionalization and formalization of esports events, people began to recognize that esports competitions are on par with traditional sports in terms of peak competitive events,” Ho told Global Times.

On Tuesday, at the 142nd IOC Session held in Paris, France, a resolution was unanimously passed to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for 2025.

The esports industry, once regarded as a “distraction,” has finally stepped onto the Olympic stage, marking the further recognition of esports' internationalization and authority.

“From proposing the idea of esports entering the Olympics to the establishment of the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023 to the IOC announcing the formation of the Esports Committee, and now the unanimous approval of the esports Olympics decision, we have witnessed new possibilities for esports,” Ho said.

NIP Group's controlling shareholder Mario Ho. Photo: Courtesy of NIP Group

According to the “2023 China Game Industry Report,” the number of gamers in China has reached 668 million, a year-on-year increase of 0.61 percent, setting a new high.

On the global stage, China’s gamer community is also assuming an increasingly significant role.

The first esports stock from China, NIP Group, is one of the most influential esports organizations with the broadest global business operations.

Among the top 10 esports titles in the world by prize pool, NIP Group has achieved tier-1 world tournament victories in CS, Honor of Kings, Rainbow Six, and FIFA, representing a broader range of unique game titles with top-tier wins than any other esports organization as of last year, and is currently preparing for the upcoming Olympics.

Ho said that increasing media coverage and the hosting of major events have also highlighted the competitive and entertaining nature of this emerging pursuit to the public.

“Esports culture is diverse and vibrant; it is not just an extension of gaming but an important platform for young people to express themselves and exchange ideas, playing a significant role in cultural exchange,” Ho said.

“I hope NIP Group can become a bridge between China and the world, between young people and esports, and between Chinese culture and global trends, allowing more people to experience esports and connect with China,” he added.


Global Times