Esports Caster
Andrew Ogunnaike is an esports caster for SIS, a market leader in esports betting. He is the face of the company’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) digital broadcast – one of the most popular First Person Shooter (FPS) games in the world, attracting tens of millions of players online every month. Andrew is responsible for informing and entertaining his viewers across streaming platforms as they watch the best in the world compete while betting on the results.
As part of the Competitive Gaming (CG) division at SIS, Andrew was the company’s first UK CG caster, writing the book on NBA2K betting focused casting and FIFA casting, before moving onto CS:GO. He also performed SIS’s full three-day stream at ICE Gaming 365, one of the industry’s largest gambling gaming conferences, held at London’s ExCel convention centre.
He said: “I’ve been in esports since 2014 and behind a microphone since 2005. I’m pursuing the thing I learned I was best at while at Staffordshire University and all the effort I have put into refining my craft has paid off.”
Video Games Union
Originally from Watford, Andrew always had an interest in computing and maths, having completed GCSEs and A Levels in his favoured subjects. He chose to follow his passion into Higher Education and settled on Staffordshire University to study a degree in Computer Games Programming in 2017.
He said: “I really liked what I saw at the University. Staffs was the first of three Open Days I attended and the people I interacted with filled me with confidence that this was the right choice. The main draw for me was the VR and 3D rendering demonstrations and the talk by then head of the course Chris McReadie.
“Bob Hobbs especially was my go-to for further questions, even before my UCAS results had come in. The course had good accolades at the time and I'd been able to interact with the Smash Society, which was one of the main societies I was comparing between unis when making my choice.”
During his time at Staffs, Andrew got heavily involved in esports societies and events, running groups and tournaments in different games of various styles between the students, as well as establishing a small league table. He also played a big part in the Smash Society, eventually becoming president.
He said: “I picked Staffs in part due to its Smash Society, which I took heavy part in for my years there and still do as an alumnus. I also was part of the close night Fighting Game Society that started as a branch from Smash and have made lifelong friends at Smash and Fight Club, being part of the team that runs the award-winning "Wake Up on Trent" Tournament Series.
“Societies have given me more esports experience through homegrown events, connections, and opportunities through NUEL (National University Esports League) and NSE [National Students Esports] than any course or bootcamp ever could. This experience would help in esports related fields going forward. And having a programming background leaving uni has allowed me to participate in some coding endeavours at work due to learning the language used there in my second year.”
Competitive Gaming
After graduating in 2020, having also completed a placement year, Andrew started streaming full-time on YouTube and Twitch. Then, in September of the same year, he joined SIS’s CG division, using the skills he built up during his time at Staffordshire University to broadcast to a keen audience of esports viewers.
He said: “On a day to day, I observe player feeds in CS:GO and other titles, trying to get the best angles and action while play by play casting over the games, doing analysis between rounds on the game state and betting odds, as well as breakdowns of the round and gameplay. All while trying to entertain an audience of both experienced and inexperienced viewers. I also assist our referees in keeping the players in-line by watching for suspicious gameplay and making sure the broadcast runs seamlessly during and between games.
“I would like to use my wealth of esports experience to help the company grow our CG division and keep pushing it in the right direction, ideally staying as a caster for as long as possible, while picking up and getting recognition for other responsibilities. Eventually I’d like to move towards some sort of senior casting role before moving into management. Casting is still my passion and I'd like to stay involved as long as possible, while also freelancing in the titles that got me to where I am today.”
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