The spread of the novel coronavirus has devastated the gaming industry, prompting the shutdown of arenas, casinos and resorts across the country.

But there’s one related that industry experts say has been given a chance to prove its worth during this crisis: esports.

Many say the competitive video gaming industry, expected to boom in Las Vegas years ago, has instead sputtered, with casinos pulling back on their esport offerings. The casino shutdowns might be the perfect time for operators to re-evaluate the potential in esports — a growing industry that still can generate revenue at a time when millions are told to stay at home.

“The world of social distancing is going to continue to have casino operators engage their customers online more and more,” said Seth Schorr, chairman of the Downtown Grand and founder of the Nevada Esports Alliance, a nonprofit promoting Nevada’s development as a global hub for competitive video gaming. “I think esports will continue to be an important part of our strategy (at the Downtown Grand), especially under the new social distancing guidelines.”