This is the ultimate guide to Esports betting—find out how to get started, what game genres are available, and how you can bet on famous games like Dota 2, LoL, CS:GO, and Fortnite. You can also find a curated list from our experts of the best sites for Esports betting.
While Esports games may seem complicated, they are similar to any other sport. As such, it's common for fans to follow teams and/or individuals, view matches, and bet on who they think will win in competitions—the same they would do for any professional sport.
To sum up: an esports event is simply a game that is played in a competitive, organized manner. The best gamers compete in leagues or tournaments that feature some of the most popular Esports games including League of Legends, Fortnite, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Video games used to be confined to a specific group of people-namely, amateur games who enjoyed competing against each other online. Around 2010, the gaming culture expanded, and even non-gamers started taking an interest in several games that gained renown.
By the 2020s, a new type of “sports” professional had arisen: the gamer. These professionals participated in tournaments, leagues, and other organized events. And their fanbase steadily grew.
Today, Esports has such a large fanbase, that even non-gamers enjoy betting on the game outcomes. Due to its popularity, game developers have taken an active role in promoting tournaments, competitions, and Esports betting sites.
Many sportsbooks offer video and console betting in their Esports section, but for newbies, it may seem overwhelming. Our guide breaks it down so you can start betting on Esports online.
First, find the Esports section at the site you wish to bet on. In most cases, it's easy to spot. Next, select a sports genre and check the odds of the betting site. Bet types (such as series- or match winners) are now available. Ready, set, go!
Most betting sites reward loyal bettors with welcome bonuses and promotions. Additionally, all betting sites we recommend to gaming enthusiasts are approved by our experts. The sportsbooks we review are judged by very strict criteria, including licensing, security protocols, customer support, and more.
If Esports is a make-or-break factor when it comes to choosing an online betting site, we understand. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best online sites for Esports betting.
As Esports skyrockets in popularity, many online casinos and sportsbooks are struggling to keep up with bettor demands. Those that put together an Esports section in a mad dash are likely to find that their offerings don’t live up to player expectations. Moreover, they may neglect to receive the proper licensing.
When looking for an Esports betting site, a license is the first thing you should look for. Once you establish that the site in question is licensed, you can move on to other important factors like odds, promotions, customer support, payment methods, mobile options, and more.
Live betting is one of the newer factors added to Esports, and any betting site worth its salt will offer it via streaming technology.
Of course, many bettors only have eyes for one thing: the games.
Sometimes, the only thing bettors need to see is that a licensed site offers League of Legends, Dota 2, Call of Duty and CS:GO.
There are many types of Esports, but three in particular dominate Esports online betting: multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooters (FPS), and real-time strategy (RTS) games.
The popularity of an Esports game can be easily determined with technology that measures the number of hours games stream on sites like YouTube, Twitch, and others. Esports Charts is one website that displays real-time updates on the most-viewed Esports.
Clocking in at over 500 million hours watched, League of Legends is the most widely viewed Esport statistically. Next come Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Dota 2, Overwatch, and Arena of Valor.
Online streaming is an integral part of Esports and largely responsible for much of its popularity. Statistics show that people who watch Esports are mostly between 18 and 34 years old. 85% are male and 15% are female.
Many prospective gamblers wonder, how much can you win when betting on Esports? The answer is, the same you can win from other types of online gambling. Esports has had several significant prize pools and payouts, specifically in tournaments. According to our research, the top five games with the biggest prize pools are as follows.
|
Position |
Game |
Prize Pool |
Number of Players |
Tournaments |
|
1 |
Dota 2 |
$280,803,508 |
4272 |
1619 |
|
2 |
CS:GO |
$131,355,230 |
14748 |
6120 |
|
3 |
Fortnite |
$111,339,316 |
4931 |
750 |
|
4 |
League of Legends |
$90,515,461 |
8076 |
2677 |
|
5 |
Arena of Valor |
$44,681,469 |
976 |
97 |
Almost all sites that offer Esports betting have an easy-to-find section dedicated to tournaments, which are categorized by game genre. These include first-person shooters, real-time strategy games, and multiplayer games. The following are the most common game genres connected to Esports.
|
Game |
Description |
|
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) |
MOBA games tend to have the most players and the most popular tournaments. League of Legends and Dota 2 are both MOBAs. |
| First-person shooter (FPS) |
These are shooter video games in which players see the action of the game through the character’s eyes. Examples include (CS:GO) and Call of Duty. |
|
Real-time strategy (RTS) |
RTS games don’t progress incrementally but allow players to play at the same time. Popular games in this category include StarCraft 2 and Warcraft: Orcs and Humans. |
|
Collectible card games (CCG) |
CCGs came on the video game scene in 2014 with the release of Hearthstone, which continues to be one of the most mainstream CCGs today. CCGs are more complex than most other types of video games and require long-term thinking. |
|
Battle Royale |
Named for the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale, these are multiplayer online games that can involve hundreds of players. The goal is to eliminate other players and be the last person standing. |
|
Autobattlers |
Autobattler games are a sub-genre of video games that employ chess-like elements as two teams fight against each other. Popular autobattler games are Dota Auto Chess and Teamfight Tactics. |
|
Fighting games |
These are usually console games, often played on Playstation and PC). Some of the titles are known in the world of pop culture, not just in the video game world. Popular titles include Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat 11, and Dragon Ball Fighterz. |
Like any other sport, Esports has its own leagues and competitions. Every year, its tournaments and championship games get bigger.
|
Games |
Event |
|
League of Legends |
The International |
|
Fortnite |
Fortnite World Cup |
|
League of Legends |
LoL World Tournament, LoL World Championship |
|
Virtual Sports |
Olympic Virtual Series |
Your Esports knowledge is now solid, so you can start betting! The following tips will help you get started, including putting a strategy together and placing bets.
Before betting on Esports, learn the actual games! If video games interest you, take your time to play them, learn what the big tournaments are, and more. You can even play the games for free on many sites. Once you’re familiar with the genre, you can start betting.
Familiarity with a game is a definite advantage when betting on it. To determine which team or player to support, study the team's strengths, weaknesses, and history of wins and losses. Statistics from the past can be used to predict the future with great accuracy.
Watching live matches is a great way to help you get an insider’s view of Esports. Many sportsbooks stream live matches, and you can also find them on YouTube. If you want to gain expertise in a specific game, you can even find old matches online. There is no substitute for experience, and watching the game unfold will enable you to pick up helpful tips and betting strategies.
There are many online sportsbooks that offer Esports betting, so how can you choose? Our expert-reviewed list of the best Esports betting sites is a good place to start. If you choose to look for a sportsbook on your own, make sure it’s licensed and regulated by a recognized authority.
Like any form of gambling, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment with Esports and want to bet more. The problem is, if you go overboard, you can lose a lot more money than you’re willing. To avoid this, set a budget before you start betting—and stick with it. While this requires a good deal of self-control, it can help you avoid a lot of heartache in the future.
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With these Esports betting tips, you can learn how to turn the balance in your favour and bet like a pro.
With esports becoming increasingly popular, finding a reputable betting site can be a challenge. That’s why our experts compiled a list of the top Esports betting sites. But what makes these sites worthy of our expert recommendations? Our reviewers check the following criteria.
License & reputation The first thing to look for in a sportsbook is its license. If it doesn’t have one, run the other way. If the sportsbook is licensed, the next things to look at are the reviews. Did players have a positive experience while betting on the site? Are withdrawal requests processed quickly? Find out what real players say about the site before placing bets there.
Promotions & bonuses Bettors want the most bang for their buck, and a good operator will offer a range of regular promotions. We prefer Esports betting sites that offer deposit bonuses, free bets, and cashback offers throughout all markets.
In-play offering For esports betting enthusiasts, live streaming and solid in-play betting options are what set apart decent sportsbooks from the great ones.
Odds Different sportsbooks offer different odds for Esports betting. Odds also vary depending on the type of match. It’s important to compare the odds at different casinos (or read our expert reviews, who have assessed the odds for you).
Esports selection Some bettors don’t care about promotions, bonuses, or customer support—they simply want the best games. The most popular Esports games to bet on are Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Starcraft 2, and Dota 2. Players who love betting on these games should ensure that the sportsbook they choose offers them.
Banking & payouts Good sportsbooks should offer a varied selection of deposit and withdrawal methods, including credit card, e-wallet, bank transfer, and cryptocurrency. Choosing the banking method that’s best for you will only serve to enhance your betting experience.
Customer support An often overlooked but crucial aspect of an online sportsbook is its customer support. Are representatives available when you need and do they know what they're talking about? Helpful customer support can make a huge difference in your gambling experience.
There are hundreds of Esports you can bet on, but some are more popular than others. Below you can see the most popular Esports in the online gambling world.
League of Legends League of Legends (LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and arguably the most popular Esport of all time. It has 12 leagues that compete and each season ends with the spectacularly popular LoL World Championship.
CS:GO Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS:GO) is the fourth in the Counter-Strike series and arguably the most popular. It's a multiplayer first shooter game and is as popular today as it was when it first launched in 2012. It has been awarded "Best eSports Game" several times.
Call of Duty Call of Duty was published in 2003 and has gained popularity as a first-person shooter game. As of 2021, the Call of Duty series has sold over 400 million copies.
Fortnite Fortnite was released in 2017 and has several distinct game modes. It's won several awards from PC Gamer and IGN.
Dota 2 Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and has spawned related merchandise, comics, anime, and more due to its popularity.
Overwatch Overwatch is a multiplayer first-person shooter game that has its own Overwatch League (OWL). A sequel is reportedly in the works.
PUBG: Battlegrounds PUBG: Battlegrounds, formerly known as PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, is a battle royale game that allows players to play as individuals or in teams. There are hundreds of PUBG: Battlegrounds tournaments in any given year.
StarCraft 2 StarCraft 2 is a real-time strategy game that has thousands of tournaments a year. It was released in 2010 and is still going strong today.
Hearthstone Hearthstone is arguably the most famous digital CCG, collectible card game. Hearthstone tournaments and World Championships have been held annually since the game was released in 2014.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical shooter game that wasn't so well received upon its initial launch in 2015, but since then, developer Ubisoft made several changes that have made it a global favorite.
Rocket League Rocket League is a vehicular soccer video game that has tens of thousands of players at any given moment of the day.
VALORANT VALORANT was originally called Project A when it was tested during a beta period in 2019. Its official launch was in 2020 and it has become a popular first-person hero shooter game.
Call of Duty Warzone Warzone is part of the Call of Duty series but it's free and players don't need to purchase previous titles in order to enjoy it. As of 2021, there were more than 100 million active players in the world.
Apex Legends Apex Legends is a battle royale hero shooter game that's free to play. One of its unique aspects is that it supports cross-platform play, so players can play on their Playstation, Xbox, mobile, and more and still be synced.
Smite Smite is a free-to-play, third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) with many player-versus-player modes and characters. It's a popular game to bet on in Esports, especially the million-dollar Smite World Championship.
Yes, as long as the sportsbook you choose is licensed and regulated, you can bet on Esports without worry. All of our recommended sites meet this criterion, so you can play at any of them without worry.
There is no “best” when it comes to video game betting as every player has their own preference. However, in terms of popularity, some of the most popular games include Counter-Strike Global Offensive, League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch Starcraft 2, and Call of Duty.
By reading this guide! Ur experts evaluate betting sites based on several criteria, including the selection of Esports, competitive odds, promos and bonuses, customer support, payment methods, and others.
Casual punters who don’t know much about Esports most often prefer mainstream betting markets. Experienced Esports punters can probably enjoy special esports in-game markets. It’s important to get comfortable with mainstream betting markets before moving on to in-game markets.
Yes! Many sportsbooks offer special Esports promotions and bonuses to new and returning players.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Yes, some sportsbooks post live streams of Esports events, and you can also find many of these events on social media sites.
All the sportsbooks on our list are good for LoL betting. You can read our reviews to learn more about the markets and competitive odds for each sportsbook.
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