Esports betting is growing at a tremendous rate, and whether you are an experienced or novice bettor, it is worth exploring what Dota 2, LoL, CS:GO, and Fortnite betting is all about. Our guide provides an extensive overview of the best Esports Betting sites, game genres, types of games, and getting started with Esports betting. In addition, this guide will give you the best Esports betting sites reviewed and ranked by our experts.
Esports (short for electronic sports) may seem complicated but it is similar to any other sports style. You have fans who follow teams/individuals, watch matches, and then place bets on who will be the winner in a multiplayer video game competition. Simply put, esports is video gaming in an organised, competitive environment. Professional gamers face each other "off" as teams or individually, competing in tournaments (or leagues), and playing games like Call of Duty, The Counter-Strike Series, League of Legends, Fortnite, etc.
Until the late 2000s, the video game culture was mainly amateur gamers competing online amongst each other. However, since events were being live-streamed, we saw a significant surge in popularity in esports with an enormous interest worldwide.
By the 2010s, the video game industry had professional gamers participating in organised events, with tournaments and leagues attended by huge spectatorship.
Today, esports is a well-organised sports event with game developers actively involved in designing games and funding tournaments, competitions, and many other events.
Thousands of sportsbooks offer video and console betting in their esports section, and for a beginner, it may all look too confusing to grasp. This OnlineCasinoReports brief will break it down and highlight what you need to know to start enjoying and betting on esports online.
Like any other sport you bet on, you navigate to the esports section, which will be marked and categorised; choose a sports genre, then a market with attractive odds. Finally, select a betting type (like series- or match winner) and place your bet.
Most betting sites offer superior welcome bonuses and promotions and reward loyal punters. Additionally, the esports-betting sites we recommend for gaming fans have our approval stamp. We judge a sportsbook by a strict checklist of criteria and only recommend licensed betting sites regulated by strict gambling laws, and safe to wager your stake.
Esports has fast-tracked over recent years and have become a popular item on all punter's lists, but not all sportsbooks have caught up with the trend. Check out our top list of recommended betting sites that offer Esports.
The surging popularity of Esports has led to a flurry of bookmakers that offer videogame betting. Instead of struggling to find worthy partners, punters are now confronted with the paradox of choice. It would be best to stick to licensed and regulated bookies to make the right choice. There is simply no reason to take any chances when there are so many proven Esports Betting sites out there. Furthermore, the reliability and speed of payment methods should be the top criteria when choosing an esports betting company.
Any respectable Esportsbook will offer live betting on its most popular games. The best ones also have a live stream incorporated into their website, so you don’t have to switch to streaming platforms like YouTube or Twitch.
Another thing to consider when choosing such a bookmaker is the odds of quality in mainstream and special markets. You can expect a broad selection of betting options, especially for flagship games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Call of Duty or CS:GO.
Three gaming genres stand out from the crowd regarding popularity and global reach. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, first-person shooters, and real-time strategy games are enjoyed by millions globally.
With online technological tools, it's easy to determine how popular an Esports game is. Based on the number of hours each game streams, especially on YouTube, Twitch, and other streaming sites, EsportsCharts can give you a real-time update on factual figures and numbers of most-viewed esports.
Statistically, the most-viewed Esports in order is League of Legends (with over 500 million hours), Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Dota 2, Overwatch, and Arena of Valor (with over 70 million hours watched).
Online streaming has become central to the growth of Esports and its popularity. Viewership is determined to be 85% male and 15% female, with most viewers aged between 18 and 34 years old.
Over the past years, substantial prize pools have been up for grabs and several million-dollar payouts for tournament winners. Here is the current top 5 games with the biggest prize pools and some stats based on our findings:
| Rank | Game | Prize Pool | 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 |
Most betting sites that offer Esports betting have a dedicated section with Esports tournaments marked and categorised according to genres and sectioned for easy navigation. The variety will range from first-person shooters and real-time strategy games to multiplayer games. Here are the most common video game genres associated with Esports:
| Game | Description |
|---|---|
| MOBA | Multiplayer online battle arena games are a genre with the most players and the best paying tournaments. League of Legends and Dota 2 are the most popular games in this genre. |
| FPS | First-person shooter games include Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Call of Duty as the most popular, with other games like Overwatch and Valorant entailing tactical shooter elements. |
| RTS | The real-time strategy game StarCraft 2 is mainly dominated by South Korean pro players but is a popular game played by thousands worldwide. |
| CCG | Collectible card games have seen a revival in 2020, and Hearthstone and Overwatch League Series 1 Trading Cards are examples of this genre. |
| Battle Royale | Some examples are; Z1 Battle Royale, Real Royale, and Fortnite Battle Royale. |
| Autobattlers | A new (more strategic) card game genre developed in 2019 and has games like Dota Auto Chess, Dota Underlords, and Teamfight Tactics (TFT). |
| Fighting Games | Console games (as typically played on Playstation 4, Playstation 5, and PC) include games like Street Fighter V (Champion Edition), Emon Slayer, Mortal Kombat 11, and Dragon Ball FighterZ, to name a few. |
Esports Leagues, Tournaments and Championships - Esports is huge and is getting bigger each year. Here are some of the top events in Esports annually:
| Event | Game |
|---|---|
| The International | League of Legends |
| Fortnite World Cup | Fortnite |
| LoL World Tournament | League of Legends |
| LoL World Championship | League of Legends |
| Olympic Virtual Series | Virtual Sports |
Now you are well versed with Esports and can start betting! Here are some tips on getting started, placing your bets, and great tips to keep in mind when getting your strategy sorted.
If you are interested in Esports betting, you are probably a gaming enthusiast yourself. So the only reasonable way to get acquainted with the game rules, terminology, and overview is to play it yourself. There are loads of free games to download on our top esports betting site for you to try out and practise the game.
Like most other sports, it is an advantage to bet on a game that you know. Study the team and player's strengths, weaknesses and history of success to grasp which team or player to support. The past statistics is an excellent reference to predict a possible future outcome.
To best understand Esports, you need to watch as many live matches as you can muster. Like any other sport, you can learn about esports by live streaming games. As the action unfolds, you will pick up valuable tips and strategies by watching the action (and listening to commentaries). In addition, some bookmakers or sites like Twitch and YouTube have several live streams and past games to study games outcomes.
Now that you are all set, it's time to choose your preferred sportsbooks. Our list of top Esports bookies is a great place to get started, and all our recommendations will give you the best chances of becoming a seasoned esports bettor.
Esports is captivating and exciting, and a bettor can get carried away like any other sport you bet. Decide on a set budget and stick with it, as responsible gambling should always be your priority. Ultimately, it would be best to aim for long-term success and not let short-term thrills cloud your judgment.
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Bet Like a Pro with these Esports Betting Tips Professional punters know that the role played by luck can be mitigated with proper research. In addition, Esports betting tips can further tilt the balance in your favour, and these are some of the things to consider.
Esports are more popular than ever, and finding a reputable betting site can be a challenge. Like all online gambling sites, Esports sites need to be trusted by their users. Therefore, our recommended sites get comprehensively reviewed, and only those that meet our criteria will make our shortlist:
License and Reputation Our recommended Esports Betting sites are licensed, legitimate and certified. Your bookmaker should have your personal information under lock and key, and you should be confident that you are with a reputable and trustworthy operator.
Quality 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 Esports betting enthusiasts, want the option of in-play betting, and the best sportsbooks offer live streaming and a solid in-play betting selection.
Competitive Odds Each Esports market is unique in odds and will vary depending on pre-game vs live. Our recommended sites get chosen to give you the best odds when betting on Esports, increasing your chances of a winning bet.
Available Esports Electronic games get divided into different genres (like RTS, MOBAs & FPS), categorising each game for better understanding. Each genre has multiple game options to bet on, including popular games like Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS:GO), StarCraft 2, and Dota 2. Please look at our extensive list of popular Esports games below for more opportunities.
Banking & Payouts With Esports betting, you need various banking methods available, and choosing the best option will make your betting experience much less complicated. A good bookie should have card methods (Visa & MasterCard), e-wallet options, banking transfer options, and cryptocurrencies for punters to quickly and easily deposit funds to and withdraw funds from their betting account.
Customer Service A sound support system is a critical component of a good betting site, and punters expect 24/7 assistance, especially with Esports betting. Our recommended sites have been tested and will look after their customers by providing fast and reliable customer service.
With hundreds of Esports games available, we want to highlight the most popular games you should be familiar with, so here is a bit more about the world's biggest and best Esports games to bet on:
League of Legends League of Legends is arguably the most popular Esports game for betting. Commonly referred to as LoL (or simply League), this multiplayer online battle arena video game was developed by Riot Games in 2009.
CS:GO Counter-Strike Global Offensive is a multiplayer first-person shooter game and the fourth in the Counter-Strike series. Released in 2012 and developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment, CS:GO has been globally popular over the past decade.
Call of Duty A first-person shooter video game series published by Activision that started in 2003. COD is one of the most popular Esports to bet on worldwide.
Fortnite Developed by Epic Games, Fortnite is an online video game released in 2017. Players can bet on three unique game versions.
Dota 2 This multiplayer online battle arena video game is a sequel to Defense of the Ancients and was developed and published by Valve.
Overwatch A video game series that is a vibrant team-based shooter game set on a near-future Earth. Each game is an intense match between a group of unique heroes, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Play alone or in a team of up to four players, and fight your way through the map. There are around 392 tournaments available to back in PUBG.
StarCraft 2 With 6403 tournaments, there are hundreds of markets to bet. StarCraft II (released in 2010) is a real-time strategy video game based on science fiction and developed by Blizzard Entertainment.
Hearthstone A free-to-play online digital collectable card game initially known as Heroes of Warcraft. Hearthstone is similar to Warcraft, based on the same elements, characters and relics.
Rainbow 6 Siege Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is an online tactical shooter video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal.
Rocket League A video game that is a vehicular soccer game developed and published by Psyonix. The game was first released in 2014.
VALORANT Valorant is a free-to-play first-person hero shooter developed and published by Riot Games for Microsoft Windows. First teased under the codename Project A in October 2019, the game began a closed beta period with limited access on April 7, 2020, followed by an official release on June 2, 2020.
Call of Duty Warzone Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale video game released in 2020 and has a version said to be released for Mobile, Xbox and PlayStation 5 this year.
Apex Legends A game developed by Respawn Entertainment and released in 2019 by Electronic Arts. Apex Legends is a battle royale-hero shooter game and free-to-play and also available in a mobile version of the game: Apex Legends Mobile.
Smite Smite is a multiplayer third-person online game set on a battle arena video game and developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios.
As long as you choose a licensed and regulated bookmaker offering Esports betting options, you'll be in good hands. Research goes a long way, so read reviews and pay attention to online complaints when considering your next esports betting partner.
League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS:GO) are among the most popular games. Call of Duty, StarCraft 2 and Overwatch are also excellent options for amateur and veteran esports punters.
Pay attention to the essential qualities that help an Esports book stand out from the crowd. For example, a good selection of video games and betting markets, competitive odds and generous bonuses are all redeeming qualities.
Mainstream betting markets are preferable for casual punters who know little about Esports. However, veterans and people that have played the game can extract more value from special esports in-game markets.
Esports books offer the same financial incentives as classic bookmakers. Some are aimed at new players, while others reward existing punters but are subject to terms and conditions and play through demands.
Esports refers to video gaming in a competitive and organised environment and is similar to traditional sports where fans follow teams, watch matches, and place bets on who will be the winner. Competitors play in a team (or group), facing each other off in the same games - typically popular with at-home gamers - like Fortnite, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Counter-Strike, to name a few.
Yes, some sportsbooks offer live stream matches available on their site. You can always live stream Esports tournaments with sites like YouTube, Facebook Gaming, or Twitch.
All our recommended sites should have a decent list of markets available for LoL. Please browse our inventory for sportsbooks with various markets, competitive odds and 24/7 customer support.
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