Esports betting is rapidly growing in popularity, and whether you are an experienced or novice bettor, it is worthwhile to learn more about betting on legendary tournaments on Dota 2, LoL, CS:GO, and Fortnite. Our eSports betting guide provides an in-depth look at the best Esports Betting sites, all the different game genres, and how to get started with Esports betting. Furthermore, this guide will provide you with the best Esports betting sites that have been reviewed and ranked by our experts.
Esports stands for Electonic Sports and when compared to standard sports betting options, eSports betting may seem a bit more complicated, which is far away from being the truth. Fans follow teams and individuals, enjoy watching eSports matches, and then place wagers on who will win video game competitions. In the simplest terms, esports is video gaming in a structured, competitive setting. Professional gamers compete in tournaments (or leagues) as teams or individually playing the most popular games, such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, and others.
Until the late 2000s, the global video game industry was primarily dominated by amateur gamers competing online against one another. However, since events have been live-streamed, we have witnessed a significant increase in popularity in esports, with enormous interest worldwide.
By the 2010s, the video game industry had professional video gamers participating in well-organized events, with big eSports tournaments and leagues attracting big crowds. Today, eSports is one of the most profitable gaming industries in the world with reputable eSports leagues and tournaments taking place every year.
Today, numerous different sports betting sites, including those reviewed and ranked here, offer excellent eSports betting opportunities. At the same time, the whole eSports betting industry may appear complex for beginner players. This is where our handy eSports betting guide comes in very handy. The guide covers everything you need to know before you place your first eSports bet at a sports betting site.
As with other sports betting sites, sportsbooks with eSports betting options feature separate eSports sections with different categories included. When you are ready to get started, you pick a game and check the betting odds. Once you have made your choice, you choose your betting option and place your wager.
Aside from competitive eSports betting odds, reputable eSports betting sites also offer sizeable welcome and other bonuses and promotions to their fans of eSports betting. All sports betting sites approved by us will have our approval certificate, so you can easily recognize these sites. When it comes to our reviewing and rating criteria, we always look into sites’ licensing, safety measures, and other important factors.
Esports has massively grown in popularity in recent years and is now a popular item on all punters' wish lists, but not all sportsbooks have caught up with the latest eSports betting trends. To have the best eSports betting opportunities, check out our selection of the best, top-ranked eSports betting sites.
The increasing popularity of eSports among gamers across the globe has resulted in many sports betting sites offering a wide range of eSports betting opportunities. For sports bettors, this means a massive variety of betting options. However, finding the right sports betting site can be a struggle if you are not sure where to look.
We always recommend you choose online sports betting sites with a valid license. With so many great licensed sports betting sites, it makes no sense to choose other options. When choosing the right eSports sports betting site for you, you should also check the availability of different payment services, withdrawal pending times, and payment limitations.
Any reputable Esportsbook also offers a variety of live betting on its most popular games. The best ones also include live stream options on their websites. This means that to watch different games you do not have to turn to different streaming platforms, such as Twitch or YouTube.
Another important factor to consider when selecting a bookmaker is the quality of odds on both standard and specialty eSports markets. Generally, you have a wide range of betting options, particularly on the most popular games like Dota 2, Call of Duty, CS:GO, and League of Legends.
In terms of popularity and global reach, three gaming genres stand out. Millions of people around the world play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, first-person shooters, and real-time strategy games.
It is very simple to determine the popularity of an Esports game using different technological tools. EsportsCharts can provide you with a real-time update on factual figures and numbers of the most-viewed esports based on the number of hours each game streams, particularly on YouTube, Twitch, and other popular streaming sites.
According to statistics, the most popular Esports are League of Legends with over 500 million streamed hours, followed by Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Arena of Valor, Dota 2, and Overwatch with over 70 million streamed hours. Needless to say, online streaming platforms have become one of the major factors leading to the growing popularity of eSports. When it comes to the latest viewership statistics, around 15% of eSports fans are female and around 85% are male between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four.
Over the years, large prize pools and million-dollar payouts for tournament winners have been available. Below, you will find the current top five games with the largest prize pools, as well as some other interesting statistics.
| 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 |
This leads us to different eSports betting sites and their eSports betting sections. When you access a section of this kind, you come across different categorized betting options, different gaming genres, as well as, different eSports tournaments. eSports sections are easy to navigate when you have options to access different gaming genres and tournaments this way. As mentioned in the previous sections, the variety of eSports betting options is huge with many different multiplayer, real-time strategy, and first-person games.
|
Game |
Description |
|
First-Person Shooter Games (FPS) |
The first-person gaming genre includes very popular games, such as Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Other popular games within this genre are Valorant and Overwatch. |
|
Multiplayer Online Battle Arens (MOBA) |
Within the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena gaming genre, the most popular games are Dota 2 and League of Legends. |
|
Collectible Card Games (CCG) |
Collectible Card Games have been on the rise since 2020 thanks to the growing popularity of Overwatch League and Hearthstone. |
|
Real-Time Strategy Game (RTS) |
The most popular game within this genre is StarCraft 2 and the most successful StarCraft 2 players are from South Korea. |
|
Autobattlers |
Autobattlers was developed in 2019. The most popular games within this genre are Teamfight Tactics, Dota Underlords, and Dota Auto Chess. |
|
Battle Royale |
The most popular Battle Royale games are Fortnite Battle Royale, Real Royale, and Z1 Battle Royale. |
|
Fighting Games |
The most popular fighting games are Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat 11, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Emon Slayer. |
Below, you can take a look at some of the biggest, most watched eSports tournaments and events that generally attract big crowds.
|
Event |
Game |
|
Fortnite World Cup |
Fortnite |
|
The International |
League of Legends |
|
Olympic Virtual Series |
Virtual Sports |
|
LoL World Championship |
League of Legends |
|
LoL World Tournament |
League of Legends |
We have a handy getting started guide for you if you are not sure how to kickstart your eSports betting sessions and everything you need to know is featured down below.
Before you get started, you want to do your research on different teams and players. You want to study different teams' weaknesses and strengths. You may also want to look into their past tournaments.
You also want to invest some time looking into different eSports games before you start your eSports betting adventure. In other words, check out different games, gaming rules, and everything else you can find online. If possible, you may also want to download some of these games and try them before you start betting.
Bankroll management is equally important so you want to set your budget and stick to it once you start betting. You can also use different responsible gambling tools to stay on the right track.
Another great idea is to watch live matches before you start betting. By watching live matches, you will better understand how different games work. As you do so, you may also devise different betting strategies and essentially boost your winning odds.
Once you are familiar with the world of eSports betting, you are ready to get started. Pick any sportsbook featured here and you are all set.
Our experts review and rank hundreds of online casinos and gambling sites, taking each site through our extensive review process covering over 12 key factors.
We regularly verify our reviews and gambling sites database to have up to date and valid information. Ongoing updates include bonus offers, changes in terms, licensing and more.
We add a critical validation layer to our online casino and gambling sites' reviews and ranking by continuously processing players' complaints and feedback.
How Our Experts Rate Online Casinos and Gambling Sites: Reviewing casinos is what we do best, and we always make sure that we cover the vital information and essential factors. When considering which online casino to choose, we’ll provide you with the most up to date information on a casino’s security measures, payouts, player feedback about the casino, and much more. Take a look at the graph below for more info.
Our expert reviews will lend a helping hand to finding the best and most rewarding online casinos. By noting a casino’s game library, banking options, customer support, and all of the most important factors to consider when choosing a casino, our expert reviewers put the power in your hands.
Find out more about how we rate
With our handy tips on eSports betting, you can make bets like a true professional and essentially boost your winning odds. Professional gamblers understand that the element of luck involved in betting can be reduced when the right research is done.
Esports are more popular than ever, and finding a great eSports betting site can be quite difficult. During our process of reviewing and rating eSportsbooks, we look into sites’ licensing and safety measures, reputation, and several other factors as mentioned down below.
Great Bonuses eSports betting sites with generous bonuses and promotions are usually ranked higher when compared to sites without bonuses and promotions. The bottom line, all renowned eSports betting sites offer sizeable welcome and other bonuses and promotions.
Licensing and Reputation All eSports betting sites you come across here as recommended have valid licenses and enjoy impeccable reputations among sports betting fans. When looking for a new eSports betting site, may sure you pick sites with advanced safety and security measures that can keep your personal info safeguarded at all times.
Highly Competitive Odds Each Esports market has its own set of odds that change depending on whether it is pre-game or live. All eSports betting sites recommended by us provide you with the best odds on all of the most popular eSports games.
Live Betting Options All of the top-ranked eSports betting sites have also great live play betting options, alongside great live streaming options.
Extensive Sports Coverage eSports games are classified into various genres, including RTS, MOBAs, and FPS. The most popular games to bet on in each genre include Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Starcraft 2, and Dota 2. We have also covered other popular eSports games down below if you want to learn more.
Reliable Customer Service A solid customer support system is yet another essential component of a great eSports betting site, and bettors expect 24/7 assistance for obvious reasons. Our recommended eSports sites have been thoroughly tested and we tested their customer care services to make sure that bettors can get assisted around the clock.
Great Banking Options Esports betting requires having a variety of banking methods at your disposal, and selecting the best option will make your betting experience way more enjoyable. A good bookmaker should offer a variety of different payment services, including credit and debit cards, prepaid cards, crypto payment options, and e-wallets.
Now, we take a look at the most popular eSports gaming options among amateur and professional players, and events and tournaments on these games are covered by the best eSports betting sites.
Call of Duty Call of Duty is one of the most popular first-person shooter games and has been since its initial release in 2003. The game is also one of the biggest Activision successes.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Counter-Strike Global Offensive is one of the most popular games in the Counter-Strike Series. The game has been around since 2012 and it was crafted by Hidden Path Entertainment and Valve. The game’s popularity has been on the rise over the last several years.
League of Legends We also have to mention League of Legends which remains the most popular game within the eSports community. The game has been published by Riot Games back in 2009.
Dota 2 Dota 2 is one of the most popular games within the multiplayer online battler arena gaming genre. The game has been developed by Valve and it is an exciting sequel to another game called Defense of the Ancients.
Fortnite Crafted by Epic Games, Fortnite is one of the younger eSports games as it has been around since 2017. At the time of writing this, Fortnite features three equally exciting gaming variants.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds or PUBG as most players call the game is also an extremely multiplayer eSports game with over 300 different tournaments. The game can also be played alone if this is something you prefer.
Overwatch In Overwatch, you also fight your opponents in an unusual futuristic work. Overwatch has unique heroes and each hero comes with a special set of skills and unique powers.
Hearthstone Hearthstone falls into the category of collectible card games. The game is also known as Heroes of Warcraft. In terms of gameplay, the game shares the most similarities with Warcraft.
StarCraft 2 When it comes to StarCraft, sports bettors have numerous different betting opportunities since StarCraft 2 has over 6000 tournaments. The game has been around since 2010 and it falls into the category of real-time strategy games. It has been published by Blizzard Entertainment.
Rocket League Psyonix developed and published this vehicular soccer video game. The game has been around since 2014 and it enjoys staggering popularity among eSports fans.
Rainbow 6 Siege Crafted by Ubisoft Montreal, Rainbow 6 Siege is an exciting tactical shooter game with a massive loyal player base like other games featured here.
Valorant Riot Games developed and published Valorant, a free-to-play first-person hero shooter for Microsoft Windows-powered devices. The game was first teased in October 2019 under the codename Project A, and its closed beta period with limited access started on April 7, 2020, followed by the game’s official release on the 2nd of June 2020.
Call of Duty Warzone Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale video game that was officially launched in 2020. In the following months, a mobile version of the game is expected to be released. The game’s versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox are also expected.
Smite Hi-Rez Studios developed and published Smite, a multiplayer third-person online game based on a battle arena game.
Apex Legends Finally, we have Respawn Entertainment Apex Legends which has been around since 2019. The game has been launched by Electronic Arts. This is a shooter game with free and mobile versions. If you want to play the game on your mobile device, search for Apex Legends Mobile.
Yes, the vast majority of eSports betting sites have different bonuses and promotions, similar to bonuses and promotions featured at other sports betting sites. Some of these bonuses are reserved for new players, while others are available to already registered players.
In the simplest terms, eSports refers to video gaming in organized, highly-competitive environments. In this way, eSports shares many similarities with traditional sports events and the industry of eSports betting is very similar to standard sports betting options. The most popular eSports betting options are Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Fortnite, among others.
If you are looking for the best LoL betting sites, check out our selection of the top-ranked eSports betting sites as the vast majority of these offer excellently competitive odds on League of Legends events and tournaments.
Today, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive remain the most popular eSports games in terms of the number of active players and viewership.
Yes, if you place your eSports bets at licensed online sports betting sites, there is no reason to worry about your safety. To find the safest eSports betting options, make sure you do your research, check out our reviews, and make the right choice.
To help you find the right eSports betting site, we have a list of reputable eSports betting sites here and these are the sites that have the best offering and definitely stand out from the competition. Aside from great betting options, these sites offer sizeable bonuses and other perks and benefits.
Yes, many sports betting sites let you watch eSports events in real time. If this is not possible at your chosen site, you can also watch eSports events on Twitch, Facebook Gaming, and YouTube.
While most eSports betting fans prefer playing mainstream bets, eSports in-game markets can be very profitable and definitely something to consider.
iGaming sites that are approved by us have our SOA (Seal of Approval) featured on their homepages. When you come across an online casino that is approved by us, you can rest assured that it provides the best, highest-quality iGaming experience and ranks highly in all the different departments, including safety and privacy, banking, customer support, fairness, and reputation.
This is your ultimate guide to the world of Bitcoin online casino gambling. We reviewed many Bitcoin-friendly online casinos to present you with the best options. We have also a list of the top-ranked online casinos that accept cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin.
Take a look at our selection of the 10 top-ranked online casinos which our team reviewed based on our strict criteria that include safety and security measures, gaming lobbies, payout speed, and players' feedback. Choose any of the top 10 online casinos and enjoy excellent iGaming sessions.
Slots
Baccarat
Blackjack
Craps
Poker
Roulette
