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Although esports has been steadily growing as an industry since the mid-1990’s, esports betting was conceived in 2010 by Pinnacle Sports. As the industry has continued to mature, more betting sites have begun offering esports odds to their customers. While bookmakers have all jumped to ensure they offer esports markets, there are only a few who really understand the landscape and the potential it has to offer.
At EsportsCompare.net, we offer you all the best insights and information surrounding the esports betting industry. We give fair reviews on all betting providers and make sure you know everything before placing your bets.
Esports Betting: Sites, Bonuses and News
Since 2016 the esports betting industry has been a major source of support and funding for the wider eco-system. Not only have bookmakers become primary sponsors for top esports teams and tournaments, they have also supported game developers of major games with critical information on competitive integrity. With esports operators partnering with organisations like ESIC (Esports Integrity Commission), it has significantly improved the sporting landscape.
Now the industry has developed substantially and operates very similar to sports, with each esport title having a robust calendar of events and well established and recognized professional teams. Esports is perfectly placed for fans to place interesting bets, with many different mechanics and markets. Popular titles like League of Legends, Dota 2 and CSGO are the most common, but you can bet on any esport with the right provider, such as StarCraft 2, Fortntite, PUBGM, and FIFA.
How Esports Betting Works
The most important place to start is to know as much about esports as possible. This understanding will make sure you know the basics of the games, the rules, and the formats of the events. At that basic level, it means you can understand what is happening and make more informed decisions when betting. To take that to the next level, it is then important to research and know about the teams, players, and latest meta, all of which will impact any event.
There are a lot of different gaming genres that esports derives from, with enormous tournaments and incredibly famous players in each category. A lot of the western world view these events via Youtube Gaming, Facebook and Twitch.tv. Of course, since the industry has grown so much – it has also built an enormous infrastructure offering ways for customers to bet on esports!
Is Esports Betting The Same As Traditional Sports Betting?
Traditional sports may be much older, but esports betting continues to grow in popularity and offers the same exhiliarting experience. If you have placed a bet on soccer, basketball, or even horse racing – then you will find that betting on esports is exactly the same.
The difference between traditional sports and esports betting is that amount of information that is easily attainable. You can easily interact with various gaming communities and find out the information you need to make the most informed and intelligent betting decisions. Social media, streaming and chatrooms greatly enhance the betting experience in esports.
However, a difference that is being noticed by various generations of bettors is the terminology used. A lot of traditional sports bettors might be used to certain terminology, while it is quite new to those who have started with betting on esports. That is why we are starting to see more new betting products on the market that make it more intuitive first-time bettors.
What Esports Games And Tournaments Can You Bet On?
There are so many gaming tournaments across different video game titles, as long as the competitive environment exists then you most likely can place a bet on them!
First Person Shooters (FPS) Betting
First-person shooters are a staple in esports which makes it no surprise that it is such a popular genre to bet on in esports. As a newcomer, this genre is often seen as the easiest to understand, being quite basic in its format and mechanics. This genre has stood the test of time and still offers exciting titles that players and teams compete in on a daily basis. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been around for over a decade and is soon transitioning into Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), this franchise is one the powerhouses of esports. A popular variant of this game, made by Riot Games, is Valorant who will be hosting their Valorant Champions Tour again in 2024. You can also regularly find competitions on Call of Duty, Halo, Overwatch and even lesser known FPS’s such as Team Fortress 2 and Quake Champions.
Top FPS games for Betting: CSGO Betting, Valorant Betting and CS2 Betting
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Betting
While the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena derives from a Warcraft 3 mod called DotA (Defense of the Ancients) made by IceFrog. It has grown into something a lot bigger. Valve now owns the IP for DotA and has transformed it into Dota 2. They also run the most famous esports tournament in the world – The International. Riot publishes League of Legends, a direct competitor, which has one of the most impressive esports circuits in the world. Their headline act is the League of Legends World Championship (also known as ‘Worlds’). And there are smaller MOBAs such as Smite, Heroes of the Storm and others that have live matches which you can bet on.
Top MOBA games for Betting: Dota 2 Betting and League of Legends Betting
Real Time Strategy (RTS) Betting
Real Time Strategy games have been around for a long time and were one of the first types of video games that people would bet on in esports. The most famous example of this is StarCraft. Both StarCraft: Brood War and also StarCraft II. These games are played 1 versus 1 and are highly challenging on a technical level. Despite being around for so long, these games still have markets to bet on. Other games in this genre that are competitive are Age of Empires, although this genre does need a revival to make it back to everyone’s radar!
Top RTS games for Esports Betting: StarCraft II Betting and StarCraft: Brood War Betting
Fighting Game (FGC – Fight Game Community) Betting
Fighting Games are an anomaly within esports as it operates so independently from the rest of the industry, regardless of this you can still find games to bet on. There are legendary titles such as Tekken, Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros which can regularly be found on Twitch. Although because of the fast pace of the tournaments, it is difficult to maintain market openings since there are often hundreds of games happening simultaneously.
Top Fighting Games for Esports Betting: Tekken Betting and Street Fighter Betting
Battle Royale (BR) Betting
Battle Royales exploded when PUBG came to the scene, since then the genre has continued to grow and bookmakers have looked for ways to accept bets. This game pits dozens of teams or even hundreds of players (depending on if you are playing individually or as a team) and forces them to survive for as long as possible until there is 1 player or team remaining. The final team standing is declared the winner. There are now lots of games of this genre including Call of Duty’s Warzone and Warzone 2, Apex Legends, PUBG, Free Fire, PUBGM and more.
Top BR games for Esports Betting: PUBGM Betting and Free Fire Betting
Sports Simulation Betting
Esports betting has now become more popular in sports simulations. Particularly in FIFA and Rocket League. Often these games are trying to simulate a real sport, sometimes with quirky mechanics or gimmicks attached to it. FIFA is a video game version of football/soccer. Rocket League is a team-based football/soccer game played with cars. Now there are even more racing sims being played, the most popular one being the Formula 1 video game franchise made by Codemasters. It is also quite common to find betting markets for NBA 2K.
Top Sports Simulator games for Esports Betting: Rocket League Betting, FIFA betting, NBA 2K betting
Esports Tournaments
In esports you can find enormous tournaments in terms of viewership, prize money and attendance. It is even comparable to some of the bigger traditional sporting events in the world. Tournaments range from local events all the way to stadium events where players and teams are fighting over millions of dollars.
Regarding the most popular esports events that people bet on. The LoL World Championships frequently have 3-5+ million people watching concurrently. The amount of total hours watched exceeds the hundreds of millions as well. There are several other popular tournaments that have colossal reach, this includes The International for Dota 2, Free Fire World Series, Fortnite World Cup and tournaments for CSGO such as IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne.
Where To Bet On Esports And How To Pick An Esports Betting Site
Now that you are familiar with esports, you need to find a bookmaker where you will place your esports bets and ensure you have the most success with your betting. More and more bookmakers are opening up avenues to place bets on esports. There are a lot of well known legacy bookmakers such as William Hill which offer esports betting opportunities. But there are most dedicated esports gambling platforms like GG.Bet, Loot.bet and Pinnacle’s Esports Hub.
Most bookmakers who know esports will focus on the biggest competitions. However, there will often be options to bet on games that are less popular for betting. If you go to a bookmaker who is not specialised in esports betting then it will be harder to navigate the platform’s UI. Often they will also have worse margins due to lack of knowledge.
Learn more about the best esports betting platforms with us at EsportsCompare.net. We will help you find the best betting site for your region.
How To Bet On Esports And Choosing A Betting Option
Esports betting offers an array of wagering possibilities beyond traditional real money betting. With the growth of the esports industry, betting options now span from competitive tournaments to Twitch streaming, as well as in-game item (skin) gambling and trading. Discover the many ways you can participate in esports wagering.
Real Money Betting
Real money betting is the most basic form of esports wagering, akin to traditional sports betting. Simply select the tournament or event you’re interested in, choose your desired market/team and matchup, and place your esports wager. Finally, all you have to do is wait for the match to be over and find out if you have won!
Fantasy Betting
Fantasy betting exists for esports just as it does for conventional sports. The process is the same: select your players and/or esports teams based on your predictions of their performance. You accumulate points or earnings based on their in-game achievements, such as winning matches or tournaments, or accomplishing specific goals. DraftKings is a popular choice for fantasy betting enthusiasts.
1. Betting on Yourself
Self-betting enables you to bet on your own gaming performance, allowing you to earn real money by reaching specified goals within esports titles. Unikrn’s Umode is an ideal platform for self-betting enthusiasts
2. Skin Betting
Skin betting involves using virtual currency provided by a betting site, typically in the form of in-game items or character graphics. Exercise caution when using skin betting sites, as many are unlicensed and unregulated. We recommend avoiding any unlicensed sites.
3. Esports Pool Betting
On platforms like Puntt, pool betting entails pooling all bets on a specific market together, and then dividing the total (minus any fees) among the winners.
4. Social Betting
Social betting involves placing bets within a group on game outcomes. Challenge betting, on the other hand, takes place between two individuals, with one essentially challenging the other.
A Guide To Esports Betting: Taking Your First Wager
To place your esports bet, simply click on the desired odds, which will be added to your betting slip. Next, decide how much you’re willing to stake on your wager. Most betting slips automatically calculate potential winnings for you. Once you click the ‘place bet’ button, all that’s left is to wait for your potential winning outcome.
When you find a gambling site featuring your favourite game, you’re ready to make your first esports bet. Registering a new account with the betting site typically takes just a few minutes, requiring only basic personal details. After verifying your account, select a payment method to make your initial deposit. Remember, this is an opportunity to take advantage of any welcome bonus deals.
After setting up your account and depositing funds, browse the site’s esports odds to find a match that could yield a substantial pay-out. Toggle between decimal and fractional odds to see your bet’s potential return. Don’t forget to research reliable betting tips before placing your wager, and always gamble responsibly. Check out our more focused guide to esports betting strategy.
Esports Betting Markets
With a wide range of esports to bet on, there are also numerous ways to place bets. While a straightforward match-winner bet is popular, diversifying your betting strategies can be exhilarating. Here are some primary types of esports bets to consider, along with valuable betting tips.
Moneyline Esports Bets
This is likely the most prevalent type of esports bet you’ll encounter on gambling sites. Similar to predicting a football match’s winner, you can bet on the victor of an esports match, from League of Legends to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. For more complexity, consider handicap betting, which puts a favorite at a disadvantage to leverage better odds for increased profit.
Esports Outright Bets
Outright bets enable you to predict the team or player that will win a specific esports tournament. Many reliable gambling sites allow you to place such bets well before the competition begins. If you have a strong prediction about the DreamHack Masters winner, for example, place your bets early.
Esports-only Bets
Numerous unique bets cater to individual esports. For instance, when betting on League of Legends, you might have the option to bet on the team that wins the first map. If betting on CSGO, you could predict the first team to reach ten kills. Many gambling sites also offer unconventional bets, such as which team will destroy the first tower, dragon, or inhibitor.
System Esports Bets
System bets require placing more than one esports bet. While all your selections must win for you to receive your winnings, the payouts from these bets can be substantial. Although winning this type of bet requires some luck, the potential payouts can make it worth the effort.
Deposit Options & The Emergence Of Crypto Esports Platforms
Esports betting sites offer an extensive array of deposit and payment methods, from traditional options such as debit and credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, to electronic pre-paid cards such as Paysafecard. Keep in mind that available payment methods may vary by country.
However, the true innovation lies in esports betting platforms’ rapid adoption of cryptocurrencies compared to conventional sports and casino sites. Esports bookmakers quickly recognized the potential of betting with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, integrating these payment options alongside traditional methods. Examples include Luckbox, Unikrn, and Arcanebet, while dedicated crypto betting platforms like Stake.com have emerged as well.
As previously noted, exercise caution when encountering sites that offer skin betting as an alternative to real money deposits. These platforms are often unregulated and unlicensed, and we recommend steering clear of them.
How to get an esports betting bonus
One reliable piece of betting advice is to consider using betting bonuses to enhance your potential profits on esports wagers. If you’re unsure about any terms and conditions, don’t hesitate to contact the betting site’s customer service team for clarification.
Utilising a bonus when signing up for a betting site is an excellent way to boost your earnings. Numerous esports betting promotions exist, ranging from matched deposit deals to matched bet offers.
However, before claiming a betting bonus, make sure to read the fine print. Most betting promotions require a qualifying deposit or a series of qualifying bets before granting any bonus funds. Additionally, many esports promotions stipulate that you must wager your bonus a specific number of times within a designated time frame by placing qualifying bets before you can withdraw your winnings.
Best Esports Bonus Deals: Find the best promotions on our esports betting bonus pages.
Esports Betting FAQ
The short answer is no. Reputable betting platforms take integrity highly serious. And there are many betting platforms that work closely with esports entities that raise integrity concerns with tournament operators globally. If teams are match fixing in esports then it would lose bookmakers a lot of money. This provides a serious incentive to avoid it at all costs.
This depends entirely on the territory that you are in. A lot of markets are regulated, such as the UK, USA, Sweden and others. This tends to lead to more credible and trustworthy platforms. Be careful with bookmakers in unregulated spaces who are lesser known. Make sure you check out betting reviews on them first. Of course, in some territories it will be completely illegal. This is in countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Cambodia.
Each game has its heroes and villains. Depending on the esports game you are looking at, it could be Dendi from Dota 2. It could be Hungrybox from Super Smash Bros or S1mple from CSGO. There are simply loads of well known personalities in all the top esports games. We talk about this more in our Top 15 Esports Influencers article.
Yes you can. Not all betting platforms will accept it, but there are several operators that do offer this service. It is still worth being careful with this service. Different platforms will calculate exchange rates differently. And sometimes you might have to deposit using USDT or mBTC or other variants. We cover this on an operator-by-operator basis in our review section.
Countries you can bet in FAQ
Absolutely, there are a lot of betting sites that operate in India and accept customers there. We promote a lot of these bookmakers here at EsportsCompare.net. Find them at our Esports Betting Sites section.
Brazil is a rapidly growing market that betting operators are putting a lot of focus on. Regulators are starting to enforce more requirements which has added complexity. However, that has not slowed companies down from expanding to this market. Due to esports thriving in Brazil it has also meant that these fans are now exploring esports betting.
Yes, you can bet on esports in the UK. You must make sure that the site you are using is regulated in the UK through the UK Gambling Commission. There are plenty of betting sites that will offer betting on esports.
Only in some states within the USA will you be able to bet on esports. There are some platforms that will offer it. Just make sure that the site you are using is regulated, otherwise you might experience troubles withdrawing your balance.
