Us Esports Betting Sites
It’s difficult to think of a more rapidly growing entertainment industry than e-sports gambling. This comparatively new form of wagering has rocketed into a multibillion-dollar industry within the last decade. This became possible because of the blend it is, attracting several groups of bettors.
First of all, this includes those who closely follow video games and virtual tournaments, using the chance to earn some money while they’re at it. It’s one thing to make a bet with your close friends over the game to make it more interesting to follow, cheering for your pick. And now imagine the stakes when the whole world is taking a guess and willing to risk money in hopes of getting back even more. Obviously, the sites that started offering such a chance couldn’t go unnoticed.
- As the popularity of CS:GO contests grew and teams such as Astralis and G2 Esports grew in reputation, it should come as no surprise that CS:GO esports betting sites soon swiftly followed. You can now expect any operator who provides esport betting market choices will cover the latest and greatest CS:GO.
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- The best esports betting sites in the USA. If you are looking for esports betting sites USA currently has lots of options. You will note that many of these betting sites are actually regular sportsbooks that.
And that’s where a large group of other punters comes from. Seeing the rise of e-sports, well established online casinos decided to capitalize on it, usually adding a game or two to their sportsbooks. Others understood that this form of betting deserved a separate section that would later expand with the addition of new titles. Either way, people with experience in sports betting were eager to apply their knowledge to this fresh trend.
Not all successful esports sites we have nowadays can boast a long history, a great deal of them are startups that were created in recent years with video games betting in mind. Some of them even manage to be superior to their well-established counterparts. Others are no match to the industry’s giants or simply not worth your time, and that is exactly what this guide and our reviews are meant to help you figure out.
If you ARE interested in trying to make money from esports betting, then the time to act is NOW. We believe that betting on esports will only get harder in the future, as the bookmakers and betting sites.
The good news is you’re definitely not late to the table. On the contrary, 2020 has turned out to be a great year for esports, and the COVID-19 lockdown has been a major boost for the industry. Don’t get us wrong, the coronavirus pandemic is nothing to be happy about. However, esports were much better prepared for the changes than regular sports. Even before, these competitions could be held with no live audience, and most fans would enjoy them as a live stream. So, they were able to avoid match cancellations, and consistently more people start looking for esports betting sites while staying at home. Whatever your story is, strap in, you’re about to get a crash course in finding the best sites for wagering on your game of choice.
Best Esports Betting Sites
We have prepared a list of our top choices to save you some time. These sites have every chance to become your everyday companion, so we strongly advise you to check them first and see if they suit you. We based our list on the ratings we gave these esports platforms in their respective reviews, but this turned out to be quite a diverse selection, encompassing all-around casinos and strictly esports-oriented sites, well-established companies and recent startups, unique platforms with advanced gaming modes and the embodiment of a video game betting portal.
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Best Esports Titles Available
Just like with regular sports, it’s highly preferable to be a fan of the game you’re planning to place bets on. That will make following teams and events much more fun for you. Now, if you’re already a video games fan, it may not be enough unless it’s the right game. What we mean is that there are obviously way more titles than in the virtual world than sports in the real world. It would be physically impossible to have high-level or at least decent tournaments for each and every one of them.
Moreover, not all games are suitable for this kind of competition since esports wagering requires the game to be available in multiplayer. Luckily, there is some genre variety, and although there are new entries and potential hits joining the fun every year, it’s easy to see what type of games dominate the scene.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO needs no introduction if you have been even remotely interested in what has been going on in the gaming world. However, it’s actually possible to be completely unaware of this first-person shooter if you are young and not really into that sort of thing. The original game, previously a mod for Half-Life, came out back in 2004, and its sequel we’re discussing here saw the light of day in 2012. This actually makes it one of the oldest titles you will see available for placing bets, but it has a massive base of followers and some of the grandest tournaments.
The game is pretty straightforward, making it a good choice for a newcomer. It’s why it got so popular and universally played in the first place and also why many gamblers choose it over some multiplayer online battle arenas that take some more time to get a grasp of things. Besides, it takes some effort to find esports gambling sites that do not have this FPS title in their catalog, and it may even be impossible.
So, in CS:GO, there are two teams, terrorists and counter-terrorists. The former have to plant the bomb, the latter have to defuse it, and whichever team succeeds by the end of the timed match wins. Unless, of course, the whole team is killed off before the time is up. The point is, the matches are very dynamic, all the players are highly skilled, guaranteeing there are always tension and intrigue. Check our article with the best sites suggestions for betting on this famous title.
CSGO Free Bets and Betting Bonuses
Just like with regular online casinos, most esports sites offer free bets and welcome bonuses to attract new customers. The most common offer is a match bonus that will depend on how big your first deposit is. So, LuckBox offers up to $100, which is generous enough. Unikrn beats that offer by promising a 300% match bonus up to $300, but all pale before EGB’s welcome bonus that can reach as much as $600. Other bonuses may come in the shape of a risk-free welcome bet, meaning you get your money back to your balance should your wager lose (CyberBet), or freerolls as offered by DraftKings. CSGOEmpire gives each new member a free gift case that may contain skins, money, free bets, and more.
Dota 2
You may not be familiar with the game Defense of the Ancients 2, but you have more than likely encountered mentions of DOTA 2, which are, obviously, the same thing. Launched in 2013 and being an official sequel to a popular fan-made mod of WarCraft III, it was equipped with everything to become a global phenomenon, which it did. This fantasy battle arena is another frequent position you will encounter on sites for esports betting.
Before you can make conscious predictions based on the game and experience, it will take some hours either playing it or learning through letslpays, streams, and tournaments recordings. We’re not trying to discourage you, just giving a fair warning. If you find this game and the whole genre your cup of tea, getting familiar with the gameplay will be most enjoyable.
The basics are like this: we have a square map with two teams starting in their home corners, where their “Ancients” are located. The goal is to reach the opposite corner and destroy the core structure of your opponent (while not letting the rival team do the same, obviously). There are several paths on the map with other things going on, so don’t expect the match to be over in a couple of minutes. Simply rushing to the enemy’s base at the very beginning won’t work, but it never gets boring, watching how the teams are working towards completing various objectives.
If you are ready to go place some Dota 2 bets, we’ve got it covered with our overview of potential bookies.
League of Legends
This is another title no esports gambling companies would ignore. It’s also another MOBA-game, and its premise and gameplay are very similar to those of DOTA 2. Two teams are starting at their bases in corners of the map and seeking to destroy each other’s Nexuses. There are over a hundred hero characters with their specific abilities and roles, allowing for all kinds of team combinations and spectacle on the battleground.
LoL was released in 2009, and it’s not to say this was a rip-off of the original DOTA. It’s safe to assume that it must have been inspired by Blizzard’s competitive multiplayer game, but it was also of the same genre, which is bound to have lots of similarities, but there are even more game-specific elements you can enjoy exploring. So, having experience with one of the titles will definitely make it easier to get into the mindset for making successful predictions.
There is also an important thing to keep in mind when transitioning to esports from regular sports betting. Popular and more recent games constantly get various updates and tweaks, meant to improve the gameplay and balance everything out even better. This is sure to influence how professional players approach the game, so it helps to keep a finger on these updates and play the game at least from time to time.
And don’t forget to use our guide to discover the most promising LoL platforms.
Overwatch
Considering the game’s rapid growth in popularity and the players’ steady interest in it, you can expect to find Overwatch on the top esports betting sites. Compared to the previous honorable mentions, this is a much younger game, released by Blizzard in 2016. And the very next year, the company launched the Overwatch League, proving its intention to create another popular esports title. The game is a mix of an FPS and MOBA, which is enough to spark an interest in any fan of competitive video games featuring two rival teams.
With an array of gaming modes and the ability to change characters during the game, Overwatch is a feast for both bookmakers and punters. And Blizzard makes sure they bring the best players to the forefront of the OWL, as well as provide fans with matches taking place throughout the year. We didn’t want to miss the action and investigated some of the best options for this game.
Starcraft 2
Despite being at the cradle of esports and having greatly influenced the online gaming arena, StarCraft II is considerably less popular nowadays than the above-mentioned games. However, if you are a fan of this classic real-time strategy, we are happy to tell you that there are enough decent and even spectacular sites taking egaming bets on this old-school title. Make sure to check our article listing those platforms. If you played it back in 2010, when it came out or shortly after that, you can let the nostalgia wash over you while making some good money.
Other Games
If you wish to proceed to betting on the tiles we have mentioned so far, you can read our reviews dedicated to the specific games. We have analyzed the best legit sites that feature the most lucrative offers, competitive odds, and an abundance of supported leagues and betting markets depending on the game.
So, what else can you bet on? To put it simply, if there are tournaments for the game, you should be able to find a place that offers odds for those. It’ just that some games are much less covered than the others, and you want to make sure the site can be trusted. A healthy approach is to check our reviews of the best esports betting sites and see if any of them feature the game you are searching. There is a good chance they do, since Unikrn, Loot.bet, and BuffBet each offer over 20 titles. Those include some other popular egaming representatives, some of them being:
- Rainbow 6
- Hearthstone
- Call of Duty
- PUBG
- Fortnite
- Rocket League
- NBA2K
- King of Glory
- Valorant
- FIFA
Esports Betting Laws
Simple math tells us that there are other up-and-rising games we haven’t mentioned, and seeing how esports evolves, there’ll be even more in the coming years.
Esports Markets Variety
To be listed among the most successful esports betting sites, it’s vital to offer as many wagering opportunities as possible. First of all, this can be done by having a lot of titles and supporting leagues of various sizes, not only the major ones. And then, depending on the game, bookmakers can offer numerous betting markets. That means that instead of guessing the team that will end up victorious, you will be offered odds for smaller outcomes. These are called betting markets, and the more of them you get, the richer your experience for the match can be. And the richer you can be after the match is over.
The more popular the game is, the more markets it will have seems to be the general rule. In CS:GO, you get to guess the team to make the first kill or win the map, the winner of a pistol or a knife round, the advantage one team will have over the other, maps and kills handicaps, the final score, and lots more.
You will also get a lot of suggestions to bet on with MOBA games. Some of these are guessing the team to draw the first blood, win the map, slay the baron or a dragon, destroy the first tower or inhibitor, accumulate a certain amount of resources, be the first to reach a certain number of kills, and so on. Sites like Unikrn or Loot.bet offer a couple of dozens of such markets, while some sites like LuckBox, Betway, and ArcaneBet will go way over that. For certain matches, this number even goes beyond a hundred.
So, if you see that the site only offers a couple of games, don’t cross it out just yet. Maybe the company decided to focus on those titles and is offering a long list of betting markets with good odds.
Esports Markets Variety
Most sites offer welcome bonuses to make you choose a certain provider of online video game betting services. Those usually come in the form of matching your first deposit at a specified percentage. It’s a good idea to look for a site where you can start with some bonus money or free bets in your pocket.
The things to consider are the offered percentage, the maximum bonus amount, the minimum deposit amount to qualify for it, and the bonus requirements. The latter should be studied carefully because they are often very difficult to complete, and you may have a very short time to do so. Otherwise, you risk losing the bonus, which is not nice once you have it.
The most common offer is a 100% match up to $100, and that’s what you can get at LuckBox and Loot.bet. The most impressive incentive is currently offered by Unikrn, promising up to $300 for depositing a hundred. And you may still join in time for the LootBet Ladder, a weekly event with rewards up to $300, and the ultimate prize being $3000.
Esports Gambling (Skin Gambling & Betting)
The US citizens must be eager to learn that there are other ways to gamble, not necessarily involving esports sports real money betting. That can make the site legal and accessible in most of the states. One of such forms is skin betting, which lets you deposit, wager, and win in-game cosmetic items. However, keep in mind that most operators hosting such betting events are shady at best, and so it’s strongly advisable to only use licensed companies. For example, if you have some CS:GO skins you would like to invest, you can head to GG.bet, CSGOEmpire, BUFF.bet.
Another form of gambling that is much safer and legally offered by some US esports betting sites is so-called fantasy betting. You may be familiar with the term from regular sports, and the idea is the same. You make a line-up of players from various teams to create your own fantasy team. Depending on how those esports players perform during real events, you will score points and compete against other fantasy teams drawn up by your competitors. If that sounds interesting to you and you want to get some new experience, consider visiting DraftKings or ESP for that.
FAQ
Are Esports rigged?
Like with anything that involves money, there are people who will try to trick you, deceive you, or simply refuse to let you withdraw your funds. The first thing to do is to make sure you are dealing with a licensed betting service provider. Simply doing a quick Google search would be the next step, and if there are accounts of the site involved in fishy operations or outright scam, you will easily find them.
Is Esports betting legal?
The answer depends on your place of residence. Some countries allow gambling in esports, provided it is done according to the regulations and a gambling license is in place. Other states may limit certain forms or ban esports wagers completely.
What is the best bookmaker to bet with?
We can only make some suggestions, but only you can answer that question for yourself. Based on our reviews, Unikrn and Loot.bet scored the most points across various categories. So, you can start with those sites and see if everything about them suits you.
Where can I bet on esports?
There’s really no lack of websites offering you such an opportunity. The good ones will have an optimized mobile version or even a dedicated app. The key is in making sure you are dealing with a legit bookmaker offering a great experience.
Can you bet on Esports in America?
It’s still complicated, sports betting has been legalized only within the last couple of years, and only in a handful of states. Esports, however, is considered a different thing altogether, and most sites won’t even let the US citizens access them. The safest options that are considered legal are fantasy betting and some of the unique modes Unikrn offers.
Can you bet on Esports in Vegas?
Yes, video game bets are legally accepted in the state of Nevada. This is your safe haven if you wish to indulge in this method of gambling. Other states are constantly reviewing their stance on esports, so you may want to check the current laws and look forward to a positive change in the closest future.
Top esports betting sites have kept on par as esports exploded in popularity over the last five years. Titles such as CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch and Fortnite becoming household names, with an almost never-ending list of action packed tournaments and leagues on offer. Many bookmakers now offer markets on which punters can place esports bets.
Here, at Esports.net, we have conducted a thorough review of many of the best esports betting sites out there. All in the pursuit of helping you to find the best esports betting site for your needs.
The Best Esports Betting Sites
We have one aim and one aim only – to help you choose the perfect bookmaker for your esports bets. We’ll show you how easy the site is to use, the variety of markets available for esports betting and the integrated security features – which ensure you’re safe and sound when it comes to depositing and withdrawing your funds. Finally, we’ll also cover licensing and whether or not you can use the bookmaker legally where you live.
If they match-up to our rigorous standards, they’ll get our seal of approval. Don’t forget that we’ll show you the best esports bonuses on offer elsewhere at Esports.net. But here are the key things that you should be looking for in the top esports betting sites!
Top 15 Esports Bookies: find the one that best suits your needs
Arcanebet Review
An Esports focused betting site for CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, and more, with plenty of Esports bet markets on offer. Arcanebet also offers a full sportsbook, a live in-play betting service, live streaming, full casino, and a live casino for the complete betting experience. Currently offering a big 100% match bonus up to EUR30.
Bet365 Review
The world’s favourite online betting site and the world’s biggest betting site, offering you everything you could want in Esports betting – including CS:GO, Dota2, League of Legends, Valorant, and so many more, all with a great choice of tournaments and betting markets. You want Esports? Bet365 has the Esports! Currently offers up to £100 in bet credits for new customers.
Betway Review
Established in 2006, Betway definitely backs Esports, with its dedicated Esports section offering bets on all major tournaments for Dota 2, League of Legends, CS:GO, Heroes of the Storm, Starcraft 2 and more at different times. Has great in-play Esports betting action with live streams, exclusive Betway Esports Boost offers, and a new customer offer of up to £10 in free sports and Esports bets.
Cyber.bet Review
Cyber.bet is a Curacao based betting site that started out in 2018 as an Esports-only specialist but has since expanded with a full sportsbook. Offers bettors a great range of Esports bets for League of Legends, Dota 2, StarCraft, CS:GO, Call of Duty, Overwatch, Rainbow 6, Hearthstone, PUBG, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Battle Royale games – everything you could want for Esports and Sports betting!
DraftKings Review
Since 2012, DraftKings has been the global leader in daily fantasy sports betting. No need for season long commitment, just play by the day or the week. Now offers a full range of US focused betting in the DK sportsbook. Smooth betting interface, mobile apps and even the chance for fantasy Esports – League of Legends, CS:GO, Rocket League, Call of Duty, and iRacing.
GG.bet Review
Dedicated to Esports means so much more choice at GG.bet, with all the top games covered in depth, for both major and minor events in CS:GO, League of Legends, and Dota 2, plus full coverage of StarCraft 2, Smite, PUBG, Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Halo, NBA2K, Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, Vainglory, and World of Tanks. And it’s all live streamed through Twitch for a full selection of in-play Esports live betting.
LeoVegas Review
Multiple award-winning betting operator – LeoVegas has operated its top-class casino and live casino gaming since 2011 and added their feature packed sportsbook in certain regions from 2016. LeoVegas is a leader in mobile betting with excellent casino gaming from the LeoVegas Casino app and all the best sports and Esports coverage in the LeoVegas Sports app.
Loot.bet Review
Amazing selection of Esports gaming, including fan-favourites CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, StarCraft 2, plus FIFA, Valorant, Call of Duty, NBA2K, Rocket League, Hearthstone, and many more – all with multiple betting markets on major and minor tournaments. Loot.bet now offers sports and virtual sports for gamers. EUR 100 first deposit bonus + free spins.
LuckBox Review
Esportsbook specialist for betting on CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch and all major games, with pre-match and in-play betting with live streams, stats and schedules. Licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision for complete confidence, Luckbox now offers Esports bettors cryptocurrency payment options through CryptoPay and introduced a sportsbook in 2021.
Pinnacle Review
Pinnacle gives you the complete betting experience with the full range of casino, live casino, sports, and Esports betting for you. Offering 13 different Esports with great low margin odds, Pinnacle’s a leader in Esports betting. Offers a massive range of payments including crypto-payments.
Stake.com Review
Part of the new generation of cryptocurrency only bookmakers, Stake.com offers bettors a full casino and a massive sportsbook with a full range of major and lesser-known sports. Esports are covered in depth with Dota 2, League of Legends, FIFA, and Counter-Strike, all with live betting and streaming.
TonyBet Review
Founded in 2009 by world famous poker pro Tony G, and now part of the respected and trusted Betsson group, Tonybet gives you a full service casino, sports & Esports site. Licensed and regulated through both the UK Gambling Commission and by the Estonian gaming authorities – a safe secure site.
Unikrn Review
An Esports specialist, Unikrn offers you top Esports coverage of every major title — including League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter Strike Global Offensive, Dota 2 and Fortnite, plus full tips, predictions and stats Esports service, and highly competitive odds. You also get Unikrn UMode, giving you the chance to bet on your own gaming skills and results.
Vie.bet Review
Esports, sports, live betting, virtuals, casino, and live casino offered from Vie.bet, the new site from the Vie.gg Esports platform. Some of the biggest Esports coverage with competitive odds – concentrates on Dota 2, League of Legends, and CS:GO but goes deep into the niche games.
Winners.bet Review
Part of the trusted WIN Esports group which includes the populate Esports media platform WIN.gg, licensed by the respected Malta Gaming Authority. Winners.bet offers almost every Esport available with a wide range of markets through the big games and niche games, for pre-match and live betting, plus full Twitch streaming and a welcome bonus of 100% up to EUR/$ 50.
Our methodology
We rank the esports betting sites based on several predefined criteria. Everything from easy of use to markets on offer and payment methods gets factored in as we assess what makes one bookmaker rank better then the rest. Eight main categories cover everything from Design to Costumer Care and everything in between. Below is a description of our main points of interest, and how define them. Each esports betting site will have in-depth review for each category in their individual reviews.
Odds for esports betting
Who gives the best odds?
We’ll show you those bettings that routinely give you the best odds for your favourite esport. Everybody knows that esports is the most exciting thing to hit the betting world in years. But despite this popular trend, there are still many people who are unsure about how to go about betting on esports. So we’ve handpicked the best bookmakers around who are offering the best esports betting odds and a safe and secure way to enjoy esports betting in the UK.
We will highlight the bookies who give you the best odds for all of the major games like CS:GO and LoL, and we will pay special attention to which tournaments feature prominently in the big esports betting markets. This is important as all bookmakers tend to cover different esports games and competitions, so it’s good to get an idea of what’s out there before you go about planning your esports bets.
Non Regulated vs Regulated Bookmakers
Why licensing, encryption and reputation is essential for safe esports betting
As each betting platform will require you to make a financial deposit in order to place your bets, it’s essential to do some research into the brand before you give them money. Whilst the majority of esports betting websites will be legitimate, you can never be too careful. This is why you should always check that each bookmaker is regulated by an authorised gambling body before you make your first deposit.
Looking for a recognised gambling regulator like the UK Gambling Commission on a bookmaker’s website is the first way to check that they will enable you to enjoy betting options on esports in a safe and secure manner. And whilst this regulator covers all esports betting in the UK, there are other regulatory organisations like the Malta Gaming Authority that can give legitimacy to an esports betting website.
However, it never hurts to ask around to see how other users have fared at a particular betting site. Take notice of any bad reviews or any delays in customers getting a payout as this will signify that the bookmaker might not be all that they say they are. But above all, if an offer from an esports betting website looks too good to be true, it usually is. So be sure to read the small print and check into Esports.net for an expert opinion. Here’s what we check for when we evaluate the safety of esports bookmakers:
- Licensing: UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Government of Curacao
- Encryption: Minimum 128-bit SSL encryption
- Fairplay credentials: IBAS, ESIC, eCOGRA
Is the esports betting site easy to use?
How to bet on Esports: making a simple wager
Nobody likes a badly designed esports betting site. So we’ll make sure that you get to play at the best esports betting site in terms of site design. This means that you should only need to know the basics of betting that can be applied to the majority of sites that facilitate betting on esports. So you should find it easy to pick the esports event that you want to place your bets on.
You should also find it easy to register with a bookmaker. Obviously, you’ll need to check that the bookie is officially regulated, but it’s also a good idea to see who is offering a decent welcome bonus that can take the form of a free bet or even a matched deposit offer. From here it should be easy to mark your selection on the website’s betting slip for the esports event. This means that you are placing money on who you expect to win that particular esports match.
Odds are commonly presented in a decimal format, but most sites allow you to switch to fractional or American format if you prefer. So if you bet £10 on Evil Geniuses to win the next Dota 2 competition at odds of 1.9, with decimal odds, it means that you would win £19 including your original stake. This is an example for UK betting, but it’s easy to see how it could apply to esports betting in Canada, Australia, the US and beyond. Here’s what we look for in the site design of all good esports bookmakers:
- Intuitively designed and good looking website and apps
- Fast loading times and glitch-free performance
- Simple to navigate on a laptop, smartphone and tablet
Payment methods for funding your esports bets
Which esports betting site has the fastest payouts?
Most decent esports bookmakers will provide you with plenty of options when it comes to making deposits and picking up your winnings. As well as recognised credit and debit card companies like MasterCard and Visa, you should be able to use a variety of E-wallet options like Neteller and Skrill. We should note that there are also a growing number of esports betting sites that accept PayPal.
Choosing which payment method to use for your esports betting is usually a matter of personal preference. But you should keep in mind the fact that each payment method is usually accompanied by different conditions regarding the limits on how much you can deposit and withdraw.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that certain payment methods can take longer to clear than others – definitely one reason why so many people are starting to try esports betting with Bitcoin. Many newcomers to esports betting have chosen to use payment methods like Paysafecard as a way of keeping a sensible limit on their wagering. But regardless of what method you use, esports betting should only be carried out in a responsible and safe manner. Here are the most common ways that you can fund your bets at esports betting sites:
- Cards – Visa, MasterCard, Maestro
- Ewallets – PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, EcoPayz
- Prepaid cards – Paysafecard, Neosurf
- Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple
- Other payment options: Bank transfer, Interac, POLi
Esports coverage
Best Sites for League of Legends, Counter Strike, Dota 2 and more
We’ll make sure that you get to play at a bookmaker that gives you the chance to bet on all major and minor esports and pro gaming tournaments. Whilst certain events like DreamHack will crop up on most esports betting sites, some smaller events like the IEM Oakland Cup will require you to do a little more research to find an appropriate bookmaker and the same is true for what games you are betting on.
Betting on League of Legends
There is little doubt that League of Legends is one of the most popular titles to try out some betting on esports. And this fact is reflected in the huge number of bookmakers who allow you to try some LoL betting. Betway has proven to be one of the market leaders in offering great odds on League of Legends tournaments. The brand routinely covers top LoL tournaments like the KeSPA Cup with plenty of different betting markets that give you plenty of interesting wagering opportunities.
Whilst Bet365 doesn’t cover some of the more obscure LoL markets, this well-respected betting company has pledged to give customers the very best odds possible. And so this could be a good bookmaker to try the next time that the League of Legends World Championships come around.
The best betting sites for Dota 2
We all know that a large part of esport’s success lies with the Dota 2 game. This multiplayer battle arena game was one of the most popular titles in the early years of esports, and it’s great to see how it is still being featured heavily amongst the top esports bookmakers like Stake.com. Much of this is thanks to the enduring popularity of The International tournament that regularly tempts the UK’s top bookmakers to lay down some very competitive odds. But even when the International isn’t taking place, you can still expect sites like Vie.bet to provide some great in-play betting opportunities on top events like the ProDotA Cup and the ROG Masters.
Similarly, Cyber.bet sometimes offers a specialised Dota 2 betting service that takes in lesser-known tournaments like the Rocket League ELEAGUE tournament, The Summit, and Captain’s Draft. Sites like this provide you with a great way to bet on this iconic esports title, as they have lots of interesting betting markets for tournaments like the MDL Macau so that you can enjoy betting on the first team to get 10 kills, and which team will slay the first Roshan.
Finding the best CSGO betting site
It’s pretty easy to find a bookmaker who gives you odds for CSGO, but we should state that Luckbox has gone from strength to strength in helping you take a bet on all top CS:GO matches. The brand have recently introduced some great in-play betting options and features for all major and minor Counter Strike events that shows that your betting can be just as exciting as the on-screen action. But here are some more popular esports to bet on:
- Overwatch
- Valorant
- Fortnite
- StarCraft
- Hearthstone
Do all Betting Sites offer the same Matches?
Different games, different markets
Whilst all betting sites work in the same way in helping you place bets on esports, it’s evident that there is a huge variation in what matches they cover. Whilst Unikrn give us a massive selection of esports betting markets on some lesser-seen titles, not all bookmakers will feature such a large range. This is because certain bookies like Bet365 prefer to only feature the most popular games like CS:GO and League of Legends so that they can focus on providing you with the most competitive odds on these classic titles.
Furthermore, brands like GG.bet are starting to branch out in covering lesser-known games like King of Glory and World of Tanks and so we can hopefully look forward to a far greater choice of betting markets in the future.
Whilst esports betting may be a fairly recent phenomenon, it looks like it is something that is going to become much more widespread. As a result, it’s always a good idea to check into esports.net to see which bookies are offering odds on your favorite esport.
Picking an esports betting site versus a regular bookmaker
Choosing a site for your esports bets
For some time, if you wanted to enjoy esports betting in the UK, you’d have to go to some fairly niche betting sites. Thankfully, it looks like some of the biggest names in the sports betting world have jumped on the esports bandwagon. And this means that you can take advantage of their very competitive odds on esports betting in the UK, and also rest easy in knowing that your deposits are being dealt with in a safe and secure manner. However, it can still be worth checking into some of the specialist betting sites as these will cover some of the more niche games and often give you more interesting betting markets too.
A focus on Real Money Bets
What about skin gambling?
Many of us will be aware that there are plenty of ways to bet on esports in a way that uses methods other than real money. And whilst this may be popular for some people, we find that betting with real money is the safest way to enjoy taking a bet on esports.
As a result we will only be focusing on the esports bookmakers who allow you to place deposits and collect winnings in real money. Not only does this make everything much simpler to explain, but it means that you have an extra degree of confidence in placing your bets in a safe and secure manner with an officially regulated betting site.
Whilst there are some betting websites that allow the use of cryptocurrencies and credits for making esports bets, this is still something of a niche area. So although you can carry out some skin gambling for virtual goods on some CS:GO games, that’s not something that you’re going to find at Esports.net. So rather than featuring those lesser known websites, we will only be featuring the biggest names in the CSGO betting and esports betting world so that you can quickly understand exactly how much you stand to win when you next take an esports bet.
Esports betting sites with the best bonuses
Sports Betting Sites Us
Getting more from your esports bets
We should also note that many esports betting sites will give you some great bonuses to play with. These are often focused at encouraging new customers to sign up to their sites, but you should be able to find a good promotion as an existing customer too. Such deals will often match your qualifying deposits or bets with extra betting funds, or you might even get a cool losing bet refund. Many of these special offers will get unveiled whenever a major esports tournament like ESL One comes around.
There is a dedicated section for Esports Betting Bonuses that covers each individual provider and ways to claim your bonus, and any and all ongoing promotions and special offers. We’ll be on hand to guide you to those esports betting sites who routinely put on the best bonuses.
Getting help with your esports bets
The esports betting sites with the best customer support
Nobody wants to be left hanging if they have a problem at an esports betting site. So we’ll show you those bookmakers who have always managed to show that they care about their customers. Ideally these sites should have friendly and professional customer support that’s available 24/7. This is because esports tournaments take place all over the world during some antisocial hours and so you’ll want to make sure that you get help.
Most of our recommended esports betting sites allow you to easily get in touch with their customer service teams via live chat or email. However, it’s worth noting that other sites will allow you to reach out through anything from a standard phone call to social media channels like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Discord.
The best sites for live betting on esports
Which betting sites have free live streaming?
Live betting and esports are clearly meant for each other. There’s nothing like betting live on a fast-paced game like Overwatch or CSGO. This is because it’s hugely exciting and also you can unlock some great value with your bets when you wager on the live odds. As a result, nearly all esports betting sites will let you bet live on anything from a massive League of Legends match to a minor StarCraft contest.
What’s best is that you should be able to watch a live Twitch stream as you put down your in-play bets. This isn’t just hugely entertaining, as it also means that you get to make an informed decision about which betting markets you choose to put down a live bet on. Just remember that timing is everything when it comes to live betting on esports, so make sure that you’ve got a fast internet connection.
Is Esports Betting Legal?
Staying safe with your esports bets
Although the rapid rise in popularity of esports may have caught some people unawares, it has thankfully made an easy transition to the traditional betting world so that we can all enjoy legal betting. In the UK, you can bet on everything from horse racing and football, to politics and TV shows, and so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to find that you can bet on people playing video games too. Whilst there were plenty of sceptics when esports first came on the scene, it has quickly grown to be a hugely popular activity that is now covered by major sports networks such as ESPN in the United States.
With such networks giving esports an extra level of legitimacy, it was little surprise to find that some of the UK’s most widely respected bookmakers like Bet365 would start offering customers a safe and legal way to bet on titles like CS:GO. This means that all standard legal betting practices in the UK can now be applied to taking a bet on esports. So that you should be able to place a bet on Dota 2 with the same guarantees of security as you would a horse racing event like The Grand National.
The great news is that esports betting is now gaining legitimacy all over the world from Canada to Australia and beyond. There’s even a growing number of people enjoying legal esports betting in USA as a result of the ongoing deregulation of online betting in forward-thinking states such as New Jersey. All of which means that we could soon have an entire world’s worth of esports betting options.
The Future of Esports Betting at Bookies
Bookmakers taking esports betting to the next level
Esports has evolved at a rapid rate in less than two decades of existence. And it’s clear that esports betting is also changing in ways that have taken many people by surprise. In just a handful of years we have seen many traditional sportsbooks introducing esports as a core part of their betting markets. And with the introduction of in-play betting, live streaming and even fantasy esports at these websites, it’s helped all of us get closer to the action to boost our betting profits.
Esports Wagering
It’s also been fascinating to see how the range of esports games that we can bet on has also grown dramatically. Whilst there will always be a core audience who will want to bet on esports classics like StarCraft II, Dota 2 and CS:GO, it seems that each year gives us a new esports sensation. Recently we’ve seen how Overwatch became one of the hottest titles to bet on in the esports realm, plus everything from the hugely popular PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to Fortnite and Apex Legends have started to take the esports betting world by storm. And with the prize pools for players and teams reaching astonishing figures, we can expect to see a better coverage of competitive gaming helping to make esports betting even more popular in the future.
But there’s been no shortage of innovation in the esports betting world. Some bookmakers simply won’t stop giving you more ways to bet on esports. Top esports betting sites like Unikrn now allow you to bet on yourself playing video games through the UMode service, and we are starting to see more sites giving you a chance to enjoy betting on streamers 24/7. All of which shows that the future of esports betting is only getting started.