Esports betting has quickly become a favorite activity for gaming enthusiasts worldwide. With thousands of matches taking place daily, bookmakers provide odds on virtually every aspect of competitive play. At EsportsInsider, we’re here to guide you through the ever-evolving esports landscape and help you make your first esports bet with confidence.
Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from how to bet on esports to understanding the legal considerations—can you legally bet on esports in your location? We also delve into the critical factors for choosing the best bookmakers, ensuring you have the knowledge to make informed decisions. Dive in and get ready to level up your esports betting game!
What Exactly Are Esports and Esports Betting?
Let’s clarify what we mean by esports and esports betting. Esports refers to competitive video gaming where individuals or teams face off against each other, unlike casual gaming where players compete against AI.
Esports spans multiple genres and has skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade. Major tournaments feature superstar teams and players battling it out in front of live audiences, with millions more watching on platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, or Facebook Gaming.
Just like traditional sports, the rise of competitive gaming has paved the way for a thriving esports betting scene, offering fans countless opportunities to wager on their favorite players, teams, and matches. Using Esport promo codes can enhance the betting experience, providing fans with exclusive bonuses and promotions.
How Does Esports Betting Compare to Traditional Sports Betting?
Betting on esports might feel unfamiliar at first, but it’s surprisingly similar to traditional sports betting. Whether it’s soccer, basketball, or esports, the process is the same. You place a bet on your chosen event, analyze the odds, and hope for the best outcome.
To place an esports bet, simply pick the market that interests you, review the odds, and make your wager. Winning follows the same logic—your bet pays off if the outcome matches your prediction.
What sets esports betting apart is its dynamic and interactive nature. With live streaming, real-time stats, active communities, and social media integration, esports betting offers an engaging and immersive experience that traditional sports betting can’t match. It’s an exciting way to enjoy competitive gaming like never before!
Esports Games and Tournaments: A Whole New Betting World!
With countless game genres and thrilling tournaments worldwide, the opportunities to bet on esports are endless!
Betting on MOBAs: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games Explained
Battle arena games are a top favorite among esports betting enthusiasts. Iconic titles like Dota 2 and League of Legends dominate the global esports scene, with major tournaments like The International and the League of Legends World Championship showcasing their incredible competitive appeal. Watching these team-based games in action reveals why they’re a natural fit for betting, offering a mix of strategy, skill, and excitement.
Beyond these giants, other battle arena games like the mythological Smite or the fantasy-driven Warcraft also attract a loyal fan base. While learning the gameplay and characters may take some time, these titles offer plenty of opportunities for bettors to enjoy thrilling matches and even secure impressive wins.
Betting on First-Person Shooter (FPS) Games
If you’re after adrenaline-pumping excitement, betting on first-person shooters is the way to go. Counter-Strike 2 stands as a titan in this genre, but other popular games like Call of Duty and Halo have also carved their place in the esports world. While the idea of wagering on tactical combat may seem unconventional, the team-based dynamics and strategic gameplay make these games perfect for betting.
Tournaments like the Intel Extreme Masters showcase the thrilling action of Counter-Strike matches, highlighting why first-person shooters are a hit among esports bettors. Whether it’s a fresh phenomenon like Overwatch or a time-tested classic like Call of Duty, the variety of betting options is endless. Even lesser-known titles like Team Fortress 2 bring their unique flavor to the betting scene, offering something for everyone in this high-octane genre.
Sports Simulators: The Simplest Way to Begin Esports Betting
It’s no surprise that sports simulators are a hit with esports betting fans, offering a familiar experience for anyone who has placed a traditional sports bet. Titles like FIFA make it easy to transition, with events like the FIFA eWorld Cup drawing attention from bettors worldwide. Many betting platforms aim to make wagering on these esports tournaments as thrilling as betting on the real matches.
With the help of expert esports betting guides, you can find strategies to maximize your winnings on these exciting games. Beyond FIFA, other favorites in this category include NBA 2K for basketball enthusiasts and the fast-paced, car-soccer madness of Rocket League, providing endless opportunities for esports bettors to enjoy and profit.
Exploring Other Games for Esports Betting
Every year, a new game rises to claim its spot as the next esports phenomenon, opening up fresh betting opportunities. From the tactical card gameplay of Hearthstone to the high-stakes battle royale action of Apex Legends, there’s always something exciting to wager on.
Whether you’re into straightforward fights with Mortal Kombat betting or prefer the cerebral challenge of strategy games like Age of Empires II, esports offers something for everyone. Even lesser-known titles like the fast-paced Brawlhalla or collectible card games continue to gain traction in the competitive scene. With options ranging from the most celebrated titles to niche favorites, esports betting provides an endless array of ways to engage and win.
Esports Tournaments
The esports world is home to some of the largest sporting events in terms of attendance, viewership, and prize pools. A top-tier esports betting site not only covers these massive tournaments in detail but also provides wagering options for smaller competitions and regional leagues around the globe.
For viewership, the League of Legends World Championship stands out, attracting over 3.9 million viewers and delivering a jaw-dropping 139 million hours of gameplay watched. Similarly, events like the Fortnite World Cup and Intel Extreme Masters Katowice boast millions of hours in viewer engagement.
However, when it comes to prize pools and betting buzz, Dota 2’s The International reigns supreme. Its 2019 edition featured an unprecedented $34.3 million prize pool, setting the gold standard for esports competitions and captivating fans and bettors alike.
Where to Bet on Esports: Choosing the Right Betting Site
Once you’ve chosen the esport you want to bet on, the next step is finding the right esports betting site to place your wagers. There’s a growing selection of platforms offering esports betting, from well-known bookmakers like Betway and Bet365, to specialized esports sites such as GG.Bet and Thunderpick.
Some platforms prioritize major tournaments for games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and League of Legends, while others cater to niche titles with extensive pre-match and live betting options. It’s important to research and ensure the site you choose offers comprehensive coverage for your favorite games.
Our dedicated guide can help you find the best esports betting sites tailored to your region and gambling regulations. With new betting platforms emerging all the time, offering innovative features, enticing bonuses, and loyalty rewards, it’s always worth exploring the latest options to enhance your esports betting experience.
How to Bet on Esports: A Guide to Betting Options
Esports betting has evolved far beyond traditional real-money wagers. Over the years, a wide variety of betting options have emerged, encompassing every facet of the esports world. From betting on competitive tournaments to wagering on Twitch streams, and even engaging in skin gambling and item trading, there’s something for every esports enthusiast.
These diverse betting opportunities make it easy for fans to immerse themselves in the action and find unique ways to enjoy the thrill of esports. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or new to the scene, here are all the exciting ways you can get involved in esports betting.
Real Money Betting
Real money betting is the most straightforward way to bet on esports and works much like traditional sports betting. Simply select the tournament or event that catches your interest, pick the market and match you want to wager on, and place your bet. Once that’s done, all that’s left is to sit back, enjoy the action, and wait for the results to see if your prediction pays off!
Fantasy Betting
Fantasy esports betting brings the excitement of fantasy sports into the world of competitive gaming. Much like traditional fantasy sports, you start by selecting your favorite players or teams based on how well you predict they’ll perform in their matches or tournaments. Points—or even cash rewards—are earned based on their in-game achievements, whether it’s winning a match, dominating a tournament, or completing specific objectives.
Item & Skin Betting
Skin betting involves wagering virtual items, such as in-game skins or cosmetic upgrades for characters and weapons, often used as a type of virtual currency on betting platforms. These items hold value within gaming communities, making them a popular choice for alternative betting.
However, it’s important to exercise caution when engaging in skin betting. Historically, many skin betting sites operated without proper licenses or regulations, posing risks to users. To ensure a safe experience, always choose licensed and reputable platforms and steer clear of unregulated sites. Your safety and security should always come first!
Social betting & Challenge Betting
Social betting allows you to place wagers within a group, predicting the outcomes of esports matches or tournaments together. It’s a fun and interactive way to engage with friends while enjoying the thrill of competition. Similarly, challenge betting is a more personal approach, where two individuals go head-to-head, each placing a bet to challenge the other’s predictions. Both formats add a unique, social dimension to esports betting, making it more engaging and collaborative.
Esports Betting Types That Have Been Discontinued
Placing Bets on Streamers
Betting on streamers was once an exciting option on esports-focused platforms like the now-defunct Unikrn. This allowed fans to place bets on specific aspects of a player’s gameplay as it unfolded live on platforms like Twitch. Sites like Rivalry and GG.Bet also offered similar features, letting viewers engage directly with their favorite streamers’ performances. However, this unique form of betting is no longer widely available, leaving fans to explore other interactive betting opportunities in the esports world.
Self-Betting: Wagering on Your Own Gameplay
Betting on yourself in video games offered a thrilling way to turn your gaming skills into real cash. Platforms like Unikrn’s Umode and Midnite’s CashMode allowed players to wager on their own ability to achieve specific milestones or objectives in esports games. Whether it was winning matches or reaching performance goals, this unique format let gamers put their skills to the test. Unfortunately, this service is no longer available, but it remains a fascinating chapter in the evolution of esports betting.
Getting Started: How to Place Your First Esports Bet
Placing an esports bet is a straightforward process. Start by clicking on the odds for your chosen match or event, which will automatically add it to your betting slip. Next, decide how much you want to wager, and most betting slips will calculate your potential winnings for you. Once you’re ready, click the ‘place bet’ button and wait to see if your prediction turns into a win.
Before you can begin, you’ll need to find a betting site that covers your favorite esports game. Registering an account usually takes just a few minutes, requiring basic personal details. After verifying your account, select a payment method and make your first deposit.
With your account set up, browse the site’s esports odds and look for matches with promising payouts. Most platforms allow you to switch between decimal and fractional odds for clarity. Be sure to do some research, follow betting strategies, and always gamble responsibly for the best results.
Esports betting market
Exploring the Different Types of Esports Betting Markets
Just as there is a wide variety of esports games to bet on, there are also numerous ways to place your bets. While sticking to a straightforward match-winner bet is always a solid option, exploring other betting types can add excitement and depth to your experience. Trying different betting strategies not only makes the process more engaging but can also improve your chances of finding value. Here’s a rundown of the main types of esports bets to consider, along with some handy tips to maximize your success.
Esports Bets on Match Winners
The match-winner bet is one of the most popular and straightforward types of esports wagers. Much like predicting the winner of a soccer game, this bet involves picking the victor of an esports match, whether it’s League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, or any other title.
If this feels a bit too simple, you can spice things up with handicap betting. This approach allows you to level the playing field by giving an advantage to the underdog or a disadvantage to the favorite, potentially offering better odds and the chance for bigger payouts. It’s a great way to make even the most lopsided matches more exciting and rewarding!
Outright Bets in Esports Betting
Outright bets let you predict the overall winner of an esports tournament, offering a chance to back your favorite team or player for the ultimate prize. Many top betting platforms allow you to place these bets well before the competition starts. For example, if you’re confident about who will dominate a tournament like the DreamHack Masters, placing your wager early can often secure better odds and maximize your potential payout. It’s a thrilling way to stay engaged throughout the entire event!
System Bets in Esports Betting
System bets involve placing multiple esports wagers at once, where all your selections need to win for you to secure a payout. While these bets require a bit of luck and careful planning, the potential rewards can be significant, making them a popular choice for those looking to maximize their winnings. The higher risk is balanced by the impressive payouts offered by online betting platforms, making it a thrilling option for esports enthusiasts aiming for big wins.
Game-Specific Bets in Esports
Esports offers a variety of unique betting options tailored to specific games. For example, when betting on League of Legends, you might wager on which team will secure the first map, destroy the first tower, or claim the first dragon. Similarly, in CS2, you can predict events like which team will reach ten kills first or win a pistol round.
Many betting sites also feature exciting options such as correct score predictions or betting on the time it takes to complete a round. These specialized bets add depth and excitement, providing countless ways to engage with your favorite esports and make every match more thrilling!
Expert Tips from Our Esports Betting Guide
If you’re looking to make your esports bets more effective, we’ve got you covered with a selection of expert esports betting tips. These insights can help you boost your chances of success while ensuring you gamble responsibly. Check out our esports betting advice to maximize your potential!
Research Esports Teams on Reddit for Free Betting Tips
With countless esports teams and players competing worldwide, staying up-to-date with the latest news and developments can be overwhelming. This is where platforms like Reddit become invaluable, offering insights, rumors, and discussions about upcoming tournaments.
While the esports betting tips you’ll find there might not guarantee success, they can provide useful perspectives, fresh statistics, and community opinions on the top contenders. It’s a great way to enhance your research and make more informed decisions for your bets.
Try live esports betting today – For an in-play bet, esports is hard to beat
While placing bets before an esports match starts is a classic approach, more and more bettors are discovering the thrill of live betting. Watching the action unfold in real-time on platforms like Twitch allows you to adapt your betting strategies based on the shifting dynamics of the match. In-play betting markets update odds as the game progresses, giving you the chance to make calculated moves and potentially land a winning bet at just the right moment.
Some platforms, like GG.Bet, even integrate live Twitch streams directly into their interface, making it easier than ever to follow the game and place your bets without missing a beat. Live betting adds an extra layer of excitement to esports wagering that’s hard to beat!
Wait for Major Tournaments: Simple Esports Betting Advice
Major esports tournaments like the League of Legends World Championship, Dota 2’s The International, and the Esports World Cup always draw significant attention from bookmakers. With heightened competition among betting sites during these events, you’ll often find better odds and a wider variety of betting options to explore.
While betting on smaller tournaments can be rewarding, the larger events offer the added advantage of extensive coverage, more in-depth esports betting tips, and a broader range of markets. These high-profile competitions provide an unparalleled opportunity to capitalize on the excitement and make the most of your esports betting experience.