eSports betting is one of the new favourite activities for worldwide bettors. There are thousands of matches played every day, with bookmakers offering odds on every game and tournament. We’re here to help you navigate the jungle of esports and guide you to place your first bet.

You’ll learn the essential information to get on track with eSports betting. This guide will take you through the basics of esports betting, the most popular games to bet on and some general tips for betting in eSports.

What are eSports and eSports Betting?

Let's start with the introduction of eSports and eSports betting. eSports is basically any competitive video game played between a single person or team.

eSports come in many genres and have exploded in popularity recently, with massive tournaments and established esports teams and players. They compete in front of millions of fans who watch them on live streams like YouTube gaming, twitch.tv or Facebook Gaming.

Just like traditional sports, the competitiveness of esports has opened up endless betting opportunities!

There are endless genres of games and so many great tournaments that you can bet on. Below are some of the best esports games for betting:

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

Battle arena games are indeed one of the most popular games amongst eSports betting fans. If you’ve watched the tournament’s final streams, like The International and League of Legends World Championship, you’ll quickly see why these games that require teamwork are perfectly suitable for betting. Games like League of Legends and Dota 2 are some of the biggest titles in esports worldwide.

Even though some of the game’s characters and gameplay may take some getting used to, many bettors have produced decent profits from these titles.

First-Person Shooters (FPS)

If you’re more interested in some explosive action, you can look forward to betting on the numerous options of first-person shooters. There’s no doubt that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) is this genre’s most popular title, but other games like Halo and Call of Duty are also favourites in space.

Even though it might seem odd to bet on these kinds of games as they consist of military conquest, the team-based gameplay makes the game worth betting on. A quick look at the most popular CSGO matches at tournaments, such as the Intel Extreme Masters, shows how much fun you can have when betting on this genre. Whether it's a new phenomenon in the FPS space like Overwatch or the classics like Call of Duty, there’s no limit on the opportunities you can take when betting on esports.

Sports Simulators - the Best Way to Get Started with Betting on eSports

Tons of eSports bettors love to bet on teams and players in some popular sports simulators. If you’re used to betting on football, you should also be comfortable betting on eSports like FIFA.

For example, since the FIFA eWorld Cup took over the scene, numerous betting sites have attempted to make this esports tournament as big as the real thing. Other popular options in this genre are NBA 2K and Rocket League.

Other Popular Games for eSports Betting

A new esports sensation always emerges every year. From the battle Royale title PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG) to the world of card Hearthstone, there’s always something new to bet on.

Whether you prefer betting on simpler games, such as Street Fighter V or rather have a more strategic title like StarCraft II, there’s something for everyone. And even collectable card video games like Hearthstone are making their mark on the eSports world; you should have no shortage of landing a winning bet.

Picking an eSports Betting Site

Once you’ve decided which eSports you’re looking to bet on, you’ll need to find the best betting site. A growing number of online betting sites facilitate eSports betting, from traditional bookies like Betway and Bet365 to bookies only dedicated to esports betting like ArcaneBet and GG.Bet.

Some sites only focus on major competitions like Dota 2 and CSGO, while some dedicated betting sites offer a constant range of pre-match and live betting odds for more niche eSports games. So do some research into the site and make sure they cover your preferred game.

How to Bet on eSports

If you’re used to sports betting, eSports works just the same. To place your bet, you usually need to click on the desired odds, which will then be added to your betting slip. Then you need to decide how much you’re willing to stake on your bet. Most betting slips will usually calculate your potential winnings. Once you’ve selected the ‘place bet’ icon, you need to wait for your result.

Once you’ve found a bookie that features your favourite game, you’re ready for your first bet on esports. You’ll need to register a new account on the betting site. The registration process is usually practical and only takes a few minutes by filling in personal details. Once your account gets verified, you’ll need to choose a payment method and make your first deposit. Remember that this is the time to take advantage of the welcome bonus deals offered by the betting site.

After setting up your account and making your deposits, you can scroll through the odds offered by the betting site to find a game that you think provides a good payout. There should be an option to toggle between decimal and fractional odds to see how much your bet could return to you. Remember to look at winning betting tips before laying your money down and always bet responsibly.

eSports Betting Tips from Our Experts

If you’re looking to succeed in the eSports betting space, here are our betting tips that can assist in delivering some decent profits while you bet responsibly.

Research eSports Betting Teams on Reddit

There are tons of esports players and teams out there, and it can take time to keep up with the latest news and developments. This is why it's important to use a resource like Reddit to look for the latest gossip and rumours about an upcoming tournament. Even though the tips you’ll get won’t entirely be a failsafe, it's still an excellent resource to find out the latest stats and opinions about the leading competitors.

Try Live Esports Betting

Even though there is nothing wrong with betting on an eSports game before it starts, many bettors realise that live betting is the way to go. You can change your betting strategies following the odds as the events unfold on-screen via streaming sites like Twitch. This elevates the excitement as you can land a winning bet in the last few minutes.

Wait until You Find the Best eSports Tournament

Massive eSports events like The International and DreamHack always attract the most attention from bookmakers. And more competition means you’ll receive better odds as betting sites aim to offer greater betting options.

Therefore, even though betting on less-popular eSports events is always a good practice, you’ll receive better odds from bookies when the bigger tournaments arrive. You’ll also find decent betting tips and more extensive betting markets for bigger esports gaming competitions.

The Future of eSports

eSports streaming and the esports betting industry will keep growing exponentially. The eSports fan base went from over 222 million occasional viewers in 2018 to 270 viewers in 2020, making it one of the biggest leisure activities in the world. The eSports betting market also experienced rapid growth every year, with a $1 billion valuation of the esports betting industry in 2019 estimated to exceed $2 billion in the next few years.

The global pandemic of 2020 significantly accelerated the growth of esports betting, with the UK Gambling Commission reporting that the esports industry marked a remarkable year-on-year increase of almost 3000%.

This will keep growing and we’ll see all kinds of esports games increasing in popularity. Of course, this will also cause the popularity of eSports betting to increase equally. We think that eSports could eventually rival the popularity of traditional sports as more and more players, especially the younger generations, choose to bet on eSports. And as the games and events grow, the eSports betting market will likely explode.