Esports Betting Guide for 2024

Real money esports betting is legal (in most countries), and it’s both regulated and licensed. This means that you don’t have to worry about them running away with your money in case of a massive win.

A couple of years ago, finding esports betting websites was pretty difficult. Nowadays, thanks to the industry’s exponential growth, all notable online sportsbooks feature esports as a standalone category. If you want a sneak peek at the ideal esports betting sites right now, feast your eyes:

Esports gambling is nothing new! It’s been around for a good part of the last decade but has just recently grown to massive heights. Nowadays, it’s one of the most rapidly growing businesses in the world, growing together with the esports industry and showing no signs of stopping.

Even though the number of esports betting enthusiasts grows bigger with each passing day, many gamers/esports fans still don’t know much about it. Negative connotation crippled its growth a few years ago, and it seems like everyone’s still being overly cautious about it.

Let’s address the elephant in the room right away: Esports betting does not equal lootboxes, and it most certainly does not equal skin gambling.

These are not the same! Let’s break it down below.

1. Lootboxes are used by game developers to milk more money out of gamers; they’re basically RNG boxes with various (cosmetic) rewards.
2. Skin gambling represents various casino-style platforms that allow you to deposit in-game skins instead of real money.
3. Esports betting is a legit, well-regulated form of online betting. It revolves around betting on esports competitions and tournaments.

The History of Esports

Believe it or not, esports goes all the way back to the early ‘70s. In 1972, Stanford University students hosted a tournament in a video game called Spacewar. Fast forward a few years, to 1980, the Space Invaders Championship had 10,000 participants and was widely considered as the birthplace of esports.

It wasn’t until the early 2000s that video game competitions started getting serious traction. Fueled by massive international events like World Cyber Games, Electronic Sports World Cup, and Major League Gaming, the popularity of video game competitions skyrocketed.

Nowadays, esports events, teams, and players have become household names. Their popularity is still through the roof. The result is an entirely new subculture, a whole new generation of superstars and a movement that’s bound to keep on growing. Esports are the future, we dare say!

What was started by Starcraft, fueled by League of Legends, then further boosted by Valve’s Dota 2 and CSGO, is now a multibillion-dollar industry. Not only that, esports brought forth several supporting industries as well, one of which is our primary focus here.

Of course, we’re referring to online esports betting!

After all, if it’s a competition, people will (sooner or later) find a way to bet on it.

Origins of Esports Betting

Unfortunately, the birth of esports gambling is surrounded with shady business practices. You probably know that the first form of online betting on esports was the so-called “skin betting.” Shady betting platforms occupied the market, featuring armies of bots that would do automated trades, allowing players to bet with their in-game skins.

Now that we think of it, skin betting hasn’t just pushed Valve’s community market but it paved the way to a brand-new industry—real money esports betting! Even though Valve’s community market was flourishing, in part thanks to such a high demand for esports betting trades, they had to react in order to avoid lawsuits.

Valve’s Efforts Against Skin Betting

In 2016, Valve cemented their stance on the skin betting industry, sending out 23 cease and desist letters to the biggest skin betting platforms.

Esports betting odds were literally everywhere. But what was so problematic? Well, you see, skin betting sites were shady through and through. They didn’t have any online gambling licenses, no one was regulating their business practices, and they didn’t even have any sort of underage gambling protection.

And that’s basically why real money esports gambling nowadays has a negative connotation even though it’s a fully legit industry. Its beginnings were as shady as they come. And now that the industry made a leap in the right direction, focusing around well-known and fully-licensed sportsbooks, it still can’t escape negative connotations.

Don’t think that Valve put a stop to the whole skin betting industry. Such websites still exist, though in much smaller numbers. And of course, we would never advise you to use them. If you’re looking for esports odds, only use licensed websites offering real money esports betting!

Types of Bets You Can Place on Esports

Even though most people who indulge in betting on esports online typically place simple match-winner wagers, there’s more to it than just that. The variety of opportunities is outstanding, to say the least. Not only do you have access to high esports betting odds on match-winners, but you also have access to a variety of props, handicaps, over/under bets, and long-terms.

Best of all, we’re not just talking about the three biggest esports betting markets (CSGO, LoL, and Dota 2) but most other up-and-coming esports titles, too. In fact, let’s go through the most popular types of real money esports betting options:

Match-Winner or Moneyline Bets

This is the standard option. As its name suggests, it allows you to bet on the winner of the match. Match-winners represent the very cornerstone of online esports betting. It’s the go-to option for the vast majority of esports wagering enthusiasts. It’s present across all esports titles and is the most common bet type you’ll come across when searching for esports betting odds.

Spread Betting on Esports Series

If you’ve ever placed a football wager, you’ll know what a handicap is. When you bet on esports online, it’s a bit different; the whole concept varies from game to game. For instance, MOBA games have handicaps only in valid best of scenarios. We’re talking best of three, best of five here. For instance, in a bo3 between Cloud9 and TSM, if you bet on Cloud9 to win -1.5, they have to win without dropping a single map.

In FPS esports like CSGO and Valorant, there aren’t just best of handicaps but round-based handicaps, too. For instance, if you bet on NaVi vs. Astralis in CSGO, you can go with something like NaVi to win the first map -3.5. The round-based gameplay of FPS titles really adds to the complexity (and the fun factor) of their betting options.

Over/Under Rounds

This bet is most popular in the CSGO betting community. As stated earlier, CSGO has round-based gameplay, and over/under bets are all about those sorts of numbers. In addition to round-based over/under wagers, there are also typically aren’t options like you’d expect from LoL and Dota 2 betting options.

Long-Term or Futures Bets

Outright winner, the region of winner, and group winner options are frequently available just before the start of major esports events. They belong to the so-called “long-term” options. “Early markets” is what they’re called in the sports betting world. Call them whatever you want, their premise remains straightforward—they aren’t just based on a single match but one phase or the entirety of an event… hence the name long-terms. Below is an example of futures odds to win the Call of Duty League (CDL) stage 1 major:

• Atlanta Faze – +120
• Dallas Empire – +200
• OpTic Chicago – +550
• New York Subliners – +700
• LA Thieves – +900
• LA Guerrillas – +3000
• Florida Mutineers – +15000
• Paris Legion – +20000
• Minnesota RØKKR – +20000
• Toronto Ultra – +50000
• London Royal Ravens – +150000
• Seattle Surge – +200000

Esports Prop Bets

That’s not all, folks! Gambling sites and esports betting apps offer a ton of additional prop bets. Each game has its own bunch, so let’s have a quick look at the most popular prop options when esports betting online:

Most Popular Esports to Bet on

We’ve already mentioned that there’s more to the esports gambling industry than CSGO, LoL, and Dota 2. Plenty of other esports titles have made a leap to the forefront of the betting scene. FIFA and Rainbow Six are closing in on the big boys, with Starcraft 2 slowly losing the last bits of its relevance. Valorant, less than a year in, already has a sizeable betting demand.

Here’s a closer look at the chart of betting volumes based on esports:

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

There’s no question about it: CSGO betting is the most popular category for people betting on esports online! Valve’s first-person shooter is at the top of the world, has been there for quite a while, and has no plans of stepping down.

The betting demand for CSGO is still through the roof, and it comes as no surprise since CSGO is the game that kickstarted the whole skin gambling mess, too. The likes of ESL are doing their best to keep CSGO’s integrity intact and allow it to develop to massive heights. If you came here wondering how to bet on esports with money, chances are you’d like to bet on CSGO.

No worries, I’m sure you’ve already realized you’re at the right place to learn to bet on esports!

CSGO Betting in 2020

• Most Bet on Teams in CSGO
• NaVi, Vitality, Astralis
• Highest Average Bet
• Team Liquid
• Max Bets Placed On
• Heroic
• Most Money Won On
• Sprout
• Least Return on Bets
• Fnatic

League of Legends

League of Legends is the most popular esports title out there so you can expect to find esports odds on just about every site for this game. The biggest annual event, League of Legends World Championship, enjoys massive viewership numbers. 2020 LoL Worlds had roughly 50 million concurrent viewers.

Considering such massive viewership, hefty LoL betting demand comes as no surprise. Riot Games’ MOBA masterpiece is the third most bet on esports title out there, only behind Valve’s giants—Dota 2 and CSGO.

LoL Betting in 2020

• Most Bet on Teams in LoL
• T1, JD Gaming, Gen.G
• Highest Average Bet
• Victory Five
• Max Bets Placed On
• DAMWON
• Most Money Won On
• FlyQuest
• Least Return on Bets
• FunPlus Phoenix

Dota 2

Let’s talk about the second most popular multiplayer online battle arena game—Dota 2. It’s one of two Valve’s esports giants, going toe to toe with CSGO in terms of the overall volume of bets. The first-person shooter takes the win, though the margins aren’t as large as you’d expect.

League of Legends World Championships are the most-watched esports events out there… But Dota 2 The Internationals are the most lucrative ones. The International 2024 had almost $35 million in prize money.

Dota 2 Betting in 2020

• Most Bet on Teams in Dota 2
• Team Nigma, Team Liquid, OG
• Highest Average Bet
• Just Error
• Max Bets Placed On
• Team Aster
• Most Money Won On
• VP. Prodigy
• Least Return on Bets
• Nigma

FIFA Esports

Believe it or not, FIFA is also a very friendly game for esports betting online. We’re talking about a soccer simulation here; it was always going to have a sizeable betting demand. Still, the idea of betting on virtual soccer instead of real soccer seems a bit weird.

The world health crisis that began in 2020 pushed soccer and other sports into the background, and lockdown protocols had a strange side effect. Professional teams were quick to organize virtual competitions; for soccer, it was always going to be in FIFA. Fast forward a year and the number of soccer teams featuring esports divisions is off the charts. It’s a new trend that definitely had a major impact on FIFA’s betting popularity.

Valorant

At the time of writing, Valorant is considered a relatively new game. Valorant was released in June of 2020. And as far as popular esports titles go, it’s definitely the freshest kid on the block.

Created by Riot Games, the makers of League of Legends, Valorant is a tactical FPS in many ways similar to CSGO. But Riot Games made a nice little twist, adding in several agents, each with their own four abilities.

It’s like Overwatch but with CSGO gameplay and shooting mechanics. The strategy goes a long way in Valorant, just like team composition. Map pool depth bears importance, too. The overall complexity of the gameplay, as well as a lively competitive scene, must be the main reason why Valorant is one of the most popular disciplines in the online esports betting ecosphere.

Starcraft 2

Let’s not forget about the game that held the entire industry on its shoulder before League of Legends, Dota 2, and CSGO came to be. Starcraft 2 is the RTS that was at the forefront of modern-day esports. It’s still going strong, more than a decade after its release and first real events.

Even today, SCII events enjoy solid viewership thanks to the game’s loyal fanbase. The betting demand is there, too; SCII is currently the sixth esports discipline by betting volume. Talk about a healthy competitive ecosystem, right?

Rainbow Six Seige

Here, we have another tactical FPS. Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six is much more complex than both CSGO and Valorant. It’s a truly tactical first-person shooter, focusing on gadgetry, communication, and tactical deployments more than anything else.

If we’re being real here, complexity is a proper double-edged sword for Rainbow Six. On one end, it brought forth an extremely loyal (but very niche) audience. On the other end, the complexity discourages new players because the learning curve is just too darn steep.

But you don’t need to know how to play the game to bet on it. That seems to be the golden rule that’s been pushing Rainbow Six betting numbers over the last year or so. If you’re an R6 fan looking for valuable info on how to bet on esports with money, feel free to keep on reading!

Overwatch

Next up – Overwatch! It’s the first relatively successful esports title that tried to blur the lines between FPS and MOBA games. Overwatch was made to be a trendy esports title; that was the goal all along… but if we fast-forward a few years, it’s safe to say it didn’t kick off the way it was supposed to.

Currently ranked eighth in terms of overall betting volume, Overwatch seems to be more popular to bet on than the likes of Rocket League and King of Glory. Valorant, a fresh take on the FPS genre from the makers of LoL, has already surpassed, though. That’s bound to have raised some red flags over at Blizzard’s HQ.

Rocket League

The folks over at Epic Games and Psyonix are still doing everything they can to keep Rocket League esports alive. The numbers are stagnating, no doubt about that, but the game’s betting community is still going strong.

The game still belongs to the top ten esports betting titles, but the numbers aren’t showing any positive trends. Surpassed by the likes of Valorant and Overwatch, Rocket League’s popularity in the betting sphere keeps shrinking. However, esports betting sites still feature major events in Europe and North America. That said, if you’re looking for Rocket League betting options, most above-featured real money esports gambling sites will have you covered!

Arena of Valor (King of Glory)

Mobile games are out there too! In fact, some mobile esports out there have massive popularity. KoG/AoV is among them, with most major championships over the last two years averaging well-above 100,000 viewers.

The game has a small but loyal betting community too. It’s nowhere near the likes of CSGO and Dota 2, but there’s still enough demand for betting odds to keep the people who run these sites and esports betting apps interested. At the end of the day, that’s the only thing that matters.

Other Popular Esports to Bet On

That’s not all, folks! There are still plenty of popular esports out there, some with very active betting communities. Esports gambling sites might not have odds for them all the time, but some of the biggest events in the following esports are definitely worth pointing out:

Biggest Esports Betting Events

American football has the NFL and Super Bowl; soccer has the World Cup and Champions League; the esports industry has a couple of aces up its sleeves, too! The biggest esports events, the most-watched ones, are typically ones that have the most demand for esports betting odds.

When talking about the esports industry as a whole, the biggest games also feature the largest, most lucrative events. Here’s a closer look at the biggest events for online esports betting.

LoL Worlds

The League of Legends World Championship is the biggest event in LoL’s competitive calendar. It features the best teams in the world from the game’s most competitive regions, pinning them in a massive event that lasts more than a month.

It’s a proper festival of gaming, with League of Legends being one of the founding fathers of modern-day esports. Riot Games’ MOBA video game is popular across the world, with franchised leagues being featured all across Asia, Europe, and the USA.

With almost 50 million combined viewers on the 2020 iteration, LoL Worlds truly is the most popular gaming event in the world. But it’s not the most lucrative one. That flattering title belongs to its direct MOBA competitor, Valve’s Dota 2.

Last five winners of LoL Worlds:

• 2020 – DAMWON
• 2019 – FunPlus Phoenix
• 2018 – Invictus
• 2017 – Samsung Galaxy
• 2016 – SKT1

Dota 2’s The International

Dota 2’s competitive bread and butter is its Pro Circuit. The so-called DPC is what keeps on driving the competitive aspects of the game. It’s the highest level of pro play, featuring the world’s best teams and most talented players.

The icing on the cake of each DPC season is a grandiose event dubbed as The International. Year in and year out, TI break records for the most lucrative event. The 2024 TI iteration featured roughly $35 million in prize money; let that sink in!

With that said, it’s no wonder people love betting on Dota 2. There’s a lot of stuff to bet on, too. Dota 2 betting sites are known for featuring all sorts of crazy props. If you’re into that sort of stuff and you’re a Dota 2 fan, you’re going to have a blast!

Last five TI winners:

• TI 19 – OG
• TI 18 – OG
• TI 17 – Liquid
• TI 16 – Wings
• TI 15 – EG

CSGO Majors

CSGO is the most popular esports title out there. It’s what most people bet on; it’s what most people enjoy watching! The game has its flaws. But its competitive aspect—especially when combined with a wager or two—is near-perfect.

Expect intense round-based action, high skill cap, momentum swings, brilliant commentaries, and top-class production value. And it all jumps up a notch in time for CSGO Major Championships. We’re talking about two massive events every competitive calendar. Each of them has $1 million in prize money, which is a hefty sum for CSGO’s “decentralized” standards.

Viewership-wise, CSGO’s numbers have been stagnating for a few years now. Don’t let that trouble you, though. CSGO is an age-old game and viewership stagnation was expected all along. The fans that still play the game are some of the most loyal ones you’ll ever find. Plus, they love to bet on their favorite game, which is why CSGO has an impressive quantity of esports betting odds all year long.

Here are the last five winners of CSGO Major Championships:

• StarLadder Major Berlin – Astralis
• IEM XIII Katowice Major – Astralis
• FACEIT Major London – Astralis
• ELEAGUE Major Boston – Cloud9
• PGL Major Krakow – Gambit

Overwatch League (OWL)

Overwatch League, AKA the OWL, is the bread and butter of Overwatch’s competitive calendar. It’s a fully franchised league that features 12 teams, a completely closed-off system, and (obviously) the game’s hottest talents. And while it does have solid viewership numbers, its betting scene isn’t that big.

Everything comes down to the Overwatch League playoffs. That’s what everyone enjoys watching, that’s what the betters love investing in. Truth be told, it’s the only stage where you can get a proper variety of props. The remainder of the year is pretty poor in that department. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Here’s a quick look at all Overwatch League winners thus far:

• OWL S3 Winner – San Francisco Shock
• OWL S2 Winner – San Francisco Shock
• OWL S1 Winner – London Spitfire

Call of Duty League (CDL)

Call of Duty League is the last event we’d like to mention here. It’s an FPS title that’s still trying to find its place in the vast waters of the esports industry. Just like Overwatch, the CDL is also based on a franchised system. It brings forth long-term stability, which is probably why bookies didn’t wait too long to start featuring CD bets, and ensures teams don’t have to worry about stuff like relegation, sponsor losses, budget cuts and similar.

The franchised system means there are no other noteworthy competitions besides the CDL. As far as real money esports betting websites are concerned, there are no other Call of Duty events out there. It’s all about the CDL—and rightly so, considering just how much money has been pumped into it thus far.

Last five CDL winners (including former CWL):

• CDL Championship 2020 – Empire
• CWL Championship 2024 – eUnited
• CWL Championship 2018 – EG
• CWL Championship 2017 – OpTic
• CWL Championship 2016 – EnVy

Want more info like this? Make sure you check out our guide to betting on esports events!

Where to Bet on Esports Online

Esports betting online is no longer a niche topic. It’s a rapidly growing business that’s taken the world of online bookmakers by storm.

Legality is a major issue even in this day and age. Typically, esports betting sites are divided into two categories—those who allow US bettors and those who allow (pretty much) everyone else. Here’s a quick look at both sections:

Best US Esports Betting Sites

BetUS

MyBookie

MyBookie has some of the best esports betting bonuses online, though that’s not the only notable department here! MyBookie’s website design and page-to-page navigation are second to none and they also provide users with an esports betting app to be able to place your bets from the palm of your hand to matter where you are.

Esports markets are easy to find, though the number of disciplines is quite low. As far as betting options go, they have solid esports coverage, be it conventional bets or props. The variety is good, as long as you’re into the biggest esports titles out there. If you’re a loyal fan of a lesser-known game, you might want to look elsewhere.

BetNow

Next up, BetNow! It’s possible that you haven’t even heard about this one… and it’s nothing surprising considering the fact they’re just over six years old. Yep, this is a fairly new bookmaker, but one that has gained a great reputation for offering a pleasant betting experience.

No matter what you’re into, be it esports or sports betting, BetNow will have stuff that’s right up your alley. With a smooth website and plenty of payment methods, BetNow seems like a fair solution for all of your esports wagering needs.

Bovada

Bovada has been a part of the online sports betting market for almost a decade now; nine years and running! They stand as one of the most popular esportsbooks that accept US residents, and the reasons are bright as day.

Bovada delivers an exceptional sports betting experience, no doubt about that. In recent years, its esports expansion brought forth even more recognition. Bovada has plenty of real money esports betting perks you’ll love. They feature plenty of esports disciplines, live betting options, and even sport a built-in stream for the biggest events. You’ll want to come back to bet on esports for money at Bovada, that’s for sure!

BetOnline

BetOnline is a real esports powerhouse! Their esports coverage is off the charts, featuring numerous esports markets and plenty of different betting opportunities. Pre-match betting, live betting, props… anything you can think of, really!

You won’t have trouble finding esports gambling markets on BetOnline because they now have a standalone esports hub. It’s located at the top of the page – simply click on esports and you’ll be taken to the esports hub. Yep, all it takes is one simple click.

Best Esports Betting Sites for Non-US Residents

TonyBet

Betway

Betway is definitely among the biggest bookmakers that don’t accept US bettors. They stand for the most reputable online betting platform, which means you should take a closer look. Betway is not just involved with esports betting, but have partnered up with several esports organizations, further extending their list of notable sports partnerships.

Betway’s array of esports props is outright ridiculous… especially during massive LoL, Dota 2, and CSGO events. You’ll see some of the craziest props out here – kudos to Betway for such an amazing job with their esports betting hub!

Bodog

Bodog seems like a great bookie for placing a couple of esports bets here and there. However, they don’t have the greatest array of banking methods and tend to be a bit on the slow side as far as line frequency is concerned.

They’re pretty generous with their promotions, especially the welcome bonus section. Make sure you keep tabs on that if you decide to go with Bodog from now on. Their esports coverage is pretty deep for the biggest markets, but it will need improvements for less popular disciplines.

10Bet

Obviously, if you’re living in the US, you are not allowed to bet on 10Bet. That’s basically the platform’s biggest downside. Well, that and their customer support service which has a serious lack of efficiency.

As far as bonuses go, 10Bet doesn’t fail to deliver. They have plenty of promotions throughout the calendar, with their typical bonus being something along the lines of 100% of the initial deposit up to 50€. Not bad, but there’s definitely room for improvement.

22bet

Last but not least – 22bet! Unfortunately, 22bet doesn’t have any fancy stuff like built-in streaming or instant transactions. But, they still offer a fairly solid real money esports betting experience thanks to lots of betting markets, an excellent variety of payment methods, and a sweet mobile app for your on-the-go betting endeavors. If you for some reason don’t like any of the above-featured bookmakers, 22bet ought to do the trick!

How Does Esports Betting Work?

Betting on esports online is fairly simple. Nowadays, you can do everything from the comfort of your home without the need to visit a brick-and-mortar shop. Whether you’re primarily using your smartphone or computer for web browsing, the process of esports betting online is straightforward. It requires almost no technical know-how. Even your average Joe is more than capable of handling this.

So, if you came here with a simple question about how to bet on esports, we’re pretty sure this step-by-step guide is everything you’ll need to kick things off!

1. Choose which bookie you want to use. We’ve provided a great selection for you at the top of this page.
2. Explore any available esports betting promos and bonuses.
3. Register for an account or log in if you already have one.
4. Use any promotions or bonus codes you’ve found.
5. Confirm your address/identity to allow for a smooth banking process.
6. Deposit some money using your preferred method.
7. Find your desired esports betting options.
8. Select your wager and enter the stake.
9. Click that shiny “place bet” button.
10. That’s it! You’ve successfully started betting on esports online.

Tips for Online Esports Betting

Online betting on esports can be a tough task if you’ve had no prior experience with any sort of sports betting. It is possible to make mistakes betting on esports that can damage your bankroll and leave you with nothing. In that case, here are some general tips that ought to be of help you win money esports betting.

Choose the Right Esports Betting Site

First and foremost, you have make sure you choose a good bookie! We’ve linked the best ones already; if you don’t know where to bet on esports, that list ought to help you out. Also, don’t limit yourself to just one bookie. Choose two or three, depending on what they offer in terms of bonuses, esports gambling options, and profit margins.

Don’t Invest Too Much Too Soon

If you’re just starting out, there’s no point in investing too much money. No matter how vast your esports knowledge is, your lack of experience will get the better of you. Start off slow, get comfortable with how things work, and then incrementally increase your stakes.

Manage Your Bankroll

Last but not least, incorporate some budget management! Even though it’s as boring as it sounds, you can’t expect to be a profitable bettor without it. Budget management is the very base of every good esports betting strategy. For more info on that, check out our esports betting strategy guide!

Esports Betting Blogs and Picks

Are esports gambling blogs any good? Should you keep up with them, or are they a waste of time?

Esports Betting Blogs

It all depends on how frequently you watch professional matches for your favorite esports title. Typically, esports betting blogs include stuff like event previews, outright winner predictions, and prop bet analyses. If you’re always up to speed on that sort of stuff, then there’s no need to read through pieces discussing what you already know. But chances are, you don’t have time to watch esports action every single day. In that case, esports wagering blogs are the quickest way of brushing up on your knowledge.

Free Esports Picks

Online esports betting picks are not that rare anymore! Several websites offer picks and predictions for esports matches… but unfortunately, most of them are either using some sort of AI to pull the esports betting odds with no real explanation behind the decision. We have an esports picks section too, though ours is way more in-depth. You’ll find complex discussions, taking into account everything noteworthy about both sides. CSGO is the primary focus, but we’re hoping to expand to other esports disciplines, too.

Esports Betting FAQ

Last but not least, here’s a section dedicated to the frequently asked questions. They offer relevant info, especially for people who came here looking for tips on how to bet on esports online.