eSports Games & Betting Guide
Online sports betting is a huge global industry, with betting companies accepting online wagers on thousands of events daily. While these sites are most commonly used for football betting and other worldwide sports, they now accept bets on the best esports games online. In this article, we look into the world of eSports betting to discover what they are, what games are played, what you can bet on, the top bonus deals and more.
Best eSports Betting Sites – Full List May 2023
What Is eSports?
Esports is a global phenomenon that’s swept across the world. It combines the world of sports competitions with video games. Creating a unique and exciting form of competitive multiplayer entertainment, with teams fighting in live matches. Most esports you can bet on will feature the top global teams & leagues battling it out head to head.
During these events, the teams will compete in their chosen game and fight for cash prizes, sponsorship deals, and fame & glory. This form of gaming was introduced in the 2000s and started growing from 2010 to now.
These days, some e-sport teams earn millions of dollars each year by playing in front of live & online stream audiences. Some of the most popular video games for eSport players are Call Of Duty, Counter-Strike, DOTA, League Of Legends, Valorant, Starcraft, and Overwatch.
The action is just as exciting to watch as it is to play. E-sport tournaments are hosted in huge arenas, with players & computers taking centre stage. Multiple cameras and professional film crews ensure all gameplay, fan reactions and player defeats are captured in stunning quality. These streams are now watched by 100s of millions of fans, with the industry bringing in over $1 billion in annual revenue.
When you look at the different types of e-sports online, you can spot a trend with many popular MOBA and FPS games. These titles have the most players and therefore offer the best betting action. You can find 100s of different events each month, with both pre-match & live betting options available at the best bookmakers.
Top eSports Games To Bet On
There are many video games that people play, but in the world of eSports, there are some that stand out as favourites. We’ll look at the top esports games in 2021 to wager on. Some are classic titles, while others are newer releases. As the industry grows and new games come out, those enjoying global popularity might become the next title eSport gamers seek.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO stands for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This is an updated version of the classic computer game Counter-Strike. If you played PC games in the late 1990s-early 2000s, you’d remember this exciting First Person Shooter (FPS) and its awesome online multiplayer gameplay. It was released in 2012 by Valve and continues to be one of the most popular e-sports games you’ll find at betting sites.
Teams battle it out to be victorious in different game modes like Arms Race, Casual, Competitive, Danger Zone, Death Match, Demolition, and Flying Scotsman. The most popular version of CS:GO for esports betting is the Competitive Mode, with two teams of five players battling the other. The aim is to get the most kills over several rounds.
Call Of Duty
Call of Duty is an absolute classic when it comes to first-person shooters. Activision first created the game in 2003, and they’ve released many new titles under the brand name. The versions most popular with esports gamers are Modern Warfare and Black Ops. These titles offer a thrilling shooting experience with different game modes for players to compete in.
In Call Of Duty esports games, the top formats you’ll find are Domination, HardPoint, and Search & Destroy. Players can boost their kit with upgraded weapons and get a bonus to killstreaks, like calling in reinforcements, missiles, aircraft and more to dominate the battlefield.
DOTA 2
DOTA 2 is the sequel to the popular original game from Valve. This version came out in 2013 and is played exclusively on computers. Defense Of The Ancients is known as a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game and offers an impressive spectacle for fans, with dramatic action occurring at every corner.
Two teams of five players play the game. Each team has a base on the map that they must defend. Destroying the enemies & their base becomes the primary goal for gamers as they go head to head, using mighty features to summon heroes with superpowers. Players can unlock weapons & other upgrades by earning XP points along the way.
League Of Legends (LOL)
League of Legends, called LOL for short, is a classic within the esports games world. It was developed by Riot Games in 2009 and is available for PC players. The game style is like DOTA, with a Multiplayer Arena in a virtual world.
Two teams of five players compete, aiming to beat the opponents in fierce combat while striving to conquer the enemies side of the map. Players can summon godlike Champion characters to bring superpower down and gain ground. An XP system rewards players with upgrades for weapons and essential items.
Starcraft II
The Starcraft series is a popular game that falls into the Strategy niche. It involves futuristic characters, flying spaceships and intergalactic worlds. The first game in the series was developed by Blizzard Entertainment in 1998, while the latest one everyone plays & bets on came out with its first version in 2010.
Players take command of specific characters, with some in charge of the fleet. Different expansions offer unique missions, like helping species gain back their home planet. This one is perfect for all Star Wars/Star Trek fans.
Other Esports Games
Many other games are played in esports tournaments. These include Overwatch, Fortnite, Rocket League, PUBG, Apex Legends, Valorant, SMite, Arena Of Valor, Warcraft, World Of Tanks, Clash Royale, Vainglory, Street Fighter, Tekken, iRacing, Fifa, Clash Of Clans, Quake, Magic, and Halo.
How To Bet On eSports?
If you look at the bigger betting sites out there, you’ll notice you can bet on nearly any sport you could think of. This is true for esports, with global betting markets catering to this style of video game entertainment.
Betting on esports is the same as if you were betting on any type of sport. When you load the bookmaker, you can find the different esports games and betting markets on offer. Each site will vary slightly, so it’s a good idea to read some reviews and find the best site for esports betting.
If you’re just starting, the most common options are 1×2/Match Winner. This is a straight bet on the team you think will win the match. Odds for these markets vary based on the competing teams. So if you have a strong team versing a weaker opponent, you will find high betting odds for the underdog and lower odds for the favourite team.
Another popular eSports betting market is Total Maps. In many online games, the tournaments take place on a virtual map and have a duration for the round. If a match has two strong teams versing each other, you can bet on Over 2.5 Maps. This means your wager will win if the game takes a long time for someone to win, and they play 3 maps. Odds for this market increase depending on the number of maps. Most sites offer up to 2.5/3.5, with some providing alternative line markets.
Popular eSports Betting Markets & Odds
When you sign up to a bookmaker, head over to the Esports games section. Here you can find the live and upcoming matches. Each bookie differs in choices, but the best will offer up to 15 betting markets for top esports games. We’ve listed some of the most popular betting markets you’ll find when it’s time to place your wagers.
- 1×2/Match Winner: Bet on which team will win the match
- Total Maps Handicap: Bet on favourite or underdog to win many maps (rounds) (-/+)
- Correct Score: Predict the outcome of the match (the end score)
- Team To Win One Map: Pick a team to win at least one round
- Total Maps: Predict the number of maps the game will last (Over/Under)
- Total Maps – Odd/Even: Pick if the number of rounds will be even or odd
- + & – Handicap: Eg. Team 1 – 5.5 Maps @ $5 or Team 2 + 5.5 Maps $1.35
- Total Rounds: Bet the total number of rounds. E.g. Over/Under 39.5
- 2-Way Most Kill: Pick which team will get the most kills
The betting odds for eSports vary depending on your selections. You can expect lower odds in the 1.20 – 1.90 region if you’re betting on the favourite team to win. While placing bets on a weaker team, you might find higher betting odds from 2.5 – 10.00. Handicaps & alternative markets offer more flexibility, with the option to choose different lines for lower or even higher payouts.
eSports Bonus Deals
We examine the leading betting sites to find out what sort of esports bonus deals are on offer. Depending on your region, some sites will be better suited. For example, Rolletto is renowned for the USA, while MelBet is excellent for 100’s of countries around the world.
You can read our reviews to learn more about each site and pick the best one for your betting needs. There are many sites now offering esports games, including and SvenBet, Explosino, WallaceBet, SlotJoint, LuckyBird, AllRight, and BetSwagger.
Rolletto
Rolletto is a funky betting site that’s wide open for US players to enjoy. This bookie has a dedicated eSports game lobby, with 100s of action-packed events to bet on. You can take advantage of their new sign up bonus to start betting with extra cash! The Rolletto sports deal provides a 100% bonus of up to €200.
This same deal is available for those into bitcoin betting, with the sports deal eligible up to 200USDT. You will need to wager 10x the deposit+bonus amount before you can cash out.
EvoBet
EvoBet is a futuristic-looking betting site with an awesome green & black colour scheme. Their website is beautifully designed, and it’s easy to find the new eSports section. You can bet on 100s of events with many offering a huge amount of live betting markets for each match.
EvoBet customers can claim a special welcome bonus to start virtual entertainment. Create your account today and claim a 100% up to €200 sports bonus to fatten your bankroll. This package comes with a light 8x wagering requirement.
Cocos Casino
Cocos Casino is a fun online gaming site with 1000s of exciting slots to play. It also hosts an advanced betting platform. New sign ups here can wager on 100s of eSports games, with both pre-game and live betting markets to win money on.
You can sign up and start betting today with this special deal providing 100% up to $100 in bonus cash. The rollover requirement is a reasonable 10x to before you can cash out the funds.
MelBet
MelBet is a significant global betting site that features over 45 sports, an endless choice of betting markets, and 1000s of fun casino games. This bookie lets you wager on all eSports games & leagues.
They offer a 100% up to $100 bonus for new customers. The rollover requirements on this deal are quite tricky, as you will need to wager the bonus amount 5x on Accumulator Bets, with at least three selections.
Top Esports Leagues
Because the eSports industry is so large, many businesses, sponsors, and organizations arrange tournaments and leagues. These organised events run on different schedules, with huge cash prizes totalling millions of dollars for the winning teams.
The top esports betting sites cater to this worldwide demand and provide an immense choice of teams & games to wager on. We’ve listed some top leagues in esports below.
- ESEA
- Call Of Duty League
- LOL World Championship
- Starcraft II World Championship
- The International
- ESL Intel Extreme Masters
- EpicCenter
Best Esports Teams
Over the years, countless competitors hit the stage to battle it out in their favourite e-sport titles. The top-performing teams make millions of dollars and achieve the glory of worldwide fame. Lately, some of the best players are from Asia, with China & South Korea offering a phenomenal local industry for esports gamers. We’ve listed the top five teams as ranked by total career earnings.
- Team Liquid: $36,000,000+
- OG: $34,000,000+
- Evil Geniuses: $24,500,000+
- Fnatic: $16,000,000+
- Newbee: $14,000,000+
Top Esports Players
This gaming style is mostly about teamwork like normal sports, but certain individuals stand out and steal the spotlight. In the world of football, you have stars like Ronaldo and Messi. In the eSport world, they have a young & vibrant list of players raking in millions of dollars over their careers. We’ve listed the top 5 esports earners below, who all dominate the DOTA scene.
- Johan Sundstein (N0tail): $6.98 Million
- Jesse Vainikka (JerAx): $6.45 Million
- Anathan Pham (ana): $6 Million
- Sebastien Debs (Ceb): $5.5 Million
- Topias Taavitsaine (Topson): $5.47 Million
Advantages Of Online Betting For E-Sports
The world of online betting has come a long way from when it first started. These days, you can use your mobile phone to place bets on 100s of esports games. This boost in wireless connectivity has made it easier than ever for fans worldwide to start with esports betting. We’ve listed the main advantages of online wagering below.
- Excellent Odds
- Lots Of Betting Markets
- 24/7 Esports Coverage
- 100s of Tournaments & Games
- Live Betting
- Top Features: Accumulators, Early Cash Out, Bonus Deals, Cashback, VIP, Casino
eSports Games & Betting Guide FAQ
What Games Are In eSports?
Is Betting On eSports Legal?
What Are The Best Betting Sites For eSports?
How Do You Win In eSports Betting?
How Much Do eSports Gamers Earn?
Are There Any eSports Bonuses Online?