With Esports betting growing in popularity rapidly, many modern online sports betting sites started offering exciting Esports betting activities on the most popular Esports games, such as Fortnite, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Dota. If you are interested in learning more about Esports betting opportunities, this is the guide for you. We cover everything from getting started at Esports betting sites to different Esports betting options.
Before we discuss all the interesting details regarding Esports betting opportunities, let’s first discuss what Esports stands for. Esports refers to Electronic Sports and while the concept may sound very different from other sports, the truth is that Esports is very similar to any other sports style. The Esports industry features different leagues and teams, exciting tournaments, and fans across the globe.
When it comes to Esports betting, fans wagers on who they think will win matches, tournaments, and big international competitions. Speaking of big international tournaments, the vast majority of Esports fans place wagers on big matches played by teams competing in Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter- Strike: Global Offensive, and Call of Duty.
Back in the day, the video gaming industry was primarily dominated by amateur video gaming fans who usually competed against each other. However, things changed in the late 2000s when big video gaming events started growing in popularity thanks to different technologies, including real-time streaming technologies.
The video gaming industry has grown in popularity in the 2010s thanks to professional Esports fans competing in organized Esports tournaments and events.
Today, the Esports market is one of the fastest-growing industries of this kind offering various kinds of professional competitions and tournaments with big sponsorship names.
Considering the tremendous popularity of Esports there is no wonder why most modern online sports betting sites have separate Esports betting sections. If you are a beginner, all those different wagering options may appear confusing. Thankfully, the team at OnlineCasinoReports has got you covered. In the sections that follow, we discuss everything you need to know about Esports betting.
When you access an Esports betting section at an iGaming site, you will come across different categories reserved for different games. When you access any of these categories, you see all the different odds displayed, alongside different betting types. To place your wager, you choose a betting option and specify your wager.
The vast majority of modern online sports betting sites feature welcome and other bonus offers to reward their new and already registered customers. The same is true for the best Esports betting sites you will find recommended here. Every site with our Seal of Approval has gone through our rigorous reviewing and rating process. Every site with our Seal of Approval has valid licensing and operates according to strict iGaming laws and regulations.
The sports betting industry houses hundreds of Esports betting sites but not all of these deserve your attention. Hence, to make the right choice, make sure you check our selection of the top-ranked Esports betting sites.
Due to the growing popularity of Esports, many renowned online sports betting sites enriched their sports sections with Esports betting opportunities to cater to fans of video gaming. With this being said, Esports bettors are spoilt with choice. While Esports betting sites may look very similar, they are not created equally and there are different factors to take into consideration.
First of all, you should only look into Esports betting sites that are licensed by reputable authorities. There is no reason to go any other way when there is an excellent selection of licensed and reputable betting sites. You also want to stick to online sports betting sites that have excellent banking services because you want to be able to use your preferred deposit and withdrawal options.
In addition, every modern Esportsbook will have a separate live or in-play betting section, alongside live streaming options. If you register at a site with live streaming options, you can watch your favorite games directly at the website instead of going to Twitch or YouTube.
When looking for an Esportsbook, you also want to check the availability of special betting markets and the quality of betting odds. You also want to check which video games are covered to make sure that you can wager on the most popular games, such as CS:GO, Dota 2, Call of Duty, and League of Legends.
In the Esports industry, three gaming genres stand out in terms of popularity. Millions of people around the world enjoy Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, real-time strategy games, and first-person shooters. The three most popular Esports gaming genres are discussed briefly down below.
It is simple to determine the popularity of an Esports game using online technological tools. EsportsCharts can provide you with a real-time update on factual figures and numbers of the most-viewed esports based on the number of hours each game was streamed by fans on the most popular streaming sites, such as Twitch and YouTube.
When we look into the most recent statistics regarding Esports viewership figures, the most popular remains League of Legends with over 500 million hours streamed, followed by Dota 2, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Overwatch, and Arena of Valor with over 70 million streamed hours.
We also briefly examined Esports viewership by gender and it appears that 85% of Esports fans are male while 15% are female. By age, most Esports fans are between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four.
Some of the biggest Esports tournaments offer staggering prize pools of several million dollars to the top-performing teams. Below, you will find the biggest Esports prize pools based on the latest statistics.
|
Rank |
Game |
Prize Pool |
Players |
Tournaments |
|
#1 |
Dota 2 |
$280,803,508 |
4272 |
1619 |
|
#2 |
CS:GO |
$131,355,230 |
14748 |
6120 |
|
#3 |
Fortnite |
$111,339,316 |
4931 |
750 |
|
#4 |
League of Legends |
$90,515,461 |
8076 |
2677 |
|
#5 |
Arena of Valor |
$44,681,469 |
976 |
97 |
As mentioned in the previous sections, the vast majority of online sports betting sites that cater to fans of Esports betting feature separate Esports sections with all the different events and tournaments neatly categorized to allow easier navigation. The best Esports betting sites cover all the different Esports gaming genres, including real-time strategy, first-person shooter, and multiplayer games. The most popular games within each genre are featured down below.
|
Game |
Description |
|
RTS |
The real-time strategy Esports gaming genre is mainly dominated by South Korean players who compete in StarCraft 2. |
|
MOBA |
Another popular genre in the Esports industry is the multiplayer online battle arena that houses some of the biggest tournaments. The most popular games within this genre are Dota 2 and League of Legends. |
|
CCG |
CCG or collectible card games have grown in popularity in 2020. This gaming genre is dominated by Overwatch League Series 1 Trading Cards and Hearthstone. |
|
FPS |
The most popular games within the first-person shooter gaming genre are Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Valorant and Overwatch are also popular. |
|
Autobattlers |
Autobattlers games, including Dota Auto Chess, Teamfigh Tactics, and Dota Underlords have grown in popularity relatively recently in 2019. |
|
Fighting Games |
Fighting games are typically played on PC and Playstation consoles. The most popular games within this genre include Dragon Ball FighterZ, Mortal Kombat 11, Emon Slayer, and Street Fighter V Champion Edition. |
|
Battle Royale |
The most popular battle royale games are Fortnite Battle Royale, Real Royale, and Z1 Battle Royale. |
We also looked into the biggest Esports tournaments and events which are held every year and you will find these listed in the table below.
|
Event |
Game |
|
Fortnite World Cup |
Fortnite |
|
LoL World Tournament |
League of Legends |
|
The International |
League of Legends |
|
Olympic Virtual Series |
Virtual Sports |
|
LoL World Championship |
League of Legends |
Now that you are familiar with the Esports industry basics, you probably feel ready to start your Esports betting journey. If this is the case, make sure you check our handy getting started guide down below.
It is also a great idea to stream exciting Esports matches in real time on Twitch, YouTube, or any of the most renowned Esports betting sites. Watching Esports matches as they unfold in real time will let you learn more about different strategies teams use and this can boost your winning odds.
As mentioned in the previous section, you want to focus on the games and teams you are familiar with. This is why you must do your research into different teams and players and check out their statistics to be able to make more informed decisions and potentially maximize your profits.
Many new Esports bettors easily get carried away by the exciting Esports betting opportunities and they end up spending over their means. To avoid making this common mistake, make sure you set your budget and stick to it. In addition, to benefit from long-term success, never chase losses.
Before you place your first wager, you also want to familiarize yourself with different games. In other words, you want to check the rules of different games and terminology. If possible, consider playing the games you are interested in before you start your betting adventure.
Once you feel ready to start betting, check out our selection of the best Esports betting sites and pick whichever site works best for you.
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If you want to engage in Esports betting sessions like a pro, you may want to check out our handy tips and tricks down below. While you cannot influence Lady Luck you can boost your winning odds by doing the proper research.
With Esports growing in popularity, many sports betting sites cater to Esports bettors but not all of these sites are worth checking out. Below, we discuss some of the most important features of reputable Esportsbooks.
Generous Bonuses Every great Esports betting site offers generous bonuses and promotions in different forms, including free bet bonuses, deposit bonuses, welcome bonuses, and cashback bonuses that can be used on a wide range of different Esports markets.
Licensing and Trustworthiness Every Esportsbook you find recommended here has a valid remote gaming license alongside RNG certification. Every Esports betting site we recommend has also an impeccable reputation and offers risk-free, safe online wagering sessions.
Highly Competitive Odds If you choose any of the sites recommended by our expert team you can rest assured that you get to benefit from the most competitive betting odds. When wagering at such sites, you can easily maximize your winning odds and long-term profits.
Customer Care Department Another important feature of reputable Esports betting sites is a reliable customer care department. Esports betting sites reviewed and rated by our expert team offer assistance around the clock via Live Chat and email. Some Esportsbooks also offer phone assistance.
Live Betting Options Esports betting fans who prefer in-play betting options will find them at every Esports betting site recommended by our expert team. Some of these sites also let you watch Esports matches as they unfold in real-time.
Payment Options When looking for the best Esportsbook we always check the selection of payment services to make sure players have enough deposit and withdrawal options to choose from. Every renowned Esports betting site has a variety of standard payment services and some also cater to fans of crypto gambling.
Extensive Sports Coverage As mentioned in one of the previous sections, the Esports industry features many different gaming categories and the best Esports betting sites cover all of these popular gaming genres. Joining any of the recommended Esports sites lets you place wagers on a huge variety of sports, such as Dota 2, StarCraft 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Fortnite.
In the following sections, we take a look at the most popular Esports games and you want to familiarize yourself with these before you start your Esports betting journey.
Call of Duty Call of Duty is one of the most popular first-person shooter games. The game has been around since 2003 and it has millions of fans across the globe.
League of Legends The most popular Esports game League of Legends or for short LoL has been released in 2009 by Riot Games. Needless to say, it also has millions of fans across the globe.
Overwatch What makes Overwatch so popular is its unusual storyline set in the near future. In each Overwatch gaming session, heroes battle each other relying on their unique strengths.
Dota 2 Dota 2 is a popular multiplayer online battle arena game. Both Dota 2 and Defense of the Ancients were developed by Valve.
Fortnite Fortnite has been around since 2017. The game developed and published by Epic Games houses three equally exciting game variants.
Hearthstone Hearthstone falls into the category of collectible card games. At the same of its release, the game was called Heroes of Warcraft. Just like Warcraft, it has unique relics and characters.
StarCraft 2 StarCraft 2 was released in 2010 by Blizzard Entertainment. Today, StarCraft 2 has over six thousand exciting tournaments and events.
PUBG PUBG or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds features almost four hundred different tournaments. You can play PUBG on your own or with a team.
Valorant Valorant is an exciting hero shooter game developed and published by Riot Games. Valorant is accessible on PCs powered by Microsoft Windows. The game was officially released on the 2nd of June 2020.
Rocket League Rocket League has been around since 2014. This vehicular soccer game was developed and released by Psyonix.
Rainbow 6 Siege Rainbow 6 Siege is a very popular online tactical shooter game developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal.
Smite Published by Hi-Rez Studios, Smite is a popular multiplayer online game similar to other battle arena games.
Apex Legends Apex Legends is a popular royale-hero shooter game with free-to-play modes available online. It was developed and published back in 2019 by Electronic Arts. There is also a mobile version of the game available for iOS and Android devices.
Call of Duty Warzone Call of Duty Warzone released back in 2020 is a battle royale game with free-to-play modes. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox, and iOS/Android mobile devices.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Alongside Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most played multiplayer first-person shooter games. The game was released in 2012 by Hidden Path Entertainment and Valve.
In the simplest terms, Esports refers to electronic sports and the Esports industry houses many different tournaments and events which are organized similarly to traditional sports events. Esports has many different leagues and teams and fans of Esports can place wagers on their favorite teams at a number of online sports betting sites.
If you have registered at a licensed online sports betting site, you can rest assured that wagering on Esports events at that site is safe. When looking for the right Esportbook make sure it has a valid remote gaming license, alongside advanced safety measures.
Yes, the vast majority of Esports betting sites offer generous welcome bonuses to their newcomers. These sites also offer generous bonuses and promotions to already registered customers.
Generally, Esports bettors are huge fans of Overwatch, StarCraft 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. These are great games for both Esports newbies and more experienced bettors.
Yes, depending on which Esportsbook you choose, you may be able to watch Esports in real time on the site. If this is not possible, you can stream Esports matches in real time on Twitch, Facebook Gaming, and YouTube.
Here, you will find a list of the best Esports betting sites which have been reviewed by our expert team based on different criteria, including their Esports betting coverage, generosity of bonuses and promotions, etc.
Every site you come across here featured as recommended covers all the biggest League of Legends tournaments and events. You cannot go wrong no matter which site you choose.
This depends on your experience. If you have some experience playing Esports games, you can get bigger profits from special Esports markets. If you just started your Esports betting journey, the best option is to stick to mainstream betting options.
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