eSports Betting: Everything You Need to Know

The world of online betting does not seem to stop flourishing, and one of the latest additions to it was eSports betting.

When the eSports industry began to bloom, betting on it was not too far behind. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see that eSports generates a lot of income, both in terms of viewership and bets placed.

It is safe to assume that eSports will continue to grow in the coming years, leading to a more diverse betting offer from world-class operators.

With all that in mind, let’s examine everything you need to know if you are a new punter and you look to start placing real money wagers on eSports.

What are eSports?

Some would argue that the shooting at an EA Madden Tournament in Jacksonville was the birth of eSports in the public eye. However, eSports or video gaming in a competitive sense is described as a multi-million phenomenon that has billions of dollars up for grabs.

Thanks to the emergence of streaming services and live events, casual video gamers could turn into serious stars who make tons of money.

So, eSports is the world of competitive and organized video gaming where players from different teams face each other in the same games. Some of the most popular eSports games include:

  • Valorant
  • Fortnite
  • League of Legends
  • Counter-Strike
  • Call of Duty
  • Overwatch
  • Madden NFL

Millions of fans worldwide follow these competitions thanks to streaming services like Twitch. Therefore, it seemed like a matter of time before eSports betting became a thing.

What to Look for in an Esports Sports Betting Site

So, now that you know that betting on eSports is completely possible and quite popular, you might be wondering how to start your gambling adventure on it.

In order to place wagers for real money on eSports events, you need to locate a reliable sportsbook.

To help you narrow down your search, we advise you to ask yourself four fundamental questions before deciding where to place an eSports bet:

  • Can I trust the sports betting site?
  •  How good are the odds?
  • What kinds of bonuses and promotions does it offer?
  •  What bet types can I place on eSports events?

Let’s go over each of those in a bit more detail.

Can I Trust the Sports Betting Site?

There are a few things that you need to consider when answering this question. The first one is connected to the regulation aspect. You need to check what type of license the sports betting site hold.

You can find this information on the footer of the bookie’s website. You need to look for reputable regulators, such as the UK Gambling Commission, MGA, and so on.

The second aspect is connected with social proof. You can find everything online these days, so you need to check what people say about the operator on social media or different review sites.

Thanks to this, you can find valuable information regarding payout times, customer support response and other factors that will help you differentiate between good and world-class betting sites.

Finally, you can check the security aspects of the operator and register an account. Any reliable bookmaker such as sportsbet.io utilizes the latest SSL encryption software that ensures all your personal information is well protected at all times.

How Good are the Odds?

You need to know that the odds for any given eSports event won’t be the same at every online sports betting site.

So, that means you need to do a bit of research to see which operator holds the best odds that you believe are the most favourable for your preferences.

This is an aspect that you don’t just check once. All experienced bettors tend to walk through eSports betting sites to check what type of odds they offer. Odds change all the time for all types of events, so you need to do your homework if you are serious about eSports betting.

What Kinds of Bonuses and Promotions Does it Offer?

Odds are very important, but they are not the only factor that determines whether you get the best possible value for an eSports betting site or a bet itself.

All reputable operators make sure to offer various bonuses and promotions to all their registered users, starting with the welcome bonus. These offers are very helpful for players to boost their chances of securing a win in their favourite eSports event.

Some of the most common and popular eSports promotions include:

  • Deposit bonuses
  • Free bets
  • Cashback incentives
  • VIP Programs

Here, you need to check whether all these promotions apply to eSports events and what are their terms and conditions.

What Bet Types can I Place on eSports Events?

No matter how diverse a certain eSports betting site’s promotional offers are, you can easily get bored if you don’t have enough bet types to keep you entertained.

Match betting is just the first and most straightforward type of bet you can place on eSports events. We will cover the bet types a bit later in the article, but you need to know that the offer varies from one bookie to another.

Is eSports Betting Legal?

Well, there is no universal answer to this question. It is a very complex one and it is impossible to answer it for all eSports bettors in the world.

Different countries have different regulations regarding online sports betting, and eSports wagering falls under that category. If it is illegal to bet on sports in your country, then eSports betting is also illegal.

Finally, wherever eSports betting is allowed, players need to note the minimum gambling age. Some countries allow 18-year-olds to participate in online gambling, while others allow it for anyone over the age of 21. This is something you need to check in detail before you start betting on eSports.

How to Know eSports Events are Fair

One of the main questions people ask before they start betting on eSports is its legitimacy and fairness. There are always speculations about certain sports events and match-fixing, and eSports is not immune to that.

So, without any assurances, it might be difficult for bettors to start placing eSports wagers. With that in mind, several aspects affirm the fairness of eSports games worldwide:

  • Growth of prize pools – as more money is put into different competitions, there is little reason for anyone to throw or fix matches for any financial gain.
  • Reputable sports betting sites – fighting fraud is one of the main aims of reliable sports betting sites such as sportsbet.io. Therefore, operators fight to eliminate the problem of match-fixing for any sport, including eSports.
  • Increased regulation – as eSports betting is taking a big swing in the online betting world, the sector will increase attention and regulation.

Which eSports Have the Biggest Betting Market?

Given that eSports is relatively new in the online betting world, we can only expect the industry to grow with new titles over the coming years.

This is how we will see new players register and start placing more real-money bets. The same can be said about viewers and competitors in the sector.

With that in mind, several titles dominate the world of eSports. At the top of the tree are games that you are surely familiar with: League of Legends, Dota2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

These titles are by far the most popular ones among eSports bettors, but that doesn’t mean they are the only ones. Punters can also place real-money wagers on games such as Valorant, Overwatch, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, StarCraft 2, Fortnite, and plenty of others.

Finally, honourable mentions in the eSports betting industry include the likes of FIFA, NBA2k, as well as Madden. All this just shows that no matter what your preferences are, you are sure to find an eSports game that you can bet on and aim for the biggest wins.

Types of Bets You Can Place on eSports

Even though the eSports betting industry is relatively new, sportsbet.io makes sure to offer various betting types for all registered punters.

The industry is growing at a very fast pace, so you will be forgiven for thinking that betting on eSports events is very complicated, especially if you are completely new to betting.

However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Getting to know the various bet types for eSports is not complicated at all. There are some common ones, and some more specific ones, so let’s make things a bit more clear for you.

Tournament Winner

All reliable bookies will offer all registered bettors the chance to place bets on a tournament winner for all eSports events.

Of course, you must be well-prepared to place this type of bet, as various factors can affect a team’s performance. Just some of the most common ones include regular game updates and the individual form of players.

Most eSports tournaments are very unpredictable, so you need to do your homework if you are to get a winning bet.

Match Winner

As you can imagine, you can also place bets on individual matches. So, a match-winner bet is as simple as it gets in eSports. All you need to do is predict which team will come out victorious, no matter the game that you bet on.

There are always favourites and underdogs in eSports events, but as mentioned above, upsets do happen all the time in eSports, that’s the beauty of it.

First Map

Most of the reliable bookmakers in the online betting world allow punters to bet on the winner of individual maps in various eSports games.

All registered players with adequate knowledge of a certain map pool can have a serious advantage with these types of bets. Good research and experience are vital here, as you need to know how to analyze the team’s style and approach to the match.

First Kill

Often known as first blood, this is another very popular type of bet at reputable eSports sites. The first kill of any game is very significant, so you can always expect good odds whenever you place the bet.

As an example, any pistol round first win can get the team a very good advantage. It can also provide gold lead and experience lead in some games like MOBAs. As you can imagine, a lead in the early stages of a game can have a very lasting impact on the outcome.

Here, we can repeat once again that you need to take a closer look at teams’ styles. Teams which have an aggressive playing style will often have the advantage of getting the first kill.

Over/Under

Most eSports tournaments are based on the best-of-three format, but there are some cases where you will find a series of best-of-two or five matches.

Whatever the case may be, sports betting operators will allow all registered players to place various bets on whether those series will go over or under a specific number. So, if the series are best-of-three, you can place a bet on the series going over or under 2.5 maps.

Here, you can also find some more specialized over/under bets for various games. You can place unique bets on whether the number of rounds in a game can go over or under a given number by the bookie. Depending on the game in question, you can expect nice returns if you get this type of prediction correctly.

Odd/Even

This might be considered a risky proposition for many, but high-rollers tend to fall in love with an odd/even bet.

The logic behind these bets is very simple – you need to bet on whether the sum of both scores is odd or even. An example here is a CS: GO match – here you can place a bet on whether the total rounds won by a certain team are odd or even.

You need to do your homework here, of course, but as eSports games are very unpredictable, you need to rely mostly on luck with these types of bets.

Most Kills

If you decide to place your faith in a certain player can often be very rewarding. Most games all you to place a bet on which player you think will have the most kills.

There are cases of teams not winning the game even though a player on the team has had the most kills, so you need to be careful how you combine this bet.

Event MVP

This type of bet is available for all eSports tournaments and games. It is based on who you think the MVP will be during the game or tournament.

This is very difficult to predict, as you need to be an expert in the industry, but as you can imagine, the MVP specials always have bigger odds than some of the other selections.

Correct Score

A correct score bet is not entirely native to eSports betting, but you can use it on almost all games and tournaments. As is the case with all other sports, a correct score bet often has very good odds and can secure you very nice returns.

Handicap Betting

Continuing with our list of bet types for eSports, we have handicap betting. You might be wondering, what happens if you would like to bet on a certain eSports team, but their odds are not quite big?

Well, this is a situation where we would advise you to try out handicap betting. With a handicap bet, you put your team at a points disadvantage. It means that the eSports team you back has to win by a big margin.

The odds for a bet like this are always bigger, but it may well be worth it if you get your prediction correctly.

Streamers Bets

Most eSports fans enjoy watching streamers on various platforms, including Twitch. But, little did plenty of eSports fans know that some betting sites will allow you to place bets on streamers’ gameplay.

Thanks to these bets, you can enjoy betting in some popular Twitch streamers on games such as Apex Legends, Fortnite, or LoL.

Accumulator Bets

Accumulator bets are also quite common in the online betting world, and of course, you can use them for eSports betting as well.

As is the case with other sports, an accumulator bet in eSports requires you to place bets on different matches, and you will win only if all predictions are successful. It is one of the trickiest bet types in eSports, but it can get you the biggest prizes.

Live Betting

Finally, we finish our list with live eSports betting. As the name itself suggests, live betting in eSports requires you to place bets after the match has begun. These types of bets are very popular among eSports fans as they can put their game knowledge to the test with various live bets.

In addition, some betting sites feature live streaming of eSports games which is a great way for you to get a better picture of what really goes on during the match.

Deposits and Withdrawals at eSports Betting Sites

Another important aspect that makes or breaks any eSports betting site is its list of payment methods. International betting operators need to have a wide range of payment options for players to choose from.

All punters have different preferences, so an extensive list of options is vital. Moreover, the most trusted payment methods in the world offer safe and fast transactions.

With that in mind, some of the most popular payment methods punters use to bet on various eSports events are:

  • Credit/debit cards
  • E-Wallets
  • Prepaid vouchers
  • Bank Transfers

As an example, making a deposit at sportsbet.io is quite easy, as you will need to head to the cashier section of the bookmaker, choose a payment method, and an amount to deposit and confirm the transaction.

The same procedure applies to withdrawals. Whenever you wish to withdraw funds, you can also head to the cashier section of the operator, but choose withdrawals now. You need to select the same payment method as you have for your deposits, choose the amount and hit the confirm button, it is that simple.

How long it takes for the money to arrive in your account depends on the payment method. Sportsbet.io will process the withdrawal request instantly, but it may take up to a week for the funds to arrive in your bank account.

E-Wallets tend to be the fastest, closely followed by credit/debit cards. Bank transfers usually take a bit longer.

Pros and Cons of eSports Betting

As is the case with all aspects of sports betting, there are some advantages and disadvantages of placing real-money wagers on eSports.

The good news here is that there are no serious cons to note, so the advantages have made eSports so popular for punters.

Pros

  • Various bet types
  •  Better odds than some other sports
  • It is safe and convenient
  • The market constantly evolves, leading to better offers
  • Various bonuses and promotions

Cons

  • eSports betting is not legal everywhere

Verdict

All in all, we can safely say that eSports betting has a very bright future. The industry is still relatively new, but there are more and more players willing to place wagers on eSports events each year.

Moreover, the prize pools for these tournaments increase all the time, so that is something that speaks volumes about its rise in popularity.

If you are completely new to eSports betting, then you can take a look at all the essentials we mentioned above, which can be quite helpful for you to have a successful start to your betting adventure.

FAQ

How can I bet on eSports?

Starting your betting adventure with eSports is very simple. All you need to do is to find a reputable and licensed bookie and register an account. All world-class operators have extensive coverage of eSports events, so you have nothing to worry about.

How old do I need to be to bet on eSports?

This depends on the laws in your country. Some regulated jurisdictions require players to be 18, while others require you to be at least 21 years old to place eSports bets.

Which payment methods can I use for transactions at eSports betting sites?

You can use various payment methods at reliable bookies for all your eSports bets, such as credit/debit cards, e-Wallets, prepaid vouchers, and even cryptocurrencies.