How We Rate the Best Esports Betting Sites
While a few clicks in your website browser will notify you about a myriad of sports betting sites, coming across a licensed and regulated esports betting site may require some luck. This is mostly because recent years have seen a major boost in the online entertainment industry, causing the rise of betting sites offering esports markets. Although many of these are safe and licensed, not all of them cover enough criteria for an enthusiastic esports bettor.
At esportbetting.net, we recommend the betting sites that are scored highly with all of these factors considered. Check them out and find out which ones are on top of your priority list.
Markets and Betting Types – Speaking of markets, esports games like League of Legends, Dota 2, StarCraft II, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, etc. are most popular due to their massive fan base and wide area coverage across the globe. We also try to ensure the bettors gaining as much versatility as possible in the ever-growing esports betting industry. Therefore, we highlight betting sites that offer trending esports like FIFA, Fortnite, Valorant, Call of Duty, Overwatch, etc.
For fans of esports games, global coverage is a major factor. Therefore, checking that the betting site offers both regional and international tournaments also falls into our rating procedure. In fact, you may find the majority of our recommended sites covering on-demand events like The International, League of Legends World Championship, Intel Extreme Masters, etc.
Betting types are another aspect that we take into consideration. Alongside general offerings like match winner, group winner, group of winner, etc., we also take into account special betting types like first blood, knife round/pistol round, handicap betting, and others.
Odds – Similar to betting on any other sport, odds in esports betting sites indicate the amount you will be receiving from the bookie if you win the bet. Odds usually differ in different betting sites, and this is why we always look for sportsbooks that offer the most competitive odds. While recommending the sites to you, we ensure that they have accurate and fair pricing when it comes to esports markets.
License and Safety Measurements – When you are betting with real money, it is essential that you sign up at a licensed sportsbook. As you will be required to provide your personal information and banking details, checking the safety measurements is another key factor you cannot avoid.
At esportbetting.net, safety issues in a betting site are one of our major concerns. We always ensure that our recommended esports betting sites have advanced SSL encryption technology and RNG (Random Number Generator) enabled for a safe and fair betting environment.
Bonuses and Promotions – Promotions are integral parts of any sports betting site. This bonus package aiming to draw in new bettors and catering to the existing users’ needs usually consists of welcome bonuses, free bets, price boosts, or insurance off.
Regardless of the duration of experience in the industry, almost every bettor prefers a good promotional package. However, many of these bonuses may seem lucrative but often come with strict unrealistic wagering requirements and demand high deposit amounts.
To ensure that you are met with generous promotions with user-friendly terms and conditions, we look for betting sites that help bettors to minimise losses and achieve higher profits.
User Interface – Whether you are a desktop or a mobile bettor, having a smooth navigation experience in any sportsbook plays the ultimate role in making online betting enjoyable to you. Therefore, we prioritise esports betting sites that have a great visual as well as a user-friendly layout.
Mobile Compatibility – With the number of mobile bettors increasing by the day, most online sportsbooks are emphasising on mobile platforms. However, not every bookie offers a top-notch mobile site, thus making esports betting challenging on the go.
We keep this aspect in mind during our evaluation and rate esports betting sites that operate smoothly on mobile devices.
Banking Options – Almost every bookie offers a range of payment systems for the convenience of its users. However, the ones with fast and hassle-free transaction methods gain high scores in our rating. You can either use eWallets, Bank Wire Transfer, Pay by Phone, or go for cryptocurrency in the majority of these sites and enjoy a quick transaction both in terms of deposit and withdrawal.
Customer support – Being a new or an existing user, every esports bettor expects a proficient customer support team that can answer his queries in a quick response. Our recommended betting sites also have a reputation for great customer services that makes your betting journey pleasant and comfortable.
Is Esports Betting Legal?
Falling under no particular jurisdictions, esports betting has gained massive acceptance in many countries in Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. Esports markets are also available in UK-based online betting sites.
As of now, esports is regulated by renowned gambling organisations like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Government of Curacao, etc. Therefore, you can enjoy legal betting on esports if online sportsbooks in your region are licensed by these jurisdictions.
Which Esports Games Can We Bet On?
It is not surprising that the most trending esports games cover the major portions of offered markets at a betting site. To make esports betting even more versatile and challenging, we cover sportsbooks that feature a wide range of games. You can find most of these mentioned games in our recommended traditional or dedicated esports betting sites.
- League of Legends
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- StarCraft II
- Dota 2
- Call of Duty
- FIFA
- Rainbow Six
- Fornite
- Rocket League
- Valorant
Although these were the most common esports markets at the time of writing, you may find many of our featured esports betting sites offering more recent titles to keep up with the trend.
How to Find the Best Esports Betting Site for You?
While all of our suggested esports betting sites offer great odds, a variety of markets, and other aspects mentioned above, the best choice for you depends on a few criteria. Here’s what you need to keep on the checklist to see which site suits your needs the most.
- Check our the legality of the bookmaker in your country.
- Go through the terms and conditions to ensure you agree with these.
- See it the wagering requirements on the welcome bonus package is worth the effort.
- Compare the odds with a few sites to find the best one offered.
- Check if the offered esports markets cover your area of expertise
- Look for a payment method convenient for you.
- Notice event coverage within a given time frame.
After you have ensured that your selected betting site offers all these betting facilities, consider signing up to enjoy a step further.
How to Sign Up at an Esports Betting Site?
While every online sportsbook has a distinct layout, the signing up process is rather similar. You can either create an account directly from the desktop or fill-up the form from your portable device on the mobile website.
Here’s how you can sign up at an esports betting site in a few minutes!
First of all, start with visiting the desktop or mobile website version of your chosen betting site. There you may find the “Register” or the “Sign Up” options at the top corner of the page. Many bookmakers also offer pop-up boxes with the registration option when you visit the website. Click on it.
Fill the form with accurate information regarding your name, email address, date of birth, region, etc. Make sure to choose a username and set a password only known to you. And of course, go through the terms and conditions and accept only if you comply with them.
Now, check the welcome bonus package (if any offered) and select one according to your betting plan. Then, click on “Confirm” and wait for email verification.
Deposit the qualifying amount for the welcome bonus or a minimum of the bookmaker’s first deposit requirements, and place a bet on an esports event in your preferred market. It’s as simple as that!
Note: Many bookmakers require documents of identification before accepting your first bet. Therefore, keep a copy of your driver’s license, utility bill, or passport saved in the device you are signing up from.
Esports Betting Sites Bonuses and Promotions
Bonuses and promotional packages in esports betting sites come in many forms. A few are included here for your convenience.
Ranging from 25% to 200%, a matched deposit bonus is part of the welcome bonus package that usually requires depositing a large sum to enjoy the bonus at its maximum potential.
In a matched bet deal, the bookmaker matches your opening bet value. However, in this way, you will be able to withdraw the profits from a winning bet, not the value of the bonus itself.
A less common promotion, losing bet refunds are offered by sportsbooks when you lose your first bet. The bookmaker refunds you the stake amount or extra bets. This is a great way to recover from your initial loss and use the bonuses on later bets.
Live Esports Betting
Live betting, also known as in-play betting, is one of the most popular betting types that attracts both new and expert punters. In live betting, you can place bets while the match is ongoing, this resulting in a thrilling and exciting betting experience.
Compared to pre-match betting, betting on a live match contains greater risk and a higher potential reward amount. As a result, you may notice this feature in almost every online sportsbook featuring esports markets.
Another great aspect of live betting is that you may be able to come across special markets depending on the type of the game. Thanks to the “Cash Out” feature in the majority of our recommended esports betting sites, you can withdraw the initial stake during the match to prevent losing money. The other available option in live betting is the “Bet Builder” option. With this option, you can raise the stake to gain a potential winning sum higher than your initial expectation.
Along with live betting, some esports betting sites also offer live streaming features for their users. If your selected betting site does not have this option, you can still enjoy the match via live streaming videos uploaded in other media like Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and other similar social platforms.
Mobile Esports Betting
Betting on esports events directly from your mobile device is now made possible, thanks to the online betting sites catering to their new range of clients. Most sportsbooks launched or renovated in recent years come with a simplified and straightforward mobile website version. It allows the users to keep track of the events, match updates, and place a wager while not being in the comfort of home.
The requirement for accessing a mobile esports betting site is to have a mobile device with an uninterrupted internet connection. If you are a proud owner of an Android, Windows, BlackBerry, or iOS device, you can enjoy all the exciting properties of mobile betting. Going with the trend, all of our top-rated esports betting sites offer convenient mobile site versions.
Esports Betting Tips
For pros and new punters alike, maintaining some key strategies while betting on esports markets is highly essential for a responsible gambling experience. Check out some of our expertly curated esports betting tips here.
Brush Up the Basics
Being a vast industry with hundreds of competitive online games launched by the year, it is nearly impossible to gain expertise on a handful of games at once. To ensure a high winning potential, focus on a single game or only a few ones to understand the gameplay. Notice the rules and actions of each game by playing those yourself.
Another alternative is to watch live streaming, read expert reviews, and check out the latest updates on the game design and challenges.
Select the Right Markets
With esports games like CS: GO, FIFA, COD, etc. constantly adding new maps and challenges for the players, it may be challenging to understand how betting on every offered market will play out. Besides, regular roster changes, performance variations, and inclusion of new players can impact your initial prediction.
A great way to avoid a potential loss is to stick to a few markets that you are confident about!
Research the Leaderboard
Each new season brings talented players who can easily change the outcome in an instant. Instead of rooting for a certain favourite, make a realistic decision while betting with real money. Most bookmakers offer the latest news and stats before the tournament or the match. Research each player or team’s gaming style and ranking online before you make bets.
Record Your Bets
Betting online can be hectic at times, especially if you are prone to making multiple bets on a regular basis. Keep track of your previous bets to understand whether your strategy is being effective or not. This will also help you to focus on markets that have been lucrative for you and avoid those with constant losses.
Set a Budget Limit
Many esports betting sites allow you to set a weekly or monthly deposit limit so that the entertainment value is not lost while betting on your favourite match. You can also start with small stakes to enjoy betting on multiple events and keep the betting addiction in check.
Esports Betting – FAQ
A good betting site usually covers a wide range of esports markets, competitive odds, realistic welcome bonus package, live streaming, variety of baking methods, efficient customer service, etc. Also, it must be licensed, safe, and legal in your region.
Depending on the bookmaker you choose, you can take part in skins betting, cash betting, fantasy betting, social betting, etc. As we cover both traditional and dedicated esports betting sites, you can enjoy all these types of betting in our recommended sites.
The major Overwatch championships and tournaments are the best events to place bets online as they come with high odds in most cases. The Overwatch League (OWL), Overwatch Contenders, and Overwatch World Cup are some of the events that fall under this category.
Yes, you can make a deposit in your selected esports betting site and place stakes on different esports events. Given that you win the bet, you will receive real money as winnings.
Global tournaments and championships like The International, ESL One, Intel Extreme Masters, League of Legends World Championship, DreamHack, etc. are the biggest and most lucrative esports events to place bets on. You can also go for regional events to start your esports betting journey.
League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, StarCraft II, etc. are the most popular esports games available in most betting sites. You may also find newer additions like Valorant, FIFA, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, Overwatch, etc. in our top-rated esports betting sites.
As esports betting does not fall under a specific jurisdiction as of now, there is a high possibility that your region accepts esports betting if regular sports betting is legal under local rules and regulations. However, check the selected bookmaker’s site before signing up to ensure that it is licensed and accepts users from your country.
Unfortunately, no. Being a relatively newer market, esports is not available in all sportsbooks. To avoid extra research, simply choose a safe and licensed esports betting site from our recommendations.
Bottom Line on Esports Betting Site
The rapid growth of esports popularity and global coverage has already attracted a large crowd of enthusiastic punters and seen the rise of esports betting sites. Falling under this glamorous trap is not unlikely if you join an illegal and insecure betting site. Therefore, it is always essential to sign up at a sportsbook with proper credibility in the industry, licensed under reputable jurisdictions, and a safe betting environment.
Our list of the best esports betting sites will help you to achieve a smooth, entertaining, and exciting betting experience. Pay the sites a visit and start your journey in the fantastic world of esports betting!