What is Esports Betting?

The ‘Wild West’ days of esports and esports betting are now largely over and esports betting is being legalized on a state-by-state basis across America and all the best sportsbooks are eager to get started. Every day, thousands of esports matches are played, with bookies giving odds on almost every aspect of competitive play. In this how-to, we will help you understand and navigate the often complicated world of esports betting. We’ll also tell you all you need to know before you place your first esports wager! This comprehensive introduction is targeted at beginners which include those who are either sports bettors who want to try this digital alternative or esports enthusiasts who are looking to place their first wagers.

Where can you bet on esports in the US?

When it comes to esports betting sites, we highly recommend using fully licensed and legal sportsbooks for esports betting. Although grey market options exist, betting on these sites can run the risk of winnings not being paid, among other issues. There are an increasing number of options in terms of reputable and trusted sportsbooks. However, esports betting in the USA is being legalized on a state-by-state basis, so even if a sportsbook is willing to host esports betting, they are restricted to states where legislation has allowed it. This number is growing, and we encourage you to check back on our site for more information on states where esports is legalized and which sportsbooks are offering it. 

Most sportsbooks seem to have prepared for the legal go-ahead. However, there are limited options on fully licensed sportsbooks for the most part. Although availability will vary by state, some sportsbooks that currently offer esports include FanDuel, Bovada, Sugar House, and Betway. Others seem to have prepared to go live, like BetMGM, which has several articles geared to informing would-be esports bettors or those who want to know more about esports in general. Still, given time, we fully expect all sportsbooks to offer esports – sooner rather than later! If you’re unsure of esports betting regulations in your state and don’t want to miss out, check out our other esports pages and trending news for the latest updates on esports betting and the best esports betting sites!

What games can you bet on?

Currently, the games offered by various sportsbooks include some of the most popular games played. These include Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valorant, Call of Duty, and FIFA. We fully expect the esports game options to not only grow but change over time. Even the most long-lived esports like StarCraft II has only existed as a game since 2010. While Starcraft II might be an old-timer for esports, it’s a baby compared to most traditional sports. For example, the NHL has been around for about 100 years. Esports is a fast-paced industry driven by technological advances and it’s unlikely that any esports game will ever remain popular for even half that time. This doesn’t take away from esports, as there are existing genres that most esports fall into, meaning fans move from one game to the next as the genre evolves and (usually) improves. Although there are likely to be new developments and genres born over time and by technological innovation, the current major esports genres include MOBAs, FPS, RTS, and sports simulators.

What else do you need to know before betting on esports?

The main thing you need to bet on esports is genuine enthusiasm for competition and at least a mild amount of interest in esports! We promise there will be a game you will come to love! The beauty of esports is that it is an ever-evolving collection of digital sports. Individual esports have continuous patch notes, rising stars and teams, new tournaments, and more. Getting your head around all of that for every esport is a massive undertaking, so we suggest you pick one or two esports and stick to them, similar to how many sports bettors wager. If you’re brand new to esports, make sure to check out our upcoming beginner guides for esports betting tips on the basics of each major esport. For those of you who already want to bet on esports but want to make more informed esports bets, check out more of our guides, particularly our upcoming intermediate and expert guides!