Esports Betting Explained

The definition of esports has been strongly debated for many years by all sorts of people, including academics, players, spectators, and even politicians. However, the consensus is that esports is competitive video gaming, played for a prize and typically watched by live or online spectators. Internationally, esports betting has accompanied esports recent meteoric rise, and more recently, US esports betting regulations are starting to allow esports bets. Present-day esports competitions are usually leagues or tournaments, with several multi-million dollar tournaments that dwarf major sporting events like Wimbledon. 

Esports has experienced more than financial growth; recent esports competitions experience viewership that outnumbers the Superbowl! For esports enthusiasts, the date esports was invented is up for debate. However, it wasn’t until the 90s that the modern format of esports began to take shape. This marked the beginning of organization and professionalization, which attracted more people – and more money. 

How to bet on Esports?

Although modern-day esports has fewer physical demands than most traditional sports, the industry’s rapid growth mirrors the development of many major sporting franchises. As esports has developed, the way viewers and players enjoyed their favourite competitive video games changed too. As with almost all human competition, betting soon became a prominent feature of esports. Although there were some teething problems surrounding regulation, esports betting is beginning to be resolved. Governments around the world are finally catching up to the fast-changing esports. Now would-be sports bettors do not have to resort to sketchy grey-market betting sites to place a wager on their favorite sports. 

The increasing amount of regulations has resulted in many established and regulated online casinos and sports betting sites adding esports to their portfolios. In 2020 the global esports betting market was valued at 66.98 Billion dollars and it is projected to grow for many years to come. Particularly in the US, some states have begun to directly legalize esports betting, allowing many big-name gambling brands to wade in.

Betting on esports is broadly similar to traditional sports. Still, there are several different betting terminologies, as well as in-game terminologies would-be bettors should know before placing a wager. As with traditional sports betting, knowing more about the games and its players gives you better chances of winning, so make sure to check out our how-tos!

Best Esports Games to Bet on

Esports is constantly evolving, meaning that new esports titles wax and wane with time – much faster than traditional sports. Thankfully, there are several esports titles that are standing the test of time. We have included these as well as some of the most popular recent esports titles to bet on.

Everything you need to know about Esport Betting  

If you would like to bet on esports, a good place to start is the longest-running esports titles: League of Legends (LOL), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), DoTA 2 and Call of Duty. Alternatively, the newer more popular esport options include Valorant and Fifa. Check out our articles for more information on esports games, teams and events. You can also see our helpful esports betting guides, how-tos and tips!