Esports betting sites have transformed how fans engage with competitive gaming. From Valorant to Mobile Legends, these platforms offer exciting opportunities to wager on your favorite games. This guide dives into the best esports betting websites, offering insights on how to choose platforms, understand markets, and bet strategically. Whether you’re new to esports betting or aiming to refine your approach, this article equips you with everything needed for success in 2025.
To choose the best esports betting sites in 2024, you’ll have to compare the variety of markets and betting features it offers to its users as well as the integrated security features that users’ information and money are safe on the platform.
But you don’t have to do all of these by yourself because we’ve conducted a thorough review of esports betting sites that match up to our high standards to create a comprehensive list of the best esports betting sites in 2024. Read our review about the best esports betting sites here.
Table of Contents
What is esports betting?
Just like sports betting sites, esports betting sites offer similar services. The only difference in esports betting is you place bettings on video games instead of real-time sports events.
The esports betting industry has grown in popularity over the years and is projected to grow by 9.22% from 2023 to 2028 resulting in a market volume of US$3.3bn in 2028 — according to Statista. Due to this, bookmakers are trying to leverage the opportunity it provides thereby taking advantage of it by offering esports gambling to their users.
While there are bookmakers dedicated to providing esports gambling, many casino and sports betting sites such as Stake and Duelbits have started offering esports gambling too. Esports betting sites have interesting odds and a wide range of markets which includes betting on match winners, correct scores, and many more.
Our Criteria for Ranking Esports Betting Platforms
We evaluate esports betting websites based on:
- Trust and Safety: Licensed by regulators like Malta Gaming Authority or Panama.
- Game Variety: Coverage of mainstream (LoL, CS2) and niche titles (Smite, Brawl Stars).
- Competitive Odds: Better payouts (e.g., -115 vs. -130 on favorites).
- Promotions: Welcome offers, free bets, and loyalty rewards.
- Usability: Seamless navigation, mobile apps, and live streaming.
- Payments: Support for crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum), cards, and e-wallets.
Beginner’s Guide to Betting on Esports
New to esports betting sites? Follow these steps to start:
Monitor Bets: Use live streams or stats to track progress.
Pick a Trusted Platform: Choose a licensed esport betting site like Bet365 or Stake.
Sign Up: Provide basic details (email, name) and verify your account.
Fund Your Account: Deposit using crypto, PayPal, or cards (min. $5 on some sites).
Grab Bonuses: Claim welcome offers, like a 100% match up to $500.
Browse Events: Select games like Dota 2 or Call of Duty.
Place Bets: Pick a market (e.g., match winner, total kills), set your stake, and submit.
Top Esports Games for Betting
The best esports betting sites offer a diverse lineup of games, each with unique markets and tournaments that attract bettors worldwide. Below, we explore the most popular titles available on leading esports sportsbooks, including mainstream and niche games, to help you find the best opportunities to bet esports.
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
CS2 is a cornerstone of esports, known for its tactical gameplay and massive tournaments like the ESL Pro League and IEM Katowice, with prize pools often exceeding $1 million. On esports betting sites like BetOnline or Bovada, you can wager on:
- Match Winner: Pick the team to win a best-of-three series.
- Total Rounds: Bet on over/under for rounds played (e.g., over 26.5 rounds).
- First Kill: Predict which team secures the first kill in a round.
- Map Handicap: Adjust odds for underdogs (e.g., +1.5 maps). Its fast-paced nature and frequent tournaments make CS2 a favorite for live betting, with real-time odds shifting based on in-game momentum.
Valorant
Valorant, Riot Games’ tactical shooter, has exploded in popularity with events like VCT Champions (2024 prize pool: $2.25 million). Its strategic depth makes it ideal for betting on esport betting sites. Popular markets include:
- Match Outcome: Bet on the winning team.
- First Blood: Wager on which player scores the first kill.
- Total Kills: Predict over/under for team or player kills.
- Tournament Winner: Bet on teams like Sentinels or Fnatic to win major events. Valorant’s frequent patches and meta shifts create dynamic betting opportunities, especially for in-play wagers on platforms like Stake.
League of Legends (LoL)
LoL is a global phenomenon, with tournaments like Worlds 2024 drawing over 6 million viewers. Top esports betting websites offer markets such as:
- First Tower: Bet on which team destroys the first tower.
- Dragon Kills: Wager on the team securing the most dragon objectives.
- Game Duration: Predict whether a match lasts over/under 35 minutes.
- Outright Bets: Pick the winner of major leagues like LCK or LEC. Its complex objectives and team strategies make LoL a staple for bettors seeking variety on betting sites esports.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends, a battle royale title, is gaining traction on esports betting sites due to events like the ALGS Championship (2024 prize pool: $2 million). Unique markets include:
- Top Placement: Bet on a team finishing in the top 5.
- Total Kills: Wager on a squad’s kill count in a match.
- Weapon Kills: Predict kills with specific weapons (e.g., R-301 rifle).
- Match Winner: Pick the winning squad in a tournament. Its fast-paced, unpredictable nature appeals to bettors looking for high-risk, high-reward options on platforms like Bet365.
Dota 2
Dota 2 is renowned for its massive prize pools, with The International 2024 offering over $2.5 million. Available on top esports sportsbooks, key markets include:
- First Blood: Bet on the team scoring the first kill.
- Total Towers: Wager on over/under for destroyed towers.
- Roshan Kills: Predict which team slays Roshan first.
- Tournament Outright: Bet on teams like Team Spirit to win majors. Dota 2’s strategic depth and global fanbase make it a must-bet game on esport betting sites.
Niche Esports Titles
Beyond mainstream games, esports betting sites increasingly support niche titles, offering unique opportunities:
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: Popular in Southeast Asia, this mobile MOBA features markets like first turret or total kills, with events like M6 World Championship drawing bettors.
- Smite: A third-person MOBA with markets for match winners and objective kills, supported by tournaments like the SMITE World Championship.
- Brawl Stars: A mobile brawler with fast-paced matches and bets on game modes like Gem Grab or Bounty.
- Rocket League: Bet on goals scored or match outcomes in events like RLCS Majors. These titles, often overlooked by competitors, attract dedicated fans and offer less saturated betting markets on platforms like TG.Casino.
By covering both mainstream and niche games, esports betting sites cater to diverse audiences, ensuring there’s something for every bettor, from CS2 veterans to Mobile Legends enthusiasts.
Understanding Esports Betting Markets
Key markets on betting sites esports include:
- Match Winner: Pick the winning team.
- Spread Betting: Adjust odds for underdogs (e.g., +2.5 rounds).
- Over/Under: Bet on total kills, maps, or objectives.
- Player Props: Wager on individual stats, like most assists.
- Outright Bets: Predict tournament or season winners.
- Live Betting: Place bets during matches, enhanced by real-time streams.
Best Esports Betting Apps for 2025
Mobile esports betting apps offer convenience. Top choices include:
- Bet365: Extensive markets and live streaming.
- Stake: Crypto-focused with fast payouts.
- Bovada: User-friendly with broad game coverage. Prioritize apps with smooth interfaces and quick bet placement.
Esports betting strategies & tips
Nowadays, esports has many interesting titles, however, it is important to always make use of lucrative strategies and tips. Below, you can see all the things you need to keep in mind while betting on esports.
Always bet only on the events you know
This applies to other type of bettings and not just esports. It’s important to only bet on events you are familiar with, as you’ll have a high chance of winning it. Esports betting is not a lottery that you play and wait for a certain number to be announced later. These events are played by teams and players. So, be sure that you are familiar with an esports event before betting on it.
Study the event you bet on
While most people have the habit of betting on any esports events they set their eyes on, professional bettors always take their time to study each event properly, including the esports teams and players’ conditions before placing a bet.
These professional bettors believe that these teams and players’ condition influences the game outcome and can help them in making the right decisions to win their bet. So, always take your time in learning about specific teams and players’ conditions before placing a bet to minimize the risk of losing.
Try to bet esports live betting
Sometimes betting on live events is more amazing than betting on pre-match events. This is because a live event gives you the time to observe the match when it’s going on to predict a possible outcome which has a high probability of resulting in a win.
Bet only what you can afford to lose
One thing to keep in mind as a gambler is to always set a budget and bet only what you can afford to lose. Also, don’t borrow to gamble, always stop when the fun stops.
Payment methods
Esports betting sites offer a wide range of payment methods to their users which are similar to what casino and sports betting sites provide such as Netteller, Skrill, Doge, Bitcoin, etc.
Some esports sites support deposits via fiats and cryptocurrencies while others support only fiats or cryptocurrencies, so, it’s important to choose what works best for you!
Among other payment methods, cryptocurrency is currently the best payment method because they are easy to use and fast, whether you are depositing or withdrawing. Some esports betting sites may even have in-house currencies which can only be used to bet on events in the platform.
Fiat deposits and withdrawals take a while to be processed, which is something to keep in mind if you plan on making use of it. However, some betting sites that support E-wallet options like Neteller and Skrill, may process fiat deposits and withdrawals a bit quicker.
Licensing, reputation and security
Similar to sports betting platforms, before you can place a bet on any online esports site, you’ll need to make a certain amount of deposit. However, it’s important to conduct research about a specific esports betting site before making use of it because a majority of these esports betting sites are operating without a license.
It’s easy to check whether a bookmaker is regulated by an authorized gambling authority by just viewing their license information at the bottom of their website page. In most cases, the license certificate can be viewed from the esports betting site by clicking directly on the logo of the authorized gambling body at the body of the betting site.
For your safety, you’ve to ensure that the esports betting site is recognized by gambling regulators such as the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, or another authorized gambling body that can ensure the legitimacy of the website.
If possible take a look at the reviews left by other users of a specific esports betting site to get an idea of what they think about that site. When a betting site has a lot of unresolved negative feedback, it indicates that the betting site doesn’t care about their players — so, it’s important to stay away from those sites.
Most of the time, it’s often a new betting site offering an offer that’s too good to be true, thereby shifting the attending of bettors from actually conducting a thorough on the website, which leads to them getting scammed in the end.
So, in our opinion, always conduct research about a betting site you intend to use and only make use of it when you are satisfied with what they do!
Conclusion
Esports betting has taken the video game industry to another level by giving bettors access to another form of entertainment, where they can wager money on the outcome of players or teams playing competitive video games. Most importantly, esports has grown to the extent that esports betting sites offer a wide range of markets and interesting odds for these events.
