eSports betting | How to bet on eSports
it’s time to show you how eSports betting works. But before we get into the details, we first need to clarify what eSports betting is and answer some of the most common questions related to the industry.
Find the best eSports betting sites
Online betting is new to the world of eSports, and there are already several influential eSports betting websites that offer full betting odds on eSports leagues and tournaments. At the moment, some of the top bookmakers include Pinnacle, ArcaneBet, Betway, Luckia and Paston… but with such rapid growth in the whole eSports betting industry, we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see this number continue to grow later this year. That said, there is no doubt that eSports betting is a niche that has a bright future. After all the drama and punishments (well deserved) from illegal skins/aspects gambling sites, it is very likely that gambling among teenagers will be reduced to satisfyingly low numbers, which is always a big plus. Again, we do not condone illegal gambling and believe that all those who encourage it should face legal consequences. So, for all eSports betting enthusiasts (of legal age), we are proud to present the best 100% legal eSports bookmakers! Be sure to visit our eSports bookmaker reviews to find a lot of useful information on the most common question, such as how does eSports betting work?
ARE YOU READY TO BET?
eSports games with betting markets
Currently, there are 4 main games that online bookmakers offer betting odds on, these are League of Legends, Starcraft 2, Counter Stike (CS:GO) and Dota 2. In addition there are some bookmakers that offer betting odds on Hearthstone, Overwatch, Smite, Heroes of the Storm (HOTS), World of Tanks (WoT), EA FIFA Football and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) leagues and tournaments. You can find more information about current tournaments and leagues in our news section or in the corresponding game profile here:
Frequently asked questions about eSports betting
Considering the fact that eSports betting is still a fairly new term for some people, here is a quick list of frequently asked questions that might answer some of the most common questions:
What is eSports betting?
eSports betting is a relatively new form of online gambling (for the most part) that has experienced exponential growth in the last three years. With several pioneering eSports franchises seeing the light of day, the eSports betting and eSports betting industries have reached new heights and looks set to continue to grow for the foreseeable future. I’m sure you have at least one friend who follows everything related to their favourite professional eSports scene. If that’s the case, then chances are high he or she has already tried his or her luck betting on eSports. CS:GO gaming is among the most popular franchises at the moment, but the competition is very stiff and that could change at any given moment. New games are coming, especially the battle royale genre including Fortnite and PUBG. MOBA games haven’t lost their charm yet, so we’re seeing that LoL and DotA 2 can still rack up high numbers.
How to place an eSports bet?
Placing a bet on eSports is quite simple, in fact, it’s the same as regular online sports betting. You can browse through the sportsbook and take a look at the games and tournament leagues that offer betting odds. If you are thinking of placing a bet with one of the betting sites, you need to register before you can place your first bet. After registering, you need to choose one of the available payment options to make your first deposit. You can get a good overview about which betting sites offer your favourite payout type by looking at the overview of our bookmakers. Now here comes the good news, some of the bookmakers offer new customers a bonus for their first deposit! This is another thing you should check out in our bookmaker overview. So now you’re registered, made your first deposit and claimed your welcome bonus or free bet, it’s time for your first bet!
The betting site of your choice offers odds for the different outcomes of, for example, a League of Legends LCS match. Here are some examples of how to calculate your winnings.
How to calculate what you could win
Let’s say the LCS game you would like to bet on is C9 vs TSM. If the betting odds for a C9 win is 1.35 you can get a winnings multiplied by 1.35 in case C9 defeats the enemy nexus. For example – bet on C9 with €10, you will get €13.50 profit. Of course, you can combine those bets and if you do, you can calculate your potential winnings with this formula:
Investment x Odds 1 x Odds 2 = Profit.
For example – you bet £10 on C9 vs. TSM and combine it with a bet on IEM Katowice 2017 supporting G2 Esports for which you get a odds of 2.90. If Cloud9 and G2 Esports win their respective matches, you get:
10 € (investment) x 1.35 (odds 1) x 2.90 (odds 2) = 39.15 € (profit).
What can you expect from betting on League of Legends?
There are different types of bets available for the Riot Games League Championship Series LCS 2018 (Season 8) matches that will start in January 2018 and have a break for the LCS Spring Playoffs 2018. Of course, you can bet on which team is winning (bet on the winning team), a bet that people who have already placed regular sports bets (such as football) will be familiar with. In addition, you can bet on different LoL events within the game: Which team will get the “First Blood”, which team will manage to defeat Baron Nashor first or the match will have a Quintuple Murder/Pentakill? Special bets are available during big tournaments like the League of Legends World Championship (LoL Worlds 2018) or the Mid-Season Invitational 2018.
What can you expect from betting on Counter Strike: Global Offensive?
When it comes to CS:GO betting, the professional scene is well known and has already established itself as one of the most influential in the industry. The high-level teams and their players already have an iconic meaning for the community, and that only comes with more and more tournaments with even bigger prizes than ever before. Right now, ESL One Cologne 2018 is the main topic of conversation for all CS:GO fans….. But very soon FACEIT Major London 2018 will take place, which is destined to be a spectacle. Needless to say, CS:GO tournaments are tough, player transfers are frequent and game-changing, matches are spectacular and outcomes are hard to predict… What more can you ask for from the most popular FPS (first-person shooter) game on the planet?
Is it legal to bet on eSports?
In this respect, betting on eSports is no different from betting on other sports such as football and tennis. Sportsbooks that offer betting markets for sporting events must have a valid gaming licence for the country or region in which they offer betting. You will find more information about the gambling licence of the different bookmakers on each bookmaker’s website or in our detailed reviews. We have also listed the different gambling licences in our overview. As the legal regulations for gambling differ from country to country, please check the legal regulations in your country or region.
Is there a bonus for betting on eSports?
Yes, there are bookmakers that offer a bonus for placing bets on eSports (e.g. Bet-at-Home, Arcanebet, Betway or William Hill offer a bonus of up to 150% for all new customers on their first deposit – Please note: Bookmaker terms and conditions apply). Which betting site has the best bonus can be found in our eSports betting bonus overview.
