No longer a niche option, esports betting is now available at many online bookmakers all over the world. Our detailed guide below has a list of the best esports betting sites in the UK, along with other useful information such as what markets are involved, what payment methods are best, and more!
- Top 19 eSports Betting Sites in 2023
- What Are Esports?
- Our Favourite Esports Betting Sites – Reviews
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- Positive
- Negative
- What Are Esports Betting Special Markets?
- Payment Methods
- Esports Live Betting
- Are There Esports Betting Bonuses?
- Popular Esports Betting Tournaments
- A Brief History of Esports
- Esports Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
|
#1
Parimatch
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
T&C`s: 18+, New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days. No cash out. Get 4x£5 sports free bets for set markets (odds 2.00+), which expire in 7 days. Offer is valid from 10:00 UK time on 16/01/2023. Card payments onlyT&Cs Apply | begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly. . Click for full T&Cs. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#2
The Pools
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you 1 x £5 in free bets plus an extra 3 x £5 Free Bets the following day. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 bets to use on 3x Any sport & 1x Virtuals. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. 1 x £5 Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement, other free bets credited by midday the day after your first bet settles. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Full T&C's apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#3
BetVictor
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. Plus 100 Free Spins. 100 Free Spins have no wagering. Bonuses and Spins expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#4
BetUK
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
T&C’s Apply. New cus only. Opt-in & deposit req. 7 days to deposit and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater to qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. 18+ BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#5
 bet365
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ - Offer for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#6
Sportingbet
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ | New players only | Available until 23:59 GMT 31.12.2025 Each challenge has its own TCs. Eligible Bets must be placed for each respective Challenge during the Promotional Period including the following: ACCA, Football, In-Play, and Casino. Each challenge has its own set of TCs and can only be completed 1x. Available to claim: 20 Free Spins, £10 Free Bet, 50% Back up Free Bet up to £20, £10 Casino Bonus when you wager £50+. If all are completed you will receive Max £20 Free Bet to be used on any sport. Gamble Responsibly. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#7
 Kwiff
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
The Promotion operates as a £/€20 Surprise Bet when you place a bet of at least £/€10 on any market with odds greater than or equal to 1/2 as your first bet. The Promotion is only valid to: (a) new customers; (b) customers aged 18 years or over. To qualify for the Promotion, participant must deposit and place a £/€10 bet as their first bet on any market (excluding each way) in the sportsbook with odds greater than or equal to 1.50. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#8
10bet
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ begambleaware.org; New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+ #ad |
|||
|
#9
 LeoVegas
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
Key terms - New players only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | LeoSafePlay.com | Play responsibly! Full T&Cs apply BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#10
 BoyleSports
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
*New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#11
 Coral
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#12
Quinnbet
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £25 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free Spins on Asgard Warriors. Even if your account is up, you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#13
SBK
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Min £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5. Free bets expire in 90 days. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#14
Paddy Power
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New Customer Offer. Place your FIRST bet on any Sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £10. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#15
Smarkets
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
1. Once the bonus is credited to your account, losses will be refunded up to the bonus amount. 2. You must deposit at least the qualifying deposit of £20 (or currency equivalent) in a single amount with your first deposit to be eligible for the rebate. 3. To withdraw rebated funds, you must bet at least the qualifying deposit on any combination of markets within the promotional period; otherwise, rebated funds will be forfeited. 4. Unused bonuses expire after seven days of being credited to a user account and will be removed after this period. 5. Users making their first deposit by Skrill, NETELLER, PayPal or a virtual/prepaid card will not qualify for this promotion. 6. The sign-up offer is strictly limited to one per individual, family, household address, email address, same payment account number, and shared computer. 7. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other sign-up promotion. 8. Smarkets Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#16
 Ladbrokes
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#17
 William Hill
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
|
#18
Luckbox
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
This offer is not only eligible for those who place their first deposit, but can also be used later on. Bonus money must be wagered to 10 times its value before the bonus or any winnings from it can be withdrawn. For example, if you deposit £10 and get £10 bonus, you must bet a total of £100 on markets with odds higher than 1.5 before it’s released for withdrawal. This applies to each bonus amount separately. You have 14 days to complete wagering after each bonus is credited, otherwise the bonus money plus any winnings from it will be removed from your balance. The offer is limited to one per household. |
|||
|
#19
 888sport
|
|
T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days. To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager bonus amount x40 within 14 days. Wagering requirements vary by game. Deposit methods, Withdrawal restrictions and Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
|||
What Are Esports?
The word ‘esports' is short for ‘electronic sports', a term that refers to video games played competitively on a global scale. They have now become so popular that game developers and the like have even organised tournaments and leagues for professional teams of gamers – events that you can now place bets on, as you would for any conventional sport such as football or basketball.
If it seems strange that something you could play at home could be considered so huge, consider playing these games at home with your friends the equivalent of having a kick around in the park compared to the Premier League.
We’ll go into more details on some of the biggest games themselves, but the above is the gist of what every esport boils down to. If you want more information, we have a complete esports guide for beginners to help further your understanding.
The Most Popular Esports To Bet On
While almost any multiplayer video game can be used for esports betting, there’s no doubt that some are simply much more popular than others. Here’s a shortlist of some of the biggest and most successful titles.
- Dota 2: This mobile battle arena game by Valve is considered by many to be the hardest to master.
- Rocket League: Football with cars was always going to be popular, but few predicted the depth of skill this game would produce.
- Counter-Strike: Classic team based first person shooter which revolutionised the genre in the turn of the new millennium.
- League of Legends: A top-down battle arena game which went from mediocre reviews to selling out stadiums.
- StarCraft II: It may have slightly waned in popularity, but this real-time strategy sci-fi game is still adored by millions.
- Overwatch: A first-person shooter with a twist, unique abilities that give this game an enormous amount of variety and depth.
- FIFA: The biggest and most successful football video game franchise ever has understandably created a whole generation of online players.
- Call of Duty: Another highly popular first-person shooter, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with this industry behemoth, which still remains a heavy hitter in the world of esports betting.
The Legality of Esports Betting Websites
One thing that we’re asked consistently with regards to esports is if there is any significant difference between its legality and that of traditional sports. The answer to that, quite simply, is no in the United Kingdom, and no in every other jurisdiction we are aware of.
Esports are just like any kind of sport you can wager on, just like there is no substantial difference we are aware of in any markets between betting on Wimbledon or the FIFA Club World Cup. Both are as legal, or not, as each other depending on the laws of the land.
In the United Kingdom, both are entirely legal, as is betting on esports. It also means that the top esports betting sites don’t just provide the best esports betting experience, but often the finest online gambling options to boot.
Looking especially for e-soccer options? Check out our list of FIFA betting sites!
Our Favourite Esports Betting Sites – Reviews
The top esports betting sites provide the best value and diverse range of markets when it comes to wagering online. We’ll now take a closer look at how these operators have risen above the rest of the field and emerged as the best eSports bookmakers around.
Esports Betting Site – VBET
With an outstanding array of betting markets and a relevant tab directly at the top of the home page, it's clear that VBET takes esports very seriously.
Games you can bet on include Counter-Strike: GO, Dota 2, Call of Duty, Rocket League, and StarCraft II. The majority of leagues regarding these games are covered extensively, although in our research we discovered that VBET provide wider coverage on League of Legends, offering up to 130 markets at the time of writing. These include wagering on live games and outright options, such as championship winners.
To discover the value of the odds provided by VBET, we used a League of Legends match from South Korea pitted Team Dynamics vs Asura. Team Dynamics were given odds to win of 26/100, which translates to 79.4%, while ASURA had odds of 12/5, which translates to 29.4%. Together this comes out to 108.8%, showing that the prices here are indeed competitive.
Positive
- Extensive coverage of eSports
- Great value on eSports odds.
- eSports speciality
Negative
- Lack of live streaming
Esports Betting Site – Unibet
While Unibet excel in so many different areas, we think that their esports options might represent them at their absolute best. In terms of coverage, they are tough to beat with not only monstrously popular titles like League of Legends, CS: GO and Call Of Duty available, but also classics like StarCraft.
Mix that with an amazing set of creative and interesting markets for every game with competitive odds and you’ve got one of the best esports bookmakers around. And all of this is without mentioning the incredible Unibet TV, which offers some of the finest esports UK livestreaming the online world has to offer. Last but definitely not least, there's plenty of promotions relevant often exclusive to esports too. An absolute triumph.
Positive
- Amazing market variety
- Consistently promotional offerings
- World class live coverage
Negative
- Some games available elsewhere are not here
Esports Betting Site – bet365
When we look at pretty much any kind of list of the best UK betting sites, bet365 usually deserve a top position for several categories, scoring highly here once again.
One of the very few to stand toe to toe with Unibet in terms of sheer choice, one area in which bet365 truly excel is in their British betting markets. Put simply, bet365 have esports betting UK markets that few, if any, cover. Highlights are their FIFA and NBA2k22 options, which have outstanding markets, and livestreams of matches.
Their wide selection of relevant coupons really puts them on another level against all but the absolute best. If you’re struggling to find a place to bet on esports, you can never go wrong with bet365.
Positive
- Part of an all-around amazing betting product
- Great coverage of British esports betting markets
- Many great coupons available
Negative
- Use own platform for livestreaming rather than Twitch
Esports Betting Site – Luckbox
Despite being a lesser-known bookmaker, Luckbox have created a name for themselves as a candidate for the title of best esports betting site. This bookmaker exclusively focuses on esports, covering all major games and placing themselves right up there with our top pick in terms of variety.
On top of that, they have excellent livestreams, statistics, and promotions. However, their emphasis esports could deter punters who desire a more rounded betting experience.
Nevertheless, we appreciated the great attention to detail in regard to their product.
Positive
- Dedicated esports betting options
- Amazing level of variety, including many niche markets
- Promotions built for esports
Negative
- Not much beyond esports to offer
- Traditional sportsbook not available at all in the UK
Esports Betting Site – 888sport
With around-the-clock news coverage, updates, esports tips, and more from all around the world, it is clear that 888sport place a special emphasis on esports betting. They also have a bit of a niche in the form of extensive FIFA and Rainbow Six coverage.
Aside from that, they really do get the fundamentals right. 888sport's platform is simple enough for newcomers to understand while also providing enough depth to please more experienced and demanding bettors. Part of this is thanks to their fabulous design, which is always a highlight of our time with this often-underrated bookmaker. If you fancy a bet on any esports event, 888sport would be a wise destination.
Positive
- Great usability
- Often neglected action-orientated markets well-covered
- World-class site design
- Top streaming options
Negative
- A little less variety in some major markets
Esports Betting Site – Ladbrokes
Perhaps because of their position as an industry heavyweight, one associated with tradition and the high street, people don’t always view Ladbrokes as one of the premier players in the world of esports betting. This is not a fair reflection of what they offer, though, because Ladbrokes bring the variety and the quality that they’re known for all around the betting industry to this world just as they would for something like Formula One or MotoGP betting.
In fact, from map markets to tournament winners, it’s clear that they've given esports their maximum effort. Also, their consistent enhanced odds boosts are a huge positive here, as they are available on the sport of your choice. This opens up esports to the benefits we often take for granted in traditional sports.
Positive
- Utilise your bet boosts on esports betting
- Great market depth for available games
- No let down in quality from traditional sports
Negative
- Not many left-field esports covered
- Less innovation than some other options
Esports Betting Site – BetVictor
As one of the titans of the betting industry, it comes as no surprise that BetVictor provide a top-notch esports betting experience for their customers to go along with their premier sportsbook. We were pleased to see that markets were provided on all major games, such as Call of Duty, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2.
BetVictor specialise in providing optimum value on their betting odds across their sportsbook, and we’re pleased to see that this continues in regards to their prices on esports. They’re competitive with the rest of the industry, although we would like to see a few more promotions provided to customers.
Positive
- Competitive odds for esports betting
- Good range of markets across a number of esports games
- Solid in-play betting options
Negative
- Lack of streaming available
- No specific esports bonuses
Esports Betting Site – Betway
Betway are one of the best bookmakers for esports betting, providing extensive coverage of all major leagues and games. It became clear on our visit to their betting site and app how well they cater for punters from their vast array of markets, which was comparable to their coverage of major sports such as football, cricket and tennis.
They cover all the usual suspects, including Call of Duty, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2, but also Rainbow Six, King of Glory, StarCraft II, VALORANT, Free Fire, and Warcraft 3.
The most impressive aspect of Betway’s esports betting coverage comes with the form of their promotions. Betway provide price boosts on matches and competitions, especially for major leagues on Call of Duty and League of Legends. We were also delighted to see free bets designed specifically for League of Legends, offering bonuses up to £10.
Positive
- Great range of specific esports promotions
- Optimum value on esports odds
- Livestreaming available through site and app
Negative
- In-play offerings could be more substantial
Esports Betting Site – Paddy Power
Paddy Power are one of the best betting operators in the industry, and although esports is a new venture for many of the traditional powerhouses, they ensure they remain relevant with a terrific esports coverage. We found markets available for all of the major leagues, including FIFA, with their esports betting odds are among the most competitive in the industry.
Perhaps the standout feature of Paddy Power’s esports betting product is their in-play betting odds that provide premium value on events as they happen. Their acca insurance is another high point, also prevalent for major sports such as football and the NFL on their esports product.
Positive
- Good specials such as acca insurance for esports
- Excellent in-play betting options and odds
Negative
- Lack of market variety
Esports Betting Site – William Hill
William Hill are an exceptional betting site when it comes to betting on esports, offering competitive value and extensive wagering markets. All of the major games are covered to a high standard, ensuring that you receive odds on all your favourite teams.
We also noted the impressive live betting options that were available, which at the time of our visit was offering in-play odds on League of Legends. William Hill usually set a high standard when it comes to their betting odds and markets, with their esports product certainly up there with the best.
Positive
- Solid coverage of esports
- Decent in-play options available
Negative
- Lack of depth regarding esports markets
- No live streaming available for esports
What Are Esports Betting Special Markets?
When you’re looking for an online betting site, you want to find a diverse range of betting markets. Simple betting options include backing a team to win an individual game or their respective league. However, the best esports bookmakers go above and beyond those usual wagering options to provide you with as much depth as possible.
Below are six examples of special markets on esports.
- 01Skins bettingIf you do not want to bet with real cash but would like some form of stakes, then skins gambling is really innovative way of achieving exactly that. Essentially, this is the use of virtual goods that you have in-game as property to gamble.
It is most popular in Counter Strike: Global Offensive with the cosmetic items known as skins. But it can be used on other games like DOTA 2 or Team Fortress, where cosmetic clothing (in other words, items that have no actual in-play impact) can be gambled. It is a really great way of innovating the actual currency of gambling itself – something that we can not really compare to anything in traditional sports. - 02Fantasy betting
If you are aware of how fantasy betting works in traditional sports, such as with fantasy football, then you will pretty much know what to expect here. You pick a roster and gain points based on different achievements, resulting in an incredibly creative way of betting.
Perhaps more importantly, it shows a respect for the level of fan investment in esports betting, trusting that they know the players, the teams and their attributes deeply enough to get involved in a type of betting often reserved for the most passionate and obsessive sports fans. - 03Map winner
One of the most popular esports betting markets which you will not find anywhere else is Map Winner. This is very much what it sounds like: instead of a team winning a whole match, they simply have to win that map. We think of it very much like how the Either Half Winner market - 04Proposition betcan split up a football game and how that can really help people think of football from a different strategic perspective.
That is what we really love about Map Winner. It shows you that all sports, played on a field or on a screen, are made up of many different smaller segments that need to be understood just as well as the game as a whole. - 05First Blood
As is commonly available on the best live betting sites generally, proposition bets are wagers that appear in moments and can be to do with just about anything that is going on screen. It could be whether a shot will be made or whether a certain tactic will be successful for instance. Really, the limit is the imagination of the bookmaker.
Proposition bets are certainly not exclusive to esports, however many of the specific proposition bets provided can be. That is why it is so important to find a bookmaker that really pushes those innovations to make the most out of those possibilities. - 06Social esports Betting
It is great to have a betting market that can provide an instant update in intrigue at the beginning of a contest, and for esports, First Blood is exactly that. Most relevant to first person shooters like Call of Duty or Rainbow Six, this is exactly what it sounds like, and has you pick a team you think will pick up the first kill or elimination to kick off the competition. It is a nerve-shredding way to start things off.
Payment Methods
Many traditional forms of payment methods are accepted when betting on esports. These include debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Mastercard, NETELLER, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Boku, paysafecard, ecoPayz, MuchBetter, and NeoSurf.
Due to the rise of cryptocurrency in online mediums, a portion of betting sites are now accepting transactions made through Bitcoin and others. Out of the mainstream betting sites, only 888sport is accepting Bitcoin as a method of payment, although others will no doubt follow in the future. LuckBox also accept Ethereum, XRP, and Litecoin.
Skin betting is another form of payment method used for wagering on esports, although you will have to find a specialist betting site as traditional operators do not have that function yet.
Esports Live Betting
- Of course, we’ve already made it pretty clear that live betting and livestreaming are both things you should be able to expect from the best esports betting sites. However, we thought it’d be important to be a bit more precise about what you can expect.
- Not only can esports betting match up with some of the most popular sports in the world in terms of live streaming and coverage: it can often usurp them.
- At the moment at least, there’s not as many issues in terms of licensing deals, which are a key barrier to the live streaming of many sports. As such, esports betting often has fantastic live coverage, and you can catch many major events while you bet online. Even better, many of the best betting apps allow you to do so on the go.
- Betting sites either use their own platform to broadcast games as they happen or they use a Twitch stream embedded on their page or app. You will have more of a multimedia experience with the latter rather than a simple stream provided by a betting site, depending on your preference. It’s all down to personal preference, as the quality of the streams is of the highest calibre.
- In-play betting must be a staple of any quality betting site, and the ones that we have highlighted offer this level of coverage on the majority if not all of their games and leagues. The odds presented fluctuate just as they would with any live-action sport, therefore, the onus is on you to know when to wager on live events to get the best value.
Are There Esports Betting Bonuses?
Once again, the answer to this is yes. Unlike livestreaming, though, we would say that there are generally fewer promotions than other sports for the most part. Esports are unfortunately, still not as big in the betting world with bookmakers, and the more popular a market is for bets, the more attention it tends to get from promotions. This can even be the case in some of the top esports betting sites.
There are exceptions to the rule, however, and if you pay close enough attention, you'll find decent enough offers. In our research, we found offers from Betway that included bet £10 get £5 free wagers on Blast Spring and bet £10 get £10 offers on League of Legends.
Betway also provided price boosts on major esports betting events. Paddy Power are on the mark with acca insurance when it comes to accumulators over five legs, providing your stake back if your selection loses by a single leg. Elsewhere, 888sport provide free entry into their Shoot Out game to win free bets if you wager £50 or over on esports.
Given the fact that these operators are beginning to provide solid bonuses, we believe more operators will be inclined to follow suit to keep pace with their rivals, which is very beneficial for esports bettors.
Popular Esports Betting Tournaments
- FIFA Global Series – December 2022
- FIFAE World Cup – December 2022
A Brief History of Esports
The popularity of esports exploded alongside online gaming, a product of an increasingly online world in the turn of the millennium. But we’ll get to that in a moment. The earliest serious competition was actually held in 1972 for the game Spacewar: a predecessor to the epically popular Space Invaders.
The next big competition was actually the Space Invaders Championship held by their developer Atari in 1980, with over 10,000 participants. The first national video game teams emerged in 1983, and esports even aired on television in America in the early 1980s. In the 90s, new titles emerged, with Street Fighter being a standout of the earlier years of the decade. Fighting games remain a staple of the esports world to this day.
The late 90s saw the beginning of the explosion which would turn both the gambling and the gaming world on its head, as more people got access to the internet and began playing against each other online. This time period saw early versions of huge titles like StarCraft and Counter-Strike.
The new millennium saw internet access accelerate and with it, so did esports and online gambling. These two have had a lot of parallels in their histories. One interesting curiosity is that esports aren’t very popular in Japan, a country perhaps more associated with the medium of video games than any other. Many believe it is down to their very strict gambling laws.
By the 2010s, serious money and viewership had taken esports betting to the next level, with the emergence of many ultra-popular new titles – some of which are still commonly played today, like DOTA 2 and Call of Duty. Suddenly, esports were big business, and could be found on betting sites throughout the world, with an ever-increasing selection of interesting markets.
Just as important during this time was the emergence of several major tournaments and platforms, with Twitch being the most lasting and successful this far. What is clear is that today, just like any other major sport, esports are major entertainment and betting extravaganzas with millions of loyal fans.
In other words, if now you’re not taking esports betting seriously, you’re simply behind the times. That’s why we take the quality of our esports betting sites to be every bit as important as other, more traditional options.
Esports Betting FAQs
-
Yes. You will see the same types of betting markets and odds as you would any other sport as you find with esports.
-
Top betting sites will provide livestreaming for esports for the majority of matches. Alternatives include Twitch and YouTube along with other online mediums.
-
Yes, in any jurisdiction where sports betting is legal, esports betting should be legal as well.
-
Counter Strike, Dota 2, Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Fortnite are a few examples of popular esports.
-
This is a form of betting with in-game currency, most notably aesthetic models that can be added to characters or weapons known as “skins”.
-
The growing prominence of esports means almost every online bookmaker offers esports coverage to some degree.
-
There are multiple bookmakers that offer extensive esports coverage, but the likes of bet365, BetVictor, Betway, and 888sport stand out among the very best esports betting sites.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Not only does the future look great for esports, but the latter serve to symbolise the infinite possibilities of the betting sphere. Right now, online betting has never been more versatile, varied, or innovative. You should not only view the best esports betting as a great thing on their own, but as part of a fabulous betting buffet filled to the brim with possibilities.
Finding the right betting site for you for esports can be a challenge in the sense that there are so many great options. Our job is to make sure you don’t settle for less simply because you’re overwhelmed by choice.
