No longer a niche option, esports betting can now be found on bookmakers all over the world. The question now is, which of these many options are right for you? Our guide to the best esports betting sites UK is here to help you navigate cyberspace and find an operator fit for the future.
Table of Contents
- Top 9 Esports Betting Sites in 2021
- Best Esports Betting Sites – Top 9
- A Closer Look at the Top Esports Betting Sites – Reviews
- What Are Esports?
- What Are E-Sports Betting Special Markets?
- Esports Live Betting
- Are There Esports Betting Bonus Offers?
- Popular Esports Betting Tournaments
- A Brief History of eSports
- Esports Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
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#1
 Unibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 25x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. #ad |
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#2
 bet365
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits 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 T&Cs apply. #ad |
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#3
Luckbox
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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 Bonus money must be wagered to 10 times its value before the bonus or any winnings from it can be withdrawn.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. |
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#4
 FOREST.BET
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#5
Pixelbet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#6
 888sport
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#7
 Ladbrokes
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#8
BetVictor
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Best Esports Betting Sites – Top 9
Our list of the top 10 esports betting site candidates is something that required us to turn down a whole lot of our favourites. This isn’t just our list of the best esports betting sites, it’s the best of the best.
Looking especially for eSoccer? Check our list of FIFA betting sites!
A Closer Look at the Top Esports Betting Sites – Reviews
Here, we are going to take a closer look at our favourite eSport betting sites to see exactly how they managed to thwart incredible competition to find themselves in our selection of elite favourites, so you can get an idea of which of these esports betting websites might be right for you.
Esports Betting Site #1 – Unibet
While Unibet excels in so many different areas, we think that esports betting might represent them at their absolute best just as they may be the best esports betting site. In terms of the sheer range of markets available, 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 also being represented here.
Mix that with an amazing set of creative and interesting markets for each and every game with competitive odds and you’ve got something truly special. And all of this is without mentioning the incredible Unibet TV which offers some of the finest eSport UK live streaming the online world has to offer, and plenty of promotions relevant often exclusive to esports. An absolute triumph.
Pros
- Amazing market variety
- Consistently promotional offerings
- World class live coverage
Cons
- Some games available elsewhere are not here
Esports Betting Site #2 – Bet365
When we look at pretty much any kind of list of the best UK betting sites, Bet365 usually deserves a top position in them all, whether it’s a candidate for the best for six nations rugby, the finest cricket betting site, or yes, the best esports betting site. One of the very few to stand toe to toe with Unibet in terms of sheer choice, one area in which Bet365 truly excels is in its British betting markets. Put simply, Bet365 have esports betting UK markets that few, if any, cover.
And the fact that they do so with great odds consistently, and a wide selection of relevant coupons really puts them on another level against all but the absolute best. On top of that, you’re also just point blank getting one of the finest all-rounders the online world has ever seen.
Pros
- Part of an all-around amazing betting product
- Great coverage of British esports betting markets
- Many great coupons available
Cons
- Some options have a broader live streaming selection.
Esports Betting Site #3 – Luckbox
While there are some instances, as you can see from this list, of the more established bookmakers doing everything they can to get their slice of that delicious esports betting pie, it does represent relatively new ground.
And for that reason, it is an ideal chance for a lesser-known bookmaker to grab it with both hands and really create a name for themselves as a candidate for the title of best esports betting site. Luckbox is a perfect example. This is an an esports exclusive site and they look to cover all major esports games putting them right up there with our top pick in terms of variety.
On top of that, they have live streams, statistics and promotions all focused on one thing and that is crafting the best esports betting experience they possibly can. They only downside is that they are so single-minded, meaning those who want a more rounded experience may wish to look elsewhere. This is especially the case for British readers. While Luckbox might be an esports betting uk site, the traditional sportsbook is not available in that market. For a dedicated product though, it’s an outstanding effort.
Pros
- Dedicated esports betting options
- Amazing level of esports betting variety, including many niche markets
- Promotions bult for esports
Cons
- Not much beyond esports to offer
- Traditional sportsbook not available at all in the UK
Esports Betting Site #4 – Forest Bet
This dedicated esports betting behemoth has seven key esports to choose from and a wide and creative selection of betting markets. They advertise their key games really well, which helps you get invested in the different sports. It also gives them a broad scope of users, getting newcomers invested in these games while providing plenty of depth for long terms fans. They boast the best odds around, we can’t verify that claim, but we can certainly say that the odds appeared excellent according to our research. And of course, being a dedicated esports betting site also means that they have a wide range of dedicated esports betting bonus options. The catch? They are not available to a esports betting UK audience meaning this is one for our European readers.
Pros
- Great set of dedicated promotions
- Seven widely covered esports
- Claim to have the best odds in the business
Cons
- Not available in the United Kingdom
- Newer site means they lack the reputation of some others
Esports Betting Site #5 – Pixel.bet
As far as esports betting sites go there’s arguably none as stylish as this. Greeting you in stunning neon it looks every bit the part of the esports betting websites many of us imagined when they first came around. In addition, there’s an excellent casino site to boot, although their focus does not extend to a sportsbook if you are looking for a true all-rounder. The live selection of esports is epic and includes lesser known titles like Valorant. In addition, they have got great customer service and their focus on useability helps expand their appeal. Unfortunately, they are only available in a handful of markets, with France, Malta, Sweden, Brazil, Finland and Norway being the only countries with access at this moment in time.
Pros
- Beautiful Design
- Amazing live selection
- 100% welcome bonus
Cons
- Limited geographical availability
- No sportsbook.
Esports Betting Site #6 – 888Sport
With around the clock news coverage, updates, esports tips and more from all around the world, it is clear that 888Sport take esports betting very seriously. They also have a bit of a niche in the form of extensive FIFA betting coverage, a game for which you could argue they are the finest esports bookmaker around. Actually, their whole coverage is quite action orientated, with first person shooter Rainbow Six being another one of their most covered esports options.
Aside from that, they really do get the fundamentals right. 888Sport is simple enough for newcomers to these markets 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.
Pros
- Great useability
- Often neglected action orientated markets well covered
- World class site design
Cons
- A little less variety in some major markets
Esports Betting Site #7 – 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 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 when they cover an esport, they never do so with less than 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.
Pros
- Utilise your bet boosts on esports betting
- Great market depth for available games
- No let down in quality from traditional sports
Cons
- Not many left field esports covered
- Less innovation than some other options
Esports Betting Site #8 – BetVictor
If you want an example of just how highly BetVictor considers esports betting as part of their family of markets, consider that they are pushed right near the top of their sports toolbar, pridefully taking their place alongside the biggest in the industry. And they have the markets to back it up, with a fantastic selection of featured odds being a highlight that legitimately provides some fantastic deals for you to view at your leisure.
It’s no small selection either. We’re talking dozens upon dozens at any given time. Some of their finest esports markets also find themselves in their trending odds which is another great place to find some of the best betting bargains out there. And of course, all of this is with that trademark design brilliance, including one of the most intuitive and best betting app experiences on Android and iOS.
Pros
- Esports a top priority
- Great set of featured odds
- Fantastic mobile experience
Cons
- No live streaming
- Bonuses aren’t always esports relevant/useable
Esports Betting Site #9 – Grosvenor
For many of you, this could be the most unexpected selection on our list. Some people aren’t even aware that Grosvenor Casino provide online sports betting. Not only is that the case, but we would say they do a pretty fantastic job of it. There’s great live betting and a surprisingly deep sports betting experience to match their better-known world class casino product.
You could argue, in fact, that there is no better example of them defying expectations than their astounding line up of esports betting options. At the time of writing, there’s nearly a thousand markets to bet on. If they could only add live streaming and esports betting promotions to proceedings, we might have ended up with an underdog champion. Even as it stands, they are up there with our favourites.
Pros
- Unexpectedly excellent sportsbook generally
- Hundreds of available markets
- Underrated site all round
Cons
- No relevant esports promotions
- No live streaming
What Are Esports?
If you’re not too sure what we mean by esports, we’re going to break it down really simply for you. The name is short for electronic sports, and they are video games played competitively on a massive, competitive scale. Esports betting website are where you can bet on those competitions.
If you have memories of sitting around with your friends playing games in your living room, then you know how multiplayer games work. And that’s all esports are: they are multiplayer games but played at an incredibly high level in huge money-making tournaments and events. 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 that is the gist of what every esport games boil down to. If you want more information, we have a complete esports beginners guide to help further your understanding.
The Most Popular Esports To Bet On
While almost any multiplayer videogame 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 esports betting options out there right now, so you know what to look for on your favourite esports betting websites.
- 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 2: It may have waned in popularity a touch, but Starcraft 2, the real time strategy science fiction game is still adored by millions.
- OverWatch: A first person shooter with a twist, unique abilities give this one an enormous amount of variety and depth.
- FIFA betting: The biggest and most successful football video game franchise ever has understandably created a whole generation of online players.
- Call Of Duty: If you’ve ever played a first-person shooter, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced 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 the legality 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, 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 are often the finest online gambling options all round.
What Are E-Sports Betting Special Markets?
We’ve mentioned market variety a great deal with regards to our criteria for the best esport betting sites out there. Now, there are lots of esports betting sites that provide a similar set of markets. You can usually bet on a team to win, for instance. However, what really sets the best apart from the rest are the more unusual markets out there.
Here, we’re going to give you five examples of some more left field examples to showcase the creativity and innovation found amongst the best, and how the top esports betting sites are pushing the envelope generally.
1. Skins betting
If you don’t want to bet with real cash but would like some form of stakes, then skin gambling is really innovative way of achieving exactly that. Essentially, this is the use of virtual goods, that you have in game, as a 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’s a really great way of innovating the actual currency of gambling itself – something that we can’t really compare to anything in traditional sports.
2. Fantasy betting
If you’re aware of how fantasy betting works in traditional sports, like with fantasy football, then you will pretty much know what to expect here. You pick a roster and gain points based on different achievements. We suppose then that this is not an innovation in the sense that it is available elsewhere, but fantasy betting is an incredibly creative way of betting. Plus, the achievements themselves can be quite different because of the innovative ways to play the sports games themselves.
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.
3. Map winner
One of the most popular forms of esport betting markets which you won’t 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 can split up a football game and how that can really help people think of football from a different strategic perspective.
That’s 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.
4. Proposition bet
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’s why it’s so important to find a bookmaker that really pushes those innovations to make the most out of those possibilities.
5. First Blood
It’s great to have a betting market that can provide an instant uptate 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’s a nerve-shredding way to start things off.
Esports Live Betting
Of course, we’ve already made it pretty clear that live betting and live streaming are both things you should be able to expect from esports. However, we thought it 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.
Are There Esports Betting Bonus Offers?
Once again, the answer to this is yes. Unlike live streaming though, we would say that there are generally less promotions than other sports for the most part. Esports are unfortunately, still not as big in the betting world as some traditional money makers for the 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.
That said, there are bookies that have promotions aimed at esports. More importantly though, many of the general sports promotions – which make up a considerable portion of almost all sportsbook bonus pages – very often include esports as part of the eligible options. In other words, your finest esports betting bonus could be one where a wide variety of sports are included. It could be a welcome bonus, or a no deposit free bet, for instance. Always check the terms and conditions thoroughly or ask customer service if you want to be sure.
Popular Esports Betting Tournaments
League Of Legends
- European Championship (LoL LEC)
- Championship Series (LoL LCS)
- Champions Korea (LoL LCK)
- Pro League (LoL LPL)
- World Championships
CS:GO
DOTA 2
Call Of Duty
Rocket League
Overwatch
Football
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 though was actually held in 1972 for the game Spacewar: a predecessor to the epically popular Space Invaders.
That’s relevant because the next big competition was actually the Space Invaders Championship held by their developer Atari in 1980, it had 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 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 the very strict gambling laws in the country.
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
✅ Is betting on esports the same as betting on any other sport?
In almost every respect, betting on esports is the same as betting on any other sport. The key difference is the specific markets involved, as they naturally are different for every type of game played.
🏆 Where can I watch esports?
You can often watch esports on your favourite bookmaker. If not, esports are widely shown on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.
🛡️ Is betting on esports legal?
Yes, in any jurisdiction where sports betting is legal, esports betting should be legal as well.
⚖️ What are some examples of popular esports?
Counter Strike, Dota 2, Call of Duty, League of Legends and Fortnight are a few examples of popular esports.
💶 What is skin betting in 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”.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Not only does the future look great for esports, but esports are the perfect symbol for betting‘s bright and innovate possibilities as well. Right now, betting online 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. We hope our article here has helped you on your journey to find the right betting experience for you.
Ben has been a copywriter for over a decade, with vast experience on just about everything sports related. If it has a ball in it, or someone gets to bet on it, he’s probably already obsessed with it. He resides in Yorkshire, where his articles are powered by the ever-present sound of a kettle.
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