Best eSports Betting Sites (2018 Update)
In this article we identify (what we think are) the best eSports betting sites available online along with explaining the different factors and criteria that we have based our list on.
Best eSports Betting Sites
eSports has exploded over the last few years and looks set to continue to grow at a rapid rate. Its meteoric rise has attracted an increasing number of punters looking to explore this new dynamic market. Fortunately for them, there are now more bookmakers than ever competing for their business. But what are the best sites to be placing your eSports bets?
Before we continue, it’s important for you to understand how we concluded our list.
Ranking Criteria
In most cases, ranking systems are subjective and our list of best eSports betting sites is no exception. With that in mind, we’ve detailed below the various factors taken into consideration when analysing each bookie to hopefully help put things into perspective.
- Reputation – The general reputation and longevity of a bookmaker is the base of our rankings.
- User Interface – The look, feel and usability of the site on all platforms and devices.
- Variety – The coverage of eSports games and genres.
- Markets – The range of both pre-event and In-Play betting markets available.
- Odds – Provide competitive odds on a consistent basis.
- Payment Options – The more payment options and the quicker the turnaround times for withdrawals the better.
- Opening Account Offer – Having a lucrative sign up incentive isn’t enough. We’re also looking at how easy the process is of claiming the offer including terms and conditions associated with bonuses. Shady and misleading bonus systems that systematically seeks to rip off customers are a no-go.
- Customer Support – Provide around-the-clock support and multiple ways for customers to get in touch.
The Top 2 eSports Betting Sites
Below we reveal our ‘top 2’ eSports betting sites.
Best eSports Betting Site 1 – bet365
bet365 entered the eSports betting market in 2014 and their coverage of this niche has improved year-on-year.
Here you’ll find almost all eSports events covered along with a superb selection of games including League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, DotA, Overwatch and Starcraft.
bet365 also provide an extensive range of pre-event and In-Play markets from Outright Winner and Play Of The Tournament to Team To Score Most Kills and Round Handicaps.
You can place your bets online or using the bet365 sports mobile app (available to download on Android and iPhone) meaning you can always get in on the action, whenever and wherever.
The site uses a one-wallet system so you can enjoy bet365’s full range of products including sportsbook, bet365 casino, poker, vegas and more.
For a full run-down on what the site has to offer you can read our bet365 eSports review.
Verdict
If you’re looking for the ultimate gambling experience, then bet365 is in our minds the best site for your eSports bets – it’s no coincidence that it is the biggest provider of online sports betting in the world.
Best eSports Betting Site 2 – Betway
Betway have established themselves as an innovator in online gambling and were one of the the first operators to embrace the eSports phenomenon back in 2015.
All your favourite eSports games are covered including Counter-Strike Global Offensive, DotA 2, King of Glory, League of Legends and World Of Tanks.
Betway offer a slightly smaller range of markets compared to bet365 but you can still place both pre-event and In-Play bets from your standard Win/Draw/Win, Outright Winner and Correct Score to the more unconventional types such as First To Reach 10 Kills and Team Number Of Maps Won.
Bet online or download the Betway sportsbook mobile app on either your Android or iPhone device for access to Betway’s full eSports offerings.
For a full run down on what the site has to offer you can read our Betway eSports review.
Verdict
Betway clearly believe in eSports and that has to be admired. If you’re looking for a bookmaker that is not only committed to the industry, but is going to offer you a comprehensive eSports betting experience, then we thoroughly recommend Betway.
Best eSports Betting Site 3 – Betfair
Despite Betfair being fairly new to the eSports world, generally speaking, they do provide good coverage of the niche.
Their range of titles isn’t as comprehensive as bet365 and Betway, but they do still provide markets for the most popular eSports games including Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, League Of Legends and World of Tanks to name but a few.
Unfortunately, the number of markets on offer can be slightly hit and miss depending on your preferred title and in some cases the only available market to bet on is the outright winner.
You can though place your bets online or using the Betfair sports mobile app (available to download on Android and iPhone) which is useful for those who don’t necessarily like using a laptop or computer.
For a full run-down on what the site has to offer you can read our Betfair eSports review.
Verdict
For what they lack in their range of eSports markets (which will no doubt improve overtime), Betfair more than make up for in their overall betting experience and offers. They might not currently be the best platform when it come to eSports, but they’re certainly not the worst.
Conclusion
So there you have our list of best eSports betting sites. With interest in eSports set to rise even further, competition will only drive better sites so there’s no doubt we will continue to revise and update the list over the coming months and years.
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with our rankings, ultimately your decision on who to bet with will be down to personal preference and should be based on which site provides a product that best matches your needs.
What we’re sure we can all agree on however, is that even though eSports may still be relatively in its infancy, the options available to punters are ever-growing with more events, games and markets covered than ever before, thus there’s never been a better time to get involved.
