The UK esports betting scene is one of the most unique and interesting of its kind around. Here, we’ll be providing a crash course on all the best UK esports teams, as well as where to wager and how to make the most of those bets. Read on to find out more!
The Top Five Esports Teams UK Right Now
While there can be little doubt that the number of UK esports teams is less than elsewhere, such as the US, it’s an industry that’s growing, and there’s already several teams which have international appeal.
If you’re looking to back some esports teams in the UK but don’t know where to start, check out our pick of the five absolute best out there right now to get you started.
- 01FnaticArguably the most internationally recognisable team from the UK, Fnatic have gained respect all around the world through their performances in a broad series of games. They take part in everything from first-person shooters to sports games, excelling in many of these since 2004. Their greatest achievement is probably their Counter-Strike team, which are often considered the best to ever play the game.
Fnatic Team Highlights
- Winner of the first ever League of Legends World Championship in 2011
- Won the first major tournament for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2013, the game for which they are best known
- Bested North American team Evil Geniuses at Rainbow Siege in one of the best finals matches in the history of esports
- 02Endpoint
We suppose it is fair to say that the UK esports teams are rather good at CS:GO, considering our number two slot goes to the team that is considered the most decorated in that history of the sport. Indeed, there is great debate about who is the better of our top two picks. But that is far from all they are known for. Endpoint are also a big name in the world of Rocket League and Quake, continuing to expand to this day.
Endpoint Team Highlights
- Won their second ESL UK premiership in 2019, making them the most decorated domestic UK esports team for CS:GO
- Won third regional Rocket League Championship Series in 2021
- Their CS:GO team ranked 22nd in the world also in 2021, an astounding achievement for a UK esports team
- 03Excel
Few esports teams UK can boast the international impact of Excel, who are one of the top 10 teams within the European Championships for League of Legends. Considering just how huge LoL is throughout Europe, that is an immense achievement. Since being founded in 2014, they have also made a splash in the worlds of Fortnite and VALORANT. Having just expanded into the epic World of Warcraft and hyper-competitive world of FIFA, it is clear they are not slowing down any time soon.Excel Team Highlights
- Included as one of the top 10 partner teams for the illustrious Riot Game 2019 season
- 2022 squad picked as one of the global master series teams for 2022 for FIFA
- LoL team finally made it to the playoffs after 125 games
- 04London Spitfire
You cannot say the UK esports teams do not represent a broad selection of first-person shooters. Here we have arguably the finest British Overwatch team, a founding member of the Overwatch league and one of only two from a European background. Yes - it really is that elite a group of teams which make up the OWL. Formally known as Cloud9, a new name brought prestige with London Spitfire winning their first, and so far, only, gold in 2018. Their fight to return to the top of the Overwatch mountain continues at the time of writing.London Spitfire Team Highlights
- Became London Spitfire in 2017, a move which also saw several major changes to the team, including the appointment of Lee Beom-joon as head coach
- Won both the first stage championship and the grand finals in 2018
- Beat the Vancouver Titans, their last game of the 2021 season
- 05London Royal Ravens
This Call of Duty franchise might not have the scope of some of the others on our list, but they certainly have had a huge impact on their esport of choice in a very short space of time. They are one of 12 teams currently making up the Call Of Duty league, and although it may be very early days, they are already sitting amongst the very best in the world.
London Royal Ravens Team Highlights
- Bought slot in the Call Of Duty League in September 2019
- Came third in the Checkmate Gaming Elite Event in late 2021
- Won second place in both the Major 1 and Major 2 qualifiers
| Team | Date Founded | Active Esports Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Fnatic | 2004 | CS:GO, League of Legends, Rainbow Seige, Fortnite, FIFA, Dota 2, VALORANT |
| Endpoint | 2016 | CS:GO, Rocket League, Quake |
| Excel | 2014 | LoL, Fortnite, VALORANT, World of Warcraft, FIFA |
| London Spitfire | 2017 | Overwatch |
| London Royal Ravens | 2019 | Call of Duty |
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#1
 bet365
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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 |
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#2
Luckbox
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#3
 888Sport
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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 |
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#4
SBK
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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 |
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#5
Parimatch
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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 |
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#6
 Ladbrokes
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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 |
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#7
BetVictor
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £5 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days of registering, no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. 7 day bonus expiry. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
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#8
 Unibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#9
Paddy Power
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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 |
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#10
 Betway
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. Debit card deposits only. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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What Can You Expect From the Best UK Esports Teams?
- There are a few key things which we think make the finest UK esports teams what they are. The first is their objective achievements. This is a sport, after all, and winning games and tournaments counts for a lot, just as it would in any other sport.
- In addition, there is also the impact the team has on their chosen esports, as is the variety that these teams excel at. To put it simply, if one of best UK esports teams is great at several different gaming disciplines, playing everything from FIFA and Dota 2 betting, that makes them a more versatile team than those with less range.
Esports Teams in the UK vs International Competition
We do think it’s important to put these teams into context, as esports teams UK aren't quite as big in the scene as some other countries. If you look at the jurisdictions which have the largest impact, they tend to be much larger and have a longer lasting culture with esports. Think of the likes of the US, South Korea and China as examples.
While UK esports teams can hardly help the size of their country, things are moving ahead culturally. Since 2016, the British Esports Association has gone a long way to legitimise UK esports teams. In 2021, the Esports Team Committee was created in the hopes of furthering British esports.
Well, right now, you can expect a small number of teams to be leading the way in the big tournaments. There might not be a huge amount of top teams to back, but those that are there, such as those in our top five, are well worthy of your attention. They're also more than capable of winning big.
Strategic Tips for Betting on the Best UK Esports Teams
If you’re new to betting on esports teams in the UK, or indeed, to betting in general, you may be wondering how to approach things from a strategic point of view. The good news is that by keeping these five things in mind, you’ll be on your way to making smarter bets.
- 01Research the teamsNow you’ve got an idea of what the best UK-based esports teams look like, it shouldn’t take long to check out their outings to see their recent form. Most of the major tournaments and teams have a heavy online presence, meaning all the information you need is typically just a few clicks away.
- 02Keep in mind their international credentialsRemember that the competition out there is fierce, so don’t underestimate the opponents. UK esports teams remain up-and-coming in many esports, so keep the whole scope of competition in mind. Remember too that looking up both teams, regardless of from where they hail, should be a straightforward exercise.
- 03Go for left-field markets on mismatched gamesYou should go for whatever weird and wonderful markets you think make sound betting strategy, especially lopsided markets. Handicap markets, for instance, can make it possible to keep your heart and head aligned when you want to back a team that looks likely to lose.
- 04Look for the best bookies and promotionsEsports games can enjoy all the benefits of traditional sports. That includes the likes of great bonuses and competitive odds. Of course, the only way to make the most out of them is to sign up to the best esports bookmakers out there, such as those in our list above - nothing is stopping you from signing up to multiple bookmakers.
- 05Watch the games!One really cool thing about esports is that, very often, the games are completely free to watch, either through bookmakers themselves, YouTube, Twitch, or elsewhere. There really is no better way of getting to know various esports and the best esports UK teams than watching a game or two!
- Want even more betting tips? Check out our look at the best esports betting tipsters.
UK Esports Teams FAQs
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While the UK isn’t as successful as some countries at esports, some UK teams are considered among the finest in the world in the very top leagues.
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All kinds! While we’d say UK-based esports teams’ largest selection of achievements is in first-person shooter games, there really is no limit. FIFA, Street Fighters, COD, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, LoL, Overwatch – you name it, the esports UK teams can play anything!
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Yes – you can commonly find general promotions for use on esports, and occasionally esports-specific promotions.
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The scope of esports coverage does depend on the bookmaker, but if UK-based esports teams are in a top league covered, then yes, absolutely – they will be available to bet on.
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The same way you would bet on any sport! Just sign up, deposit, pick your market and place your bet.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The future of British esports looks bright, with the finest UK esports teams leading the way. That said, there’s no reason to wait. While we think the UK will almost certainly have a bigger impact on the ever-expanding popularity of esports in years to come, there’s already a small but influential group of great esports UK teams worthy of your attention and wagers.
Thanks to an excellent selection of esports betting sites, there’s plenty of places to enjoy betting on the best UK teams esports has to offer, both in domestic competition and across the world.
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.
