Best Esports Betting Sites - Top Sportsbooks in 2024
After testing and reviewing top sportsbooks, our experts found Betway, GG.Bet, and Unibet to be the best esports betting sites for secure betting, top odds, and unbeatable features.
The rise of esports over the last couple of years has seen a new opportunity for online sportsbooks to include esports gambling in their offer.
With an incredible amount of esports events being played regularly, sportsbooks continually battle for the name of the best betting site for esports to bring in new customers by featuring bonus offers and a competitive deposit bonus.
3 Best Esports Betting Sites
We have sifted through the most popular betting sites to provide you with a list of bookmakers that we consider the finest out there when it comes to esports.
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: UK, Malta, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, South Africa, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, France, Argentina, USA
Betway offers some of the most comprehensive eSports betting around.
The user-friendly lobby at Betway gives you easy access to 100s of markets on over half a dozen eSports games, including Counter Strike and LOL.
We found over a dozen global leagues and qualifiers to bet on for CS2 alone, including the European Pro League and TP World Championship.
In addition, you can follow leagues via the live stream and watch broadcasts through the Betway app or online.
Finally, don’t miss out on a dedicated $10 free bet deal just for eSports bettors.
Alternatively, get started at Betway with a $200 welcome bonus when you deposit with one of 10+ banking options.
You receive money back as free bets if your first real-money wager loses.
Pros
Cons
Ad• 18+• New customers• Max free bet €100• Free bet available on losing settlement of qualifying bet• 50 bonus spins creditted on placement of qualifying bet• Offer valid for 7 days from account creation• Full terms and conditions apply
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: Curaçao
Pinnacle is the go-to online betting site for eSports variety and exclusive features.
You can bet on over 100 markets daily across 10+ games, including CS2, DOTA2, and StarCraft: Brood War.
Pinnacle also spreads games that you won’t find at every bookmaker, such as Mobile Legends and Honor of Kings.
The intuitive eSports Hub at Pinnacle makes it a breeze to find your favorite eSports betting markets.
Markets are divided between the day’s matchups, live in-play, and leagues.
Live streams are available on many matches and you can browse the in-house blog center to find predictions and tips.
Pinnacle works on a reduced-margin model. Instead of traditional sports betting bonuses, you can enjoy lower margins across the sportsbook’s markets.
That makes Pinnacle more competitive in terms of odds compared to other online betting sites.
Pros
Cons
18+ #ad
Key Features
- Support:
- Licenses: Curaçao
1XBET is the eSports betting site for you if you love special bonuses. 1XBET offers dedicated eSports promotions throughout the year.
Take part in special promos like eSports Era where you can predict the correct scores of eSports events to win free bets.
1XBET also offers gifts and gadgets to lucky draw winners when you place bets on the ESL Pro League.
1XBET offers a dedicated statistics site showing recent form and head-to-heads.
You can also track the betting odds movement to see what your fellow gamblers are doing.
Plus, you can get started at 1XBET now with a welcome bonus on sports worth up to CAD540.
The deal is not restricted to eSports bets, either, so you’re free to gamble on sports and markets of your choice.
Pros
Cons
#Ad• 18+• 1st time depositor• Bonus linked to size of deposit• Valid for 30 days• 5x wagering• Must wager on accumulators• Withdrawal restrictions
Top Esports Betting Apps
Betting on esports is fairly specialist, so when choosing an esports betting app, it pays to keep this in mind. You want to look for a bookmaker who offers a wide variety of esports leagues, as well as the different markets that you enjoy betting on. If you’re a CS2 fan but there’s only Valorant betting, then the app isn’t going to be the one for you!
As well as this, prioritise apps that offer exceptional odds on esports, as this directly affects your bottom line. Finally, check that you’ll be able to use bonuses on esports and that you enjoy the UI of the app itself.
- Betway
- GGBet
- Pinnacle
Betting at Top Esports Games
Betting on esports tournaments has gained massive popularity, particularly for games like League of Legends, DOTA 2, and CS2. Each game is totally unique and offers a blend of exciting (and hopefully lucrative) betting opportunities.
League of Legends Betting
- League of Legends World Championship: Worlds is the ultimate LoL event, where you can wager on various markets such as match winners, first blood, and map outcomes. The international stage offers unpredictable matchups, with teams from different regions bringing their own unique strategies.
- Mid-Season Invitational: The MSI pits the top teams from each region's spring split against each other. Expect exciting cross-regional clashes, and consider making bets on underdogs as there are often upsets!
- League of Legends European Championship: The LEC offers a consistent stream of LoL betting opportunities with its regular season and playoffs. Perfect for futures bets and player props.
DOTA 2 Betting
- The International: Known for its huge prize pool, TI is the most prestigious DOTA 2 tournament. Focusing on outright winners can be a good strategy but underdog victories can also provide exciting upset potential in the early rounds.
- Dota Pro Circuit: The DPC comprises regional leagues and majors, which allow for long-term bets on teams qualifying for TI. It’s perfect for analysing team form and betting on map-specific outcomes.
- ESL One: ESL One tournaments are popular for their fast-paced gameplay, making live betting on objectives like Roshan kills and most kills a great market to explore.
CS2 Betting
- BLAST Premier: This fast-paced tournament is ideal for live betting as these games often feature large momentum swings.
- IEM Katowice: Known for hosting top-tier teams, IEM Katowice offers diverse betting markets like match winners and handicaps.
- VCT Masters: A high-level CS2 tournament where tactical gameplay meets fast action, VCT Masters is perfect for in-play betting, especially in high-stakes rounds.
Popular Payment Methods for Esports Betting
There are plenty of options when it comes to payment methods at esports betting sites. Below is a quick rundown of what some of the most common payment providers offer in terms of security, speed, and bonus eligibility.
| Payment Method | Speed | Security | Availability |
| Visa/MasterCard | Medium | Very High | Very High |
| Bank Transfer | Low | Very High | High |
| PayPal | High | High | Medium |
| Trustly | High | High | Medium |
| Skrill | High | High | Medium |
| Neteller | High | High | Medium |
| Paysafecard | Medium/High | Very High | Low |
| Neosurf | Medium/High | Very High | Low |
| Apple Pay | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Google Pay | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Pay by Phone | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Cryptocurrency | High | High | Medium |
Esports Betting Sites with the Best Bonuses
Most betting sites don’t offer Esports specific bonuses, but a handful offer bonuses that are eligible to be used on esports. Look out for free bets, odds boosts and deposit bonuses to make your money stretch that bit further. The below sites tend to have the best bonuses to use on esports:
- Betway
- GGBet
- Bet365
How We Rate the Best Esports Bookmakers?
Reviewing the best betting site for esports is a complex process. We have focused on websites that guaranteed the best odds, had the best bonus offers, the most comprehensive list of esports titles to bet on, and had a mobile app on offer.
Here is what we took into account when reviewing the best sites for esports betting:
Wide Range of Esports Betting Titles
With so many esports and events out there, it would be odd if one of our best esports betting site didn’t have the League of Legends World Championship on offer. On the other hand, we also took into account lesser-known titles and whether they are available.
Competitive Odds
Our chosen sites offer some of the best odds out there.
Live Streaming
With esports being so accessible worldwide, we gave an automatic plus when the bookmaker included live streaming on their website.
Great Welcome Offer and Promotions
The best esports betting sites should grant a generous welcome offer and have regular promos throughout the season.
Payment Options
Our chosen bookmakers offer a wide variety of withdrawal and deposit options.
Safety & Security
We understand that safety and security can be a concern when money is in the picture. That is why we have only selected sites that boast proper licenses and utilize SSL encryption to protect their customers data.
How to Bet on Esports?
Getting started at an esports betting site is easy, here’s a step by step guide.
- 1
Choose from one of our recommended esports betting sites and head to their website.
- 2
Click the sign up button and enter your details including name, date of birth, login credentials, and residential address.
- 3
Decide if you want to claim a welcome bonus and then make your first deposit.
- 4
Head to the esports section of the site and look for the tournament or league that you want to bet on.
- 5
Make your selection, type in the amount that you want to wager and make your bet.
- 6
If there’s a live streaming service you can watch your bet play out in real time.
Effecitve Tips for Esports Betting Websites
Here are some quickfire tips for esports betting websites:
Make sure you pick a certified website before registering and placing your first bet
Compare websites and their welcome bonuses
Read the terms and conditions of the welcome bonus
Only use websites that have the esports you’re knowledgeable about
Check whether the website includes live betting and varying markets
Odds for Esports Betting
Odds formats
There exist three types of odds you can use to bet on using esports betting markets.
Decimal odds
Decimal odds are generally found across Europe and Canada. They are the easiest to understand for beginners.
For example: If the odds are 2.50, a $10 bet would return $25 (including the original stake), with a profit of $15.
Fractional odds
These are popular in the UK. They reflect the profit to stake ratio.
For example: Odds of 5/2 mean you win $5 for every $2 bet, plus your original stake.
Moneyline odds
Popular in the US, these utilize negative or positive numbers to reflect chances.
Positive odds (e.g., +200) indicate how much profit you make on a $100 bet. Negative odds (e.g., -150) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100.
Expert Strategies for Live Betting on Esports
Live betting, also referred to as in-play betting, can be a huge advantage if you’re a die-hard esports fan. Here’s why and some strategies to follow.
With the action rolling, the odds will change and typically, you will have many more options to bet on during a live game. This is where your keen eye will come in handy, as well as your knowledge of the esports scene.
While watching the game live is essential, doing some research before the game starts may give you a big advantage. Things like head-to-head results, recent form, rumors of team drama or transfers, or the game being played out in a LAN or online setting, may give you additional information to make decisions.
Using social media and specialist platforms for the given esports may give you an upper hand. Has there been some drama between the two teams? Are there rumors of the team disbanding? These pieces of information can be critical in the teams’ and or players’ performances.
Is Esports Betting Legal?
Yes, esports betting is legal in a lot of countries. However, do make sure to check your local country or even state or city laws before deciding to make bets.
Additionally, remember to make sure that the betting site you want to utilize is certified and safe.
Promote Responsible Betting
While betting can be fun, it is crucial to understand the risks of betting and never betting amounts that you can’t afford to lose. Remember to only indulge in betting on esports you have knowledge of and understand and never place bets when not sober and on esports you have no idea how they work.
FAQs
If you’re after a super polished live betting platform then Betway is hard to beat, however, GGBet does clinch the top spot for its extensive coverage.
GGBet, Bet365, and Betway all offer free live streaming for major events, though GGBet tends to offer the most comprehensive coverage. Remember you’ll need to place a bet in order to watch the livestream.