Guide
Gambling

The Intersection of Sports Betting and eSports

Today, we're looking at the similarities and differences between traditional sports betting and eSports betting. While the two sound very similar, there are some huge differences between the two types of sports betting, but they do meet in the middle, creating an intersection.

Alyx Tzamantanis.
A. Tzamantanis

Last Updated: 2024-08-20

James Pacheco

4 minutes read

esports competition

So if you've ever thought about betting on eSports but weren't sure, let us guide you through some of the more traditional and unusual aspects of this type of betting.

Sports and eSports - What’s the Difference?

With just the letter ‘e’ to differentiate between sports and eSports, you might be wondering how much difference there could be between the two.

In fact, it’s all very simple. Traditional sports betting focuses on physical sports played by individuals or teams, while eSports hones in on computer games. Also played by individuals and in teams, eSports is an exciting market that is popular with a younger audience, with games like League of Legends, DOTA 2 and CS:GO  bringing in fans and betting punters from all over the world. 

Similarities When Betting on Traditional Sports vs eSports

While betting on something like the NFL versus a computer game might seem completely different, eSports actually share a lot of similarities with ‘normal’ sports betting.

Let's take a look at some examples of how these two types of betting 

Odds and markets 

While there are loads of odds and markets, depending on which sport or eSport you're into, some markets stay the same no matter what you're betting on.

For example, in both sports and eSports betting you'll get markets like match winner, over/under betting, prop bets and handicap betting.

Betting strategies 

Regardless of what type of competition you want to bet on, statistical analysis and historical data are your best friends.

Even though eSports are a lot younger than traditional sports, you can still find plenty of information about players and teams that will help you place savvy bits.

Bonuses and promotions 

If you choose to bet online, bookmakers will offer you the same bonuses and promotions if you're betting on eSports as they would if you bet on traditional sports.

You'll still have things like match deposit offers, free bets and other ongoing promos that you can apply to whatever type of bet you wish.

In-play betting 

Another similarity is that you can watch live-streamed events and make real-time bets at online bookmakers' platforms on all major competitions.

eSports are coming up the ranks as some of the most watched tournaments in the world, so the more modern online bookmakers out there make sure that they live stream these tournaments and let their customers make in-play bets.

Differences When Betting on Traditional Sports vs eSports

Now let's take a look at some of the big differences between normal sports betting and eSports betting.

Competition formats 

It sounds pretty obvious, but one of the biggest differences between the two is how they are played.

In traditional sports, players and teams take part in physical competitions using physical. Equipment like balls, bats and cars. On the other hand, everything in eSports is completely digital. Your athletes may be going head-to-head, but they’re sat in a chair the whole time!

You also have other factors, like how the leagues and tournaments are structured.

It's important to know how a competition works before you bet on it.

Amount of markets 

As we've talked about, there are tons of the same betting markets for both traditional and eSports betting to enjoy. However, there are still many more things to bet on with traditional sports.

eSports may be getting more popular, but they can’t really compare when you think about the number of markets available for things like soccer, basketball and the NFL combined.

For more information on sports betting, make sure you always visit us here at SportsBoom. We keep you up to date with our latest news, reviews and guides.

Alyx Tzamantanis.
Alyx TzamantanisSports Betting Editor

With 10 years of experience in content writing, Alyx has produced countess guides, reviews and articles covering a wide range of topics in the iGaming industry. She loves anything to do with online casinos, as well as UK and international sports betting.