Esports Betting Market Key Trends and Growth Forecast 2025
If you are into a classic esport like CSGO, LoL or Dota 2, then we think that you shouldn’t have too much of an issue in finding a bookie with some competitive odds. In addition to this, it’s a good idea to ensure that the bookmaker has a responsive customer support team and that they have a decent amount of trustworthy real-money payment methods without any annoying processing fees. And don’t forget that some bookies also allow you to wager on epic sports simulators like FIFA 19, NBA 2K and much more. This Blizzard Entertainment game is renowned for its fast-paced first-person shooting action, but it’s the efforts made by its parent company to standardise the competitive gaming that have made it a bookmaker’s favourite.
So, if you’re looking for the best place to bet on sports events in the UK, read on to learn why it’s Bet442. If you are worried that your own bets may be effected by cheating then try to stick to the bigger outright result markets. Most betting takes place in China and South Korea, where betting is illegal and therefore any bets placed are also illegal, this makes monitoring suspicious betting practices more difficult. Many have suggested that eSports betting is open to fixing and manipulation more than other sports. Electronic sports betting is still fairly new and tends to be classed as ‘other sports’ when it comes to payouts.
10Bet impresses for basketball betting, with coverage of all the top leagues across the globe, including the NBA, WNBA, NCAAB, EuroLeague and Liga ACB. Their coverage spans international tournaments and leagues, with live streaming of the biggest events, alongside many regional and seasonal competitions. BetMGM excels in American football betting, with generous NFL odds boost specials throughout the season and handy NFL Bet Builder functionality. Some esports leagues and tournaments may even award special prizes or bonuses for achieving first blood. In esports tournaments, ”first blood” can also be a critical moment for fans and spectators, as it can be an exciting and dramatic moment in a match. For example, in a first-person shooter game, getting the first kill may give a team an advantage in map control and positioning.
The UK Gambling Commission licenses Betfred, so you’re placing eSports bets with a regulated operator. The site works well on both desktop and mobile, with live streaming when offered. This market is ideal for fast-paced games like Counter-Strike 2 and VALORANT, where momentum can shift quickly. While they can be risky, they offer you a chance to bet on the overall winner of a big event. Betting on outright tournament winners means predicting which team will win an entire tournament or league.
Be sure to take your time when you work on an esport betting strategy. As you can use accumulator bets to wager on a large amount of esport contests, it means that you’ll have to get all of the predictions right in order to get a payout. So you could guess that a team could win under 3 maps and win if they manage 1 or 2 maps. This is like betting on the exact score, but instead you’re guessing a range. So, if you know that a top CSGO team like Fnatic have a history of getting the first map then you can back them. For example, in a shooter you can bet on objective time or kills from a specific player.
LiveScore Bet has excellent Esports coverage. Esports are now a big part of the UK’s gambling industry. Esports started gaining attention in the UK in the early 2010s. The very first time Esports were introduced was in the United States in the year 1972. To unlock the offer complete your first deposit using your Instant bank payment. Otherwise, you will not be eligible for the BET 10 GET 50 offer.
The trending bets feature allows you to see where other punters are putting their money. All of the regular games are covered really well, with FIFA being a strength. A veteran of the industry, BetVictor has been taking bets since 1946 and moved online at the turn of the century to great effect. They have an excellent esports guide along with loads of stats to help you make your picks.
But even some seriously niche games like World of Tanks, King of Glory and even Super Smash Bros can also sometimes be found on bookmakers’ websites. These have joined classics like StarCraft II, Call of Duty, Halo, Quake, Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 as being some of the most popular esports to bet on. Whether you are wagering on the Overwatch League or are getting involved in the Overwatch World Cup, it’s clear that this awesome game is now amongst the very biggest esports titles. As the Dota 2 tournament, The International, regularly commands massive viewing figures and the biggest prize pool in esports, it’s little surprise that this battle arena game has also become a big hit amongst the bookies.
eSports Betting Odds
Patch changes can quickly shift power between teams, so recent results matter more than long-term history. These benefits build over time and are most valuable for regular bettors rather than occasional esports bettors. They most often apply to match winner or map winner markets and come with low maximum stakes. However, always check the minimum odds, bet requirements, and live bet eligibility for these bonuses. Joining Safestbettingsites.co.uk in 2024 armed with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for responsible gambling, Liam provides insightful perspectives on safe and enjoyable betting. Liam Austen-Rondi is a seasoned writer in the sports betting and gambling industry.
Next, click on a particular Esports tournament or match and you will find a range of different markets to bet on. As the industry in general grows, filling out stadiums and streaming events to millions, the appetite for betting on Esports shows no sign of letting up. You bet on them in exactly the same way as real sports markets, by simply adding them to your betslip and placing your bet. Another extremely popular esports game to bet on is Call of Duty. The number of different Esports you can bet on is huge, with many games having a large number of tournaments taking place across the world, all available to bet on.
Betting on FIFA eSports is similar to betting on other eSports titles. Remember, betting should always be done responsibly. Take a look at our handicap betting guide for more info.
✅ Yes, most esports betting sites offer live esports betting with odds that change during rounds, maps, or objectives. Esports odds vary noticeably between esports betting sites, especially for map bets and prop markets. If it is a first-person shooter (FPS) game tournament — such as Fortnite or Call of Duty — esports betting sites will typically offer odds on the number of opponents a player eliminates. As such, they’re also a popular choice for esports bettors, and many esports betting sites offer a wide range of markets for MOBA games. Many top esports betting sites offer a wide range of markets for FPS games, including popular titles like Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), Overwatch, and Valorant.
For example, if Team A is a strong favourite against Team B, the bookmaker might offer a handicap of -1.5 maps for Team A. This means Team A has to win the match by at least two maps for your bet to win. This is a simple and popular market where you bet on which team or player will win an entire tournament or league. This market involves betting on the total number of rounds played in a match. You bet on which team or player will get the first kill in a match.
As more people watch the competitive streams on YouTube and Twitch, it opens the door to more competitions and more betting opportunities. In the UK, the list of eSports available for betting seems to be expanding each and every year. As such, the websites offering this service will need to follow all the same regulations as any other sport. In 2016, as part of a wider discussion paper, the UKGC concluded that eSports betting counts as gambling. Of course, you will need to be 18 years of age to even think about betting on casino site eSports. Alongside Denmark, Malta, Italy, and Spain, the UK now offer legitimate websites where eSports is available.
Can I bet on eSports tournaments on my mobile?
Given its lucrative prize pools and frenzied, colourful gameplay, big Dota 2 match-ups attract huge attention from fans and punters alike. Tournament play typically consists of a round-robin group stage where teams play best-of-two series against each other (2-0 win is worth two points, a 1-1 draw is worth one point for each team). Each round lasts just under two minutes so with up to 30-rounds per game, there are plenty of betting opportunities. Major tournaments like the ESL Pro League feature best-of-30-round games, with a full match usually being best-of-one, best-of-three, or best-of-five games. One of the first major online sports betting brands to fully commit to eSports, Betway is arguably the UK’s premier eSports betting site.
The esports section at BetMGM UK features betting markets on a range of games from FIFA to League of Legends, with competitive odds. Our top esports betting sites in the UK include BetMGM UK, QuickBet, Betnero, LuckyMate, and Betway. When betting on esports, understanding teams and players is key.
You can find markets for esports such as eHockey and eCricket, or various mobile-based games. For example, many UK betting sites have points-based programs where you accumulate points by betting, and can exchange them for no deposit free bets. No-deposit free bets are among the most attractive betting offers available to UK punters. The best betting sign up offers combine free bets, bonus funds, and even free spins for their welcome bonus. These bonuses help you get started with bonus funds, free bets, boosted odds, or even money back offers.
It can be hard to findlive streaming at betting sites. Moreover, Unibet’s app excels in its live streaming feature, granting users the ability to watch and bet on their favourite esports matches in real time. Unibet’s esports betting app is a shining beacon of simplicity and user-friendliness in a sea of cluttered and complex betting apps.
- Remember, betting should always be done responsibly.
- Some teams dominate specific metas, while others struggle when forced off comfort picks.
- Each game has its own league and tournaments, which take place annually or even twice a year.
- CS2 Summer Majors & Invitational CircuitThe mid-year CS2 Major and accompanying invitational events are expected to dominate esports betting handle during summer 2026.
You can try doubles, triples, or even system bets or bet builder bets to raise the payouts. This is the most common type of betting and is ideal for those who prefer to make their predictions in advance. Players get an advantage over basic bookmakers with the option to tailor their bets as they wish.
Individual Team Bets
This is also because the average betting margin is 8.06%, which might sound high but actually is not that bad for Esports, as games are tougher to predict for the bookies. The betting margins are also the best on this list, with our test showing an average of 7.3% for Esports games, and that is very important in the long run. The bookie has more than 10 different games available to bet on and the market depth is very good too, with up to 65 markets for one match. Bet365 is considered to be one of the best betting sites in the UK, regardless of which sport we are talking about, and the situation is no different on the Esports front.
The only option for Esports punters is to choose the bookie with the lowest margins. Overall, BetVictor has an okay Esports selection and if you already have an account there, the section will most likely suffice. BetVictor is one of the main bookmakers in the UK and punters who sign up here will find a comprehensive sportsbook.
Place wagers on the number of sets a match will have, the total games played in each set, or even specific outcomes like tiebreaks. At Bet442, punters can place bets on a vast array of football matches spanning leagues and tournaments globally. Whether you prefer straightforward win-lose bets or more complex game-specific wagers, you’ll have the flexibility to tailor your betting experience. Whether you’re new to sports betting or an experienced punter, you’ll find it simple to locate various sports and events on our platform.
Even a single player substitution can significantly impact team chemistry and performance, particularly in tactical shooters. Focusing on a small number of titles allows you to understand patch changes, map pools, and team tendencies more deeply — all of which strongly influence results. Because esports differs significantly from traditional sports, a tailored approach is essential. This guide will also highlight the best responsible gambling tools to keep betting fun so that it does not become an addiction.