Esports betting online 2026

What is esports? And can you wager on these professional video games? Is a question we get regularly asked at the WGL office. In this article we will give you a overview of how to bet on esports, including the top games in the esports ecosystem, esports bet types, recommended esports bookies, tips for betting on esports and a step-by-step guide to getting started wagering on esports.

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What is esports and can I bet on it?

Esports betting is one of the fastest-growing segments of the gambling industry and is expected to continue growing rapidly for many years.

For those who are new to the scene, esports is professional video gaming, and the betting aspect of it comes across multiple games and the pro leagues and tournaments that are held on a daily basis around the globe.

The hotspots for esports are North America, most of Asia and many countries in Europe. This article will run you through everything you need to know to become a pro esports punter over the next 20 minutes, or at the very least give you a grasp of how the scene operates.

Getting started: How to place a bet on esports

Esports is dragging in a new breed of sports bettor: younger, predominantly male and very analytical in their approach to wagering. Generally the millennials betting on the various options at online betting sites will be massive fans of the games and following the money is one likely way to taste success when dipping your toes into esports for the first time.

Find an esports betting site

The World Gambling List always recommends betting with regulated sportsbooks, preferably in the country you are based, although that is not always possible, particularly in the case of sports bettors in North America and other markets with strict laws.

The top esports betting sites will largely be determined by your location, with many countries around the world now having their own regulated gambling industries. These include countries like Australia (top AU betting sites), United Kingdom (best UK betting sites) and South Africa (Top ZA betting sites) which all tax and provide licensing for their online bookies.

Any esports betting sites you see on this page you are eligible to sign up at with, because they are geo-targeted to your location.

Other factors to consider when choosing a betting site

It’s important to find a betting site with a good reputation that accepts players from your jurisdiction, with many regulated bookies having country restrictions, meaning if you are based in a certain country you cannot sign up. The following are all things you need to consider when making your selection.

• Does it accept bettors from my country?
• Does it have the right deposit options?
• Does it have the esports I’m looking for?
• Does the betting site have customer service?
• What is the reputation of the website like?
• What does the bookie’s verification process involve?
• How does the gambling company allow withdrawals?

Popular esports games with betting available

Esports is such a broad term and is continually evolving as developers release new games. Surprisingly it is not the head-to-head traditional betting games such as football, basketball and other sports games that draw the most attention. Rather it is first person shooters and strategy games like League of Legends and World of Warcraft that are at the forefront of the industry. In no particular order these games are all available to bet on at various sportsbooks:

• League of Legends: Referred to as LoL and is played online in a battle arena by multiple players. This Riot Games title is available on both Mac and Microsoft Windows. The Champions Series, played across five continents, and the various one-off yearly tournaments are a highlight of the esports calendar.
• Dota 2: Released by the Valve corporation for Windows and Linux in 2013, Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena title with a massive following in esports, although it has had its following tempered somewhat in recent years. The basic premise is teams of five defend their base and attack the opposition’s. Major tournaments are played most months of the year, both online and in the flesh.
• CS:GO: Is a first-person shooter that is an offshoot of the original Counter Strike titles which are going on 20 years old. Does not have the massive Asian following like League of Legends but it does have a rusted-on fan base that is unlikely to be going anywhere anytime soon.
• FIFA: The FIFA franchise is hugely popular in football circles and while not a huge betting game yet, the signs are there that it will explode at any time with many of the major football teams from Europe and the United Kingdom setting up their own esports teams to compete. FIFA, along with PES, are the major games in the eSoccer world.
• Fortnite: One of the biggest first-person shooters in esports, Fortnite has huge appeal as an esports betting medium. Some of the major events to look out for including the Fortnite World Cup, Fortnite Championship Series and others, with these events having significant betting interest around them. Fortnite has become the most-played video game with a professional esports scene surrounding it.
• Hearthstone: Hearthstone was originally known as Heroes of Warcraft and still has many recognisable elements. Originally released in 2014, this game is a free-to-play online digital collectible card game that definitely takes some mastering. The beauty of this game is that it is cross-platform, meaning people on different operating systems can compete against each other.
• Overwatch: A multi-player game which is a first-person shooter game released by Blizzard Entertainment in May 2016. Has a massive following on the esports circuit and is available on Playstation 4, Xbox One and Windows. Basically two teams of six duke it out with players having a choice of more than 30 characters with different skill sets. Has a bit more of a kiddy feel than other games in the same genre.
• PGA 2k: While it is yet to have a really big esports scene around it, PGA 2k is a massive step forward for golf games. PGA 2k esports betting is expected to grow in the coming years, but at this point there is very little of it. Definitely keep an eye out for the updates on the PS5 and XBOX Series X.
• PUBG: This battle royale game is incredibly popular among casual players and this had lead to a very competitive esports scene. PUBG betting is available at many esports betting sites on the major events and this comfortably sits in the mid-tier of betting turnover. PUBG drops 100 players out of a plane onto an expansive map, where players then fight it out on a shrinking map. Winner takes all style.
• Starcraft 2: Is one of the most well-known esports games and is another by Blizzard that has been around since 2010. Available on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, Starcraft 2 is the sequel to famous Starcraft which was released in 1998 – it has surely come a long way since then and is one of the ultimate strategy games.
• Smite 2: Smite is a free-play multi-player online battle arena game, which was released by Hi-Rez Studios and is available on Windows, Mac, PS4, Nintendo Switch and XBOX one. It’s another team-based game where you go up against other players as mythical figures. Is heavily tactics oriented. The Smite World Championship has a prize pool of over $US1 million.
• Vain Glory: Vain Glory was originally a popular mobile game available on both Android and iOS devices, before a Mac and Windows version was released in mid 2018. Released by Super Evil Megacorp, teams of five players fight for turf, while there are also computer-controlled enemies you must stay on top of. The definite highlight of this game is the ability for players on different platforms to play simultaneously.
• Call of Duty: Another popular first-person shooter with a number of different game modes. In terms of esports, either players battle it out to get the most kills on a massive multi-player map, or teams fight to defend and attack bases in small teams. The game is probably more popular with the casual player than hardcore esports fanatics.
• Halo: One of the most popular games of all time, Halo as an esport is still thriving, although does not have the huge prize purses of some of the other games out there. Released by Microgaming, Halo is a first-person shooter which strongly relies on a futuristic, science fiction theme with players fighting an interstellar war which seems to have strongly borrowed some of its themes from the great writers in this niche.
• Cross Fire: At one point in 2014 Crossfire became the most played game of all time and there are plans to breathe new life into the franchise (which also had a feature movie made based around it) with a second title. This Windows title is a first-person shooter that pits groups of players against each other as either “Black List” or “Global Risk”. The game has plenty of different modes but it is definitely the team-based game that has captured an esports following.
• Clash Royale: Developed by Supercell, Clash Royale mixes many of the best elements of other games, including multi-player online battle arena, tower defense and collectable cards. Released in 2016, Clash Royale quickly emerged as a fan favourite for both iOS and Android devices.
• World of Tanks: Released by Wargaming, WoT features tanks and other combat vehicles from the mid 20th century. Game runs on a freemium model although to really excel at the game you have to unlock some of the “premium” features. There are different versions of World of Tanks with these being available on mobile devices, Xbox and Playstation. The game does have some esports leagues and tournaments and has betting available at some dedicated esport betting sites.
• Rainbow Six: Siege: Is the 13th version of this great tactical game to be released and has a pro esports league based around it. Released by Ubisoft Montreal in 2015, Siege has great gameplay where you have to be hyper-aware of your landscape and your teammates, with the ability to stay in sync with your teammates one of the real highlights. Expect this series to keep churning out titles, so it’s hard to see it failing as an esport any time soon.
• NBA 2K23: The latest in the NBA 2K series is 2024 and it continues to improve. The 2K pro league features franchises from all over the globe although it is still in its infancy and there are qualifiers being played all over the place. Expect this game to be a main player in the esports world in the coming years as it taps into basketball’s huge fan base.

Major esports events in 2026

Finding the best esports odds

Esports is one of those areas where if your finger is on the pulse you can pluck a longshot winner. Put it this way, every now and then a new kid (I almost mean this literally) comes along and eclipses the competition. This means you can find some great value when betting on esports. But on the other side of the coin is the fact that often betting sites will have slim odds on games because quite frankly they have no idea who is going to win and their results databases don’t have the depth of information like they would on a mainstream sport.

Well-known esports betting website Unikrn is on record saying that in the early days they really struggled setting markets, because they couldn’t fall back on third-party sources to provide the data to realistically set a market. Instead they were forced to set the markets on games themselves by slowly building their database which led to some serious teething and cash flow problems. But the market in 2019 has grown to a point where we are starting to see more value in games.

The website with the best odds on the event you want to punt on will largely come down to where you are based in the world. For instance, if you are in the USA you might find there are limited options, including in New Jersey where sports betting is legal. Basically there are only a few offshore sportsbooks with esports willing to accept USA punters, and even in the states where betting is legal, they still have not cottoned on to the rapidly expanding esports industry.

Bet types on esports

The youth of the esports wagering industry means in comparison to developed sports betting pursuits like various football codes and games like cricket there are few betting markets. Generally the betting options on each match will be restricted to head-to-head betting, moneylines and in some cases map betting, although this is beginning to change on some of the major events. For instance Bet365 has started to release futures markets on major events and many more betting options on games that are already under way.

While we will go into much greater detail about the different bet types available on esports in future articles, you will generally be able to play parlays or multibets on esports events, which is a great way to find some value on often predictable betting markets. Put four or five certainties together and suddenly those short-priced favourites are giving you a nice payout.

Some of the most common bet types in esports include:

1. Match Winner: This is a simple bet on which team or player will win the match.
2. Handicap: This is a type of bet where one team or player is given an advantage or disadvantage to even the playing field. The bet is placed on the team/player to win with the given handicap.
3. Over/Under: This bet is based on the total number of rounds, maps, or kills that will occur in a match. Bettors can place a bet on whether the final score will be over or under the predetermined number.
4. First Blood: This bet is on which team/player will score the first kill or take the first objective in the match.
5. Futures: This is a bet on the outcome of a tournament or league, rather than an individual match. Another example of a futures bet that is popular in esports betting is MVP betting, which essentially lets you bet on who will be the top player in an event.
6. Prop Bets: Prop bets are a type of bet on specific events within a match, such as which player will get the most kills or which team will win the first map.
7. Live Betting: Live betting allows you to bet on a match while it’s in progress, with odds and lines changing based on the current score.

How to watch esports

One of the beautiful things about punting on esports is that most of the professional leagues stream their events live via one of the many streaming websites such as Twitch and Youtube. The biggest and most popular place to watch esports is Twitch which has over 100 million viewers monthly, crazy numbers considering viewership of some of the major sports around the globe.

If you are keen to watch some esports action in the flesh there is every chance that a major city near you will be hosting events in the not-too-distant future. A good place to start is by visiting your favourite game’s official website and seeing if they have any upcoming tournaments or events in your area.

Esports facts and figures

• Esports is booming with the industry estimated to be worth as much as $1.38 billion in 2018, with this up about 15% from the previous year, according to figures released by Newzoo. This growth has come on the back of more professional leagues, new games and high-profile investments from people like Drake and sports teams like Barcelona FC.
• The esports industry in Asia was estimated to be worth $328 million in 2018.
• The esports industry in North America is estimated to be worth $275 million in 2018.
• The esports industry in Europe is estimated to be worth $269 million in 2018.
• It’s estimated the global esports industry has a pool of over 300 million viewers in 2018.
• About 40% of esports viewers don’t even play the game they watch.
• About 85% of esports viewers are male millennials.
• About 46% of esports viewers are aged between 18 and 25.
• Dota 2 players dominate the highest e-sports winners of all time, with the no.1 on the list being Kuro Kuroky Takhasomi with close to $4.5 million in prizemoney alone.
• Users spend over 80 million hours per month watching esports on Twitch

Esports on consoles

Console gaming has received a shot in the arm in recent times, after last year’s release of the XBOX Series X and the PS5.

Both next gen gaming consoles are now desperately trying to boos their claims as the no.1 console for esports, although PC still holds the mantle in the pointy end of the professional scene.

Games like Halo and Forza have continued to gather momentum as competitive esports games and their professional scenes are growing all the time, although they still are no match for titles like Fortnite.

PS5 console gaming is also continuing to grow with titles like Call of Duty and FIFA exceptionally popular right across the globe.

Tips for betting esports

If you are interested in betting on esports, here are some tips that can help you make informed decisions:

1. Do your research: It’s important to have a good understanding of the teams and players involved in the match you want to bet on. Look at their past performances, stats, and recent form to help you make informed decisions.
2. Watch the games: It’s important to watch the games you are betting on to see how the teams and players perform. This can give you a better understanding of their strategies, strengths, and weaknesses.
3. Consider the game and its mechanics: Different esports have different game mechanics and strategies, so it’s important to understand the game and its rules. For example, in first-person shooter games, aim and movement mechanics are crucial, while in strategy games, decision-making and resource management are key.
4. Bet on what you know: It’s always a good idea to stick to games and teams you are familiar with. This will help you make more informed decisions based on your knowledge and experience.
5. Manage your bankroll: Set a budget for your esports betting and stick to it. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and avoid chasing losses by betting more money than you originally planned.
6. Shop around for odds: Different betting sites may offer different odds for the same bet, so it’s always a good idea to compare odds from multiple sites before placing your bet.
7. Stay up to date with the latest news: Keep track of player injuries, roster changes, and other relevant news that may affect the outcome of a match.

Remember that esports betting is never a guarantee, so always bet responsibly and consider the risks involved.

How to fund an esports betting account

This can be one of the most challenging aspects of betting on esports, with many people still reluctant to give their bank details to offshore gambling websites in 2019. However, this is not something that you necessarily need to fear with plenty of safe and reliable ways to money up. The solution for you is understanding the gambling landscape in your country. Do you have regulated esports betting options? If you do you are much better off using these options because you will have protection from your country’s licensing body. If you don’t you will have to bet offshore which can still be a good option if you choose wisely.

You will find the following deposit options are common at esports betting sites:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• JCB
• Debit cards
• Diners Club
• American Express
• Neteller
• Paypal
• InstaDebit
• Skrill
• ecoPayz
• iDebit
• echeck
• PayID
• Ethereum
• Bitcoin