The phenomenon that has not stopped growing in players and spectators has also taken over sports betting houses. How to choose the best and how to bet on eSports?
In this article we will give you the details about these competitions, the main games and which houses offer you the best options. In the end, you will know who to bet and where to do it.
What are eSports?
eSports are video game competitions, also known as electronic sports, that follow protocols and rules just like conventional sports. Based in tournaments or championships with two or more professional players and in them you can make various bets.
It is important to note that all eSports are video games, but not all video games are eSports, since to be they must have the tournament format enabled. To meet this requirement, video games must be from:
- Multiplayer arena battle (MOBA)
- Direct combat (Fighting)
- Real Time Strategy (RTS)
- First person shooting
- Bets on sports: soccer, football, basketball
- Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs)
eSports are consolidated on the international scene due to their sponsored events, tournaments, leagues and teams, which is why in recent years they have been included more strongly within the major sports betting houses.
eSports video games
The rage for video games has always existed, but the possibility of participating in international tournaments and creating leagues with participants from all over the world has made eSports video games become a new discipline.
The most popular worldwide are: League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Dota, Clash Royale, FIFA, Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Rainbow Six Siege, Gran Turismo Sport, Rocket League, or Fortnite.
Although there is a wide variety of offers in the eSports market, only a few of these games are suitable as a tournament format, which makes them candidates for placing bets. This is the top 3 eSports video games for tournaments:
Top 3 eSports video games
- Counter-Strike Global Offensive – CS:GO
based on gender first person shooter, two teams of five players compete against each other on different maps and scenarios. In eSports tournaments they play in the format of “best of 3” or “best of 5”. Teams play three or five matches, each with up to 30 rounds. Whoever won the most competitions goes to the next round.
Tournaments: Major, IEM, ESL One, Dreamhack Masters, Blast Premier, among others.
- League of Legends-LoL
This video game, based on driving real-time strategies, pits two teams of five players against each other with the goal of destroying each other's base. Tournaments are usually played five against five and last from 15 to 60 minutes. Like CS:GO, there are different tournament systems with “Best of 1″, “Best of 3” or “Best of 5”.
Tournaments: North American League of Legends Championship Series (LCS NA), European League of Legends Championship Series (EU LCS), League of Legends Pro League (LPL), Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), Latin American League (LLA).
- Dota 2
Like LoL is a Strategy game in real time and brings up several similarities, such as the length of the games and the number of players. Due to the abilities of the heroes and playable characters, Dota 2 is much more tactical and less focused in his own character.
Tournaments: The International, Dota Pro Circuit Tournaments, DPC WEU Dream League, DPC CN, DPC SA 4D Esports Tour, Dota 2 Asian Games, among others.
Legal eSport by country
Although eSports meet the same conditions as conventional sports, it should be noted that not all countries are accepted. However, online betting on these competitions is becoming more accessible to most people around the world.
An example of this is that in the United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and Italy eSports have already been legally regulated while in the United States in some states it is still illegal.
In the case of Latin America, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina are the countries with the largest number of eSports enthusiasts. In Colombia and Venezuela it is also regulated. However, the Latin American market is not compared to countries like the United States and China, which have contributed millions of dollars to this industry.
Regardless of how much they contribute to this market, as long as eSports are regulated by law in the country, there will be no restriction to place electronic bets in tournaments and competencies.
Which operators offer the possibility to bet on eSports?
With the growth of eSports, bookmakers saw an opportunity to take advantage of them and include them in their list of betting options. The most famous games are Leagues of Legends, Dota 2 and CS:GO. The main licensed operators that offer the possibility of betting on these electronic games are:
- Betway
- Bet365
- rivalry
- CyberBet
- GG Bet
- Betsson
- 888 sports
- LeoVegas
- luckia
- Rival
Key points to choose your bookmaker for eSports
Every bookmaker has advantages over others depending on its characteristics and main functions in eSports. These are the Key points to consider when choosing one:
- Quantity and quality of the offer in eSports
- Markets and bets
- Live streaming and betting
- Minimum fees
In addition to basic platform features on the table:
- Welcome bonus for eSports and other promotions
- International licenses and security
- Varied and secure payment methods
How to bet on eSports?
Placing your bets on eSports is very simple, it is very similar to the way you bet on conventional sports. We explain how to bet, what are the available markets and the different operators.
Steps to bet on eSports
- Select a licensed website that offers eSports betting and takes all necessary digital security measures.
- Register with the operator with your personal data or log in with your username and password.
- Choose the payment method of your choice and make your deposit.
- Choose an eSports genre to bet on, it can be MOBA, RTS, Fighting, etc. and find more information about the rules, teams and players.
- Once you have determined which game you want to bet on and the type of bet, you just have to make it and you will be testing your luck.
eSports markets: what can I bet on?
- match winner: Betting on the team you think will win the entire eSports match.
- Round/Map Winner: You select which team wins the first map of a match and in case of a round, who will win one of these.
- Correct points/markers: You have to guess how many points the team will acquire during a match.
- More less: You must predict if the overall result will be higher or lower than the given number.
- Time: Try to guess how long it will take a team to win a selected round or match.
- Group/Event Winner: Choose the possible winner of the indicated event.
- Handicap bet: It is used to encourage players to bet on inferior teams. If said team wins, you will get money.
- First blood: You have to predict which team spills blood first.
- Totals: Guess the total result of a match.
Top 3: eSports Bookmakers
Although there are several houses that today offer bets on eSports in their catalog of services, we bring you the three most popular for you to take a look at:
Betway
This bookmaker is considered one of the líderis for betting on eSports. It offers a variety of games such as: CS:GO, LoL, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, Valorant, Starcraft, among others, with their respective international leagues.
You can access certain live and with links to the Twitch platform to closely follow the competition of your choice.
| eSports | tournaments included | Payment index |
| CS: GO | IEM Katowice, the ESL Pro League and the Blast Premier | 93,27% |
| League of Legends | Rift Rivals, LCK, All Star, LEC, LCS | 93,42% |
| Dota 2 | Dota 2 International, the StarLadder i-League Invitational, and the annual DOTA Summit | 93,10% |
Bet365
Bet365 offers the biggest games in the industry: DOTA2, Counter-Striker Global Offensive (CS:GO), League of Legends (LoL), Overwatch, Tom Clancy's Rainbox Six Siege (R6) and Starcraft BroodWar, all with their different markets.
You also have the cashout option available and you can follow your bets with your application and watch the matches live via streaming.
| eSports | betting markets | Payment index |
| CS: GO | Map/Round Winner Victims Bombs Clutches Event Winner | 93,44% |
| League of Legends | First Blood Total Victims Player-Special Player of the Tournament Handicap | 92,77% |
| Dota 2 | Victims Surrender First Blood Event Winner | 92,62% |
Betsson
Although this casino does not offer promotions in its eSports section, Betsson is a big bookmaker in the esports market. Covers the most popular games: LoL, Dota 2, FIFA; CS:GO and some of the markets.
It should be noted that Rainbow Six and Starcraft are not among the available titles, which is a shame since these are among the most popular games in the industry. However, do not be discouraged, you will be able to place bets live to follow all your favorite games and plan the next ones on the platform with other available games.
| eSports | tournaments included | Payment index |
| CS: GO | Fire League, Elisa Invitational, ESL Pro League | 93,21% |
| League of Legends | European Masters, LCK, LPL, | 93,15% |
| Dota 2 | Dota 2 International, the StarLadder i-League Invitational, and the annual DOTA Summit | 93,10% |
FAQ
What is eSports betting?
eSports betting is a form of play in which you try to predict the results of the electronic sports tournaments of your choice such as LoL, CS:GO, Dota 2, Fortnite, among others.
How to bet on League of Legends?
Select the bookmaker of your choice and the amount you want to bet on LoL. Choose the type of bets you want to make, if the winner of the match, or first blood or handicap, among others. Make the bet and you will already be participating.
How is the betting in Rivalry?
Rivalry has a variety of sports disciplines and eSports tournaments to choose from, as well as payment methods, original betting format and live betting. It is a nice platform to use.
What happened to playfulbet?
Since its definitive closure in February 2020, the free sports betting platform has not returned to the market.
