Esports Betting
Esports Betting
THNDR aims to change the terms of iGaming from luck to player skill
Olivia Richman
A new online casino is making waves in the iGaming industry with its focus on skill-based gambling, as THNDR is adamant that the future of the industry is more about skill than chance. THNDR CEO Desiree Dickerson recently announced that she and her team are building the “world’s first” PvP skill-based iGaming platform that features real money and instant financial settlements. THNDR hosts a collection of casino games that are …
Esports Betting
Astralis vs Furia: IEM Cologne CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Astralis and Furia are both on the upswing but they’re set to face off for a spot in the IEM Cologne with a spot in the group stage on the line. Match IEM Cologne 2025 Play-in Stage Kick-off July 25, 2025 at 7:30 am ET Top pick Recommended betting pick Betting favorite Astralis Furia was one of the standouts of the BLAST Austin Major, working its way through two group …
Esports Betting
Complexity Gaming vs Tyloo: IEM Cologne betting guide
Steven Rondina
Tyloo won its first notable interregional tournament but Complexity Gaming might be sending it home from IEM Cologne with a 0-2 record; can you bet on it, though? Match IEM Cologne 2025 Play-in Stage Kick-off July 24, 2025 at 5 am ET Top pick Complexity wins 2-1 Betting favorite Tyloo The most recognizable Chinese team won Fissure Playground 1, defeating numerous top-20-ranked teams along the way including Virtus.pro, Astralis, and …
Esports Betting
Gamdom reveals a massive update that includes way more esports betting options
Olivia Richman
Crypto casino Gamdom has just announced a new and improved sportsbook that now includes a long list of new esports betting opportunities, creating even more options for interested bettors looking to get involved and prove their knowledge of their favorite games. Gamdom revealed its new and improved sportsbook, featuring a new layout and faster speeds, all designed to better the experience of making bets on the platform. Gamdom described its …
Esports Betting
NaVi vs G2 Esports: BLAST Austin Major CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
NaVi took a tough loss to longtime rival Team Spirit in the third round of the BLAST Austin Major group stage, but it has the chance to take a playoffs spot by beating G2. Match BLAST Austin Major Group Stage 3 Kick-off 4 pm ET on June 14, 2025 Top pick NaVi map 1 winning margin 2-4 Betting favorite NaVi G2 Esports has had a messy 2025 this year with …
Esports Betting
Team Spirit vs NaVi: BLAST Austin Major CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
The BLAST Austin Major has not gone to plan for most of the top teams, so can NaVi pull off a big upset against Team Spirit? Match BLAST Austin Major Group Stage 3 Kick-off June 13, 2025 at 1:30 pm ET Top pick Team Spirit wins 2-0 Betting favorite Team Spirit Team Falcons, Team Vitality, MOUZ, and Team Spirit were the four favorites to win the BLAST Austin Major. Team …
Esports Betting
Vitality vs Legacy: BLAST Austin Major CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Team Vitality enters the BLAST Austin Major as the definitive favorite to win the tournament, and the first stepping stone toward that championship is Legacy. Match BLAST Austin Major Stage 3 Kick-off June 12, 2025 at 11 am ET Top pick Vitality pistol round score 2-0 (2.50) Betting favorite June 12, 2025 at 11 am ET Vitality’s 2025 has been an exceptional one, but no dominant streak is complete without …
Esports Betting
FlyQuest vs Tyloo: BLAST Austin Major CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
One of the biggest rivalries of today’s APAC Counter-Strike scene, and one of the longest-standing rivalries in Counter-Strike major history, will add a new chapter in the BLAST Austin Major as Tyloo takes on FlyQuest. Match BLAST Austin Major Group Stage 1 Kick-off June 6, 2025 at 4 pm ET Top pick Tyloo wins 2-0 Betting favorite FlyQuest Tyloo is a staple of Counter-Strike majors, often serving as the shoe-in …
NRG vs OG: BLAST Austin Major CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
NRG might just be North America’s greatest hope at the BLAST Austin Major, but can the team lock up a spot in the second group stage by beating OG? Match BLAST Austin Major Group Stage 1 Kick-off 1:30 pm EDT, June 5, 2025 Top pick OG wins 2-1 Betting favorite OG While saying “NA” after any given gaffe during a Counter-Strike tournament is a Twitch tradition, the continent has produced …
Vitality vs Team Falcons: IEM Dallas playoffs CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
Team Vitality and Team Falcons are facing off in the IEM Dallas semifinals, but how can you bet against either one of these superteams? It’s actually surprisingly easy. After looking downright terrifying in its last few outings, Team Falcons has looked a bit shaky in IEM Dallas. Its journey through the group stage was an extraordinary carry job by Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, who looked the part of Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev …
GamerLegion vs Team Falcons: IEM Dallas CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
The IEM Dallas playoffs will kick off with an interesting match to bet on as Team Falcons take on GamerLegion. Team Falcons made a strong case for itself as the second-best team in Counter-Strike behind Team Vitality. A major component of that was wins over Team Spirit in BLAST Rivals Spring, and MOUZ in IEM Melbourne. MOUZ said “not so fast” to this in IEM Dallas however, taking a decisive …
Aurora Gaming vs Furia: PGL Astana CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
PGL Astana’s finals will be preceded by a third-place decider match between Aurora Gaming and Furia; who should you bet on? Team Spirit and Astralis will face off in the grand finals of PGL Astana, a showdown that is half surprising and half blasé. The same goes for the third-place decider too, with Aurora Gaming facing Furia. Aurora Gaming has been consistent throughout 2025 in a way where a solid …
Team Spirit vs Furia: PGL Astana playoffs CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
Team Spirit and Furia are set for a semifinals match in PGL Astana, but is it even possible to bet on such a lopsided match? Team Spirit was the pick to win PGL Astana. It has looked the part so far, winning four matches to blaze its way to the semifinals. Furia has looked good at the event too, but not on the same level as Spirit. Now the two …
NaVi vs Astralis: PGL Astana playoffs CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
Astralis has done a solid job in PGL Astana, but does the team have a serious chance of making a run when it faces NaVi in the playoffs? Fans have been wringing their hands over Astralis’ struggles for various reasons over recent years. Despite that, Astralis has been a workable top-20 team, even though it lacks the stability fans took for granted during the brand’s heyday. The latest iteration of …
Virtus.pro vs MIBR: PGL Astana CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
Three spots in the PGL Astana playoffs are up for grabs but only one of them are available to Virtus.pro and MIBR, so who is advancing? Just six teams are left in the PGL Astana group stage. Five teams, including tournament favorites like The MongolZ and Team Spirit, have a playoffs spot locked up. Others, like the unheralded HOTU and North American qualifier winner M80, have already been eliminated. Virtus.pro …
G2 Esports vs M80: PGL Astana CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
With two rounds of the PGL Astana group stage now done, G2 Esports and M80 are among the teams facing elimination. G2 Esports and M80 entered PGL Astana in very different spots. G2 was a top team needing to sort itself after a major roster shakeup. M80 is a tier-two team looking to prove itself in tier-one events. Unfortunately, neither of them have seen things go well. Now, one of …
Team Spirit vs Ninjas in Pyjamas: PGL Astana betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
Ninjas in Pyjamas took a shocking victory over Virtus.pro to kick off its PGL Astana run, but can it get another win over Team Spirit? PGL Astana is off to a wild start in terms of upset victories, with Ninjas in Pyjamas’ win over Virtus.pro being foremost among them. According to the bookmakers, this wasn’t a particularly surprising turn, but this was still a fringe top-10 team being defeated by …
The MongolZ vs Furia: PGL Astana CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
PGL Astana is the next big stop in the Counter-Strike esports parade, and one of the first matches is a showdown between The MongolZ and Furia. The BLAST Austin Major is on the horizon and that has teams shaking up their rosters. Furia is among them, with the team swapping out two players in hopes of getting a boost at the event. That makes PGL Astana a key staging ground …
Virtus.pro vs Ninjas in Pyjamas: PGL Astana full CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
PGL Astana is bringing in some fresh faces to take on established top-10 teams, but you wouldn’t know that Virtus.pro vs Ninja Pyjamas is one of those matches based on the betting odds. These two organizations have loads of history in Counter-Strike, with legendary fan-favorite teams and comical or controversial breakups in equal measure. While VP has mostly been near the top of Counter-Strike for years, that hasn’t been the …
MOUZ vs Team Falcons: BLAST Rivals Spring CS2 betting guide
Steven Rondina
Esports Betting
Team Falcons and MOUZ just can’t avoid each other, and the two teams are set to face off once again in the playoffs of BLAST Rivals Spring. BLAST Rivals Spring is down to four teams and they’re likely the four best in all of Counter-Strike esports today. One of the matchups that has come together is one we’ve seen many times in recent months, though. While that might not make …
Over the last few years, esports betting has exploded in popularity due to the huge growth of the esports industry and the wider coverage tournaments and events are getting, plus the money involved.
While it doesn’t yet rival traditional sports betting, it’s not difficult to see a world where this could happen. If you’re a gamer, or an esports fan, and have wondered about esports betting, read on. We’ve created a comprehensive guide that details what it is, how it works, the popular video games you can bet on, and other useful information.
Esports Betting Explained
You’ve most likely heard of sports betting well, esports betting is exactly the same. Instead of betting on physical sports, you are placing wagers on video games like Call of Duty, League of Legends, StarCraft II, and VALORANT.
This was a logical progression for the esports industry and over the last years, betting on esports has exploded in popularity. You now have a range of dedicated websites that only provide esports betting. Also, many traditional sportsbooks have added esports betting sections to their already huge offerings.
Either way, the premise is simple – you sign up to one of the sites, deposit some real money in your local currency, and place wagers on your favorite esports teams and players. You then have the chance to get real money payouts in return.
Where to bet esports today
Most Popular Esports for Betting
The number of esports titles has grown significantly. New games emerge every year and with them an esports scene that acts as a way to promote the game, either directly by the publisher or through third party tournament organizers or both. The success of an esports largely depends on the sustainability of the scene and opportunities for players to go pro. Today, there are competitive gaming events for many different genres including FPS, MOBA, RTS, sports sims, battle royales mobile games, and trading card games.
With all these pro gaming events it’s no surprise that esports is now a popular betting option for many fans of the respective games. In the betting menus of possibly all sports betting sites you’ll now find everything from Counter-Strike 2 and
LoL betting. To give you an introduction, we’ve listed the most popular esports games that you can bet on in the below table:
| Esport | Overview |
| CS2 | Released in 2023 by Valve, and is currently the fifth entry in the iconic Counter-Strike series. Players or teams of players engage in tactical first-person shooter action using a range of military weapons. |
| LoL | Immensely popular MOBA created by Riot Games where players control units and try to control maps and defeat the opposing players. |
| Dota 2 | Legendary MOBA developed by Valve where players control a hero and units, and battle against opponents using special abilities, and strategies. |
| Valorant | Tactical Hero Shooter developed by Riot Games where players fight in intense battles using an array of weapons, perks, and abilities |
| Fortnite | Third-person Battle Royale game where players parachute down into the map and fight against 99 other opponents to try and be the last person or team standing. |
| Overwatch | First-person shooter game created by Blizzard in 2016 and still remains one of the most popular esports betting games due to its awesome action and strategical gameplay. |
| StarCraft II | The successor to one of the original esports games, StarCraft. This is a real time strategy game where players have a base, build units and structures, and must control their army to defeat their opponents. |
| NBA2K | Hugely popular NBA basketball video game where players control an NBA team and play full-length matches against their opponents. |
Types of Esports Bets You Can Make
You now know which games are popular for esports betting, like
Valorant betting, but what about the types of bets you can make? Generally, there are three core types of bets available at the best esports betting websites:
- Single selections:
Where you bet on one market.
- Multiple selections/accas/parlays:
Where you bet on multiple events.
- Bet builders/Same-game parlays:
Where you bet on multiple single markets from one match.
Within this broad spectrum of betting categories, you also have a range of common individual bet types which we’ve listed in the below table:
| Esports bet type | What it means |
| Outright winner | The most common type of bet. You are betting on the overall outcome of a game and who will win it. |
| Correct score | Where you pick what the final score of a game will be, such as the number of rounds, games, or maps, for example. |
| Team score | Where you predict the score of one team or player. |
| First frag/kill | More commonly used in FPS games like CS2 where you bet on which player or team gets the first kill. |
| Over/Under bets | Pick if you think the team/player will get more or less than the specified stat for a range of different categories. |
| First objective | Similar to first kill bets, but more aimed at MOBA or RTS games. |
How to Choose a Good Site for Betting on Esports
Some sites are better than others for betting on esports. We know how difficult it can be to find a suitable site due to the huge amount of choice, and promotions they bombard you with to make you bet with them. To help make your decision easier, we’ve used our knowledge to list seven key features you should look for when choosing which betting website to use.
Licensing
Whether you’re looking for site with
CS2 betting
options or any other esport, we will only ever recommend licensed online sports betting sites. Without a gambling license, a betting site is not bound by any rules, laws, or regulations, and you could potentially open yourself to scams. You can be assured that the sites featured on this page are all licensed, and they should be available for the region you are accessing this site from. You should check for licensing information in the website footer of a betting site.
Usability
A site could have all the features in the world, but if its usability is poor, you won’t have an enjoyable betting experience. Therefore, we suggest looking at the desktop website design and layout to make sure it works smoothly and allows you to easily browse the esports categories and betting markets. You can also check to see if the operator has a downloadable mobile app for whichever type of smartphone you use.
Supported games
This is down to personal preference, but you’ll most likely only want to make bets on a select few games – probably the games you play yourself. With that in mind, you can use the links and banners on this page to browse through the
best esports betting sites
and see what games they support. Go one step further and look at the tournaments, leagues, and events they support too.
Betting markets
It’s one thing for the esports online betting site to support the games you want to bet on, but does it have the types of bets you want to make? This is very important, particularly if you want to make prop bets such as destroying a tower or barracks in
Dota 2 betting. Think about what wagers you like making, and your potential betting strategies, and then browse the site’s betting setup before you register an account. It is also be worthwhile comparing the odds with other gambling sites.
Whether you’re
betting on Call of Duty
or any other esport, it’s worth looking at the betting bonuses that the site offers. Start by checking out the welcome bonus, which is an promotion directed at new customers only. This might include a deposit match bonus, free bets, or risk-free bets, for example.
You should then look at the promos for existing customers to make sure you can still get great value once you are registered. It’s also worth checking if betting sites’s VIP or loyalty program that can reward you, via a ranking system, with cashback and rakeback, weekly and monthly
esports betting bonuses, and even more exclusive perks depending on your VIP status.
Security
Site and mobile app security is also important and we want you to be safe when you are betting on esports. Top sites use industry-standard security features like SSL encryption and HTTPS connectivity. They will also allow advanced authentication for your account login such as 2FA. It’s also worth looking for the documentation they provide such as terms of service, privacy policies, and fairness documentation.
Responsible Gambling
Just because it’s esports and not traditional sports betting, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t gamble responsibly. We recommend checking the responsible gambling tools and support esports betting websites offer. Ideally, they should have some of the following features:
- Deposit limits
- Reality checks
- Timeouts
- Self-exclusion periods
- Betting limits
- Links to problem gambling support groups
Even if you don’t need to use these tools it’s still a great idea to understand how they work, and how you can access them if you feel like you are losing control.
How to Start Betting on Esports
Once you’ve selected a betting site you to join, you’ll need to register an account if you want to deposit real money and make your esports bets. The exact process can vary depending on the site, but it usually involves these steps:
-
Click the links or banners on this page to open the site.
-
Click the sign up or join button.
-
Enter the required personal details.
-
Enter a bonus promo code if needed.
-
Finish the registration form.
-
Verify your email or ID if required.
-
Log in using your credentials.
With your account created, and any verification complete, you can make your first deposit. Depending on your location, you’ll find a range of different payment methods such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. Simply choose how much you want to deposit, enter your payment details, and hit the process button. Usually, deposits at esports betting websites are processed instantly.
After your account is loaded with some cash, you can start browsing the esports betting sections, find the games or events you want to bet on, and dive into the action.
Top sites for betting on esports
Online Esports Betting is Becoming Even More Popular
We hope you’ve found this guide on esports betting useful. You now have a better understanding of this industry and how the sites generally work. Whether you’re
betting on Mobile Legends, or placing wagers on FPS or MOBA esports games these online sites will facilitate the action and give you an seamless betting experience.
Remember to think about the legality of betting on esports in your location, and the attributes that make the an esports betting site the best. You can then check out the links, reviews, and banners featured here to find a site that suits your needs, get signed up, and make your first esports bet!
Esports Betting FAQs
🚀 What is esports betting?
Esports betting means putting money on competitive video game tournaments, matches or players. Here, you put money on which team is going to win a match, a tournament, what the correct score will be, player props such as total kills or other in-game events.
🤑 How to make money betting on esports?
The best way to make money from esports betting is by understanding the teams and how the game is played. You can make lots of money by analyzing drafts or finding opportunities in live betting.
❓ Which are the best esports betting websites?
This depends on what you want from your esports online betting experience. We recommend checking the banners featured on this page as they should show a host of popular betting sites for your region.
💰 Can you win real money betting on esports?
Of course. If you sign up and deposit funds to a real money betting site with esports markets then you can start to place wagers matches. If your bets win, your payout will be your initial stake, multiplied by the bet odds.
🥇 Which is the best esports game to bet on?
There is no “best” esports game for betting. Similar to traditional online sportsbooks, different people will enjoy betting on different games and they typically bet on games that they play themselves as they will have greater insight to how the game works and which teams or players are better.
📈 Which are the most popular esports for betting?
Globally, the most dominant games for esports betting are Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Valorant, and Dota 2. All of these esports feature huge multi-million dollar prize pool tournaments, and have enough strategy for bettors to do research on.
🌍 Where is esports betting available?
This depends on your location and the legality of online gambling for the country, region, or state you live in. Always check eligibility requirements before signing up to one of our recommended betting sites.
⛔ Is esports betting rigged?
No, esports betting is not rigged because you’re betting on actual players competing in real tournaments. There have been match-fixing scandals, though they are quite rare nowadays thanks to significant esports integrity efforts and data sharing between stakeholders like data providers and betting companies.
