Everything you need to know about esports betting in Canada

The appeal of esports worldwide is growing. For those unfamiliar with this form of competition, esports is competition built around playing video games. Individual players or teams can compete, typically in front of a crowd of spectators in attendance or at home.

Some esports tournaments may have a live crowd but the easiest way for fans to watch esports tournaments and competitions is through streaming platforms like Twitch. As the popularity of esports rises, so does the esports betting industry. 

Read on to learn all about the esports scene in Canada and the best sites for esports betting.

Is esports popular in Canada?

There’s no doubt that esports is on the rise in Canada, with some of the best teams competing at an international level. Canada is the home to a number of prominent esports organizations including OverActive Media, the Vancouver Titans, and Luminosity Gaming.

On top of that, Canada has produced a long list of top esports talents including Dota 2’s Tal “Fly” Aizik and Artour “Arteezy” Babaev, Counter-Strike’s Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, and StarCraft 2’s Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn. 

The esports betting market in Canada 

Betting on esports online in Canada has become widespread in recent years, with several top betting sites accepting bets on the most popular esports games and tournaments. There are many esports betting sites in Canada but it’s important to do your research before you go ahead and place a bet.

First, it’s important to make sure the site has the appropriate gaming licence to offer esports betting in Canada. The legal situation of betting on esports is quite hazy in Canada, which is why most bettors choose foreign betting sites to place esports bets. These sites should be regulated by a reputable licensing authority such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curacao e-Gaming Authority. 

Before delving into the world of esports betting, make sure to choose a safe and secure site to do so. It’s also recommended to choose an esports site which offers the ability to stream live games.

How to bet on esports in Canada 

With the growing popularity of esports as a betting market, practically every online sportsbook and betting site offers a selection of esports bets. There are plenty of reliable Canadian betting sites listed at www.casimoose.ca, many of which offer a complete sportsbook, including esports betting. For example, Leo Vegas, offers several esports betting markets including Dota 2, League of Legends, and Starcraft 2 betting.

Betting on esports is a lot like sports betting in terms of the different bets that can be placed. Just like betting on football or any other sport, the most important part of esports betting is doing research. 

Before betting on any league or tournament, do homework about the teams, the individual players, and their current form. It’s also good to take into consideration past victories and defeats to understand the odds of winning better. With that being said, let’s go over the most common esports bet types.

Outright winner betting

This is the most common type of bet that can be found at any Canadian esports betting site and it’s simply a wager on the winner of a whole event, tournament, or league. 

Pre-match betting

Another form of esports betting is pre-match betting which refers to placing a bet before an esports match or event begins. Players bet on which side will win the contest.

Live betting

Live betting is becoming increasingly popular in Canadian esports markets and it’s essentially the opposite of pre-match betting. Live betting refers to wagering on the outcome when the event has already started.

What popular esports events do Canadians bet on?

In this section, we’ll take a closer look at the top esports to bet on in Canada.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive betting

CSGO is the backbone of esports betting, which was driven by skin betting. This is a form of gambling which uses virtual goods and in-game items instead of cash, and many consider it to be the primary reason for CSGO becoming one of the biggest esports in the world. 

Dota 2 betting

Dota 2 is another action-packed esport and one of the most popular betting options for esports bettors in Canada. The game’s competitive format is broken down into three sections, with regional leagues leading into interregional “major” tournaments, which all build towards the season-ending The International. 

League of Legends betting

Millions of people around the world either play, watch, or follow League of Legends. Any top betting site like Bet365 or 888Sports offers bettors the option to bet on League of Legends while streaming the game at the same time. The League of Legends World Championship is a massive betting event by any measure.

Fortnite betting and the Fortnite World Cup

One of the most-played video games right now, Fortnite is a popular betting option at any esport betting site. With more than 250 million people playing the game worldwide, the Fortnite esports scene is growing rapidly and it’s one of the most popular esports for Canadians to bet on.

There are several Fortnite leagues and tournaments that bettors can wager on, but the biggest in terms of viewership, prize money, and betting, is definitely the Fortnite World Cup. This event was a smash hit in 2019 and fans are anxiously awaiting a second installment of the event.