Ranking the best esports betting sites

By Jared Wynne

|

Aug 27, 2020

Reading time: 7 min

2020 has been a successful year for esports betting. Already incredibly popular, this year has seen more online bookmakers offering odds on esports events such as League of Legends and Dota 2.

Recent years have seen bookmakers showing a growing interest in the expanding world of esports. One could argue that the seeds had been sown by bookmakers when they started producing virtual sports to keep their customers supplied with a constant stream of betting opportunities. To jump from a virtual horse race to esports wasn’t that big a move.

Purists might have been surprised at the offering of odds on esports events. Would they be interested in betting on people playing computer games? When there’s a chance to make a profit by backing a winner, it’s incredible how quickly people can become newly engaged in something.

Gamblers have now embraced esports and see it as another avenue in which they can make money. With that interest being shown, it is no wonder that online bookmakers are prepared to offer more odds on esports events.

The world of esports has seen fantastic growth. Parents don’t need to moan too much about their children spending hours on their computer playing games as it’s probably just training for the day when they can enter a Fortnite tournament and win millions of dollars. It’s the fact that such massive tournaments now take place that has attracted bookmakers to the sport.

If there is massive interest in an event, bookies will be interested as well. They will put their toe in the water to test what interest there will be from their customers. That’s happened with esports, and the positive reaction has inspired online bookmakers to continue offering odds on tournaments.

Once online bookmakers discover a sport that is becoming popular with their customers, they will want to see regular betting opportunities. Just covering the odd event now and then doesn’t fit that bill. Now that esports has so many different leagues, that is excellent news for the bookmakers. They can now be offering a steady flow of odds on League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, and more.

Which are the best online bookmakers to go to if one wants to place a bet on esports? There is a lot of information online about esports coverage in the world of betting, but going to a site such as BestCasinoSites.net is a great idea to get started.

We now look at the top five that have embraced esports and made it a regular part of their sportsbook. This will also examine the different kinds of markets one can place bets on and the overall strengths of each online bookmaker.

Unibet

This is one of the top online bookmakers and one with an excellent reputation. That is something always important to consider when joining an online bookmaker. It doesn’t take long to realise how essential esports is becoming on Unibet. Down the left-hand side of the page is a list of the sports they cover and the number of bets available. 

Who would have imagined that in the summer of 2020, the number of bets for esports would be three times the total available for cricket?

The fact that official organizations regulate these tournaments is essential. It is one of the critical reasons why esports has become something that online bookmakers are more than prepared to offer odds on.  

The site covers a good number of esports events daily. Unibet is definitely a site to go to and bet on esports. One can bet on games such as StarCraft 2, Overwatch, and Rainbow 6 to name but three.

The strength of any online gambling site is its provision of in-play betting and Unibet excel in this. One may well wish to place one’s bets on the next esports match before it begins. However, it is far more exciting to be able to bet on the esports match while it is actually taking place. The odds will be fluctuating on a continual basis, all depending on what is happening in the game.

A player or team who could have been backed at high odds before the match will see their odds fall if getting off to a good start. The favorite will see their odds lengthen and that may be good news for the punters. If they still believe their selection is going to win, then they can now place a bet at better odds and hope the comeback is achieved.

Mr Green

The Mr Green online gambling site is one that has something for everyone. The top sports are covered, there’s a world-class casino, and now great coverage of esports.

When one does join an online gambling site, it’s important to ensure that it will be financially secure. The site must hold a licence, for example from the UK Gambling Commission. That’s the case with Mr Green, and it does make playing at the site a safer experience.

Online bookmakers have to undergo strict tests to be granted licences. They will have someone to answer to if they do step out of line in any way. Joining a site that ensures data is encrypted and safe from fraudsters is also vital.

Bet365

Bet365 now have an excellent selection of matches to choose from. Plenty of leagues are covered.

The site will offer several markets for each game, nowhere near the number offered for some football games where the numbers regularly reach three figures. There’s often just a handful available on esports but the more the better when it comes to chasing a win. Bet365 also offers in-play betting and live streaming, all of which makes betting on this site a more enticing proposition..

An important part of being a member of an online gambling site is welcome offers and promotions. When joining the Bet365 website, there is a welcome offer available. It’s always important to make sure to read and all terms and conditions of this or any other offer on any site. 

Coral 

Coral is one of the oldest bookmaker sites in the UK, and they probably never imagined the day when they’d be offering odds on players trying to beat their opponents in esports competitions.

Some of the games they cover have up to 15 different markets available. That gives plenty of chances to get a win.

Just as in other sports covered by online bookmakers, the number of markets one can place bets on is on the rise.

One can try out the handicap market where better odds may be available. The team least favored to win can be given a points start, and this will give the match more attractive odds. 

For example, Team Liquid may be as short as 1.05 (1/20 in fractional odds) to beat BBL Esports. That’s way too short, but if BBL are given a 1.5 start, then all of a sudden Team Liquid are 1.53 to win, and that’s a lot better. Note it’s 1.5 in this example, which again means the game can’t end in a draw.

Better odds could be available by going to other markets such as the total maps that will be won by the player or team. Then there’s the first blood market to try and get a win on. Not that easy to predict, but it can be done all the same. 

It really is a different world when betting on esports, as what can be bet on depends on the nature of the game that is being played. In which other events can one place a bet on the first team to kill a dragon?

Betting on the correct final score is also popular, and this can often have high odds attached.

888sport

This is another top-rated online gambling site, and it is one packed with promotions and bonuses. They give coverage to esports, and whether there’s a big event going on or just a daily league, they will give odds on the key matches. As well as betting on who will win each match, bettors can also place a bet on who will win the overall league the teams are playing in. For example, one could bet on whether Atlanta FaZe or Dallas Empire will win the Call of Duty League.

Getting hold of an app can be essential to more easily access markets on the go. This can go onto one’s mobile device, and it will have all the significant features of the desktop version. It allows one to bet in-play on esports events and watch some live streaming too. Now that will liven up that dull experience of waiting for the next bus to turn up.

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