One of the fastest growing esports betting markets in the world today is eFootball betting.
But what do we mean by that phrase? It is the same as eSoccer betting? Why do some betting sites have very different ideas on what constitutes eFootball betting compared to others?
Our Favorite eSoccer betting sites
In our list of top providers below, you will discover the sites that we feel offer some of the best eSoccer betting online today!
The world of esports is ever-changing with new esports titles emerging all the time. One of the fastest-growing esports to play and bet on currently is eFootball (sometimes known as eSoccer).
Games such as the FIFA series of games, Konami’s eFootball free-to-play title and the forthcoming new title EAFC, have seen a huge surge in interest. This ensures that eFootball and eSoccer betting is also growing quickly in popularity too.
So if you are interested in the current state of eFootball betting and want to know more, read on and let’s continue this article with a look at exactly what an eFootball or eSoccer game is.
eFootball, eSoccer – Confusing, isn’t it?
It certainly can be, yes! So that is why we’ve put together our ultimate guide to eSoccer and/or eFootball betting!
But before we do that first let’s clear up some confusion over the terms eFootball and eSoccer betting and what they can mean.
The terms eFootball or eSoccer do not have a single definition and can be used to mean three different things:
- eFootball or eSoccer betting – Is used to refer to betting on popular esports football games, such as the new EAFC, or FIFA titles.
- eFootball – Can also refer to Konami’s free-to-play football game eFootball, which was formerly known as Pro Evolution Soccer.
- eFootball – Confusingly, many betting sites will list their Virtual Soccer or Virtual Football betting games under the title of eFootball or eSoccer.
Just remember that for the remainder of this article, we will be talking generally about the first eFootball or eSoccer definition shown above, and not specifically the new Konami eFootball game or soccer-themed Virtuals!
And more specifically still, our focus will be on the esports betting options available for the most popular eFootball and eSoccer games.
What is eFootball/eSoccer?
The simplest way to describe eFootball or eSoccer is that it is an esports game that is based on professional football.
You likely already know plenty about professional football. It’s the most popular game in the world, played and loved by billions. The basis of which features two teams of eleven players trying to win the game between them.
And just as in popular esports games such as Dota 2, League of Legends or similar, individuals or teams of two players (or occasionally more) compete against each other to win the game. In eFootball or eSoccer, the outcome is decided via a game of football played on a console or PC.
Games are played over a shorter period of time than an actual football game with halves usually lasting between 4 and 8 minutes in length. However, most of the rules in eFootball are pretty similar to those you would find in a standard game of football.
Just remember that the game duration upon which you place your eSoccer bet is 8 minutes, not 90 minutes! Though you can also find some eSoccer bet 12 min options too.
What is eSoccer betting?
When it comes to betting on esports tournaments and eFootball betting in general, the FIFA series of games by Electronic Arts has been the most prevalent title used in higher-profile eFootball tournaments.
However, there are a smaller number of other tournaments that use different titles to play, such as the aforementioned eFootball from Konami, although these are generally less prestigious tournaments.
But that could be set to change completely. That’s because in 2023, FIFA and EA Sports, who created the FIFA series from inception up to FIFA 23, decided not to renew their partnership.
This means that from now on when we talk about eFootball betting, we will now have to consider a new and as yet unnamed FIFA title (which as yet has scant information available), or the new EA Sports title, which has been named EAFC 24 and which will be released on the 29th September 2023.
And just to add to the confusion; EAFC 24 will be viewed as the natural sequel to FIFA 23. Furthermore, if and when the new FIFA game comes out, this is more likely to be a very different type of game to the FIFA games that preceded it!
So very soon, we could have a situation where eFootball betting refers to markets available on esports tournaments played using FIFA’s new unnamed title, EAFC 24 and Konami’s eFootball title!
In Betting, What’s The Difference Between Konami’s eFootball, EA FC 24 And the New FIFAe Esports game?
For the most part, eFootball betting is a generic term used to describe betting on all three titles!
By that we mean, any eFootball betting that you can find at your choice of the many eSoccer betting sites available today, are usually offering markets on tournaments based on one of the latest incarnations of EA Sports FIFA series.
So, when you log in to any esports betting sites that offer esports bets on eFootball tournaments, then the likelihood is that the game you will be betting on, will be contested on FIFAe Esports.
However, with the split between FIFA and EA Sports this year, that could all soon change.
What seems most likely is that all the current FIFAe Football tournaments will likely continue, but will use FIFA’s own yet to be released game.
FIFAe Esports offers a wide range of different esports tournaments throughout the year for players to compete in.
There are esports versions of major FIFA tournaments, such as the Champions League, European Championships and World Cup people can compete in each year.
These games exist alongside a number of specially designed tournaments such as the FIFAe Club World Cup and the FIFAe Nations Cup, which are not tournaments you’ll find located on the Bet365 soccer betting pages, but only in that site’s Esports Football betting pages.
What the forthcoming EAFC 24 will offer in terms of esports tournament play is not yet known. However, if the game proves to be a hit (and as it is using the same engine as previous FIFA titles, that is likely to be the case), then the odds are we will soon see official eFootball tournaments and eSoccer betting available on those tournament using EAFC 24 as its platform.
However, to confuse matters further, there is now a specific title from Konami that is called “eFootball”. Let’s learn a little more about why the Japanese company changed the name of its title from Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) to this new title.
Why Did Pro Evolution Soccer Change To PES eFootball?
Konami’s decision to rename their title to eFootball was based on the fact that while the game was very popular in Japan and the east, it was not as popular a title as the rival FIFA game.
To make the game more appealing, Konami decided to make it a free-to-play title and to focus specifically on appealing to people who enjoy eFootball and the occasional eFootball bet.
To achieve this they worked on their game engine to make the game more esports-specific, rather than focusing on a game for a single user, even one that plays online against other players.
It is easy to mix up the terms sometimes so remember that while Konami’s eFootball game refers to a FIFA gaming rival, it is also the phrase used for eFootball betting on FIFAe Esports Football tournaments.
And often those terms and phrases such like FIFA betting or FIFAe betting, are used interchangeably on betting sites too!
What Are The Best eFootball Betting Sites?
Such is the popularity of eSoccer betting nowadays, almost all sites that offer any form of esports betting will offer a selection of the top eFootball tournaments in the world.
Many providers also cover several other eFootball leagues and tournaments at lower levels too.
Some notable eFootball betting sites include:
Amongst the selection of providers above, you will likely find many different forms of eFootball betting including betting on current FIFA titles, future FIFA titles, Konami’s eFootball-based tournaments and any future EAFC 24 esports tournaments that are organised.
Are There Any eFootball Betting Bonuses?
No, there are no specific eFootball betting bonuses that are available at the time of writing. However, the fact that many betting sites change promotions regularly does mean that there is every possibility that bonuses specific to eFootball betting may be available in the future.
However, some sites do offer specific welcome bonus offers for new customers, some of which can be used on esports betting and as such, there is no reason why you could not use your welcome bonus to enjoy eFootball betting on these sites.
It is always a good move to check out the latest promotions on your choice of esports betting site to see what offers are available, especially when there is a big eFootball tournament in progress, or about to start, as this is when just such promotions are likely.
Sportsbet.io eFootball Betting
Our Top eFootball Betting Tips
So you want to enjoy a spot of eFootball betting, but you aren’t sure what to look out for? Well, in this section, we will give you some very useful hints and tips on what to look out for when enjoying betting on eSoccer.
Let’s begin with a look at some of the different tournaments and betting markets available for a broad range of eSoccer events.
eSoccer Tournament Betting
In major tournaments, a broader range of markets, including outright winner markets, become available. For instance, you could back a player to win the FIFAe World Cup. Similarly, you might predict the victor of the FIFAe Nations Cup.
Additionally, you will find annual esports tournaments for other top football competitions, such as the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Champions League, Copa Libertadores and more.
However, much more common are bets available on the myriad of one-v-one eFootball matches that take place each day around the world.
eSoccer Battle Games
These games may not be part of a specific tournament (but they can be) and these games have been named “eSoccer battle betting games”.
These games pair two players of roughly equal ability in a game which is streamed live and which allows customers to tune in and bet on the outcome of the game.
Some sites even offer esports battle betting tips where they compare the form and abilities of the players competing against each other.
When placing an eSoccer bet the 8 minutes length of the game should always be considered when formulating your best betting option.
Most Popular eFootball betting markets
The most used eFootball bets or are similar to the most popular soccer bets and include:
- Match Result Betting (Home Win, Away Win or Draw)
- Double Chance Betting
- Asian Handicap Betting
- Over/Under Goals betting for the game
When games are in action, some of the top sites may also offer In Play betting across a range of markets for the game, although the availability of this differs from site to site.
There is no doubt that the Match Result betting market is the most popular form of eFootball bet to make, as is the case with regular football betting.
The other markets are of mixed popularity with the Over/Under goals market probably the second most popular alongside Asian handicap betting markets.
Sportsbet.io eFootball odds
Major eFootball Tournaments
What is eFootball in betting if it is not about betting on major tournaments?
The growing popularity of eFootball as an esport means that there are a large number of high profile eSoccer tournaments taking place around the world each year.
The most prestigious are the tournaments organised by Electronic Arts and sanctioned by the football governing body FIFA and these included:
- FIFAe World Cup
- FIFAe Nations Cup
- FIFAe Global Series
- FIFAe Champions Cup
- FIFAe Club World Cup
- FIFAe Continental Cup
Alongside the top-level events that were contested, there were also several high-profile tournaments based on real life football tournaments and these include:
- eChampions League
- eLa Liga
- Virtual Bundesliga
- eSuperliga
- eAllvenskan
- eLigue1
- E-League
- DFB-ePokal
- ePremier League
- eMLS Cup
- eLibertadores
- eMLS League
eFootball Partner Clubs
It is common knowledge that professional sports teams are looking at many different ways to get involved in the esports industry and that certainly extends to soccer clubs looking at the eFootball industry.
A growing number of professional teams now have either their own eFootball team, and some even have teams that represent the organization in other esports titles such as Dota 2, League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
However, given that eSoccer is a perfect fit for professional clubs, it is easy to understand why they are expanding into this arena.
Some of the most famous clubs to have eFootball teams representing them include:
- Brondby IF (Denmark)
- FC Basel (Switzerland)
- New York City FC (Major League Soccer – US)
- Ajax (Netherlands)
- Levante UD (Spain)
- Manchester City (England)
- New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer – US)
- Vfl Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)
- FC Copenhagen (Denmark)
- FC Schalke 04 (Bundesliga)
- Melbourne City FC (Australia)
- Werder eSports (Bundesliga)
- Orgryte IS (Sweden)
- LOSC eSports (France)
- Wolves eSports (England)
- Boavista (Portugal)
- BK Odense (Denmark)
- Paris St Germain (France)
- Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Alongside these teams, a number of famous former and current professional footballers have also invested in their own or to become part of esports or eFootball franchises including Ruud Gullit (Team Gullit), Gareth Bale (Ellevens Esports), Ronaldinho (R10 Esports), Mesut Ozil (M10 Esports), Alessio Romagnoli (Team Romagnoli), Antoine Griezmann (Grizi Esport) and Christian Fuchs (No Fuchs Given).
Who Are The Best Teams And Players In eFootball?
One of the most exciting things for people that want to get into eFootball is realism. With FIFA currently being the predominant game used in esports tournaments, the fact that FIFA (as well as EA Sports) have acquired licences for almost all the top professional teams and leagues, means that the best teams in eFootball and the best players in eFootball are generally the same as the best players in the world at that particular time.
So for example, in recent years, that means the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Manuel Neuer, Mo Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, Luka Modric, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Luka Modric, Sadio Mane, Alisson and Erling Haaland have been amongst the highest-ranked players in the game.
There are exceptions to this rule though. In FIFA Ultimate Team, you can acquire special cards that feature a number of special former players including some of the most famous names in the history of football such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini, Michael Laudrup, Marco Van Basten, Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, Marcel Desailly and many more.
You can also acquire special cards throughout the football season, including those of players that made the FIFA Team of the Week, or enhanced cards for players that are in particularly good form. Players that also reach their Team of the Season for their respective leagues can also get specially enhanced cards in the game.
As eSoccer games replicate real life, you tend to find that the best teams in real life are also the best teams in eSoccer games, so the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Paris St Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Juventus, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are amongst the strongest teams in the game, and it is a similar situation for international and women’s teams too.
Final Remarks
In terms of eFootball betting, this currently refers to betting on FIFA esports tournaments, and not the eFootball game that Konami have trademarked.
However, the split between EA Sports and FIFA from 2023 means that this may not be the case for too much longer, especially when EAFC 24 is released in September 2023.
Once you have understood this, then betting on soccer can be as enjoyable and varied as any other esport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is eFootball in betting?
Some betting sites also use the term to refer to Virtual Soccer games they host and which people can bet on.
How do I win an eFootball bet?
Where can I bet on eSoccer?
Are eFootball and eSoccer the same thing in betting?
However, you should note that some sites use these terms to mean Virtual Sports betting and also that Konami have called their free-to-play esports football game called eFootball.
Since: August 10, 2015
