What are the best esports betting sites around? As this page will explain, it is a matter of personal taste and you need to consider multiple factors before deciding where to bet. We have reviewed hundreds and our list below includes several big-hitters as well as a couple of lesser-known options. Scroll down and pick your favorite – registering will give you access to a fantastic esports betting bonus.
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What are the Best Betting Sites for Esports?
Answering the question of what are the best betting sites for esports is quite a task, and any ranking system is bound to be subjective.
Our ratings for the major esports gambling sites (sometimes referred to as video game gambling sites, too) are no exception. To help place our esportsbook ratings into perspective, we’ve identified the primary factors that we consider when building a rating for any individual esportsbook.
Some factors may be more important to specific players than others, but we believe these are the basic questions players should be asking when considering if an online sportsbook is right for them.
Our Esports Betting Sites Reviews
Below are some of the most popular esports gambling sites we have reviewed and rated. Reading any will give you a better understanding of the website, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the full selection of the esports events that can be enjoyed.
Primary Factors Considered When Rating
Below you will find the most important factors we use when assigning ratings.
Reputation Check
One of the great things about the modern online sports betting industry is that it’s much harder for a rogue site to stay alive than it was some years ago.
Today, a simple Google search is often enough to unearth the questionable past of an operator (if such a past exists), social signals such as Reddit, X and Facebook interactions can provide a further window into the legitimacy of a betting operator, and customer reviews from a variety of outlets are only a click away. Indeed, Esports Bets exists for this very purpose – to help you have a safer and more enjoyable time betting on your favorite events.
The reputation of an operator, and the truth behind that reputation, are foundational pieces of our ratings and betting sites reviews.
Access to Funds and Security for Esports Bettors
- How easy is it for players to request withdrawals?
- What are the turnaround times for cashing out?
- What do players have to say about their experiences with cashing out via social media and forums?
- How many options are there for getting money on and off the site?
- What is the site’s policy regarding player funds – are they held in a segregated account?
The answers to these questions are a significant part of the analysis that goes into assigning our ratings for esports betting websites. The beauty of our reviews is that we apply the same standards to each review, so you can always know that we are comparing like for like.
Variety of Esports Coverage
Once you’ve established that you feel comfortable trusting an online sportsbook with your information and funds, the next step is considering how the lineup offered by a given sportsbook aligns with your esports interest.
We recognize that offering a large variety of esports markets to bet on isn’t the same as offering the best betting product, but we do provide a rating boost to operators who combine a quality product with broad event coverage, as most gamers and esports fans don’t limit their interest to only one title.
Scope of Esports Gambling Product
This criterion is highly subjective, as different players will prefer different types of bets. Some players are happy with match betting at low limits. Others prefer high-stakes wagering on exotic outcomes. We assign a minor weight to this factor in recognition of the fact that there is no single best betting menu for all players, but also with a nod to the reality that the broadest menu will likely satisfy the widest audience.
Payment Options for Esport Betting Websites
One of the most important elements for any player to consider is the variety of payment methods that are on offer when betting. We include this information in all of our reviews and, for most, the more the better.
Crypto betting sites are increasingly common and offer unparalleled security, while those who prefer traditional methods may prefer to utilize sites that accept PayPal or Visa for payments.
Your choice will have a material impact on the speed at which your deposits and withdrawals are processed, so we highlight this when reviewing a brand and let you choose the site that is best for you.
Customer Support
However experienced a player you are, the chances are that at some point you will need to ask customer support a question, whether that is around bonus eligibility or a payment. Therefore, we value highly esport sites that have more than one option to do so – including 24/7 live chat support.
Esportsbooks vs Traditional Sportsbooks
The esports betting landscape contains:
- Traditional online sportsbooks (like Betway and bet365) offer esports alongside other sports like football and tennis
- Esports-first sportsbooks (such as GG.Bet) with a primary (or even a completely exclusive) focus on esports
The points that favor esports-first sportsbooks:
- esports-first books will generally offer broader esports coverage.
- esports-first books will often provide more esports streaming or other content around the betting product.
- esports-first books may provide a more familiar experience for a gamer or esports fan than a traditional sportsbook.
On the other side of the coin:
- Traditional sportsbooks are generally more established.
- Traditional sportsbooks tend to serve more markets than esports-first books.
- Limits are often higher at traditional books like Pinnacle.
Fundamentally, your choice should always come down primarily to the site where you feel most comfortable, and then to the site that provides the product that best matches your needs. On those points, there’s no reason why either an esports-first book or a traditional sportsbook would be inherently superior.
Sportsbook Betting vs Lounge/Skin Betting
Informal betting sites such as CSGOLounge are popular options for gamers and we believe there are several advantages to choosing to bet at an esportsbook.
Informal markets are just that – informal.
- You often have little idea who is actually behind the site or insight into the inherent fairness of the site.
- You also don’t necessarily have a path for recourse if something goes wrong with your bet or your balance.
There’s also the problem of turning in-game items into cash. Not all players have an interest in betting with in-game items. But for those who do, transferring items into cash is a difficult, time-consuming and often risky endeavor.
Moving your betting to a mainstream sportsbook mitigates both of those concerns.
- You get to work with an operator that is heavily licensed and regulated by the gaming competent authorities of several jurisdictions, many of the sports betting operators we list are publicly-traded companies.
- This provides a level of transparency and assurance that you’re never going to get with informal betting markets. And since you’re dealing in cash the whole time, there’s no concern about price volatility or the hassle of selling your items.
- It is important to note that at EsportsBets, we review and recommend esportsbooks that are fully licensed by a trusted body, so choosing from our list of recommended sites is highly recommended. When we review a site that is not fully licensed and regulated we make it a point to clearly mention this.
Read more about popular, safe alternatives to Counter-Strike skin gambling.
Opening Bonuses at Esports Casinos and Sportsbooks
In addition to VIP programs and other ongoing promotions, esports casino sites typically offer new players some sort of sign-up incentive. These incentives range from sportsbook to sportsbook, and the terms and conditions behind the bonuses can often make it difficult to accurately compare the values of competing bonuses with just a surface analysis. Below we offer a brief guide to interpreting the most common – and most critical – terms and conditions associated with bonuses for new players at esports casinos and sports books.
All esports gambling promotions have bonus terms and conditions – the fine print. The terms are often minor but can be significant, and can vary depending on the country that you live.
We strongly encourage you to read the fine print and to ask operators questions if they’re unclear on any aspect of a promotional offer – this can reduce the chance of any nasty surprises when it comes to cashing out your winnings.
We especially stress two common conditions of opening bonuses that all players should be aware of:
- Expiration dates: Many bonuses are only available for a limited time and may additionally need to be earned within a limited period.
- Playthrough: Commonly, bonuses require you to wager an amount relative to the bonus before the bonus can be used or withdrawn. Further stipulations can also apply, such as only being used on specific titles.
Deposit Bonuses at Esports Gambling Sites
Deposit bonuses are not entirely unlike free bet bonuses, but they tend to involve larger amounts of money and slightly more complicated terms for unlocking that money.
- Minimum Deposit: There is usually a floor for match bonuses, meaning you must deposit at least some minimum amount.
- Bonus Rate: There’s typically a percentage attached to a bonus – that’s the match rate. Whatever you deposit will be “matched” by that rate (up to the limit on the bonus).
- Bonus Limit: The cap on the bonus.
- Wagering Requirement: Changing bonus funds into playable funds requires you to wager a certain amount of real money.
- Window: There is usually some time frame involved, both for collecting the bonus and for earning it.
A great example of a first-time deposit bonus for esports bettors comes from GG.Bet Esports. Here’s how you can claim the bonus.
- Create your GG.Bet account.
- Make your first deposit of between €10 and €300 into your GG.bet account.
- When you make your first deposit it is eligible for a 100% Welcome Bonus on deposits from €10 to €300.
- Once your deposit is cleared, your bonus will be credited to you. Bonus funds will only be used once you have played through your cash deposit (and associated winnings).
- Your deposit and bonus come with a 20x wagering requirement, which must be completed within 14 days of activating the offer.
- Qualifying bets for the wagering requirement must be made on esports markets with odds of 1.75 or higher.
- The maximum amount you can release from this bonus is capped at €300.
Generally speaking, deposit bonuses tend to be product neutral – meaning you don’t need to bet on any particular kind of sport or make any specific kind of wager (save the minimum odds requirements) to earn the bonus. However, it is increasingly common for sites to have separate offers for esports, traditional sports, and casino sections.
Often promotions offered by bookmakers can be linked to a particular sport or even a particular sporting event. For example, the start of the Premier League will always see a slew of football-related promotions to encourage fans to wager on the competition.
Over the years, we have seen a similar focus on key esports and esports events where betting sites have offered promotions and other bonuses to customers to attract them to make bets. It is rare now for an esports betting site not to offer a promotion for events such as the League of Legends World Championship. Additionally, promotions are commonly seen for all of the top-tier Counter-Strike 2 betting (formerly CS:GO) events. The International is another event where Dota 2 betting promotions are frequently offered.
Furthermore, with an increasing number of betting sites becoming far more involved in the esports industry, sponsoring teams and even whole tournaments, many sites, when they do this, will also offer specific promotions and bonuses on events that they have sponsored to their customers. A good example of this is GG.Bet, who have sponsored many event and who offer a range of promotions on the event, including match deposits, bet insurance and free bets.
Not all sportsbooks offer such promotions. For example, Pinnacle Esports does not provide deposit bonuses or free bets. Instead, the company focuses on offering the best odds available in lieu of giving indirect value to bettors via signup promotions or similar incentives.
Free Esports Bets at Sportsbooks
The term “free bet” actually describes a wide class of promotions with unique terms. Generally speaking, the concept behind the free bet comes down to:
- The sportsbook gives you some funds upfront that can be used to make a wager (but can’t be withdrawn), or
- The sportsbook rebates your first bet (or bets) should those bets end up not working out in our favor.
Nothing too complicated at work here. The sportsbook knows that if you take their free bet – which is often a relatively small amount of money – then there’s a good chance you’ll become a customer. In the scenario where the book guarantees your initial bet, they have some additional upside – the customer is happy when they win, and happy when they lose as well. That sounds like a customer who is likely to come back.
Free Bets T&Cs
The terms and conditions for free bets are unique to each offer. Here are some of the basic facets typically found in terms and conditions to give you an idea of what’s in play:
- New Customers: As the name suggests, welcome bonuses or new customer bonuses are only available to players who haven’t already made an account. Be sure not to try and game the system as you will not be able to cash out winnings if you make multiple accounts.
- Playthrough: The sportsbook may require that you wager a set amount of money before your bonus becomes money that you can cash out. This is a common practice that is used to deter bonus fraud by sportsbooks.
- Odds or over: Free bets will often come with a requirement that the player places a wager involving some minimum odds or greater.
- Account confirmation: The operator may require some verification of your identity before processing a bonus (again, a fraud prevention measure)
- Eligibility Window: There may be a limited amount of time after you sign up that the sportsbook allows you to claim the bonus.
- Bonus Expiration: The esportsbook may set a limit on how long you have to earn the bonus or complete the requirements attached to the bonus.
Here’s an example. Betway Esports offers a free bet of up to £30/€30/$30. To earn it, you must:
- Create an account.
- Deposit a minimum of £10/€10/$10 using approved payment methods within 7 days.
- The free bet will then be automatically credited to your account.
- You must place bets totaling the value of your deposit.
- You have 7 days to use the free bet.
- The free bet can only be used in a single wager.
- Free bet stake not included in any returns.
Online sportsbooks aren’t as generous with free bets as they once were. But with esports betting on the rise, we could see competition between top esports betting sites bringing the free bet back into vogue.
Esports Betting Options by Country
Esports betting markets commonly vary from country to country, so what you see when you bet is likely to be different to one that your friend living in another country would.
Below are some of the most important pieces of information to consider when figuring out where to bet on esports.
Regulated Markets
Esports betting is readily available in clearly regulated markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Esports betting is offered in Ontario as well. Bettors from these markets should confirm that an operator is licensed to offer services to players by the competent authority of the jurisdiction – this is because such a license in the country is a legal requirement.
Many widely licensed, global operators such as Bet365 offer esports, ensuring that the product is available in at least some form in most regulated markets.
Grey Markets
In contrast, some markets have either an absence of law regarding online sports betting or deep ambiguity in their law regarding such activity.
Unlike esports betting in the UK, in grey markets legality is fluid and different operators take different approaches to activity in the market, but several esports betting options at well-regarded betting sites are available. It is always good, then, to do your homework and take advice from a trusted voice such as EsportsBets, as we only recommend esport sites that we have vetted with a full review.
We advise players in these markets to approach the activity with caution, confirm local law regarding potential criminal liability as a player, and prefer esports betting options that are licensed in an established jurisdiction – this will ensure your safety in the long run and mean you are covered should anything go wrong.
Other
In some regions, such as South Korea and certain other countries, online sports and esports betting remains illegal. While there might be methods for residents of these countries to bypass these regulations, we strongly discourage players from these areas from engaging in online esports betting. Additionally, we strive to ensure that none of our associated providers or operators promote their services in these markets.
On the contrary, in various parts of the world, the betting landscape is undergoing significant transformations. The situation with esports betting in the United States exemplifies this shift. Before the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) by the US Supreme Court in 2018, sports and esports betting were predominantly deemed illegal. However, numerous states have now not only legalized sports betting but are also moving forward with esports betting regulations.
New Jersey was at the forefront of this movement. The state legalized sports betting, and subsequently, esports betting became legal in 2018. As of now, US states that offer legal esports betting include:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Additionally, other states are in varying stages of the legalization process, and some have put specific regulations in place.
Considering the dynamic situation in the United States, with an increasing number of states looking to embrace both sports and esports betting, it is anticipated that esports betting will see substantial growth in the coming years and we will always be on hand to give you the latest esport betting sites that are available to you.
Do All Sites Offer the Same Esports Matches?
While a number of different operators offer a variety of esports betting products, there is a real difference in the coverage of major esports games from one site to the next.
Our esports odds tracker has the latest betting markets so that you can see exactly who is the favorite for each event, as well as which site has the best odds.
Why Don’t All Sites Offer All Esports?
Even though Pinnacle took the first esports bet way back in 2010, the truth is that esports betting is still relatively new. That means some books are moving cautiously, and just trying out some of the more popular, proven esports. So while you’ll find quite a few esports listed in books that have been working on esports for some time (like Pinnacle, Betway and Bet365), you’ll likely find far fewer at a recently launched site.
The relative newness of esports betting also means that there is a limited understanding of how the markets for individual esports should be priced – it’s not like football or golf where there are entire industries already built around providing data and pricing for betting on live events; esports betting involves a learning curve for online sportsbooks, and that learning curve means that it will be some time before all major esports are covered by all online sportsbooks.
Also, be aware that some betting sites don’t use the proper names for their esports betting sections. It could happen, for example, that some betting sites offer esports under the name of “cybersports”. In short, esports is an untapped market and is only going to grow further in the coming years as it becomes more widely known.
How can I tell if a site offers in-play or other advanced wagering on an esports title?
Generally speaking, the more focus a sportsbook places on esports, the greater the variety of wagers that you’re going to find in that book. So sites like Thunderpick, Rivalry and GG.Bet are all going to have more exotic wagers and a greater array of betting options, such as in-play betting, than sportsbooks like 10Bet and Ladbrokes that are still growing into their esports offering.
Is Esports Betting Any Different Legally Than Sports Betting?
The answer to this question largely hinges on the country or state you’re situated in.
In several regions around the globe, there’s essentially no distinction between the legalities of esports betting and sports betting. For instance, global providers such as Betway, William Hill, Ladbrokes, GG.Bet, and many others, frequently showcase esports and sports betting markets concurrently, without any apparent restrictions favoring one over the other.
Conversely, in areas where sports betting is prohibited, it’s a reasonable deduction that esports betting would likewise be restricted. However, countries like the United States exemplify how sports betting and esports betting can receive varied legal treatments from individual states. While numerous US states have greenlighted sports betting, esports is yet to receive a universal nod.
The most straightforward method to discern the legality of esports betting sites in your locality is to visit a renowned sportsbook and scout for an esports section. If present, it’s a solid indicator that esports betting has the legal stamp of approval in your jurisdiction.
Since: August 10, 2015
