The world of fantasy esports has become lucrative and popular over the last decade. These games blend the concept of fantasy sports, where you create your virtual team to compete against other players, but this time, in esports games. They include Fantasy Counter-Strike, FIFA, League of Legends, Valorant, and Fortnite.
This guide seeks to show the bridge between the two worlds by explaining what fantasy esports are and how they work, as well as a review of the popular platforms offering fantasy esports. Read on to find out more.
Best Fantasy Esports Sites 2025
Fantasy esports are widely available and these are our recommended sites to try them for yourself.
- Spend $50, Get up to $100 in Fliff Coins
- 1x Playthrough
- Use Promo Code: BONUSWIN
Get up to $100
- Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Cash
- PLUS a Pick'Em Special on Deposit
- Win Up to 100x Your Entry in a Single Night
- Use Bonus Code: ODDSWIN
- First Deposit Match up to $1,500
- Win up to 100x Payouts
- Place in-game Contest
- Use Promo Code: BETWIN
- Play Free for your Share of Millions with First Deposit
- CS:GO, LOL, Rocket League.
- Simulated Football & Basketball Contests
- T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
- Receive a Deposit Match up to $100
- Watch Sports, Play Fantasy, Win Cash!
- To Claim: Click Play Now
Deposit Match
- Over 1,000 Slots + Live Dealer Casino-Style Games
- 10,000 GC + 1 Stake Cash Daily Bonus
- Partnerships with Drake, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, Everton FC, and more!
- Use Bonus Code: EBETS
Understanding Fantasy Esports
To understand fantasy esports betting, we first need to dissect what fantasy sports and esports are. Fantasy sports involve creating a dream team consisting of real-life athletes to compete against other fantasy teams created by rival players. The real-life performances of the players in the fantasy teams will determine the positioning and who wins the prize pool.
On the other hand, in esports players (also referred to as pr0-gamers) can enter tournaments, either individually or as a team, to compete against other on video games. Over the years, the esports world has seen many games become popular among players. They include Rocket League, Dota 2, Valorant 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), etc.
So, what are fantasy esports? They operate similarly to fantasy sports, but this time, you will be creating a team based on professional esports players. The better your team performs, the more the points, and the better the prizes.
The popularity of esports gambling cannot go unnoticed, with the best daily fantasy sites in the US offering esports alongside fantasy sports. Today, you can join daily fantasy esports contests and compete for prizes against other players.
Fantasy Esports vs Sports
There are no major differences when it comes to fantasy esports betting and traditional fantasy sports. A player who can play fantasy sports can play the esports fantasy league or contests. As seen, the idea is to draft a team to compete against other players with points earned based on the team’s real-life performances.
However, a few differences exist, including the creation of teams and skill focus. Fantasy esports involve teams built consisting of professional esports players, while fantasy sports involve teams built consisting of real-life athletes. In addition, fantasy esports are more skill-driven compared to fantasy sports, which are more luck-driven.
How Fantasy Esports Works
By now, you understand what fantasy esports are and have an idea of how they work. You will create a virtual team of professional esports players who compete in video games and rack up points based on the real-life performances of your virtual team. DraftKings is one of the top daily fantasy esports betting platforms in the US for games like Rocket League, Counter-Strike, and League of Legends. Here is how to get started at DraftKings daily fantasy esports:
- Sign up for an online account at DraftKings or use their mobile app.
- Choose your contest and draft your best lineup of players.
- Watch the live streams of your team in action and rack up points based on their performances,
- Claim prizes if you are among the highest point scorers.
For example, if you happen to choose the esports Fantasy League of Legends contest, you will make seven (7) picks in your draft, with the team scoring or losing points for kills, deaths, or assists. You will also earn or lose points based on in-game objectives like dragon, baron, or turret kills.
Popular Daily Fantasy Esports Platforms
Looking for the best daily fantasy esports platforms in the US? Here are our top three:
1.DraftKings
DraftKings is a perfect platform not only for DFS but also for fantasy esports, with the platform hosting several games. They include Fantasy Rocket League, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, and League of Legends. The highlights include a welcome bonus of 20% up to $500 in DK Dollars for a minimum deposit of $5, an easy-to-use interface, and a fully-fledged mobile app for users to participate in the various contests. If you are also interested in the DFS contests, our DraftKings review sheds more light on them.
2. FanDuel
Flanking DraftKings is FanDuel, another industry leader in fantasy esports leagues and contests. Players interested in esports can join contests, some requiring an entry fee of as low as $1 all the way to $50,000. One drawback is that FanDuel only offers esports Fantasy League of Legends tournaments. However, new players will have a 20% bonus of up to $500 awaiting, with FanDuel Fantasy legal in 44 states.
3. Sleeper
Sleeper is another top fantasy esports app in the US. The app hosts daily fantasy sports in addition to League of Legends. To play, you will need to download the dedicated app, join the platform, and create your league. It is important to familiarize yourself with the scoring systems to understand the stats that can reward your team. You can then draft your team with five players and start competing. Unfortunately, the list of esports games remains limited, but we can expect new esports titles at some point.
Top Fantasy Esports Tips, Strategies, and Tactics
As mentioned, esports games are more skill-driven, and as such, you must employ a few tips, strategies, and tactics for success. Below, we list some of them:
- Choose a reputable platform: The first rule of thumb is to choose a reputable fantasy esports platform. Read our reviews, like the FanDuel review, to find out more information about our recommended sites before selecting your preferred one.
- Choose a game and understand its mechanics: Each game is different and has specific rules and mechanics that you must grasp. Ensure you pick the one you understand to stand a great chance of success.
- Practice your strategy: Enter a session with a concise plan of what to achieve, the strategies to refine, skills to master, etc. Focus on improving specific aspects of your game rather than repeating mistakes.
- Join a community or forum: Esports involves teamwork, and the best strategy to employ is to join a community that shares the same passion. It helps you exchange strategies, ideas, and insights to elevate your gaming skills.
- Take lessons from the games: Review games you have played to understand where you need to improve to refine your skills. You can also reach out to pros for feedback and constructive criticism.
- Keep updated on the trends: Esports is an evolving concept. Players stand great chances of success by staying up to date with the latest trends, innovations, and updates.
Fantasy Esports is the Present & Future
Esports are a growing, and fast. In 2024, the statistics point to an estimated 287.5 million esports fans globally, a great increase from 234 million in 2021. There is no ignoring the growth the industry has experienced. These games are fun to play, and the highlight is the social aspect, where players compete against each other for prizes. It all begins with getting your roster ready, watching your esports players play, and earning points. Want to give it a try? Find your preferred esports operator and start playing!
