With such rapid development, there is understandably a lot of confusion for those involved in betting on Esports.
If you’re well-versed in the game being played, the realm of betting on the game can still be unfamiliar territory. Whereas if you’re more of a casual player than a dedicated one, you may have some concerns about both the game and the wagering.
What began as a casual method of wagering largely between friends and acquaintances is fast growing into an enterprise in which hundreds of millions of pounds are staked annually by millions of punters from all over the world.
Here at UltraGambler, we give you the opportunity to learn more about Esports betting and connect you with the most reputable betting sites.
What is an Esport?
Simply put, Esports is professional gaming at a high level. It consists of competitive teams of people competing in games against each other and winning large amounts of money as prizes on a daily basis.
Esports teams, just like football or rugby players, are signed to play for a number of various organisations.
These teams train and play in their respective sports in the same way footballers and other athletes do. Depending on the game they play – from shooters including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Esports and League Of Legends – they will earn thousands of pounds.
Not all Esports can be bet on, though, as many have simply too many variables to consider or simply aren’t competitive enough. Games that involve too many RNG (Random Number Generator) factors do not tend to be considered competitive games by the gaming community.
Which Esports can I bet on?
Betting on Esports like FIFA, NBA2K, Madden Football is growing at a rate faster than betting on the real sports themselves. If you know each of the sports well, you’ll already know the types of markets and parameters you can bet on.
Alternatively, there are three main shooter and fighting games that take a huge portion of Esports betting revenue. These games are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), League Of Legends and Dota 2.
There are additional similar games that can be bet on outside ‘the big three’ too, such as Rainbow Six, Starcraft 2, VALORANT, Overwatch and Rocket League.
Where can I bet on Esports?
As Esports popularity grows, an increasing number of betting sites are adding Esports to their betting market portfolios. Some of these betting sites and bookmakers are ones you’ll likely recognise if you have bet on live sports or have visited an online casino before.
We have compiled a list of all the best Esports betting sites alongside the generous sign-up and loyalty promotions they offer so that you have a one-stop shop for all your Esports betting requirements.
Betting on streamers and Esports teams
Many gamers enjoy watching streamers on streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube and Facebook – but did you know that you can bet on these specific streamers, and the organisations they represent, as well?
An increasing number of Esports betting platforms have recently added streamer betting services, and it seems that this will become a major new trend in Esports betting, just like betting on your favourite players or teams in a football match.
Teams like Faze, who have a partnership with Manchester City Football Club, as well as TSM, Team Liquid, NRG and Redbull’s OG, all compete in their respective Esports games just like sports teams compete in their respective sports.
Esports promotions
With Esports betting, you will find all the usual offers and promotions that you’d expect to see with real sports. Here are a few common promotions to look out for:
Deposit bonuses
Deposit bonuses are sign-up offers that offer a percentage of your first deposit to be awarded as bonus funds on top of said original deposit.
For example, you may often find offers such as “100% deposit bonus up to £100”, where however much you deposit after you register an account will be matched 100% in bonus funds by the betting site. Deposit £50, get £50 in bonus funds on top, for example.
Sign-up and deposit bonuses usually have terms and conditions attached which state a time frame you have to make the deposit and use the bonus funds, minimum deposits and multiples of 10, and minimum odds to stake your bonus funds on.
Free bets
Free bets are our favourite offer and we’re sure they’re your favourite too. Although the biggest free bets usually come as part of a sign-up offer, too, you can also get them for placing certain bets, betting certain amounts within a set period of time, and more.
Loyalty programmes
Loyalty programmes offer free bets, bonus funds, cashback on spendings or losses, free spins in casinos and much more just for spending a certain amount within a certain timeframe, or for visiting a betting site regularly.
Is Esports betting safe?
Social proof. Social proof dictates that certain providers and games are perfectly safe, based on the millions of pounds that are bet on and through them every single day.
If you’re not sure about the security of an Esports betting site, visit a more reputable betting site instead. More and more everyday highstreet bookmakers and popular online casinos are adding Esports to their lists of games and markets that you can bet on, so you can bet comfortably, safely, and enjoy your Esports betting experience.
Esports betting FAQ’s
(Q) How big is the Esports betting market?
Because of the increasing prevalence of competitive gaming, determining the exact popularity of Esports betting is complicated. Any numbers that are gathered would almost certainly be obsolete in a short period of time. However, there are a few key figures we can use to estimate the scale of the Esports betting market.
(Q) How much money goes into Esports bets?
According to OddsMatrix, there are at least 500 million Esports enthusiasts around the world. Although bettors themselves make up a small portion of the total, Esports gamblers are high-rollers when it comes to major events. According to OddsMatric, over £10 billion was wagered on Esports matches in 2020.
(Q) Which regions bet the most on Esports?
Although Esports betting is becoming increasingly widespread around the world, some regions have embraced it more enthusiastically than others. This is due to differing betting and accessibility rules, as well as the varying prevalence of Esports in those regions.
Southeast Asia provides the biggest market for professional gaming in terms of popularity. According to OddsMatrix, SEA accounts for 57% of overall Esports viewership, while other regions are quickly catching up. According to NewZoo, the fastest expanding regions in terms of viewership are Latin America and the Middle East, which would naturally contribute to a higher level of betting from those countries.
