Best Esports Betting Sites & Apps for 2025

Esports betting sites let you get in on the pro-gaming action even if you’re not an expert like Faker, s1mple, or Serral. But no two sites are the same when it comes to esports odds and markets.

So what are the best esports betting sites? We’ll get to that later, but let’s first take a look at the welcome offers at some of our favorite sites.

$250 in Free Bets and 100 Free Spins Code: FREE250

$250 in Free Bets and 100 Free Spins Code: FREE250

  • Bet live on all major sports
  • Excellent tips and tutorials for bettors
  • Boosted odds available every day
9.9
5 Stars BetOnline
Bet Now

150% Welcome Bonus up to $225 CODE: BN150

150% Welcome Bonus up to $225 CODE: BN150

  • Weekly rebate on losses for all sports wagers
  • Well stocked on horse racing news, odds and tips
  • Extensive range of ongoing promotions
9.7
5 Stars BetNow
Bet Now

Welcome Bonus of 125% up to $1,250

Welcome Bonus of 125% up to $1,250

  • Live streaming available for in-play betting
  • Speedy payouts without fees
  • 24/7 live chat customer support
9.9
5 Stars BetWhale
Bet Now

50% Match Bonus up to $250 on Your First Deposit

50% Match Bonus up to $250 on Your First Deposit

  • Extensive and in depth offering for all markets - from e-sports to entertainment
  • Redeem points for cash through loyalty program
  • Sportsbook and racebook covers most major events on the calendar
9.8
5 Stars Bovada
Bet Now

100% up to $500 Sports Sign up Bonus CODE: WELCOME500

100% up to $500 Sports Sign up Bonus CODE: WELCOME500

  • Special promos every week including free bets and more
  • Exclusive halftime betting options for most events
  • Niche betting markets including politics and stocks
9.6
5 Stars Everygame
Bet Now

200% Welcome Bonus – Up to $30,000 + 200 Super Spins

200% Welcome Bonus – Up to $30,000 + 200 Super Spins

  • Easily accessed in-play betting
  • Top coverage for football markets
  • Good for finding futures markets in several sports
9.5
5 Stars CoinCasino
Bet Now

50% up to $1,000

50% up to $1,000

  • Expert views and predictions in the news section
  • Early cashout option available on most bets
  • Reload bonuses available for all deposits
9.5
5 Stars MyBookie
Bet Now

125% Sign-Up Bonus up to $2,000 on Sport BONUS CODE: JOIN125

125% Sign-Up Bonus up to $2,000 on Sport BONUS CODE: JOIN125

  • Features BetUS TV with experts tips and picks
  • Receive your earnings quickly, often within 24 hours
  • Same day withdrawal service for fast payouts
9.4
5 Stars BetUS
Bet Now

100% Welcome Bonus up to $500 x 2

100% Welcome Bonus up to $500 x 2

  • Handy multi-view feature for live betting
  • Best sportsbook for sharp odds on props
  • Weekly betting competitions and pick'em contests
9.4
5 Stars SportsBetting.ag
Bet Now

50% up to $200 With Code: XBWELCOME50

50% up to $200 With Code: XBWELCOME50

  • Reload bonuses offered for every deposit
  • Niche markets for entertainment and politics
  • Crypto support for Bitcoin, Litecoin, and more
9.0
5 Stars Xbet
Bet Now

200% Welcome Bonus up to 10 ETH

200% Welcome Bonus up to 10 ETH

  • World’s first licensed telegram sportsbook – fully anonymous
  • Generous 10 ETH bonus and high roller NFTs
  • Trusted by Web3 influencers and powered by $TGC token
9.6
5 Stars TG.Casino
Bet Now

200 % up to 10,000 USDT + 10% Cashback

200 % up to 10,000 USDT + 10% Cashback

  • New Discord casino
  • 10% of your net losses back every Monday
  • Banking option span 10 different crypto options
9.2
5 Stars US DisCasino
Bet Now

Best Esports Betting Sites Reviewed

Whether you’re a diehard Dota 2 fan, League of Legends loyalist, or something else, you’ll want a great platform for esports gambling. Check out reviews on our top 5 picks below, including their advantages and drawbacks.

1. BetOnline – Overall Best Esports Betting Site

🚀 Founded: 2001

📃 License: Panama Gaming Control Board

🎮 No. of esports covered: 10+

Betonline logo

  • Odds: BetOnline releases esports betting odds earlier than many other bookmakers. You can catch soft opening lines by doing early handicapping. Even when you’re not early, BetOnline often has competitive prices on matches.
  • Esports coverage: The available esports at BetOnline fluctuates throughout the week. We checked out the ‘Early Markets’ calendar during our review and found 11 esports listed. Examples include CS2, Dota 2, LoL, Kings of Glory, NBA2K, and Valorant.
  • Features: We like how the esports section has separate categories for today’s events, early (upcoming) markets, futures, and results. General BetOnline features include contests, a props builder, and a boosted odds section.
  • Promotions: The BetOnline bonus isn’t exactly thrilling, offering up to $250 free bets on your first deposit. But the overall number of promos is impressive, with over a dozen available during this review. We even see a promo specifically for esports called Parlay Power Up.
  • Banking: BetOnline has a nice mix of traditional and crypto payment options. The traditional banking methods include bank wire, check, debit/card cards, money order, and Person2Person. You can deposit and withdraw through more than a dozen cryptocurrencies, like Avalanche, Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Solana, and USDC.
  • Site design: We felt overwhelmed when looking at the BetOnline homepage, which shows a huge scrolling banner, sports markets, and casino games. Once we got to the esports section, though, everything went smoothly thanks to helpful navigation options.

Pros

  • Releases esports odds early
  • Lots of payment methods
  • Esports-specific promotions
  • Interesting esports features
  • Over 10 markets covered

Cons

  • Not the strongest welcome bonus
  • Homepage could be simplified

Our Verdict

BetOnline earns the crown as the best esports betting site thanks to its early odds, esports features, and market coverage. It also provides esports-specific promos and 20+ banking methods. We’d like a larger welcome bonus, but the many other available promos make up for this.

Overall, BetOnline has about everything you could ask for. If you need a starting point with esports betting sites, this is it.

  • Bet live on all major sports
  • Excellent tips and tutorials for bettors
  • Boosted odds available every day
9.9
5 Stars

2. BetNow – Good for Esports Betting Bonuses

🚀 Founded: 2011

📃 License: Kahnawake Gaming Commission

🎮 No. of esports covered: 10+

Betnow Logo

  • Odds: The esports odds at BetNow are some of the best we’ve reviewed. Certain handicap and over/under bets only have 6-8% juice (-106 to -108).
  • Esports Coverage: The BetNow esports betting selection could improve since we only see five titles available – Call of Duty, CS2, Dota 2, LoL, and Valorant. The market coverage is okay, with certain matches offering first kill and map winner bets.
  • Features: You’ll find useful guides here that cover subjects like bet types, in-play wagering, and special events. This operator also holds weekly contests, although these are for traditional sports.
  • Promotions: BetNow is among the best esports betting sites for promotions in our opinion. It features a rare loss rebate that refunds up to 2% or your weekly losses. You can also pick between five different welcome bonuses, get reload offers anytime, and participate in vig-free weeks.
  • Banking: Payment methods here include debit/credit card, crypto, and Person2Person transfers. Interestingly enough, you can even make deposits over the phone.
  • Site Design: Visiting BetNow feels like an online trip back to the mid-2000s. This dated website isn’t much to look at, but the navigation is decent and sections are clearly marked.

Pros

  • Rebate on esports betting losses
  • Multiple welcome bonus options
  • Competitive esports betting odds
  • Over-the-phone payments
  • Regular reload bonuses

Cons

  • Average number of esports markets
  • Dated esports betting website

Our Verdict

BetNow impressed us with its variety of promotions, ranging from a loss rebate to frequent reload bonuses. You also have five options when choosing an welcome bonus, all of which can be used for esports betting. The competitive odds on many esports bets are another reason to consider this bookmaker.

We feel that BetNow could improve its esports betting selection. But you might still consider this site for combining promotions with popular esports gambling markets.

  • Weekly rebate on losses for all sports wagers
  • Well stocked on horse racing news, odds and tips
  • Extensive range of ongoing promotions
9.7
5 Stars

3. BetWhale – Great for Live Esports Streaming & Usability

🚀 Founded: 2023

📃 License: Gaming Control Anjouan

🎮 No. of esports covered: 15+

Betwhale logo

  • Odds: BetWhale has average esports betting odds compared to many sportsbooks. For example, its map winner over/unders are shaky, with juice ranging wildly from -107 to over -130.
  • Esports coverage: This bookmaker has one of the largest varieties of esports markets, with 18 games currently available. Some of these games include Call of Duty, CS2, LoL, Overwatch, Rocket League, Starcraft II, and Valorant.
  • Features: You’ll see a live streaming option available immediately after entering the BetWhale esports section. We appreciate this because some sites make you work to find the streaming area. The bet builder tool is worth mentioning because it provides an easy way to create esports parlays.
  • Promotions: The BetWhale welcome bonus is one of the biggest on our list of esports betting websites and comes with a very reasonable 10x rollover. Other promos (e.g. free bets) are available once you’re registered and logged in.
  • Banking: You can deposit from the US through crypto and credit cards, while making withdrawals via bank wire and crypto. Flexepin, Neosurf, and PayPal are options from international locations. Our complaint about the banking is that you need at least $150 to cash out.
  • Site Design: Few esports betting sites are as user friendly as BetWhale. You can hit the esports option on the homepage and immediately see all available markets. As mentioned, we also like how live streaming is front and center.

Pros

  • Live streaming is easily accessible
  • Almost 20 esports markets
  • Bet builder makes esports parlays easy
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Extremely user friendly for esports bettors

Cons

  • Average esports odds
  • $150 min withdrawal

Our Verdict

Our BetWhale experience started strong because the esports layout and navigation are so good. The nearly 20 markets, bet builder, and live streaming also make this a top esports betting site. The 125% welcome bonus is another plus to wagering here.

We’d appreciate more consistent odds on certain bet types. For the most part, though, BetWhale is one of the best options for esports gambling.

  • Live streaming available for in-play betting
  • Speedy payouts without fees
  • 24/7 live chat customer support
9.9
5 Stars

4. Bovada – Deepest Coverage of Esports Betting Markets

🚀 Founded: 2011

📃 License: Kahnawake Gaming Commission

🎮 No. of esports covered: 10+

Bovada logo

  • Odds: The Bovada esports betting odds are decent—not spectacular. We see fair prices on certain underdogs for handicaps and map winners. In other cases, the odds are more in line with typical esports betting sites.
  • Esports Coverage: We count 10 available esports on the current weekly calendar. This esports betting site is excellent at providing deep coverage of markets. Most matches have at least several bets available, like moneylines, handicaps, map winners, and first blood.
  • Features: Bovada offers filters to make finding esports markets easier, including a calendar and drop-down menu with current games and futures. You can also expect live streaming on many matches.
  • Promotions: This bookmaker starts strong with a decent crypto sports bonus, which only has 5x rollover. But we’re left wondering about other promos because not much is available beyond a loyalty program.
  • Banking: Bovada is one of the fastest payout sportsbooks, normally processing and delivering crypto funds within 24 hours. Some of our reviewers have even received crypto payouts within the hour. We strongly recommend depositing with cryptocurrencies over credit cards, which can have up to 15.9% fees here.
  • Site Design: We dug deep to find esports because they’re several clicks within the sportsbook area. Other than this minor issue, Bovada has a clean design that makes scrolling through matches and tournaments easy.

Pros

  • In-depth esports coverage
  • 5x crypto welcome bonus rollover
  • Live streaming regularly available
  • Most payouts arrive within 24 hours
  • Withdraw up to $180k

Cons

  • Credit card fees up to 15.9%
  • Limited promotions

Our Verdict

We’re heading to Bovada anytime we’re looking for the best coverage of a certain esport. This bookmaker has the most bets per match compared to other esports betting websites we’ve reviewed. It also stands out for offering low bonus rollover, live streaming, and fast payouts.

Bovada could lower or eliminate its credit card fees, but you can get around this issue with crypto deposits. We highly recommend Bovada for esports betting, provided you’re comfortable using cryptocurrencies.

  • Extensive and in depth offering for all markets - from e-sports to entertainment
  • Redeem points for cash through loyalty program
  • Sportsbook and racebook covers most major events on the calendar
9.8
5 Stars

 

5. Everygame – Good Choice for Mobile Esports Betting

🚀 Founded: 1996

📃 License: Curaçao Gaming Control Board

🎮 No. of esports covered: 5

everygame esports betting

  • Odds: The esports betting odds are slightly above average at Everygame. We’ve noticed that handicaps are hit or miss, although we see a few attractive prices.
  • Esports Coverage: Everygame is similar to BetNow because it doesn’t cover many esports. On the plus side, we noticed a good selection of outright bets here.
  • Features: Notable features at this sportsbook include in-play wagering, a results page, and a ‘Next Games’ section. The latter is helpful if you’re wondering what esports betting opportunities will be up next.
  • Promotions: The Everygame crypto bonus is solid—coupled with a favorable 8x rollover. You’ll find many other promotions here, although most are for traditional sports.
  • Banking: The main banking options consist of crypto and debit/credit cards. International bettors can also use AstroPay, bank transfer, Neosurf, Paysafecard, and Payz.
  • Site Design: Everygame doesn’t have an esports betting app, but it does provide a smooth browser-based experience. We appreciate the simple mobile layout and how quickly pages load when browsing.

Pros

  • Rebate on esports betting losses
  • Multiple welcome bonus options
  • Competitive esports betting odds
  • Over-the-phone payments
  • Regular reload bonuses

Cons

  • Average number of esports markets
  • Dated esports betting website

Our Verdict

Everygame provides our favorite mobile esports gambling experience due to its clutter-free layout and fast-loading pages. We also like the number of esports outright markets and low bonus wagering requirements.

You won’t find a significant number of esports markets here. But Everygame is still worth checking out if you like betting on esports through your phone or tablet.

  • Special promos every week including free bets and more
  • Exclusive halftime betting options for most events
  • Niche betting markets including politics and stocks
9.6
5 Stars

Top Esports Sportsbooks Compared

Let’s compare a dozen of the best esports betting sites across several important categories. Check out which bookmakers have live esports streaming, significant bonuses, and more below.

SiteBest ForWelcome BonusLive Esports BettingLive Esports Streaming
BetOnlineEarly esports odds$250 in free bets + 100 free spins
BetNowEsports promotions100% up $500
BetWhaleLive streaming125% up to $1,250
BovadaDeep market coverage75% up to $750
EverygameMobile esports betting50% up to $1,000
CoinCasinoAndroid & iOS esports betting app150% up to $2,000 (poker)
MyBookieReload bonuses50% up to $1,000 + $100 free chip
BetUSLive esports betting150% up to $1,500
SportsBetting.agEsports betting futures100% up to $500
XbetEsports props100% up to $200
TG.CasinoCrypto esports betting200% up to 10 ETH
DiscasinoWelcome bonus200% up to 10,000 USDT + 10% cashback

Features of the Best Esports Betting Sites

We’ve noticed that top esports betting sites—as well as the best online sportsbooks in general—have similar features. Let’s look at these qualities and how they can help you pick a winning sportsbook.

Game Variety

You can count on major titles like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and League Of Legends (LoL) being available at any top esports betting site. But what’s available beyond the popular games?

A bookmaker with good variety will cover several esports or more. You’ll not only have access to the top markets but also niches like Age of Empires, Starcraft II, or Rocket League.

Event/Market Depth

What good is 10+ esports if the site only offers a couple of wagers under each game? Depth is crucial since more types of esports bets, matches, and tournaments give you more options.

We like bookmakers that spoil us with wagers on first blood, total kills, map winners, correct scores, and more. We’re also looking for many matches each week across different games.

Esports live betting is important if you’re into the in-play scene. Top sites feature many live markets on tournaments, especially big ones like The International and LoL Worlds.

Esports Odds

We realize that esports betting sites make their money off juice—but they shouldn’t get greedy. Reasonable odds ensure that you have a chance at winning even while bookmakers are getting theirs.

We suggest comparing the latest odds from the best esports betting sites for a given wager. If you see differences of -120 and -110 on a certain outcome, for example, you’ll know that the second option is way better.

Bonuses

Esports betting bonuses can deliver extra winnings on top of whatever you’re collecting from bets. They could be the difference between you earning a profit and being one of those, “I break even…but probably not really,” type of bettors.

A quality esports betting bonus offers a combination of size, a decent match percentage (75-100%), and fair terms and conditions. With terms, we prefer rollover in the 8x-10x range or lower.

Live Streaming

This feature may not seem important at first glance because you can watch esports matches anywhere. But who wants to toggle between a gambling site and Twitch when caught up in live esports betting action?

Live streaming helps you view matches and make quick decisions when placing live esports bets. Fast decisions are crucial with esports live betting odds because you only have so much time to think before lines change or disappear.

BetWhale live esports betting

Anonymity

Do you like enjoying esports gambling without giving operators every detail about your life? We all do, which is where anonymity becomes important.

The best offshore sportsbooks only ask for a few details, like your name, email, and age during registration. We’ve even wagered at esports betting sites that don’t require a photo ID when you cash out.

Payment Options

Do you prefer the simplicity of depositing with a credit/debit card? Or do you like the fast payouts and relative anonymity of using cryptocurrencies?

Top esports betting sites accommodate you with a variety of payment methods. We mainly concentrate on credit cards and crypto, but maybe you’re interested in bank wire, P2P transfers, or something else.

Licensing

A valid license is another sign of a quality sportsbook. It proves that a bookmaker takes their operation seriously enough to get regulatory approval and follow the relevant rules and standards.

Our recommended bookmakers have licensing with offshore authorities, like the Panama Gaming Control Board.

Games at Esports Betting Sites

You can wager on many esports, leagues, and tournaments—so where do you begin? Let’s go over several of the most popular esports games and their biggest events.

League Of Legends

League of Legends involves two 5-player squads trying to destroy the other’s base (a.k.a. Nexus). Its prize money is excellent, with major events paying out $2 million or more.

With this kind of cash floating around, it’s no wonder why stars like Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, Yan “Wei” Yangwei, and Lee “Flame’ Ho-jong stick around LoL.

League Of Legends Betting
Image Credit: “league of legends” by Downloadsource.fr is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

League Play

Different LoL leagues include the LCK (South Korea), LPL (China), LTA (Americas), LEC (Europe/Africa), and LCP (Asia-Pacific). Players and teams in these leagues battle to win prize money and spots in major events.

Mid-Season Invitational

The MSI is Worlds’ younger sibling since the prize pools aren’t as big—but don’t underestimate it. A dozen of the top teams compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars. You’ll notice a major spike in LoL esports betting lines while the MSI is going on.

LoL World Championship

Everything prior to the Worlds is a warm-up. 20 top teams make it to this event and battle for over $2 million—with first place taking home around a half million dollars. Not surprisingly, esports betting on League of Legends reaches a fevered pitch during this event.

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is the upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), the most legendary first-person shooter esport ever.

It got off to a slow start after dropping in late 2023 but has since become a worthy successor. Now, CS2 markets have taken over what used to be CSGO esports betting sites.

Blast Rivals Spring & Fall

The spring and fall Blast Rivals tournaments are two of the biggest CS2 events. They cap off Blast season play, with six teams competing for $350,000 in each tourney ($700k total).

PGL CS2 Major

This is the Counter-Strike 2 championship and has essentially replaced the old Major that propelled CSGO betting sites. The PGL Major features 24 teams competing for a $2 million prize pool—give or take depending on the year.

Dota 2

Dota 2 is easily the all-time king of esports from a prize money perspective. It has paid out over $280 million since becoming an esport in 2011.

Not surprisingly, the players with the most esports winnings all time come from Dota 2. Johan “N0tail” Sundstein ($7.19m), Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka ($7.17m), and Anathan “ana” Pham ($6.03m) lead the way.

The International

There’s The International…and then there’s everything else in esports. This massive event routinely offers eight-figure prize pools—including a record $40.02 million in 2021. These heightened stakes lead to intense action and, yes, countless esports betting opportunities.

Blast Slam Series

The Copenhagen-based Blast Studios hosts major Dota 2 tournaments, including Blast II and III in 2025. So far, these events have featured 10 teams playing for a $1 million prize pool.

Valorant

Valorant is like a mix of CS2, Overwatch, and something entirely of its own. This 5×5 tactical shooter involves planting bombs and utilizing agents’ special abilities (e.g. teleporting, shooting fire).

Riot Games’ expertly-designed maps—each requiring varying strategies—make for intense esports action.

Valorant Masters

The Masters are big stops on the Valorant Champions Tour. With events in cities like Madrid and Toronto, these tournaments see eight teams battle for $500,000.

Valorant Champions

Hosted by Riot Games, this is the key event in the Valorant series. The $2.25 million prize pool makes the Champions tournament one of the biggest in esports.

Call Of Duty

If you’ve played this first-person shooter online, you know how frustrating it can be—from flashbanging yourself to getting quickscoped over and over.

Sometimes it’s better to sit back and watch the CoD pros, while placing bets on map winners, first blood, kill totals, and more.

Call of Duty League Championship

This tournament is the culmination of the Call of Duty season. The top eight teams advance to compete for a massive $2 million prize pool.

Esports World Cup: Black Ops 6

The Esports World Cup stages another major CoD event, with 2025 featuring Black Ops 6. This tourney gives 16 qualifiers a shot at $1.8 million in prizes.

Esports Betting Bonuses and Promotions

Betting on esports is already exciting—let alone when you add bonuses and promos to the mix. From eye-catching welcome bonuses to boosted odds, let’s see what the best betting sites for esports offer.

Welcome Bonus

Most bookmakers feature impressive welcome bonuses to draw you in so you’ll make a first deposit. Welcome offers are usually the best sportsbook bonuses as far as size and terms go.

BetWhale has the size aspect down with one of the biggest welcome bonuses. Bovada is great for terms with just 5x rollover on its $750 crypto bonus.

Always check terms and conditions to ensure esports markets aren’t excluded from a welcome offer.

Reload Bonus

Once your welcome bonus is up, you can look for reload bonuses as an existing bettor. Reload offers can range from small to big based on the sportsbook.

MyBookie has one of the industry’s largest reload bonuses. Just like with welcome bonuses, you want to make sure your favorite esports qualify for reload offers.

No Deposit Bonus

Esports betting no deposit bonuses give you something just for completing registration, This something can be a free bet or cash (e.g. $20). Unfortunately, we don’t currently see any no deposit bonus offers at our recommended esports betting sites.

Free Bets

You can place a free bet with the potential to collect winnings minus the wager. For example, a winning $10 free esports wager at -110 odds would return $9.09 total.

Some free bets have wagering requirements (e.g. 5x) on winnings. BetOnline is an exception because its welcome free bets have no strings attached.

Risk Free Bets

A risk-free wager is like insurance on esports bets. Winning does nothing under this promo, but a loss returns your bet up to a certain amount.

For example, BetOnline offers a $50 risk-free wager on sports or esports live betting. If you lose, you’ll receive $50 in free bets with 1x wagering requirements.

Odds Boosts

An odds boost increases your potential winnings on a certain outcome or parlay. TG.Casino, for instance, offers up to a 40% boost on parlay wins.

Parlay Insurance

This promo refunds parlay losses under certain conditions. An example would be getting a 100% refund if your 4+ parlay loses by one leg.

Cashback Offers

Cashback (a.k.a. loss rebate) applies to your losses within a given period—usually a week. For instance, BetNow provides 2% cashback on your weekly losses minus any bonuses.

Contests

Contests are free-to-play events that involve sports or esports betting predictions. You might guess map scores, winning teams, or something else while trying to win prizes.

We don’t see many contests specifically for esports betting predictions, but BetOnline recently ran a $5,000 ESL Pro League Contest.

Loyalty Rewards

A loyalty program gives you extra rewards based on your esports betting volume. It can apply to other types of gambling too, like casino games and online poker.

The Bovada VIP program, for example, awards points based on your sports, casino, poker, and esports bets. You can exchange the points for cash and move up tiers for a better exchange rate.

Esports Betting Payment Methods

The best betting sites for esports provide different ways to deposit and cash out—giving you the power to choose. Here are common payment options at our recommended sportsbooks and the pros and cons of each.

Cryptocurrency

Crypto includes decentralized payment methods like Bitcoin that let you transact directly with esports betting sites. No third parties involved, no waiting for bank approval, and no rejected transactions.

The decentralized nature of Bitcoin esports betting allows for faster deposits and withdrawal versus most methods.

The best Bitcoin sports betting sites also support other cryptocurrencies, like Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Shiba Inu, Solana, and XRP. You do need to be careful when sending or withdrawing crypto from sportsbooks. Inputting the wrong wallet address will send your funds to some anonymous person.

Traditional Payment Options

Esports betting sites for USA players commonly accept deposits through credit and debit cards. A credit or debit card is great for instantly funding your account, but watch out for potential fees.

Bank wires are another traditional payment method that’s sometimes available at esports sportsbooks. It’s a secure way to receive international payments, but it can also come with expensive $35-$50 fees.

E-Wallets

Apple Pay, Google Pay, Neteller, PayPal, and Skrill are among the most popular esports gambling payment methods when available. You can use them for deposits and withdrawals, with payouts arriving within 24 hours. The key phrase is “when available”. We don’t see any of these e-wallets available for esports betting in the USA.

Is Betting on Esports Legal in the US?

The federal government hasn’t specifically regulated esports betting in the USA, so it really depends on where you are. That’s why, in a lot of states, it’s still in a legal gray area..

For over 30 years, offshore sportsbooks have been accepting bets from many states, and it’s noteworthy that no one in the US has ever gotten in trouble for betting on esports or traditional sports at these sites.

As for those offshore bookmakers? Most of them are legit, with licenses from places like the Gaming Control Anjouan.

Esports Betting Tips and Strategies

We don’t have any advice that’ll make you a guaranteed winner—practically nobody does. But the following esports betting tips can help you to some degree.

  • Specialize in high-volume games – You’ll have an easier time building in-depth knowledge of players and teams by focusing on just one or two esports. We also suggest a game(s) with fairly high betting volume so you have access to many events and markets.
  • Ease into esports betting – A gradual approach, where you slowly build bet sizes, is best when learning how to bet on esports. This helps preserve your bankroll while you learn strategies, teams, players, and tendencies.
  • Join multiple sites – Joining several of the best esports betting sites helps you better shop for odds and claim more bonuses.
  • Watch live streams – Some bookmakers offer live esports streaming—watch them. You can build your knowledge of successful tactics and study teams/players this way.
  • Study stats & watch for patterns – Liquipedia and other esports stats sites offer valuable info on previous matches. Pour over these numbers and look for patterns, like, for example, certain players who perform better online vs LANs.

Types of Esports Bets

Esports betting sites offer plenty of different wager types, which keeps things exciting. See what’s available below and see which bets interest you the most.

Match Winner (Moneyline)

A match winner is simple: you try to pick the winning team or player.

Here’s an example involving an LoL match:

  • Cloud9 -165 (betting $16.50 to win $10 on this favorite)
  • FlyQuest +135 (wagering $10 to win $13.50 on this underdog)
Handicap Betting (Point Spreads)

An esports handicap is similar to point spreads in football or basketball—only it involves map (round) wins instead of points. The goal is to pick the team/player that covers their spread.

Let’s look at a sample from a best-of-five Dota 2 match:

  • 1WIN -1.5 (+125) – 1WIN must win the match by at least 2 maps.
  • L1ga +1.5 (-165) – L1ga can lose the match by 1 map and still deliver a successful bet.
Total Maps/Rounds (Over/Under)

You’re wagering whether the number of rounds/maps will go over or under the given total. You can see how this works with a Bo3 Valorant match:

  • LNG Esports over 2.5 (+105) – The over wins if the match goes to three maps.
  • TT Gaming under 2.5 (-135) – The under wins if LNG and TT only play two maps.
Map Winner

This wager is much like a match winner, except it focuses on individual maps. Esports betting sites offer these wager for the minimum number of maps needed to win a match (e.g. three map bets for best of five).

The following example is from a Bo3 Starcraft II match:

Map 1 winner

  • Kim “herO” Joon-ho +130
  • Cho “Maru” Seong-ju -170

Map 2 winner

  • Kim “herO” Joon-ho +130
  • Cho “Maru” Seong-ju -170
First Blood/First Kill

A first blood (aka first kill) bet is simple: which team/player will get the first kill in a match. See how it works below:

First Blood

  • Monte Gen -128
  • kONO.ECF -109
Player Props

Player prop bets focus on specific in-game events or performances of individual players, like in the following example:

Faker kill total for an LoL match

  • Over 10.5 kills -108
  • Under 10.5 kills -112
Team Props

A team prop involves a specific stat or accomplishment by an esports team, which you can see below:

First team to get a Roschan kill (Dota 2)

  • Passion UA -105
  • Zero Tenacity -115
Futures (Outrights)

You’re normally betting on a distant event and/or championship winner with futures (aka outrights). For instance, an outright on the next CS2 Championship winner could look like this:

  • Natus Vincere +200
  • FaZe +400
  • Vitality +1100
  • G2 +1300
  • Eternal Fire +1300
  • Cloud9 +1500
Live Betting (In-Play)

Esports live betting lets you wager on matches as they’re going on. Contrast this to prematch bets, where you have to get your action in beforehand.

Common examples of in-play esports betting include:

  • Updated moneylines on the match winner.
  • New odds on the next map winner.
  • Updates on correct score odds.
Correct Score

You wager on the exact final match score with this bet, like in the following example:

Invictus Gaming vs Top Esports

  • Top Esports 2-0 (+225)
  • Top Esports 2-1 (+250)
  • Invictus Gaming 2-0 (+275)
  • Invictus Gaming 2-1 (+275)
Objective-Based Bets

These wagers involve a specific team or player objective and are often available in the props section. Let’s look at an example:

First team to get a Baron Nashor kill (LoL)

  • LNG Esports -140
  • ThunderTalk Gaming +115

Mobile Esports Betting

If you’re like most esports bettors, you place most/all of your wagers on a smartphone. So you’ll want a mobile sportsbook or app that offers a user-friendly layout and reasonable page-loading speed.

Both are especially crucial if you’re into esports live betting, where action is fast and unforgiving. Sometimes you can’t afford a 10-second, lag-filled delay when trying to get a live bet in.

Perhaps you’re looking for an actual esports betting app. While apps are uncommon at our favorite offshore sportsbooks—most only offer browser-based wagering—a few, like CoinPoker, have an onsite app download for Android and desktop.

2025 Esports Schedule

Wondering what will be hot for esports betting this year? Here are major tournaments to look for in 2025.

DateEventLocation
Jan 24-26, 2025Blast Bounty Spring 2025 (Counter-Strike 2)Copenhagen, Denmark
Jan 29-Feb 9IEM Katowice (CS2) Katowice, Poland
Feb 3-9Blast Slam II (Dota 2)Copenhagen, Denmark
Feb 3-16Rainbow Six SiegeBoston, Massachusetts
Feb 14-23PGL CS2 MajorCluj-Napoca, Romania
April 29-May 4Blast Rivals Spring (CS2)North America (TBA)
May 5-11Blast Slam III (Dota 2)TBA
Jun 1-Jul 1Valorant Masters TorontoToronto, Canada
End of June (dates TBA)Mid-Season Invitational (LoL)Canada (city TBA)
July 1Call of Duty League ChampionshipToronto, Canada
Aug 1Esports World Cup: Black Ops 6Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Sept 1-Oct 1Valorant ChampionsParis, France
Nov 11-16Blast Rivals Fall (CS2)TBA
TBAWorld Championship (LoL)Chengdu, China
TBAThe International (Dota 2)TBA

Esports Betting Sites – Key Takeaways

Let’s quickly recap the main points we’ve discussed about the top esports betting sites:

  • We like BetOnline as the best esports betting site due to its early odds, 10+ markets, features, and banking methods.
  • BetWhale, BetNow, Bovada, and Everygame are also strong contenders.
  • Look for sites with player props markets as you can find some great value in long odds on kill totals.

Esports Betting Sites FAQs

What is esports betting?

Is betting on esports legal in the US?

What is the best site for betting on esports?

How are esports betting odds calculated?

Can you bet on esports using cryptocurrency?

What are the most popular games for esports betting?

How do I claim esports betting bonuses?

What is skin betting in esports?

How can I bet on League of Legends?

Resources

https://www.esportsworldcup.com/en (Esports World Cup)