Esports are huge right now and they are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and beyond. On this page, we will look at betting on these multiplayer video games in detail. We will also share some of the best betting sites where you can place bets on the biggest esports.
We have compared lots of online sportsbooks where you can place bets on esports. Below you will find our list of recommendations, each of which is a safe and reliable option for gambling online. Join any of these sites and you will be able to bet on many top esports.
There are many online sportsbooks in the UK that offer esports betting. To find the best ones, we look at the sites and take various criteria into account. The sites we recommend do well in just about every factor we consider and have a lot to offer those who sign up. Here are the criteria we look at:
First and foremost, we find out what sort of reputation the site has and whether it is a safe, secure option for online gambling or not. Reviews from players should be mostly positive and not mention major issues. Also, the site must be upfront about what it does to protect players and ensure everyone has a problem-free experience.
It goes without saying that the best options for esports betting should have a good amount of esports availability. By this, we mean that the site should have plenty of betting options available.
The best esports betting sites cover all the industry’s biggest international tournaments and any other sort of major competition. They have betting options for all the most popular esports. Ideally, there should be at least half a dozen different video games you can place bets on.
Most gambling sites accept quite a few payment methods, though the list of options can vary greatly. The best esports betting sites let you choose from close to a dozen payment methods or even more. The list can include bank cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, mobile deposits and even cryptocurrencies. Deposits should be instant and withdrawals should take a day or less.
The esports betting site you join should have a decent welcome offer for new players and regular promotions you can take part in as a current member of the site. Ideally, there will be plenty of esports bonuses such as free bets or bets with enhanced odds.
Many people enjoy placing bets on their phones because of how convenient it is. Many esport betting sites have a downloadable app in addition to a mobile site you can access through your web browser. When it comes to mobile betting, apps are the way forward. They are more user-friendly than mobile sites and have extra features such as push notifications.
Any type of gambling site you join needs to have a customer support system you can rely on and trust. The leading esports betting sites give you several ways of getting in touch; these can include live chat, a phone line, email and social media. Help should be available round the clock.
If you want to place bets on your favourite esports while out and about, consider downloading a betting app. Gambling Zone has looked through the options and selected some of the best ones, which you will find below.
Our team of esports betting site experts are a group of professionals with years of relevant industry experience among them. When it comes to determining the best sites for esports betting, they know what to look out for.
Michael has worked in media and publishing for the last 20 years. His first jobs in online publishing were at online tech sites focusing on Microsoft Networking, Security all the way through SaaS and Cloud technologies. In 2016 he started his online gambling journey and since then has worked at Betsafe, Royal Panda, STS, iBet Network and now Gambling Zone.
Liam is an experienced NCTJ-accredited journalist and content writer specialising in iGaming and sports betting. He is a freelance writer and has worked with several big publications in the industry. During his career, he has created casino content for top national newspapers and publications, including talkSPORT and The Sun, among others.
Marco is a Malta-based journalist and writer with 15 years of experience, with the last 4 years spent in the online gambling and casino industry. When not writing then he can be found spinning the reels and playing the occasional game of Blackjack, as well as checking out the latest movies and where to find a good bite to eat.
Dom Aldworth has spent the last 15 years working in the online gaming sector, producing branded content and activating high profile ambassadors and sponsorships like Manchester City FC, Saracens Rugby Club and a host for sports stars past and present.
There are loads of esports that people play and bet on, with new ones launching regularly. The sections below look at some of the biggest, most popular ones. You should be able to place bets on these and more at most esports betting sites.
League of Legends came out in 2009 and is incredibly popular over 15 years later, with an active player base of around 140 to 160 million per month. In fact, this free-to-play game is the world’s biggest esport. It is classed as a multiplayer online battle arena and has players compete in two teams of five, with 170 champion characters to choose from.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive launched in 2012 and is a multiplayer tactical first-person shooter game. It has been free to play since 2014, with revenue coming from sales of various cosmetic items. The gameplay involves two teams being pitted against each other in one of nine different modes, all of which tie in with the terrorism theme.
Defense of the Ancients 2, more commonly known as Dota 2, is a multiplayer online battle arena game from Valve. In a typical game, 10 players compete in two teams of five. Each team has control over half of the map and has to destroy the other team’s Ancient, a large, fortified structure. Whoever does this first wins.
This is the follow-up to the hugely successful multiplayer first-person shooter game Overwatch, which generated more than £750 million in its first year. Overwatch 2 is also a replacement as the developers decided to shut down the servers for the original game in 2022. It focuses on player-versus-player gameplay, with multiplayer modes supporting teams of five.
Formerly known as Strike of Kings, Arena of Valor is an international version of the Chinese multiplayer first-person shooter game Honor of Kings. In terms of gameplay, it is very similar to League of Legends, with two teams of five taking each other in combat. There are more than 100 characters to play as and a range of maps and modes to try out.
Gambling Zone has put together some useful and practical tips to help you get the most out of esports betting. If you want to place esports bets online for real money, it is worth reading the pieces of advice below so you have a better idea of what to do.
If you are going to bet on an esport, it helps to know what the video game is, how it works and what it involves. The best way to gain this knowledge is by playing the game yourself. By doing this, you can gain a better understanding of the game and its betting scene.
When it comes to sports betting, knowledge is key. The more you know about the competitors, the more informed your betting decisions will be. If you know nothing about who is playing, you might as well just pick bets at random. Learning about competitors can help you place bets that stand a better chance of winning.
Reading about top teams is one thing. Watching them play video games at a professional level is another. Doing this is a great way to gain insights, learn more about the game itself and find out about people’s play styles and strategies.
Last but by no means least, you should always decide on a budget before gambling online for real money. This should be money you can afford to lose. When at an esport betting site, keep track of your spending and when you run out of money, it is time to do something else.
Want to start placing real-money bets on esports? The good news is that this is easy to do and there are lots of great sportsbooks to join. Follow the steps below and you will be betting on your favourite esports in next to no time.
First, you should choose a betting site that is reliable, trustworthy and safe. All of the online sportsbooks that the Gambling Zone recommends tick these boxes and more. Join any of the sites we have selected and you should have a problem-free experience. The best esports betting site for you is the one that meets your needs the most.
Once you have chosen an esports betting site to join, visit it and find the JOIN/REGISTER button. This should be in the top right corner. Click it and fill out the registration form, which asks you for basic personal details and contact information. After doing this and agreeing to the terms and conditions, the site will set your account up.
Head to the banking section and select one of the site’s payment methods. There should be at least one that you are currently using among the options. When you choose one, enter the details and input the amount of money you want to deposit. The money should reach your betting site account right away.
When making your first deposit, you should be able to claim a bonus of some kind. This could be free bets, bonus money or something else. The online sportsbook should make it clear to you what is on offer and how to claim it. All bonuses are optional, so you will be able to opt out before depositing for the first time.
Visit the site’s sports betting section and you should find esports among the markets. Click it and the tournaments you can bet on should appear. Bear in mind that the number of options varies depending on the time of year, though there should always be a few at least.
Select an esport and look through the options available. For each esport, there is the option to bet on an overall winner of the tournament; there may be other options available, depending on the esport. When you have chosen a bet, enter your wager and click to confirm it.
In recent years, more and more people have started playing the games, the tournaments have become bigger and streams of top matches have gained increasing numbers of viewers. It is an exciting time to bet on esports as the sector is fast growing in popularity.
If you want to give esports betting a shot, set aside some money you can afford to lose. Stay in control of the time and money you spend at betting sites, and always remember to focus on the fun side of things. There are lots of sites that accept esports bets. The best betting site for esports is whichever one satisfies your needs and gives you an experience you will enjoy.
Below are some common questions about esports betting sites and their answers.