As any follower of online gambling will confirm, the esports tab has risen in popularity over the last two years. Once a footnote, hidden away at the bottom of the sports navigation bar alongside others of similar interest levels, like bandy and pool, things have changed. Esports now holds its own against the most popular sports in the betting industry, including horse racing, football, and tennis. What’s more, new esports players continue to place bets on their favourite games and tournaments.
Professional esports has spiked recently, with several competitions and fixtures covered by live television or legal live-streaming apps. This led to increased advertising and the prize money offered to winners of the biggest games. We then witnessed a higher standard of players turn to professional esports as a full-time occupation.
There’s always something to bet on
You can now gamble on the outright winner of esports competitions or the teams and players you expect to come out on top in upcoming matches. The global schedule means there’s always a match about to start and a bet worth having. Access your online betting account day or night, and you’ll find plenty to interest you in the esports section.
The number of wagers placed on esports and the value of those bets continues to increase at a steady rate. The leading bookies accept bets on esports every day as gamblers begin to realise the potential for excitement and profits. There are many with an interest in esports who still don’t fully understand the market and allow this to frighten them away from placing a bet on the games they love the most. That’s a shame, but it’s something we want to remedy.
In this article, we give you everything you need to know about esports betting, including the best games to bet on, how to place a bet on esports and the free bet welcome bonus available to new customers. The aim here is to give you a reliable understanding of how esports betting works, so our readers have a better chance to beat the bookies and land a profit from esports gambles.
Esports games and bets
When preparing to gamble on esports with a major online bookmaker, you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to games. All the top titles are covered, and the list of games continues to grow. Some of the most popular titles for gambling purposes include League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, and Call of Duty.
There’s also Valorant, Rocket League, and Fortnite. The best way to get an up-to-date check on the games covered is to create an account with an online sportsbook and click the esports tab. There you’ll find games, upcoming competitions, fixtures, and specials. Every fixture has different ways to bet, either pre-game or in-play. You can bet on the first or second games, winning scores, times, and more. There’s a bet to suit every style.
How to bet on esports
To gamble on esports, regardless of the game or the market you wish to bet on, you must have an online account registered with a bookie that is legal and licensed in your region. Log in using your username and password, then deposit the cash to cover your stake using a debit card or e-wallet. You will now be ready to make your bets.
Click the esports tab and then the game that catches your eye. You will be presented with a list of competitions with fixtures attached. Click the game you want to bet on and the selection to add it to your bet slip. Input your desired stake, then check everything before confirming the bet. It will become live and can’t be changed.
Get a welcome bonus
When deciding which bookie to register with, it’s important that you do as much research as possible. Look for bookies offering new customers a welcome bonus. This is a promotion designed to entice you to choose one bookie over the competition, and the best deals are free bets. Please read the terms and conditions to ensure the free bet is as generous as it seems.