With the rate at which eSports is growing, more and more bettors are turning towards this emerging market to place their bets.
If eSports is a completely new concept, this article is for you. I’m going to start right from the beginning and explain everything along the way.
In particular, we’ll look at what eSports is, the different betting options you have and how you can get started today.
Let’s get dive in.
What is eSports betting?
So what actually is eSports?
As the name suggests, eSports are electronic sporting events that take place online.
Rather than competing on the football pitch or tennis court, players compete online behind a computer.
Big tournaments such as the Fortnite World Cup take place in large arenas with thousands of spectators. Fans watch the game on big screens or online via streaming platforms.
Even schools are starting to get in on the action with the High School Esports League claiming to have over 1500 schools taking part.
There’s no doubting the popularity of the sport. Some research suggests that eSports could eclipse the NBA in terms of viewership by 2021.
The total amount bet on eSports competitions is expected to hit $12.9 billion by the end of 2020 which is a 134% increase since 2016.
This figure is only going to rise as more bettors look to profit from eSports betting. Neither bookmakers or punters want to miss out on any opportunities.
As we’ll look at below, more and more bookies offer a wide range of eSports markets to punters which makes the overall market more attractive.
Esports facts
Here are a few more facts that show the popularity of eSports throughout the world.
Research suggests that:
- 250 million people watch esports with estimates claiming this could rise to 550 million by 2021
- 11 billion hours of esports watched annually
- There’s more prize money than Wimbledon
If eSports betting continues to grow at current rates, it will be one of the most-watched and lucrative sports in the world before long.
How to get started with esports betting
So the question is, how do you get started with eSports betting?
The good news… It’s incredibly easy and very similar to traditional sports betting.
The first step you’ll need to take is to register with a bookmaker. Nowadays most traditional bookies offer eSports markets to punters.
However, not all bookies are created equal. Certain bookmakers offer a greater range of eSports markets for example.
Here are some of the most popular choices you should consider using:
Betway
Betway claims to be the home of eSports betting and they certainly live up to that title. They offer a great range of markets, brilliant odds and lucrative bonuses.
Betway sponsors a number of major tournaments and professional teams such as BIG, Invictus Gaming and Ninjas in Pyjamas to name a few.
Overall, Betway is certainly a great option when it comes to eSports betting. Why not sign up and get started today.
Bet365
Being one of the most popular bookmakers in the world, you’d expect Bet365 to offer a great eSports service.
Similar to that of Betway, Bet365 has a great range of events and markets to bet on. They also stream live games on their website.
Get started with eSports betting at Bet365 today.
You also have the option of dedicated bookmakers that focus on eSports betting such as Loot.bet and Cyberbet.
Check out this article for more information on the best eSports betting sites.
Once you’ve found a suitable bookie, it’s time to register and take advantage of the bookies sign up bonus.
Most bookmakers offer new customers a free bet or enhanced odds which you can profit from using strategies such as matched betting.
Now you’re all set to place your first eSports bet. So what market should you bet on?
What bets can you place?
So what can you actually bet on when it comes to eSports betting?
The main market that punters bet on is match betting. As with traditional sports betting, you bet on the outcome of a game or event.
Other popular markets include:
- Race to # kills
- Map winner
- Handicap betting
You can also bet on live events at certain bookmakers. With live streaming and in-play betting, you can choose the exact moment to place your bets.
This takes the excitement of eSports betting to another level.
All in all, there is plenty of different markets to pick from when it comes to eSports betting.
If you’re just getting started, I recommend you stick to basic markets like match markets. Once you become more experienced you can look at more advanced markets.
Best eSports tournaments
So which are the biggest and most popular eSports tournaments around the world? Some of the largest events include:
- The International
- Fortnite World Cup
- LoL World Championships
Players and teams compete in various games at the tournaments mentioned above. The most popular games include Dota 2, Fortnite, League of Legends and CS:GO.
You’ll be able to bet on other games but the ones mentioned above are the most popular.
If you’re new to eSports betting, I recommend you stick to the major tournaments to start with.
Benefits of eSports
Now we know more about eSports, let’s check out some of the benefits it has over traditional sports betting.
Global appeal
Unlike other sports, eSports has a global appeal. Individuals play games around the world meaning there’s a wider appreciation for professional gaming tournaments.
As we looked at earlier, there are already 250 million people who watch eSports on a regular basis. This puts it ahead of other major sports in terms of spectator numbers.
Culture has very little to do with online gaming as it does with sports like rugby, baseball and cricket.
Ease of access
eSports tournaments are streamed around the world via various online platforms meaning the sport is incredibly easy to access.
One of the most popular streaming platforms is Amazon’s Twitch.
This service was designed with gamers in mind and claims to be the home of gamers with access to exclusive in-game loot, free games along with access to Twitch.tv where you can watch live events.
When you start betting on eSports, a service like Twitch is brilliant for watching live events.
Amazon Twitch is available with a prime account which costs just £7.99 per month.
Whilst Twitch is a popular choice, there are other streaming options that you can use and as we looked at earlier some bookmakers even offer live streaming within their sites.
Huge range of events available
Another benefit of eSports betting is that there is a huge range of events taking place each week.
With the growth of the eSports market, the number of tournaments and events has increased over the years.
That means you’ll always have a major tournament or event to look forward to when it comes to your betting.
As the popularity of eSports continues to grow around the world, more and more events and tournaments will spring up.
Overall, eSports betting has really moved on over the past few years and has a number of benefits over traditional sporting events.
Get started with eSports betting
As with other betting strategies, it’s incredibly easy to get started with eSports betting in 2020.
As we discussed earlier, the first step is to register with one of our recommended eSports bookmakers.
You’re then ready to place your first eSports bets. I recommend you start off by betting on a match market at one of the major tournaments.
Esports betting overview
Overall, eSports betting is definitely here to stay and it’s likely to become one of the most popular betting categories very soon.
Therefore it’s a great idea to get in on the action now and stay one step ahead of the competition.
What are your thoughts on esports betting? Let me know by leaving a comment below right now.