Esports Betting Guide: How to Bet on Esports in 2025

During the COVID lockdown, gaming became a popular pastime. It was one of the few activities that wasn’t shut down and, as a result, got plenty of attention from sportsbooks and bettors who wanted to continue doing their thing with the limited options available.

Esports isn’t a bunch of kids sitting around a video game console playing Warcraft. OK, maybe it is. But it’s also a highly competitive environment featuring some of the best gamers in the world.

Since the pandemic, esports have exploded, with superstar players and teams competing in massive tournaments. And as a result, opportunities to bet on competitive gaming have exploded.

What Is Esports Betting?

Esports betting is wagering on the outcome of competitive gaming matches and/or tournaments. With hundreds of games played daily, sportsbooks offer betting odds on just about every part of the industry.

Betting on esports might seem strange, but it's similar to throwing down on football, basketball, or soccer.

With all the different games out there, it’s smart to focus on one in particular.

And like a traditional sports bet, you can wager on the winner of a match or tournament and also factor in a handicap. There are over/under markets for specific game outcomes as well as prop menus.

Popular Esports Games for Betting

This isn’t the same as playing Pac-Man; rather, esports are intricate games with intense competitions, featuring the best gamers in the world, who also happen to make a ton of money.

Times have changed with an entire generation exposed to esports, and there are specific games that work better than others for the events. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games are one example of a popular genre, with First Person Shooter (FPS) games another.

League of Legends (LoL)

League of Legends has been around since the inception of esports, and it's not only one of the oldest, but it's also one of the most popular.

Because it has endured and thrived through the rapid expansion of esports, LoL’s betting market is nothing to laugh at.

It’s probably the most wagered-on esports, with teams worldwide competing in tournaments like the LoL World Championship, as well as regional leagues around the globe.

In the MOBA genre, LoL features two teams of five to destroy their opponent’s nexus. The moneyline bet is on which team destroys first. Getting there is only part of the battle.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)

Long a popular esport, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was tweaked and reimagined as CS2.

Don’t worry, you can still wager on the FPS esport, with the most common type of bet on which team will win the entire match.

Other options include the winner of individual maps within the game, over/under on total maps/rounds, and props for the most kills. There is no shortage of betting opportunities with several international CS:GO leagues competing routinely, such as the ESL Pro League, the largest league in the world.

Dota 2

Gamers are definitely loyal. Another favorite is Dota 2, which has been around for years and has gained a loyal following.

It’s similar to LoL in that it’s a MOBA game with two teams of five, with the end goal of destroying their opponents' building. Dota 2 offers the biggest prize pools and is known for its world championship, The International.

Additionally, the betting markets are similar to LoL, with straightforward moneylines for predicting the number of kills or which hero is picked. Typically, in a best-of-three series, you can bet on the entire match or individual games.

Valorant

One of the newer games on the esports scene, Valorant, has quickly become a favorite following its debut. Similar to CS:GO, Valorant is a tactical 5v5 FPS genre game. They are so alike that if you’re familiar with CS:GO, you should easily catch on to the intricacies of Valorant.

The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) is unique in that it's the only esport where gamers compete throughout the year to qualify for international events and, eventually, the VCT, which features the best teams in the world.

Given its relative youth, some betting markets could be limited, especially for lower-level competitions; however, options continue to expand with more traditional moneyline, spreads, and totals available.

Call of Duty (CoD)

Call of Duty is another game with a history. Several new versions of the game have dropped since it hit the market in 2003, yet CoD is as popular and lucrative as ever.

A boatload of money has been distributed to gamers through the Call of Duty League (CDL) and the Call of Duty World Championship.

The formation of the CDL was a boost for betting markets. Prior to the CDL collecting enough pertinent information for betting lines was challenging. That changed and sportsbooks embraced the game with new betting markets that include a larger prop menu on top of the standard match and map winner.

Types of Esports Bets

Just like any sport with a large audience and bettors willing to wager on the outcome of events, esports has become a player in the sports betting field.

Like traditional sports betting, the most straightforward wager is on the moneyline, where a bettor attempts to predict the team or individual winner of a match.

Anyone unfamiliar with the world of professional gaming will be amazed at the number of available bets, rivaling and sometimes surpassing those for a football game.

Moneyline Betting

For those new to betting on esports, this is the easiest wager to make. It’s just dropping coin on the team or player to win the match with nothing else getting in the way.

Yet, you'll need to review the odds attached to each side to determine if the bet has value. The side with the greater probability of winning will be displayed in American odds format with a minus (-) in front of the number. The underdog will have a plus (+) sign.

Map Handicap (Spread Betting)

Understanding terminology specific to esports will help when placing a wager. Spread betting is on the margin of victory, not just the winner. Similar to other sports, the favorite needs to “cover” the spread to win the bet.

The favorite will have better odds for a larger payout, but they also have to win by a certain amount. If a team is a +1.5 map dog, they need one map to win the bet. A map is like a game within the overall match, which is a best-of format.

Total Maps or Rounds (Over/Under)

In football, the over/under refers to the combined point total for both teams. In esports, several different categories offer over/under wagers such as total maps/rounds played, total kills, and in some cases, total game time.

You wager if the number will be higher (over) or lower (under) than the number established by the sportsbook in that specific category. Since you don’t have to pick a winning side and it’s easy to understand, this type of bet is popular.

In-Game Events (Prop Bets)

It's easy to build a prop menu around certain games, and props are trendy in games like LoL, Dota 2, and CS:GO. You’re betting on a player getting more than 25.5 kills in CS:GO or 15.5 kills in LoL.

Team props are also on the table, like which squad gets first blood. In MOBA games, it’s common to bet on a team destroying the first tower.

Tournament Winner

Similar to betting on a match winner, this bet is on which team or individual will win a specific esports tournament, also known as the outright winner.

It doesn’t matter how many maps or matches your pick wins during the tournament; if it doesn’t win the entire thing, you lose the bet. Think of it as a wager on the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl before the NFL season starts.

Esports Betting Strategies

Just like in traditional sports betting, to improve your chances of making some money when betting on esports, you should consider some strategies before heading to the betting window.

One big advantage is researching the teams and players by analyzing their statistics and trends. It also helps to know a little about the specific game you’re planning to bet on.

Specialize in One Game

With a wide variety of esports out there and different genres competing, a smart strategy would be to focus on one particular game.

By focusing your time and resources on one game, you'll gain a better understanding of it, and this knowledge will help you make more informed wagers. It also allows you to familiarize yourself with the teams and players in that esport, while also learning about betting markets and trends.

Follow Team and Player News

This one is a must in your arsenal of betting strategies, especially if you plan on making a lot of wagers. Several factors, such as an injury or illness, can impact a team or player's performance.

Roster changes can affect the overall dynamic of a team, and players can hit a slump, leading to poor performance. You can find this information at esports sites, and while it doesn’t guarantee wins, you'll have a better chance at success.

Use Live Betting for Esports

Esports live betting is still an emerging market, which is why you can find favorable odds on certain games and matches.

Bettors must be on top of their game to identify value picks to take advantage of mispriced wagers. That means understanding the game, including the teams and players involved.