BettingLounge.co.uk uses cookies to enhance your user experience. Click here for more information.
OkEsports is yet to be fully embraced by betting sites in the UK, but we have picked out the best to enhance your esports betting experience.
How do we decide on the best esports betting sites in the UK? First of all, esports or electronic sports is the term used for video games that are played competitively. Millions of people tune in around the world to watch professional players compete in their favourite games.
Esports is a global phenomenon and has an audience reach of around 380 million people in 2018. In the UK there are estimated to be over 36 million gamers and around 3.1 million esports enthusiasts.
There is a massive amount of money involved in esports now with Dota 2 holding the record. Their record-breaking tournament is called “The International”, in which the winners “OG” won $11,190,158.
UK betting sites are starting to embrace esports betting, but it hasn’t become a staple just yet. Of course, our list is bound to be subjective but some esports betting sites are certainly better than others.
Betway was one of the first betting sites in the UK to make the move into esports and the bookmaker remains at the forefront of this growing part of the industry. Betway has its own active esports Twitter account, which is a must for users who want to keep up with all of the latest news and updates from the world of esports betting. The fact that Betway sponsors a wide array of top teams across a variety of esports – as well as the BLAST Premier CS:GO tournament – indicates that this is a company that is now deeply embedded into esports.
Indeed, Betway claims to be the home of esports betting. It is hard to argue with this assessment. Betway has a dedicated subsite for esports betting, as well as having a special esports section on the Betway blog. However, while the site has published esports betting tips for users to check out in the past, it does not seem to be updated very regularly nowadays.
Esports fans can bet on Dota 2, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and StarCraft 2 with a Betway account. Tournaments like the Electronic Sports League – ESL for short – are among those covered on the Betway sportsbook along with the likes of the StarCraft World Game Masters, The International and the LOL Worlds Tournament. Live in-play esports betting with the cash-out feature active is available at Betway too, with live esports streaming on the site provided by a third party, though Betway notes this may be on a delay.
Betway has a few great touches that make it stand out from the crowd in esports betting. For example, Betway customers can even play a slot game based on CS:GO on the site. Betway is also one of the few esports betting sites out there with special promotions aimed at customers. For example, Betway users are able to get a £10 free bet when they place wagers worth at least £25 a week on esports doubles, trebles or accumulators. Various other esports deals are run by this bookmaker, which is a top reason to sign up for an account with Betway for esports betting.
Odds at Betway for esports betting also tend to be among the very best around. Betway does not just talk the talk when it comes to esports betting, the bookmaker walks the walk too. Price boosts are often available to give esports betting users at Betway even more value too. It is fair to say that anyone who wants to start betting on esports should sign up with Betway.
You will find a massive list of events ranging from all the popular esports:
As well as featuring pretty much all of the popular esports, they offer almost all of the competitions around the world. If you are looking to bet on esports, look no further than Betway!
Also, Betway has an esports betting reward scheme and several esports only promotions.
Check out the esports page for the up to date reward scheme and offers available.
Betting markets available:
You will find a decent number of betting markets compared to other esports betting sites. There are also map specific markets and other specials depending on the event.
Betway pros
Betway cons
New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. Debit card deposits only. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.org Full Terms Apply
As one of the biggest betting brands in the world, Bet365 often sets a path for other companies in the industry to follow. When it comes to esports betting, though, Bet365 has not exactly been ahead of the curve and the bookmaker had to put in some hard work in order to catch up.
They have a good list of esports available while offering odds on nearly all the major events.
Bet365 is one of the few esports betting sites to offer ante-post markets. It is possible to bet on big events such as the League of Legends World Championship in advance, which is good news for those esports fans who like to plan ahead and place their wagers ahead of schedule. Something else Bet365 has that lots of other esports betting sites in the UK do not is the chance to bet on events like Esoccer Live Arena, Esoccer Battle and even Esoccer Liga Pro.
On the other side of the coin, in-play betting is also a part of the esports offering at Bet365 although it is not particularly easy to find the live markets on what is a cluttered website.
As Bet365 customers would expect from such a comprehensive sportsbook, there are a lot of markets to pick from. For a typical CS:GO game, esports fans can pick from basic bets such as the match-winner and the final score, as well as other options like the total kills, method of victory, the winning margin and the total number of rounds that will be played in the match.
Bet365 also provides live data on esports matches in play, which makes it easier for fans to see what is happening. Although there is some live esports streaming offered on the site, the Bet365 offering is not quite as strong as a rival operator such as Unibet TV in this department. But the live data is a touch that will probably make up for this oversight for a lot of esports enthusiasts.
Though Bet365 has lots of market-leading promotions for sports such as football and horse racing, the betting site does not currently offer any special bonus to fans of esports. However, as Bet365 bonuses are updated regularly, it is possible these could be added in the future. Bet365 does have one of the best sign-up offers around, though, with up to £100 in bet credits up for grabs for esports fans who opt to sign up for an account with this world-class bookmaker.
As you can see the list of esports is huge and bet365 seems to be continually expanding the events and markets they have on offer.
Overall, bet365 can dominate the esports niche as they continue to improve their already impressive service.
Betting markets available:
bet365 has a massive number of betting markets available and it’s hard to list them all. But, they certainly have the biggest depth we have seen on any esports betting site.
Bet365 pros
Bet365 cons
*New customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Many bookies have added esports betting markets in recent times, with 10Bet among them. Esports is not listed among the top sports to bet on at the 10Bet sportsbook, but it is easy enough to find the available markets through the menu on the left-hand side of the 10Bet site.
Esports such as Dota 2, CS:GO, League of Legends, Overwatch and StarCraft are among those that can be bet on at 10Bet. Competitions such as the League of Legends China Pro League, the StarCraft GSL and the Valorant Champions Tour are among those available to bet on at 10Bet, along with major global esports contests such as Dota 2’s The International.
Not many esports betting sites have Valorant betting odds available right now, so 10Bet is a great choice of bookie for anyone who wants to place wagers on tournaments on this esport.
In terms of the markets available for each esports match, the choice at 10Bet is quite good. Around a dozen different bets are offered, such as over/under markets and map winner bets. Other esports betting sites like Bet365 do tend to have a deeper selection of markets, though.
In-play esports betting is also provided at 10Bet, though there are fewer markets available for live matches than there are ahead of the start of play. At the moment, there is no live esports streaming available on the 10Bet site. This is a shame, due to the fact a lot of other bookmakers have made a move to make esports streams available to watch live on their websites.
It is fair to say that live streaming of esports events is something that 10Bet will need to think about adding if the company is to be able to keep up pace with the best esports betting sites.
Something else missing from the esports betting offering at 10Bet is special promotions that are aimed at esports fans, which a lot of the other top sites in the industry now offer as standard.
One of the things that make up for the lack of live esports streaming and promotions at 10Bet is that odds on their markets tend to be among the best around in the industry. The difference in prices might not seem like a lot at first glance, but those who place a lot of esports bets will find better prices that make a big impact on their potential profits from wagers in the long run.
10Bet has a massive list of esports available, but we are more impressed with the number of leagues they have. At the time of looking they had 29 different leagues for you to bet on from the list of esports above.
Also, they have in-depth stats available for several events. In the CS: GO, pro league, you can find the teams form, players in the team and the player’s individual perfromance stats.
We haven’t seen this level of detail available at any other betting site so far.
Betting markets available
Their betting markets have more than enough for the average esports punter, but there are sadly less than bet365 and Betway. But, they do have more leagues, stats, and popular markets for you to bet on. Sadly, there are no esports based promotions on 10Bet just yet, but hopefully, they will come in time.
10Bet pros
10Bet cons
18+ begambleaware.org; New bettors get 100% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; Free spins validity: 7 days; Free spins max. winnings = £100; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+
Unibet was one of the first major betting sites to embrace esports, which is why so many esports fans have signed up for an account with this bookmaker already. With a special esports section on the Unibet blog teamed up with a Unibet esports Twitter account, the bookie is doing as much as it can to engage people who are interested in learning more about esports.
Although neither the Unibet esports Twitter or the blog appear to be updated very regularly at the present time, the bookie does have esports betting guides available to read. These are handy for those esports fans who are new to betting on the outcome of major events and tournaments.
Another key selling point of Unibet is that the bookmaker has some esports streaming rights, which is a big tick in the box. Even better is the fact people do not even have to log in to their Unibet accounts in order to check out the ongoing action in the esports world on Unibet TV.
In terms of the esports that are actually available to bet on at Unibet, the list is long and includes
For each match within a CS:GO tournament like the ESL Pro League, there are dozens of potential bets to pick from.
Various map betting options are available to select and the depth on the markets is good. Odds for esports betting at Unibet also tend to be pretty good value, which is important for users.
In-play esports betting is offered too, so those watching live streams of the latest action through Unibet TV on the site can place a wager while following what is happening in real-time.
However, those who are hoping to find special esports promotions will be disappointed when they browse Unibet’s range of bonuses and offers. While the promotions are updated often, there are not currently any deals specifically offered for esports betting fans right now.
New customers at Unibet could use the bookmaker’s £40 money back as a bonus on your first bet welcome offer to place what is effectively a risk-free opening wager on esports events, though. Newcomers can also be assured that Unibet is a safe and secure place to bet on esports as the betting site is regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Unibet pros
Unibet cons
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's.
As one of the oldest betting brands in the UK, it might be a surprise to see BetVictor has been so quick to embrace esports betting. But the company has always moved with the times and has seen an opportunity to make the most of a big area of growth in the betting industry.
As such, BetVictor has put together a comprehensive esports betting offering that covers everything from the top events – like the League of Legends World Championship, the Fortnite World Cup, the Hearthstone World Championship and the Overwatch World Cup – to smaller events that may only be known about by true esports enthusiasts. It is not just the biggest competitions that BetVictor customers can bet on, with local leagues listed as well.
The list of esports it is possible to place bets on with BetVictor is a long one, including:
There is a section for trending esports betting so customers can quickly see which wagers are catching the eye.
The depth of the esports betting markets at BetVictor is impressive. As an example, betting on a League of Legends match in the USA LCS gives more than a dozen different bets to pick from, including whether a team will be able to record a quadra or a tenta kill during the match.
Indeed, there is so much choice when it comes to esports betting at BetVictor that it could actually be overwhelming for those who are placing wagers for the first time. With so many different tournaments, events and competitions having markets at BetVictor, there is no context provided to explain what they mean or why they are the right choice to bet on. Those with esports betting experience will surely welcome the fact there are so many options, however.
Live streaming is a central part of the BetVictor offering and the site has integrated streaming technology for esports as well. This means that betting live in-play on esports is a pleasure at BetVictor, giving users the chance to watch live action and see if the bet is a winner. Unlike at Unibet, BetVictor customers do have to log in to their account to access the streams, though.
As esports betting is quite new, it is not always easy to find the best possible odds for a bet. But BetVictor’s prices for esports betting tend to be very solid, which adds to the long list of reasons why this bookmaker is such a solid choice.
BetVictor pros
BetVictor cons
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £5 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 2x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. 7 day bonus expiry. Card payments only. Click for T&Cs
Although 888 was initially launched as an online casino, the company has run a sportsbook under the name 888Sport for some time, with esports now available among its markets.
Esports that can be bet on at 888Sport range from:
Tournaments such as the LoL LCS and LCK events are among those offered at 888Sport. However, when it comes to the markets for individual matches on most of the above esports, the betting options at 888Sport are quite limited.
It is often only possible to bet on the winner of the match, with no more depth to the markets. Those who are serious about esports betting will likely want to browse selections such as map winner and first kill, but these simply do not tend to be available on the 888Sport.
Also missing is the chance to watch esports live streams at 888Sport. While the bookmaker’s Bet and Watch feature does provide some live streaming, esports has so far been overlooked. An alternative bookmaker such as Unibet may therefore be a better choice for those who want to be able to watch esports events live while betting on the outcome of the top matches.
In-play esports betting is provided at 888Sport, though. There is a similar issue to pre-match betting in that the markets are limited, however. It is possible to bet on the correct score and there is a handicap option, but other than that there is not a lot of choices to pick from here.
The value of prices and odds is a top priority for esports betting fans. Research indicates that 888Sport is placed just above the middle of the pack when it comes to esports betting odds. They do not tend to be the best price available, but neither are the 888 esports odds the worst.
In the betting industry, 888Sport is famous for its wide array of promotions, offers and bonuses. But while there are special 888Sport promotions for sports such as basketball, football and horse racing, there is currently nothing extra available for those who want to bet on esports.
It is possible to use the 888Sport welcome bonus – which offers a bet £10 get £30 in free bets bonus – to place bets on the sportsbook’s esports betting markets.
888Sport pros
888Sport cons
Min deposit £/€/$10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&C’s apply.
Established in 2009, TonyBet is now among the best esports betting sites around. In addition to a solid sportsbook, TonyBet customers can also access other gambling products such as an online casino, poker and various lotteries, so there is plenty of choices to pick from.
Unlike a lot of other esports betting sites, TonyBet has opted to split its markets into two different categories. The first of these is multiplayer online battle arena – or MOBA for short – which covers games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends. The second category of esports to bet on at TonyBet is FPS – which stands for first-person shooter – with the top games in this section of the sportsbook including Call of Duty and CS:GO.
There are not as many esports to bet on at TonyBet when compared to some of the other top esports betting sites in the industry. For example, Rainbow 6 is one of the esports missing from the markets available and it is not currently possible to bet on Valorant at TonyBet either. The ESL Pro League is one of the main competitions people with TonyBet accounts are able to bet on, as well as the Call of Duty League and the League of Legends World Championship.
When it comes to betting on individual esports matches, TonyBet has a massive range of markets to pick from. There are often more than 100 different bets to select on the TonyBet sportsbook, which dwarfs the number of options on a lot of other esports betting sites.
As an example, when betting on CS:GO matches in the ESL Pro League, TonyBet account holders can bet on the total kills recorded by each player, as well as more basic options such as handicap markets. Those esports fans who want to have more choice when it comes to the markets available should certainly think about signing up for an account at TonyBet as a result.
Odds are also broadly competitive, so esports betting fans do not have to worry about losing out on value when they opt to bet on matches, leagues and competitions at TonyBet’s sportsbook. Although there is no live esports streaming, the number of markets for in-play betting is large.
While there are no special esports betting promotions offered by TonyBet at this time, players can use the bookmaker’s welcome bonus to get up to £200 to play with, which can then be used to place bets on esports events and matches.
TonyBet pros
TonyBet cons
Enter the bonus code "TONY200" on your first deposit.Wager that by 10 times at odds of 1.65 or higher withing 30 days.Deposits using Neteller, Skrill, Paypal or Bitcoin are not eligible for this offer.
Originally founded as an online casino site in Malta, Casumo then followed in the footsteps of a lot of other sites in adding a sportsbook to its range of online gambling products.
Casumo Sports has not been around for long compared to some of the other top esports betting sites, but it is already developing a strong reputation in what is a burgeoning part of the gambling industry. Casumo, which announced a two-year principal sponsorship deal with Championship side Reading F.C. to boost its profile in the UK, has also teamed up with the esports industry. Casumo has sponsored Wembley Arena, which hosts many top esports events, while the firm also had a deal with the eSports team Planet Odd that was announced back in 2017.
Top esports available to bet on through Casumo Sports include:
Tournaments such as the BLAST Nordic Masters, the ESL Pro League, the Global StarCraft League and the Call of Duty League are among those with markets available on the Casumo Sports site, with live in-play betting offered as well.
Speaking of markets, they can be a little lacking at Casumo Sports. Whereas top esports betting sites such as Bet365 and TonyBet often have dozens of different markets to pick from, including the total kills for each player, the choice is a bit more limited on the Casumo Sports site. For a typical esports match, there are around 10 different bets available and most of them are fairly basic, such as which team will win the match, what the correct score will be and so on. However, odds for esports events at Casumo Sports do tend to be quite good, so there is pretty decent value to be found in the markets available to pick from on this esports betting site.
There are a couple of things missing at Casumo Sports when compared to other leading esports betting sites. First of all, Casumo Sports has yet to create any special esports betting promotions. Other sites have done this to attract more esports betting fans, so this is something the sportsbook may need to add in the future to make sure that it is not left behind.
Something else Casumo Sports needs if it is to be considered a truly elite esports betting site is live streaming. Many sites offer the chance to watch live esports events live, which is particularly handy for those who are betting live in-play, but this is not currently an option at Casumo Sports, though the feature might well be added at some point to the site in the future.
Casumo Sports pros
Casumo Sports cons
*18+. New UK customers only. Min bet £10 to receive £20 Free Bet (settled 35 days from registration). Min odds of 3/5. Free Bet credited at qualifying bet settled within 35 days. Please gamble responsibly, www.begambleaware.org • T&Cs apply
Similar to Casumo Sports, LeoVegas used to be known as a casino site but it is now being increasingly considered to be one of the top options on the market for esports betting. Among the key things to note about LeoVegas is that the company has always taken a mobile-first approach. That means the LeoVegas app is a fine option for esports betting fans who want to be able to place wagers on their favourite events and tournaments while they are out and about.
The LeoVegas site has a clear look and design that is different from most sportsbooks, which can seem cluttered due to the sheer number of markets they cram on to the same page. At LeoVegas, it is simple to find the many different esports that are available to bet on, a list that includes:
Tournaments listed on the LeoVegas sportsbook include the Call of Duty League, the ESL Pro League and various LoL series, so fans are very likely to be able to find what they are looking for on this esports site.
In-play betting is offered and the good news is that live esports streaming is also available, though LeoVegas users do have to log in to their account in order to access the streams. For live in-play matches, the list of markets available at LeoVegas is quite short and basic. When esports fans browse markets ahead of play there is much more choice. For a typical match in the ESL Pro League, for example, it is possible to bet on the number of kills that each player on a team is able to record during the action. This is something not all esports betting sites have.
Promotions are key for anyone considering signing up for a new online betting account. Unfortunately, the bonuses and offers are very focused on the casino side of things at LeoVegas, rather than the sportsbook. As such, no esports promotions are offered by the site at the time of writing, which feels like an oversight given how LeoVegas has embraced esports.
LeoVegas esports odds tend to be solid, sitting neither at the top of the tree nor at the bottom of the pile when it comes to the value that is available on their range of markets. Esports fans might still want to shop around to make sure their bet does not have a better price elsewhere.
LeoVegas pros
LeoVegas cons
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Opt in required. Qualifying bet must be £10 or more and placed at odds of 1.5 or higher. Free bet must be used in-play. Free bet is non-withdrawable, expires after 7 days and is not returned with winnings.
The last of the esports betting sites we are going to look at here is STSbet, a betting brand that is best known in central Europe but is slowly starting to become more influential around the world. More than a million people have STSbet accounts and this number is growing fast.
Esports has pride of place on the top bar of the STSbet site, which shows how important esports are to the betting brand. Call of Duty, League of Legends, CS:GO, StarCraft and Dota 2 are among the leading esports included in the STSbet sportsbook. It is also possible to bet on Valorant at STSbet, which is one of the only esports betting sites to have this option right now.
All of the biggest esports competitions are covered at STSbet with nothing obvious missing from the list of tournaments and matches that customers on this site have available to pick from.
Live in-play betting markets are offered at STSbet too. Live streaming is available as well, which makes it easy for customers to follow all the latest esports action while they are deciding what they want to bet on. In-play, the markets are not that deep but it is possible to bet on a range of handicap options, as well as which team or player will come out on top at the end of the play.
Betting ahead of a match starting gives STSbet customers access to more markets, with dozens often offered for the top esports events. As an example, a typical match in the Pinnacle Cup will have more than 70 different bets, though the majority of these are handicaps for each map. There is not much innovation in the selection. While other sites give users the chance to bet on the number of kills a player will record in a match, STSbet does not currently offer this. Ante-post betting on outright markets such as the League of Legends World Championship can also be found at STSbet, which is very useful for those esports fans who like to plan ahead.
STSbet – which is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission – has very decent esports odds available on its sportsbook. While the prices on offer might not always be the best around, they are usually not too far away from the top odds available for esports events.
Customers at esports betting sites value promotions highly, but the bonuses and offers on the table at STSbet are not targeted at esports. While some other top esports betting sites have special deals for esports, this is not currently the case on the STSbet sportsbook. However, those who sign up for an account at STSbet are able to get a £40 welcome bonus on the site.
STSbet pros
STSbet cons
18+. New depositing customers within 30 days from registration. Promotion valid from 4/04/2022 until further notice. Bonus code SBWB30 required during the first deposit. First deposit min. £10. Bet min. £10 on any sports-related markets, single or accumulator bets, pre-match or in-play, with min. odds of 1/2. 3 separate free bets of £10 each, credited within 48 hours, valid for 30 days, for any sport. No wagering requirements on the free bet winnings. Free bet stakes not included in any subsequent winnings. Deposit method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.or
As betting sites are yet to fully embrace esports on their sportsbooks, you will not find a wide range of esports available on most bookmakers. But, some incredible esports bookmakers offer a great range of esports ranging from CS: GO to Rocket League.
Even if the esport is available, it does not mean they will have a wide range of tournaments and betting markets. There are still a big number of tournaments that you cannot bet on, but Betway is one of the best for its depth in events and markets.
We would love to see more esports specific promotions, but currently, Betway is one of the only betting sites to offer free bets and rewards for betting on sports. Hopefully, more bookmakers will follow suit soon.
There are lots of different esports out there but the professional esports industry is focused on some more than others. Here are the top esports that are available to bet on in the UK right now:
Dota 2: Among the world’s most popular competitive games, Dota 2 is very popular to watch on the streaming platform Twitch. The biggest annual tournament in Dota 2 is The International. With a prize pool of millions of dollars, The International is one of the most important events in esports.
FIFA: Sports fans will already be familiar with the FIFA franchise of football video games, but this is becoming a more popular esport too these days. The FIFA eWorld Cup attracts fans from around the world and many real football clubs have professional esports players now as well.
CS:GO: Short for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, CS:GO is a multiplayer first-person shooter that has long been up there with the top esports to bet on. Various Counter-Strike esports events and tournaments take place throughout the year and they are always very popular to watch.
Rocket League: Kind of a football game but with players trying to divert balls into the goal by driving a rocket-powered car that can fly through the air, Rocket League is huge fun to watch and play. The Rocket League Championship Series is one of the top esports events around.
Call of Duty: Up there with the top video game franchises, Call of Duty is now also a leading esport. Millions of fans tuned in to watch the Call of Duty World League Championship in 2020.
League of Legends: A stalwart of the esports world, League of Legends is considered one of the more strategic options in the industry. Events like the League of Legends Championship Series and the League of Legends World Championship are among the top tournaments.
StarCraft: The first StarCraft game came out in 1998 but it is still one of the best esports around with leading competitions including Legacy of the Void and IEM Katowice 2021, which had an impressive prize pool totalling $250,000 when it took place.
Overwatch: This team-based shooter is something of a cult classic esport. When it was launched a few years ago the Overwatch League, became the first major global esports league to be created with city-based teams.
Hearthstone: A fast-paced strategy card game, Hearthstone is a more cerebral esport when compared to some of the other options included here. Hearthstone Masters is one of the top events in this esport, while there is an official Hearthstone World Championship for the best.
Rainbow 6: This online tactical shooter video game is very popular to watch on Twitch. Leading competitions for Rainbow 6 include national leagues that are held all over the world.
Fortnite: While some might think Fortnite is primarily for a younger audience, it has become one of the most important esports around. Winning the first-ever Fortnite World Cup in 2019 earned a 16-year-old named Kyle, who plays online as “Bugha” millions of dollars in prize money.
Apex Legends: Another battle royale game like Fortnite, Apex Legends only came out in 2019 but it rapidly joined the largest esports in the world. The Apex Legends Global Series has huge prizes up for grabs for the best players.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Known as PUBG for short, this is another leading battle royale style esport. Fans can tune into events such as the PUBG Global Invitational.
The number of markets available for esports on sports betting sites is growing all the time.
Right now there are a few main options offered, however, which include the following:
Skins betting: Most gambling on sport is in cash, but esports has an alternative known as skins betting. In skins betting for esports events, virtual currency such as coins or in-game items is instead used for wagers. Skins can include an avatar, weapons, or game equipment.
Fantasy betting: Fantasy sports have been around for a long time, with competitions like the Fantasy Premier League in football enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It is therefore natural that fantasy esports has also developed, with real money up for grabs to players.
Map winner: Moving on to esports betting markets themselves, this option does exactly what the name suggests. Users simply bet on who will be the map winner in a particular match.
First blood: This is the team or player that records the first kill of a tournament match. First blood markets tend to be offered for games such as CS:GO and Call of Duty, plus a few others.
Handicaps: Most sports fans will be familiar with how handicap markets work. They are a major part of the esports betting offering on a lot of the top sites. Users will find handicaps are very useful in the event of one esports team being a big favourite to win a particular match.
Winning team: Another fairly self-explanatory esports betting market, this involves predicting which team is going to come out on top at the end of a particular match or tournament.
Most kills: For some esports matches, customers on betting sites have the chance to bet on which player will get the most kills. Over and under markets for kills are also offered as well.
Outright: Many esports betting sites allow their users to place ante-post wagers on the top tournaments, which include the likes of the League of Legends World Championship.
All of the best esports betting sites offer CS:GO, covering a decent range of markets and events worldwide. CS:GO is a clear favourite for several betting sites, and some bookmakers have even sponsored teams, with Betway sponsoring Ninjas in Pyjamas. With Counter Strikes ever-growing popularity, there are plenty of CS:GO gambling sites that now offer a wide variety of esports events from all around the world, and most events can be watched live on the betting sites or through Youtube/Twitch.
Some great new betting sites have embraced esports betting, but their products are yet to match the three listed above.
![]() | Mr.PlayBet £10 Get £15 in Free Bets | Claim |
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. | ||
![]() | STSBet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | Claim |
18+. New depositing customers within 30 days from registration. Promotion valid from 4/04/2022 until further notice. Bonus code SBWB30 required during the first deposit. First deposit min. £10. Bet min. £10 on any sports-related markets, single or accumulator bets, pre-match or in-play, with min. odds of 1/2. 3 separate free bets of £10 each, credited within 48 hours, valid for 30 days, for any sport. No wagering requirements on the free bet winnings. Free bet stakes not included in any subsequent winnings. Deposit method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.or |
Esports is short for electronic sports and it is a term used to describe all competitive gaming.
Often, esports events take place in front of big live crowds, just as in other sports, and the audience tends to be very engaged and passionate about the competition.
Tournaments consist of teams of players taking each other on with cash prizes up for grabs. Various formats can be used, such as a round-robin league or a straight knockout event.
Some of the top esports are shooters like Call of Duty, Overwatch and Counter-Strike, while other esports that are popular include League of Legends, FIFA, Halo and Street Fighter.
Betting on esports is the same as most other sports. People simply have to guess what is going to happen in a match, event or tournament and place a wager on their predicted outcome.
Esports betting is quite new but many of the top bookmakers in the UK now offer this option. Esports betting markets include total kills and map winner, as well as various handicaps.
Betting on esports is now possible on most online bookmakers in the UK. Some have been faster to embrace esports betting than others, but there are plenty of good options to pick from now.
Details of some of the best esports betting sites in the UK can be found above on this page.
Esports fans should take some time to check out betting sites to make sure they run the types of markets they want to use, but there are some options that stand out from the crowd.
Unibet, 888Sport, BetVictor, Bet365 and Betway are widely regarded as being some of the best esports betting sites in the UK right now.
Other top esports betting sites worth considering for those thinking of taking up this activity include 10Bet, Tonybet, Casumo Sports, LeoVegas and STSbet.
Betting on esports is 100% legal, which is why so many bookmakers have this option.
Simply put, they would not have created esports betting markets for their customers unless gambling on the outcome of matches, tournaments and events was not 100% legal.
Finding the best place to watch esports for those who have placed a bet can be something of a challenge. With esports being quite new to the mainstream, the sector is in a state of flux.
That said, interest in esports is rising fast and the mainstream media is taking note. During the course of 2020, some esports events were even broadcast live in the UK on the BBC. Most of the time, esports events will be broadcast live on the streaming platform Twitch as well.
Some of the best esports betting sites in the UK also have live streaming of the top events available to their users. For esports live streaming, Unibet is one of the best options. Through the Unibet TV service, fans can watch esports such as CS:GO, Call of Duty and many more.
On some of the top UK esports betting sites, users do not even have to log in to their account or place a bet on the action in order to watch the live streams for esports events and matches.
© 2016 - 2022 BettingLounge.co.uk. All promotions and campaigns, both new customer bonuses and campaigns for existing customers, on this site is subject to their own terms and conditions. All gambling in the UK is strictly 18+. Gamble responsibly.
{{ item.tc }}