Ever since the early 2000s, Esports have become a real deal and a real sport with a massive following. If you’re asking me, it all peaked at the 2023 Olympic Esports Series, but the thing is — Esports became popular way before that.
The first tournament-style competitions took place back in the 1980s at Stanford University, although not really with such a prize-winning character as today. These days, some of the most popular Esports events include professional teams of players battling it out in top-tier competitions like ELEAGUE, the ESL, and IEM.
Naturally, things have gotten even more competitive since you can now bet on major League of Legends, Valorant, Rainbow Six, CS:GO, Dota 2, Starcraft, and many other events. The main betting options include outrights, money line bets, and even some props like map winner, and the number of kills in games like Dota and CS:GO, and others. The only thing you’ll need to enjoy all those is a decent Esports online betting site, and I will help you find it!
List of the Best Esports Betting Sites ⭐
If you’re looking for the greatest selection of the best online Esports betting sites, I’ve got you covered! I have years of experience in the Esports betting landscape, and I’ve filtered out some of the best bookies that stand out through their bonuses, fair odds, and the sheer number of events and betting markets offered. Check it out below.
All our recommended bookmakers are licensed and safe.
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List of the Best Esports Betting Apps 📱
These days, you can bet on the go, thanks to apps released by the top bookies. Mobile apps are elementary to use nowadays. They’ve been created to make things easy for new bettors and satisfy the expectations of seasoned vets. Besides having every market the desktop website has, apps might also come with special bonuses and offers to put more money in your pockets.
The recommended bookies on my list have the safest apps out there. All the top-rated bookmakers for Esports betting will have a dedicated app for Android and iOS devices. They are free and easy to install and allow you to place bets on the top Esports events anytime and anywhere.
Online betting in the US has started rapidly growing in the past few years, and you can already see legalized online operators in more than 35 states. To be exact, it’s a total of 38 for now if we count in both land-based and online betting.
The market share started pretty low since online betting was only available in some states like New Jersey. It started with the introduction of FanDuel fantasy in 2009, and real sportsbooks followed through from 2011. You can now bet on more than 30 major Esports competitions in the US, and here’s a quick overview of all the states where you can safely do it.
State
Online Betting
Retail Betting
Arizona
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Arkansas
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Colorado
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Connecticut
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Delaware
No ❌
Yes ✅
Illinois
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Indiana
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Iowa
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Kansas
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Kentucky
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Louisiana
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Maine
Yes ✅
No ❌
Maryland
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Massachusetts
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Michigan
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Mississippi
No ❌
Yes ✅
Montana
No ❌
Yes ✅
Nevada
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
New Hampshire
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
New Jersey
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
New Mexico
No ❌
Yes ✅
New York
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Ohio
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Oregon
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Pennsylvania
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Rhode Island
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
South Dakota
No ❌
Yes ✅
Tennessee
Yes ✅
No ❌
Vermont
Yes ✅
No ❌
Virginia
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
West Virginia
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Wisconsin
No ❌
Yes ✅
Wyoming
Yes ✅
No ❌
My greatest piece of advice when choosing local sportsbooks in the US is to always look for licenses from state authorities. For instance, if you wish to lay down your bets safely in NJ, you should look for platforms with official DGE approval. Check out my listed sportsbooks for Esports betting with local licenses right here!
All our recommended bookmakers are licensed and safe.
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Or, perhaps you’d like to join an offshore bookmaker and enjoy a more decentralized experience or bet using crypto since many US operators still don’t allow it. That’s okay as well — I have got you covered, so check the best offshore Esports Internet bookies below!
All our recommended bookmakers are licensed and safe.
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Top Esports Betting Sites by Category 🔠
This is where I’ll give you mini-reviews of what I consider to be the best Esports sportsbooks out there. I’ve already pronounced the winners in their respective categories below, so you can just take a sneak peek now and check out my reviews for more info. The best thing is — all these are available for US bettors, so let’s check them out together.
I can’t just go on about the best sites for Esports betting out there without mentioning bet365. It’s one of the biggest betting brands in the world, and it recently opened its virtual doors to US punters in New Jersey, Colorado, Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana, North Carolina, and others.
Here, you can explore some daily lineups, which are on-site leaderboard tournaments with thousands of entries, and they are sometimes available for Esports events. While that’s an extra way of making some profits, the main dish is the promo section with a “Bet $5, get $150” welcome offer, plus the 100% parlay boost for betting on multiple Esports events.
PROS
CONS
PROS
Some of the best Esports promotions in the game
Includes live streams of major Esports events
You can get a first-bet safety net promo of up to $1,000
William Hill offers some amazing betting boosts like the $50 bonus when you sign up for a new mobile betting account and make a $50 deposit. The site also has regular reloads and other incentives like odds boost, while their selection of Esports betting events is off the charts.
I say that because they offer all the big leagues like League of Legends, Call of Duty, Dota, CS:GO, Heroes of the Storm, and others. But, they also have 12-minute GT eFootball competitions and similar events which you won’t exactly find elsewhere.
PROS
CONS
PROS
Great Esports-specific bonuses and weekly reloads
In-play betting centers with stats and live streams
Includes GT eFootball and other Esports that are rare among other bookies
Bovada offers an official Esports betting app that you can use to follow up on the latest results, catch some live streams, and check outright odds ahead of time. It’s the best place for newbies, as you can get up to $3,750 in sign up bonuses.
On top of that, they have a Parlay Booster promo where you can get increased odds for mixing up a few Esports betting events. Plus, their Esports selection is very impressive, offering events like the CS 2 Exort Series, Dota EPLs, Demacia Cup in League of Legends, and hundreds of US and European pro teams.
PROS
CONS
PROS
Impressive range of Esports betting markets with dozens of lines per match
Easy-to-use app suitable for beginners
Great welcome bonus of up to $3,750 for bettors
Features some unique competitions like the Challenger Cup in Kings of Glory
CONS
Does not have specific Esports bonuses
Odds are rather average compared with other US bookmakers
If you’re in pursuit of the fairest odds on Esports events, you can’t go wrong with DraftKings. It’s a site that has been out there since 2012, and it’s available in 20+ states. You can participate in DFS events here, or bet on Esports events the old-fashioned way.
If you decide to go after the latter route, you can count on using one of the best mobile betting apps for both Android and iOS, as well as very competitive odds. Their range of Esports events ranges from Call of Duty, League of Legends, CS, Rocket League, and others. Plus, you can join the fantasy league and get a $5 boost as soon as you join!
PROS
CONS
PROS
Best mobile fantasy bookie
Impressive app rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for Android and iOS
$5 welcome bonus for first-time punters
Plenty of DFS and Esports betting features and promos
CONS
Focuses on DFS rather than on conventional betting options
Stake has been a staple bookmaker for US bettors for a while now, and I believe it’s not too much to say that it’s the best crypto bookie with Esports betting options out there. You see, the site accepts more than 30 cryptocurrencies, even including some minor coins and altcoins.
So, if you’re a crypto holder, you can count on having a great time, regardless of the coins you hold. You can explore hundreds of events every day, including some of the most popular Esports like Dota, CS 2, League of Legends, and even FIFA, Age of Empires, eCricket, and NBA2k!
PROS
CONS
PROS
Some of the most unique Esports betting options, including Wild Rift and Age of Empires
Impressive range of “map" bets, including map winner teams and props
The biggest selection of Starcraft betting events in the US
CONS
Does not offer any Esports betting boosts or special incentives
Betway Is the Best Sportsbook for Esports for VIP Bettors 👑
Betway Website
Betway recently became one of the biggest US bookies, and it’s only natural that it offers some of the best Esports betting options. In fact, the site is packed with awesome options for high-rollers, as you can even request to raise the limit for deposits and withdrawals.
On top of that, there are no limits on the level of bets you can place, and you’ll already be off to a great start by grabbing their $50 welcome bonus. Here, you’ll find some of the most competitive Overwatch and Dota 2 odds.
PROS
CONS
PROS
Official Android and iOS apps available for download
Great Overwatch odds and markets
Live betting on major Esports events with the largest selection of in-play markets
Chance for high-rollers to raise their limits by preference
CONS
I couldn’t find any Esports betting specials or boosted odds
Last but not least, if you’re looking for something more than just a bookie, PIWI247 offers a complete betting exchange experience. It’s a platform that allows you to place lay bets and back the wagers placed by other punters.
It’s a fairly unique concept, and it allows you to get slightly better odds compared with traditional sportsbooks, assuming you’ll find an event with a large betting pool. Among offered Esports betting options, the site includes CS:GO, Dota 2, and LoL.
PROS
CONS
PROS
Great betting exchange for placing lay bets
Easy to use, even for beginners
Great selection of classic Esports events
CONS
Doesn’t include many options past the classics like LoL and CS:GO
Your odds depend on the market pool and bets placed by other wagerers
Now that you know quite a bit more about Esports betting in the US, it’s about time I gave you a detailed comparison between the platforms. I know that every bettor is looking for something different, so the table below will show you which esports betting companies win in certain categories like the best odds, greatest bonuses, most convenient payment options, and others.
If you read my bookmakers’ reviews, you’ll notice that I do in-depth checks of the promotions section. I believe that bonuses are a vital part of the betting experience. They will give you plenty of extra cash to bet with and the opportunity to explore more markets.
One of the first things you’ll notice when joining a sportsbook are the free bets. They are usually handed out as a welcome bonus meant for new players. The top welcome offers are all free bets, which makes sense for bettors.
Of course, they are not 100% free. You will still need to work out a few before using a free bet and collecting your winnings. Reading the terms and conditions of every free wager bookmaker will tell you more about what to expect. The best sign up offers will allow you to claim a free bet regardless of the payment method. However, some bookies will prevent you from using PayPal or Bitcoin to claim the free stake.
I strongly advise all new players to get a free bet where available. After all, who wouldn’t like to earn some extra cash right from the start?
Rakeback is a withdrawable bonus that is accrued for each bet and depends on your current Rank. Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
All our recommended bookmakers are licensed and safe.
How does Esports Betting Work 💡
To put it simply, Esports betting doesn’t differ much from other types of online betting. It works similarly – you choose one of the best sites to bet on esports, place a stake, and wait for the matches to end. These are virtual matches, of course, but they are not that different from any other sport.
Esports betting is done on CS: GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, EA Sports FC and many other games. The sport has hundreds of events annually, and bettors can wager on them all. You don’t need to head to Las Vegas to do it – choose a bookmaker, and you’ll have plenty of options. You won’t have to dig deep to find the top picks – at most bookies, they will be laid out in the front of the website. Just place a bet on whatever suits you best.
How to Bet on Esports
It is very easy. Here’s a short guide that will walk you through the important steps:
Choose a legit Esports bookmaker;
Register and check the promotions section – there might be a free bet or sign up offer to claim;
As soon as your account is funded, head to the markets and choose Esports;
Pick an event and go through the options;
Place a bet by clicking on the odds;
Watch the match or wait for it to end to see if you’re getting paid.
If you’ve placed a live bet, you might also be able to watch the match live, depending on the in-play betting platform.
Traditional vs Skins Betting Sites
You must be aware that there are two different betting types. The first one is available on all online betting sites for Esports on my list – match wagering and other markets. However, bettors can also try their luck on skins betting, which is completely different. When you wager on matches, you’re predicting who wins a match. Skins betting is a bit different. In this case, you won’t be putting your money on match favorites. You’ll instead be betting skins.
Bettors who are heavily invested in video games know what skins are. They represent cosmetic additions for weapons or characters in games. You can get many of them for free, but there are paid versions too. Skins have recently become valuable betting content, with skins betting sites emerging on the market. You can trade away your skins for others on these sites or place your wagers on different bets using your skins. A few years ago, this could only be done within the Steam client. However, as the community grew, it became impractical, leading to unique safe skins betting sites. Unlike traditional betting esports websites, however, these sites allow bettors to put their skins in a safe pot and use them to wager on anything the site offers.
Bottom Line 🔚
There’s no question that Esports is the hottest betting market in the industry. If you’re new to it and don’t know where to start, I suggest reading any Esports sportsbook review on this page. My guide should be enough for new bettors to learn how it works. It’s a highly lucrative market with plenty of potential, so if you want to win big, you shouldn’t avoid it.
Before I conclude the article, let’s look at some interesting facts.
The most popular games in Esports to bet on are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), Dota 2, League of Legends (LoL), EA Sports FC;
Esports betting in the USA is a huge hit, but the market is pretty popular in Australia, Canada, and the UK too;
The first Olympic Esports Games will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
I hope our guide to the best betting sites for Esports has helped you learn more about it. Whether you’re looking for the best lines or futures or want to learn how to bet on Esports from your phone, I’ve got everything you need right here. Take a deep dive into this fantastic market for real money, and if you’ve done your homework, you can expect a pretty nice return.
Tim is our betting guru. Every gaming site needs one, and Tim’s our guy. He has plenty of experience in betting online and is quite successful at it. Tim’s favorite sports are hockey, baseball, and Esports. Tim believes the latter to be the future of betting.
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