The esports betting industry doesn’t just bear importance in the esports world but in the online betting sphere as well. It has already soared beyond experts’ initial expectations. Esports betting sites keep growing in numbers, following alongside growing viewership and investment numbers.
However, not all esports betting sites are worth the hassle. More esports betting sites becoming available doesn’t equate to providing decent user experiences. Many either take massive cuts on odds, don’t have much depth, or lack proper customer support channels. Heck, some of them are outright scams.
That said, it’s of utmost importance to pick an online bookie you can trust. Unfortunately, finding such bookies is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing year. The market is flooded with lousy, subpar esports betting sites that are chasing potential esports bettors away.
This is why we have taken the time to put together our list of the best esports betting sites. If you want the best possible betting experience, only opt for the biggest, most prominent bookies.
What Are the Best Esports Betting Sites in 2023?
- ThunderPick – Offers betting on the biggest esports events.
- BetOnline – Offers competitive lines and odds for esports betting.
- MyBookie – Online sportsbook with some of the best bonuses out there.
- Sportsbetting.ag – Variety of trustworthy banking options for placing esports bets.
- Bovada – Safe online betting site that has been around for a long time.
Why Trust Our Recommendations?
First of all, we here at TSG use all the trusted esports betting sites listed above for our various picks and blogs. Most of us are passionate sports betting enthusiasts, while some of us can’t go more than two weeks without placing one or two esports wagers.
On top of that, our list features some of the biggest names in the online betting niche. These massive betting platforms are known across both sports and esports spectrums. All of our site picks are 100% legit, having all necessary licenses for online gambling, great esports betting variety, and excellent customer service (don’t even get us started on their generous welcome bonuses).
Key Factors That Make the Best Esports Betting Sites
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- Ease of Use
- Quantity of Esports Markets
- Variety of Additional Betting Options
- Esports Specific Bonuses
- Quantity of Payment Methods
- Customer Support Service
- Reputation
Ease of Use
Ease of use is the key element for all first-time users. Bookies that have mastered the ease of use segment do well when it comes to acquiring new bettors. But what does the ease of use factor represent? Well, let’s divide it into three parts—speed, polish, and intuitiveness.
Quantity of Esports Markets
What good is an esports betting site if it only has LoL, CS:GO, and Dota 2 bets to offer? These days, the key to conquering the esports gambling sphere is having a multitude of esports markets, including the less popular ones such as Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Rocket League. Of course, event depth needs to be present too, since the demand for esports betting doesn’t decline after the biggest, most prominent events.
Variety of Additional Betting Options
In addition to an abundance of esports markets, the best esports betting sites also have a proper variety of options. We’re talking about additional betting options that go alongside the typical match-winners and moneylines, including but not limited to, specials and live bets. The more, the merrier!
Esports Specific Bonuses
Unfortunately, esports-specific bonuses still aren’t available on most online betting sites. Those that do offer such bonuses aren’t really good at emphasizing them in ways where esports bettors will take notice. That said, esports-specific bonuses aren’t as important as the rest of the factors here, but will gain importance as time goes on and more big names start experimenting with them.
Quantity of Payment Methods
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Back in the starting days of online wagering, payment methods were a massive hassle. Nowadays, most online gambling sites offering esports bets have numerous payment methods to choose from. There are also those that work with only a handful of niche options, such as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum. Typically, people want diversity and that’s exactly what we had in mind for our list above.
Customer Support Service
Having proper customer support service can make or break new bookies. Bettors want long-term stability and issue resolution quickly. Customer support staff, as well as customer support channels greatly affect overall customer satisfaction levels, and should not be overlooked!
Reputation
Even though we’re living in a world where the biggest online review sites are outright scams, it doesn’t mean online reviews don’t matter. They do, as they still have the ability to build (or destroy) the reputations of anything available on the internet, including esports betting sites. Take online reputation with a grain of salt, though, and it can be tampered with very easily. Looking to legitimate online review sites such as TSG for nonbiased, expert, and fair reviews is a great start.
Real Money Esports Betting Sites: Key Characteristics
What should you look for when searching for a high-quality esports betting website? Let’s take a look at what ideal sites have to offer:
Intuitive Interface
These days, more people are testing the esports betting waters than ever before. This recent surge of newcomers has put extra strain on bookmakers across the spectrum, especially when it comes to website design and ease of use, both of which are crucial for securing new users… And keeping them, of course.
Page-to-page navigation, smooth animations, responsiveness, and intuitive categorization are all important. An esports betting site should function just as well as the games being wagered on. Look out for the most modern, up-to-date technology.
Extra Security Measures
Real-money esports betting sites tend to have a much higher level of security than their skin-betting and virtual-currency counterparts. That’s because major online payment providers require additional security measures to work with online betting platforms. We’re not just talking about SSL tech to secure server-browser transactions, but also other complex systems that prevent our personal information from falling into the wrong hands.
If security is a major concern for you (and it really should be), then make sure you investigate all licenses and certificates your current bookmaker has. If you’re not satisfied with what you find, scroll to the top of this page and you’ll see several fine betting platforms you can test out.
Attractive Bonus Systems
Bonus systems are pretty generous these days. For those of you who don’t know much about them, they are basically “reward” systems installed by the bookmakers which are there to incentivize new (and current) users. All major sites with live esports odds betting platforms these days offer bonuses. Both bonus and rollover amounts (and other rules) vary from platform to platform, so make sure you check out the fine print before you commit to a particular bookie.
Live Esports Betting Sites: What to Look For
For a bookmaker to be considered among the top live betting esports sites out there, it needs to have plenty of esports live betting options, a solid number of specials, generous bonuses, and stellar customer support.
With that said, let’s take a closer look at each of the characteristics that make the greatest live betting esports sites.
Availability of Live Esports Markets
If you’re looking for platforms that offer live esports betting, you better make sure they offer plenty of esports markets, too. While this is a non-written rule, it’s always better to double-check the esports category or hub just so you know what you’re dealing with before betting on esports live. Even in this day in age, some live betting sites with esports odds offer only a few of the biggest titles. If you’re thinking of betting on smaller games like Rocket League, you’ll find comfort in the above-featured list.
Variety of Esports Special Bets
After ensuring your desired esports betting sites with live odds has a healthy dose of esports markets to work with, it’s time to assess the variety of available live esports betting wagers. In addition to the typical match-winner bets, you should also explore the variety of available specials. They up the fun factor when playing at live betting sites with esports odds and there is no other way around it.
Even if you’re not in love with esports specials, they bring forth numerous awesome wagers, some of which possess far greater value with live bets in contrast to traditional ones. While we don’t want to go out on a limb here and call esports specials an essential factor, they’re definitely up there, that’s for sure.
For more information, make sure you check out our esports specials guide. It features more on some of the most thrilling esports-based specials out there.
Benefits of Live Betting on Esports
The benefits of live betting on esports are numerous, the biggest of which is not having to venture out of your home, here are a few other convenience factors:
Fast Results
Let’s start off with the obvious—fast results! The speed depends on the type of wagers you place, but typically, live bets offer much faster results than their traditional counterparts. Fast results lead to more wagers, and that’s okay as long as you don’t bet too much or bet money you can’t afford to lose.
Quick Real Money Cashouts
Another thing we need to talk about here is quick cashouts. Yep, with fast results and fast wagers come quick cashouts that allow you more control over your betting bankroll at any given moment. While quick cashouts might not mean a lot to everyone, those who like to mix and mash betting on esports live will definitely appreciate the payout speed.
Plenty of Esports Specials
Last but not least, one of the biggest benefits of betting on esports live is the sheer number of available specials. Yes, conventional esports specials are pretty popular on their own, but the top bookmakers are known for going out of their way to present even deeper and wider coverages for their live betting sections. If you love specials and you want something that will keep you occupied for days on end, then live betting esports sites are a must!
Biggest Esports Titles to Bet On
- CS:GO
- Dota 2
- League of Legends
- Call of Duty
- Fortnite
- Valorant
- Overwatch
- Rainbow Six Siege
- StarCraft 2
- Rocket League
- FIFA
How to Sign up at Esports Betting Websites
- Select one of the reliable esports betting sites listed at the top of this page.
- Navigate to the main bookie page and click on that shiny register/join button.
- Fill in your account information and confirm your email and identity.
- Safely complete your initial deposit and get ready to place your first esports bet.
Optionally, you can skim through your bookie of choice to see if there are any ongoing bonus offers. Welcome bonuses are the most common. Since many beginners still don’t know much about them, we made a separate section explaining how they work.
Understanding Welcome Bonuses for Online Esports Betting
When you sign up at an esports betting site you can expect to see some esports betting bonuses. Here’s how they work:
Deposit Bonuses
Welcome bonuses based on users’ initial deposits are most common these days. They work in a simple manner, awarding users with bonus funds based on the percentage of their initial deposit. No, you can’t deposit $5,000 and get a bunch of money in your bonus budget since all bookies enforce a fixed cap.
For instance, one of the above-featured bookmakers has a 50% initial deposit bonus up to $200. That means you get half of your initial deposit in your bonus budget, with $200 being the maximum amount you can get. It sounds complicated but it’s simple once you see it in action.
No-Deposit Bonuses
![No Deposit Bonus](jpg/no-deposit-bonus-image-1.jpg)
No-deposit bonuses offer a fixed sum of bonus funds you can use in any way you see fit. These are typically handed out via coupons or bonus codes that players obtain. When it comes to the fine print, no-deposit bonuses are even more drastic than deposit bonuses, making it almost impossible to cash the money out.
Freebies
Finally, some online sites offer free bets without requiring you to make a deposit. Some even go out of their way and offer free bets to already registered users as a part of special promotions during key dates in the calendar. Free bets are similar to classic no-deposit bonuses but offer fixed-stake betting tickets. As you’d expect, they have a strict rulebook when it comes to cashing out the funds, so you’ll have to reroll the money before you can treat yourself. Remember to always read the fine print.
Bonuses Based on Accumulators
Lastly, some bookies incentivize lengthy accumulators. They do so by giving their users small bonuses on returns from each additional wager in an accumulator. Here’s what those incentives look like:
- Five Wagers – 4% win bonus
- Six Wagers – 6% win bonus
- Seven Wagers – 8% win bonus
- Eight Wagers – 10% win bonus
These bonuses are an example of what you can expect. The real bonus percentages will greatly vary from esports betting site to esports betting site.
Sites Offering Generous Esports Bonuses
Betting sites with esports bonuses are in massive demand these days. However, having generous bonuses can only take them so far. Their alleged generosity must be coupled with additional virtues in order to create a solid all-around package. Betting sites with esports bonuses are in massive demand these days. However, having generous bonuses can only take them so far. Their alleged generosity must be coupled with additional virtues in order to create a solid all-around package. Bonuses actually bring forth an enjoyable experience and are capable of spicing up those long weekends when there’s nothing good happening in the vast waters of online betting. We’ll touch on the most popular types of bonuses later on. For now, let’s make sure you understand the difference between bonuses, promotions, and low-profit margins!
Promotions vs. Low-Profit Margins
Promotions AKA bonuses are typically one-off offers either tied to the initial deposits (welcome bonuses), certain wagers (freebies), or accumulators. They bring forth extra value and significantly increase the returns or allow for risk-free wagers.
Profit margins, on the other hand, are constant. They rarely change. They represent the bookies cut. The lower the bookie’s profit margin is, the higher the odds (your returns) will be.
It’s up to you to choose which of these two you value more, one-off bonuses or constantly high odds. Unfortunately, even though there’s a massive number of esports bookmakers these days, you’ll still have a tough time finding one that has both generous bonus promotions and low-profit margins.
Esports Betting Sites With The Fastest Payouts
This is it! You’ve finally won a heftier sum, and you’re ready to cash it out and give yourself a nice treat. But how long will you have to wait to get your hard-earned cash? If you have to wait a week or more for your winnings, the wait takes the thrill out of the equation. Such a long waiting period takes the fun out of betting and that’s not what you want from your esports betting experience.
What’s the Typical Payout Speed?
Typically, you can expect to have your winnings in your bank account (or crypto wallet) within 48 hours of initializing the cashout/withdrawal request. However, the waiting game could take a bit longer, depending on several factors.
Last but not least, your bookie’s internal transaction also affects the overall payout speed. Believe it or not, some bookies don’t really process your withdrawal request immediately, hoping you’ll change your mind, cancel the request, and gamble away all your winnings.
Which Esports Can You Bet Online?
Needless to say, esports betting sites with fast payouts have several esports markets available. But what particular esports titles are we talking about here? In other words, which esports titles have the highest demand for betting?
Betting on FPS Esports
Even though it’s not the most popular esports title out there, CS:GO is still the most popular betting-wise. People from all over the world love betting on CS:GO, which is why it’s considered one of the most stable esports on Earth. Other esports titles are on the rise, too. People love to bet on Overwatch and Rainbow Six. Valorant is out too, and it’s bound to have good numbers betting-wise.
Betting on Popular MOBA Games
As far as esports betting numbers are concerned, the two most popular MOBA titles, Dota 2 and League of Legends, are right up there with CS:GO. They possess massive viewership numbers and healthy betting communities that keep the demand afloat throughout the entire year.
Placing Bets on Fighting Games
Fighting games are worth mentioning too. Even though they’re not nearly as popular as battle royale, MOBA or FPS titles, they have loyal communities and plenty of events scattered throughout the year. Unfortunately, people don’t seem to love betting on fighting games all that much, which is basically why bookmakers rarely offer betting options. Typically, they cover only the biggest FGC events out there.
Betting on Battle Royale Esports
Battle Royale games such as Apex Legends, PUBG, and Fortnite are enjoying plenty of success on the esports stage. They feature loyal communities and plenty of hardcore fans pushing the scene forward. However, due to the nature of the gameplay, setting up a proper betting environment was pretty difficult. Still, don’t be surprised if you stumble on some Battle Royale bets every now and then.
Safely Betting on Esports
Esports betting online is as safe as you make it! In other words, it’s safe if you use well-known bookmakers, such as the sites we’ve highlighted above. You can rest assured your private data (name, email, bank account info, etc.) is in good hands and far from the reach of hackers. However, if you stroll to the wrong neighborhood (or use shady betting platforms), your personal information will be at risk.
The Legality of Online Esports Betting
Yes, online esports betting is legal as long as you’re using legit platforms featured at the top of this page. If, however, you opt for the shady approach (read: skin betting), not only will you be partaking in illegal betting activities, but your personal info may be at risk. If you want to stay on the safe side of things, the above-featured list of the safest esports betting sites is your safest bet… pun intended.
Legitimate Site Recommendations
All the above-featured esports bookies possess all the necessary licenses needed for facilitating online gambling. Not only do they possess necessary licenses but they also go out of their way to protect their users’ private data with sophisticated encryption systems that keep the bad guys out.
Skins Betting Sites vs, Esports Betting Sites
If you’re looking to bet on esports matches, esports betting sites are the obvious way to go. However, they’re not the only way to go. You see, there are online sites that don’t feature real money bets. They’re called skin betting sites because they use skins instead of real money.
Skins, also known as finishes, are weapons with different textures. They are entirely cosmetic alterations and hold no gameplay function, nor do they give the player any advantage. However, skins have their own economy within CS:GO and are often used in trades and betting sites instead of real money.
Skins used on skin betting sites usually come from two games, Dota 2 and CS:GO. In fact, these two games kickstarted the whole skin betting industry, which developed into a real problem that could’ve seriously hurt the esports industry’s integrity.
The worst thing about skin betting sites isn’t the fact they’re illegal, but the fact that they facilitate underage wagering. Yep, you’ve read that right. Skins sites have no security measures that prevent children and teenagers (which are plentiful in Dota 2 and CS:GO communities) from partaking in gambling activities. Plus, these sites are known for bearing little to no attention to their users’ personal information, which is a massive security issue.
We do not recommend visiting skins sites to bet on esports. If you’re interested in betting on CS:GO, LoL, Dota 2 or any other matches, safe esports betting sites like the ones featured at the top of this page should be your first option.
H2: Top Esports Betting Apps
Since there are so many different esports apps there, we decided to rank the best esports betting apps in the following three categories: odds, banking options, and bonuses.
Esports Betting App With the Best Odds: SportsBetting.ag
We find ourselves visiting SportsBetting.ag often because we typically find the best odds there. The odds are laid out in a very easy-to-understand manner on their websites, which makes comparing odds effortless. Since the odds offered at SportsBetting.ag provide us opportunities to find value and make a profit, we access this online sportsbook multiple times per week.
Visit SportsBetting.agBest Esports Betting App for Banking Options: MyBookie
If you’ve never bet on the MyBookie sports betting app, then you’re missing out on everything it has to offer. Not only do they have a wide selection of sports to bet on and unique bonuses to brag about, but they also have an amazing selection of bonus opportunities as well. Here’s a complete list of the banking options they currently have available:
Deposit Methods
- Mastercard
- Bitcoin
- Person to Person
- Visa
- Litecoin
- Bitcoin Cash
Withdrawal Options
- Bitcoin
- Bank Wire
- ECheck
Best Esports Betting Apps for Claiming Bonuses: BetUS
We believe the bonuses offered at real money betting apps can be used to your advantage. You simply have to be willing to sign up for them and meet their wagering requirements. BetUS has an amazing selection of bonuses to choose from; they offer more bonuses than most of their competition. Here’s a comprehensive list of all the bonuses available to BetUS customers:
BONUS TYPE | BONUS |
---|---|
Crypto Signup Bonuses | • 200% Crypto Bonus • 20% Cash Bonus • 250% Casino Bonus • 100% Crypto Sports Bonus |
Signup Bonuses | • 125% Sign-up Bonus • 150% Casino Bonus • 10% Cash Bonus |
Re-Up Bonuses | • 200% Crypto Bonus • 100% Sports Bonus • 100% Crypto Bonus • 20% Cash Bonus • 100% Casino Bonus • 10% Cash Bonus • 50% Re-up Bonus |
More Sportsbook and Casino Promotions | • Casino Daily Promotions • 100% Referral Bonus |
As you can see, you’ll have no problem finding a bonus that works for your individual betting needs at BetUS.
Visit BetUS
H3: Other Useful Apps for Esports Bettors
- Strafe Esports – Live Score, Schedules & News
- Liquipedia – Esports Wiki
- GosuGamers – Esports Coverage
- VLR.gg – Valorant Esports Coverage
Frequently Asked Questions About Betting on Esports
We obviously can’t give a definitive answer to this question, but we still love when we get asked this. The answer is simple; the sky’s the limit. We know bettors who have made hundreds of thousands of dollars through esports apps and we have no doubt that the same outcome is possible for you. It does take a lot of hard work and dedication to hone your betting skills though!
We’re excited to tell you that most sports betting apps that offer esports are legal in the United States. That doesn’t mean that they all will be though. Contact a legal professional for expert advice on the subject, as we aren’t lawyers and don’t want to misguide you in any way.
We’re not going to tell you that every sports betting site or app for esports you encounter is going to be a legitimately run business. However, we can guarantee that the betting apps we recommend here are legit.
We obviously can’t give a definitive answer to this question, but we still love when we get asked this. The answer is simple; the sky’s the limit. We know bettors who have made hundreds of thousands of dollars through esports apps and we have no doubt that the same outcome is possible for you. It does take a lot of hard work and dedication to hone your betting skills though!
Given that esports betting is still relatively new, there exists a lack of resources and an inability to acquire necessary licenses. Less popular online betting sites might not have enough resources to invest in a whole new category.
Plus, the esports betting industry is as complex as they come, meaning it requires partners with the proper know-how to make the platform (and the category) work properly. While the demand for esports wagering is still at an all-time high, some bookies are straight out ignoring it, hoping it will turn out to be nothing more than a short-term trend.
Dota 2 The Internationals is the most lucrative event out there, bringing forth massive prize pools and worldwide viewership. Alongside The International, we also have to mention League of Legends World Championships as one of the most viewed events. League of Legends betting is still going strong so it’s no surprise LoL Worlds belong here.
When it comes to CS:GO, there are popular events throughout the year. We’re not just referring to CS:GO Major Championships but other events like ESL One, Pro League, Intel Extreme Masters, BLAST, and similar. The CS:GO esports calendar is a hectic one, but we’re guessing that’s why people love placing bets on CS:GO matches.
Let’s be real here, do we even need more esports titles? Take Fortnite and PUBG as the perfect examples. Both are relatively new but went from zero to massive popularity in no time. This pushed their esports scenes into existence but was unable to generate long-term sustainability.
From our perspective, the esports industry is already oversaturated. There are two main MOBA games (LoL and Dota 2), three popular FPS titles (CS:GO, CoD, and R6S), accompanied by a few marvelous mixtures (Overwatch and Rocket League). Combine that with the likes of Super Smash Bros., FIFA, and the good old StarCraft II, and you’ll realize there’s not that much space left for new contestants.