If you want to learn how to bet on esports, this comprehensive guide will have you covered. Below, you’ll find an overview of the best esports betting markets across the most popular games and tournaments.
We’ll also take a look at upcoming tournaments and events, including the latest installment of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship and the Halo World Championship.
How to Place a Bet on Esports
When registering at your choice of eSports betting sites, you’ll find a diverse selection of games available, including Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Call of Duty. Each of these offers unique gameplay and betting markets, so you’ll need to develop some understanding of the games that you’re wagering on. Here’s an introduction to the most popular esports titles!
Counter-Strike (CS): Counter-Strike (CS) includes several different titles, each of which are multiplayer first-person shooter game. Players compete in teams here, while the game unlocks an extensive map and round betting. You can also engage in First Blood betting and pick the player who will complete the first kill.
Dota 2: Launched back in 2013, Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game in which the goal is to defend geographical bases on a map. Once again, traditional map betting and moneylines are popular here, while you can also wager on the correct map score per round.
Call of Duty: This military-themed first-person shooter game has also spawned several spin-offs and an entire media franchise. In terms of available betting markets, wagering on match and tournament outcomes is the most popular among players. Call of Duty also unlocks many prop bets, such as first blood and the number of kills completed.
Valorant: Valorant is a free-to-play first-person shooter game, which is highly tactical and contested over several different maps. You can wager on the outcome of individual maps here. Other markets include the outright winner and the over/under on how many maps will be contested. You can even handicap one team against another.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Also known simply as ‘Rainbow Six’, ‘R6’, or ‘Siege’, this is another military-themed video game that adopts a tactical, first-person shooter format. It unlocks many of the same betting markets as Call of Duty or Valorant. These include moneylines, tournament outrights, and map betting.
League of Legends (LoL): League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena video game that launched in 2009. It is largely free-to-play and monetized through in-game purchases and customizations. In addition to standard real-money esports betting markets, LoL also enables you to place ‘Quadra’ and ‘Penta’ kill bets, which relate to the number of kills carried out by a particular player.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang: This is a mobile variation of the LoL franchise. Two teams of five players each compete against each other here, with basic matches typically lasting between 10 and 30 minutes. In terms of how to bet on esports games like this, you can engage in match wagering while also accessing the over/under on the total number of kills.
Arena of Valor: This game spawns basic betting markets such as match and outright tournament winners. Formerly known as the ‘Strike of Kings’, this game has been adapted from the ‘Honor of Kings’. It remains a multiplayer online battle arena setup that also allows for series betting.
Warcraft III – Reign of Chaos: This is an unusual esports game, which combines elements of high fantasy and real-time strategy. It’s the second sequel to Warcraft Orcs & Humans, and its fictional and creative gameplay unlocks exciting betting markets such as individual map winners and tournament outrights.
Crossfire: Crossfire is an online tactical first-person shooter game, which introduces complex map betting and associated markets like over/under lines. If you’re learning how to bet on esports or learning this particular game, you may also want to prioritize picking the outright winners of competitive tournaments.
What is Esports Betting?
Esports is characterized by competitive video gameplay, in which teams and individuals compete while playing different games. While there are several esports genres (including sports), tactical multiplayer games and first-person shooter formats are the most popular online.
These competitive games and tournaments unlock numerous opportunities to bet, which are now covered by a large selection of sportsbooks. As a result, you can now bet live on esports or engage in pre-match wagering, targeting particularly popular markets such as moneyline, tournament outrights, and the outcome of individual rounds and maps.
As of 2023, the global esports betting market was worth $1.72 billion. It’s also expected to peak at a value of $9.29 billion by 2032, revealing a CAGR of 20.7% during the reporting period.
Is Esports Betting Legal in the US?
Since the US Supreme Court struck down the controversial PAPSA legislation in May 2018, some 38 state authorities have sought to legalize sports betting. However, the court’s ruling made no specific reference to the legality of esports.
As a result, esports betting is only officially legal in 18 states, due to market complications and ongoing concerns over regulatory frameworks.
Of course, we expect this number to grow as markets evolve and demand increases. It’s also possible to access some esports betting markets through Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platforms, creating a legal loophole for bettors to exploit online.
However, no federal law currently prohibits you from wagering at offshore sportsbooks. Through these operators, you can place a lawful esports bet online and wager across a diverse selection of markets with genuine peace of mind.
Different Types of Bets for Esports
If you’re going to bet on esports, you’ll need to develop a comprehensive understanding of the most popular wager types. While you may find some of these familiar, you may apply them differently in the realm of esports, which requires careful consideration. So, let’s take a closer look at how to bet on esports and how you can incorporate these lines into your esports betting strategy!
Esports Match Winner Betting
The moneyline or ‘1×2’ bet is synonymous with all regular sports betting players. In this market, you simply need to pick the winner of a particular match in the same way you would wager on an NFL or NBA game.
In the above example, we’ve picked the 16th-ranked LoL team, Invictus Gaming, to defeat JD Gaming in the third split of the 2025 League of Legends season. Boasting a 23-10 record in 2024, Invictus can be backed at -180 to prevail here, implying a 64.30% probability of this outcome occurring.
Esports Correct Score Betting
As with traditional sports like hockey (which typically produce consistent results and goals-per-game average), you can also engage in correct score betting in esports. This may offer additional value depending on the game or tournament structure.
You can also wager on the correct score during individual maps. For example, when wagering on the 2025 LoL Split 3 match between ThunderTalk Gaming and LNG Esports, you can back the former to win 2-0 at odds of +175. Although this offers a lower probability than the moneyline, it enables you to create additional value when betting on the favorite.
Esports Total Maps Betting
Given that most esports teams and games are tactical and based in different locations, they tend to offer a variety of ‘maps’ betting markets. Maps generally refer to each round or game in a particular series. You can usually bet on associated moneylines, handicaps, and the over/under on how many maps will be completed.
For example, you can back over 2.5 maps being contested in the LOL 2025 Split 3 match between Ninjas in Pyjamas and EDward Gaming. Both teams are evenly matched, although the former has a 44% win-rate in 2024 and is the betting favorite. This line unlocks only nominal returns at -102, but there’s a 50.50% probability of this bet being successful.
Esports Overtime Prop
Overtime isn’t as commonplace in esports as it may be in some traditional sports. However, you can place this type of wager when betting on NBA2K and FIFA, while it’s also common in CS iterations like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2.
In the example above, you can access several traditional betting markets that factor in overtime, including moneylines, totals, and spreads. Incorporating overtime will encourage you to target higher totals and spreads, depending on your detailed analysis of the teams competing.
Esports Total Rounds Betting
As we’ve mentioned, you can also access the over/under on the total number of rounds (or maps) that will take place during a game. This works similarly to traditional over/under markets, in which sportsbooks set individual round totals as betting lines. You’ll then have to select one before determining whether the actual total will be over or under this threshold.
Using the example of the 2025 Counter-Strike Intel Extreme Masters Cologne clash between GamerLegion and Virtus.pro, we can see various totals set as individual betting lines. In this instance, most activity will take place around the over 47.5 and over 51.5 lines, which strike the optimal balance between risk and reward. Virtus.pro are also expected to prevail in a competitive match, as they’re currently ranked as the 15th best CS team in the world.
Most Popular Esports Games to Bet On?
As esports betting volumes show, competitive gaming has become increasingly popular and lucrative in recent years. This has certainly inspired a new generation of gamblers who have learned how to bet on esports for profit. Many leading Bitcoin esports betting sites offer a diverse selection of markets. But what are the most popular esports games and their most successful team and players?
Game
Game Type
Leading Team
Leading Player
Counter-Strike
Tactical first-person shooter
Vitality
apEX – Dan Madesclaire
Dota 2
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)
Team Spirit
Miposhka – Yaroslav Naidenov
Valorant
Free-to-play first-person shooter game
FNATIC
Boaster – Jake Howlett
Call Of Duty
Military-themed first-person shooter game
Atlanta FaZe
Tyler ‘aBeZy’ Pharris
Rainbow Six
Military-themed and tactical first-person shooter game
Chiefs Esports Club
Odah – Anastasios Thomas Hatzis
League of Legends
Multiplayer online battle arena video game
Gen G
Chovy –
Jihun Jung
Mobile Legends
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game
ONIC Philippines
Super Frince –
Prince Miguel Ramirez
Arena of Valor
An adapted multiplayer online battle arena game
Flash Wolves
NaiLiu
Warcraft 3
High fantasy and real-time strategy game
AG Super Play
XuanRan – Liu Ming
Crossfire
Online tactical first-person shooter game
3BL Esports
Horus – Mohamed Mahrous
5 Tips for Betting on Esports Online
Now that we’ve answered the question “Can you bet on esports?” and explored the most popular bet types, we will offer some expert wagering tips. So, let’s help you get started with esports betting online!
Check Current Team Stats and Head to Head Battles
Regardless of your preferred esports bet, it’s important to base all picks on a detailed analysis of teams and players. Key metrics include recent team form, with franchises like Vitality having seen their CS ranking rise and even peak since the beginning of July. Also, be sure to address the relevant H2H data between competing teams, as this could help reveal tactical weaknesses and potential value bets.
Keep Track of Player Rosters
It’s also crucial that you continually track player rosters before leveraging esports betting markets. Teams and franchises are continually updating their rosters, with changes having the potential to either weaken or strengthen their lineup. For example, one of the leading Arena of Valor players, Fly Peng Yunfei, is currently a free agent. This means any team that snaps him up will immediately boost its roster.
Use Separate Betting Banks for Esports and Traditional Sports
Responsible bankroll management is key when engaging in any type of betting. However, it can be more challenging when wagering on different verticals. It is worth using separate banks or payment methods for each one. The good news is that the best esports betting sites offer access to a range of cryptocurrencies, which you can store in digital wallets. Currently, Bitcoin esports betting is particularly popular due to the accessibility and liquidity of this token.
Look Out for Futures Odds on Upcoming Events
When you engage in e-sport betting, outright and futures markets are typically the most competitively priced. This is because they allow you to pick the winner of a specific league or competition. These typically feature a large number of participants and potential outcomes, especially upcoming events like the 2025 LoL World Championship. If you pick an outright favorite, it is best to be as early as you can to lock in the most competitive price.
Wager as early as possible on less fancied teams, as favorites tend to see their prices drift as your chosen event draws closer, and the underdog’s prices often get shorter.
Take Advantage of Sportsbook Welcome Bonuses
Whether you wager at the best Bitcoin esports betting sites or a more traditional offshore sportsbook, it’s important to keep your eyes peeled for any available welcome bonuses. You can include deposit matches and lucrative free bets, which you can use to supplement your real money bankroll. Just be sure to review the relevant bonus T&Cs before committing, as this ensures that you can comfortably afford to fulfill the wagering requirements.
2025/2026 Esports Schedule
Esports tournaments are held all year round. Most major leagues commence in January (including League of Legends and Apex Legends). Typically, they split regional leagues and seasons into spring and summer halves. This means that two domestic champions are crowned each calendar year. Here’s a summary of the remaining events in the 2025/26 calendar:
Esports Event
Event Date
Location
Esports World Cup 2025 – Counter-Strike 2
August 20th – August 24th
Saudi Arabia
The International 2025 (Dota 2)
September 11th – September 14th
German
VALORANT Champions 2025 (VALORANT)
September 12th – October 5th
France
LoL 2025 World Championship
October – November 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
China
Thunderpick World Championship 2025 – Counter-Strike 2
October 15th – October 19th, 2025
Malta
DreamLeague Season 27 (Dota 2)
November 3rd – November 9th
Online
BLAST R6 Major Munich 2025 (Rainbow Six)
November 8th – November 16th
Germany
BLAST Slam V (Dota 2) November 24th – 30th TBA
November 24th – November 30th
TBA
PUBG Global Championship 2025 (PUBG)
December 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
TBA
BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 (Counter-Strike 2)
January 13th, 2026 – January 25th, 2026
Malta
What is Skin Betting?
In the esports realm, ‘skin’ refers to something that can be purchased or won in-game. Skins will vary in terms of their form. This might include a new outfit for your character or a more powerful weapon.
Each skin has its price and inherent value, but it usually doesn’t change the mechanics of how players engage with the games. Their development has also introduced the concept of ‘skin betting’ in esports when players stake their skins during online games.
You may bet your skin to win a particular match against an opponent. If you place a wager and they accept it, you’ll also have to stake your skin, with the winner claiming both skins for themselves. In recent times, spectators have also engaged in skin betting across a wide variety of games and tournaments.
Other Sports Betting Guides?
While you may now know how to bet on esports in the US, this may still not be for you. Fortunately, our expert team has created a wide range of traditional sports betting guides, which will help you identify the most suitable disciplines and markets!
If you’ve ever asked, “What is esports betting?”, this guide has been tailor-made for you. However, we’ve also discussed some of the more complex points about betting on esports online, so there’s plenty to keep experienced bettors interested here too!
Ultimately, the esports vertical is still relatively immature and unregulated, despite its rapid growth in recent times. So, learning how to bet on esports and leverage its core markets can give you an advantage in the space, especially if you also follow the most influential gamers on Twitch.
This will certainly help you to identify value bets and make the most informed picks. You can also benefit by wagering at sites like Betwhale, which covers an incredible 19 different game iterations and provides a broad selection of esports betting markets.
Esports fans often ask, “Is esports betting legal in the US?”. The truth is, it depends on the state in which you reside. At the time of writing, 18 states have formally legalized esports betting. However, you can lawfully access a wide range of esports markets through offshore sites.
Which type of bet is the least risky when betting on esports?
If you’re a newbie who’s going to bet on esports in the USA, we’d recommend that you target familiar markets such as moneylines, spreads, and over/under lines. These all work in the same way as they do in traditional sports betting markets, while spread and totals often unlock competitive odds with high implied probability values.
Which sportsbook offers the best bonus for people new to esports betting?
When you sign up at Betwhale, you can opt in and receive a 200% welcome bonus up to $6,000. This is available when you deposit using cryptocurrency, while fiat users can access a 100% bonus up to $1,000. Both bonuses can unlock several eligible esports markets, with wagering requirements of 15x the total bonus amount.
Which esports game is the easiest to understand for esports bettors?
When looking to place your first esports bet, some games are easier to understand than others. Take Valorant and League of Legends, for example, which boast simple tournament structures, competitive outright odds, and exceptional coverage online. You’ll also find a large number of LoL events and markets available online.
What is the main difference between traditional sports betting and esports betting?
The biggest difference between placing traditional and esports bets lies in the nature of the games. Esports markets are based on competitive video gameplay. This is different from traditional betting, which lets you wager on sports like football, basketball, and baseball. Traditional sports betting also unlocks a wider range of lines and markets.
What are the Best Esports Betting Strategies?
Successful esports betting is built on a foundation of knowledge and analysis. In addition to understanding the games and tournament types that you bet on, you must also conduct a detailed analysis of competing teams, players, and their historical performances. Analysing form is also key when engaging in moneyline and spread betting.
Responsible Gambling
If you’ve ever asked, “Can I bet on esports?”, it’s also important to determine whether you can do so responsibly. Ultimately, you should only ever wager an amount that you can comfortably afford to lose. Also, your esports bankroll should cover a finite period or a single tournament. This helps to keep your betting under control.
Execution is key, however, and there may be times when you start to wager outside of your means. We’ve identified the first symptoms of problem gambling, and recognizing these can help you to seek help proactively. Here are some independent organizations that can provide practical assistance.
The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.
Lewis is a seasoned sports writer and betting expert at ReadWrite. He has been written about sports, remote betting and sportsbooks for more than 10 years, with his work featuring in publications such as The Boot Room, Yahoo Sports and 90min. He writes most extensively about soccer, basketball, American football and boxing, but retains an interest in a huge range of sports.
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The moneyline or ‘1×2’ bet is synonymous with all regular sports betting players. In this market, you simply need to pick the winner of a particular match in the same way you would wager on an NFL or NBA game.
In the above example, we’ve picked the 16th-ranked LoL team, Invictus Gaming, to defeat JD Gaming in the third split of the 2025 League of Legends season. Boasting a 23-10 record in 2024, Invictus can be backed at -180 to prevail here, implying a 64.30% probability of this outcome occurring.
As with traditional sports like hockey (which typically produce consistent results and goals-per-game average), you can also engage in correct score betting in esports. This may offer additional value depending on the game or tournament structure.
You can also wager on the correct score during individual maps. For example, when wagering on the 2025 LoL Split 3 match between ThunderTalk Gaming and LNG Esports, you can back the former to win 2-0 at odds of +175. Although this offers a lower probability than the moneyline, it enables you to create additional value when betting on the favorite.
Given that most esports teams and games are tactical and based in different locations, they tend to offer a variety of ‘maps’ betting markets. Maps generally refer to each round or game in a particular series. You can usually bet on associated moneylines, handicaps, and the over/under on how many maps will be completed.
For example, you can back over 2.5 maps being contested in the LOL 2025 Split 3 match between Ninjas in Pyjamas and EDward Gaming. Both teams are evenly matched, although the former has a 44% win-rate in 2024 and is the betting favorite. This line unlocks only nominal returns at -102, but there’s a 50.50% probability of this bet being successful.
Overtime isn’t as commonplace in esports as it may be in some traditional sports. However, you can place this type of wager when betting on NBA2K and FIFA, while it’s also common in CS iterations like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2.
In the example above, you can access several traditional betting markets that factor in overtime, including moneylines, totals, and spreads. Incorporating overtime will encourage you to target higher totals and spreads, depending on your detailed analysis of the teams competing.
As we’ve mentioned, you can also access the over/under on the total number of rounds (or maps) that will take place during a game. This works similarly to traditional over/under markets, in which sportsbooks set individual round totals as betting lines. You’ll then have to select one before determining whether the actual total will be over or under this threshold.
Using the example of the 2025 Counter-Strike Intel Extreme Masters Cologne clash between GamerLegion and Virtus.pro, we can see various totals set as individual betting lines. In this instance, most activity will take place around the over 47.5 and over 51.5 lines, which strike the optimal balance between risk and reward. Virtus.pro are also expected to prevail in a competitive match, as they’re currently ranked as the 15th best CS team in the world.
