eSports Betting Guide | Tips for Beginners in the Growing Betting Market

If you’ve ever watched a group of teenagers scream at their monitors and wondered what all the fuss was about—welcome to esports. And if you’ve heard people are now betting on esports like they bet on football or tennis… yep, that’s real too.

Esports is no longer some underground hobby. It’s big. Huge, actually. And staking on it? Also booming. If you’re new to the idea of putting money on a video game, don’t worry—this eSports betting guide is made for people who don’t know their Dota from their Discord.

By the end of this, you’ll better understand how to choose eSports betting sites and how they work. You’ll also learn what kinds of bets are out there and how to avoid burning your budget on a 14-year-old Korean prodigy with a faster reaction time than caffeine ever gave you.

What Are Esports and Esports Betting?

Let’s start from the top: esports stands for electronic sports. It’s basically competitive video gaming, with teams or solo players competing for prize money—and bragging rights. Think of it as watching a live sports match, except instead of footballs, it’s pixels flying across the screen.

The betting part? That works just like regular sports. You can bet on who’ll win, how many rounds a team might take, even on in-game events like “first blood” in League of Legends or who gets the most kills in a match.

The stakes can be tiny—like $5 bets on your favourite underdog team—or massive. Some international eSports tournaments pull in millions in bets and offer prize pools over $30 million. (yes, million—we’re looking at you, Dota 2’s The International)

The Rise of Esports Betting

Back in 2010, if you told someone you were staking on a video game, they’d probably think you were joking. But now, eSports betting markets are popping up on mainstream sportsbooks, not just niche sites. The pandemic in 2020 gave it a massive push when traditional sports shut down, and esports didn’t.

Fast forward to now, and you’ve got people watching live CS:GO, Valorant, and Fortnite betting streams while placing wagers from their phones. 

Platforms like GG.Bet, Thunderpick, and Loot.bet are just a few of the go-to eSports sites that cover everything from match winners to live in-game action.

And just like that, betting on eSports went from a weird idea to a real industry.

eSport Betting Market or eSports Market

The eSports gambling market has exploded over the past few years. What started as a niche is now a billion-dollar industry. In 2024, the global revenue hit $1.6 billion, with projections pushing beyond $1.8 billion by 2025 (Statista)

Betting makes up a growing slice of that, especially as viewership climbs. More fans = more bets.

Sites that used to focus on traditional sports—like Betway or Unibet—now have entire eSports gambling sections. Dedicated platforms like Thunderpick and GG.Bet are becoming household names in the scene.

It’s not just young gamers either. The growth of online eSports gambling has brought in casual punters, crypto bettors, and even ex-sports bettors looking for faster action.

Popular Games

Not all games attract the same kind of staking action. Some have huge global tournaments and deep betting markets, while others are just getting started. Here are a few of the biggest names:

League of Legends

League of Legends betting is enormous. The LoL World Championship gets over 100 million viewers—that’s more than the Super Bowl. The game is team-based, fast-paced, and packed with wagering markets: match winner, map winner, first blood, total kills, and more.

Fortnite

Fortnite betting is newer, but growing. It’s a solo or squad-based shooter with massive online events like the Fortnite Champion Series and celebrity-filled tournaments. Staking usually focuses on placement, kills, or which player survives the longest.

Dota 2

If League is popular, Dota 2 betting is hardcore. Dota fans are loyal, and the International (its biggest yearly event) has had prize pools over $40 million.

You can bet on the basics—like match or map winners—or go deeper with picks like “first Roshan kill” or “most assists.” The variety of eSports betting markets in Dota is honestly impressive.

Types of eSports Betting

Staking on eSports works like wagering on football or basketball. You go to one of the eSports betting sites, pick a match or tournament, choose your bet (like winner or score), and place it.

Live eSports betting features are also super popular. You can place bets as the match unfolds, based on how teams are performing.

Different Types of eSports Bets

• Match Winner – who wins the match
• Map Winner – who wins a specific map (great for CS:GO or Dota)
• First Blood / First Kill – the team or player that scores the first kill
• Handicaps – betting with spreads (e.g. -1.5 maps)
• Totals – total kills or total maps played
• Outright Bets – pick the winner of an entire tournament before it starts

How to Start Esports Betting?

If you’ve never placed a bet on a video game before, don’t stress—it’s not complicated. Think of it like signing up for Netflix and ordering a pizza at the same time. Four steps, and you’re in.

1) Choose an eSports Betting Site

Start with a reliable eSports betting platform. You want something that’s licensed, easy to use, and actually covers the games you’re into. A few solid options for beginners:

• Tonybet – clean interface, good bonuses, fast payouts
• GG.Bet – made for esports, massive game coverage
• Thunderpick – great if you’re into eSports crypto betting
• Loot.bet – solid for international tournaments

Look for sites that offer live eSports betting features, good odds, and real customer support—not just a bot that replies with “try again later.”

2) Creating an Esports Betting Account

Basic stuff: name, email, password, maybe some ID later for withdrawals. This part takes 2–3 minutes. Some sites also ask you to choose a currency—stick with local currency, or crypto if that’s your thing.

3) Choose a Payment Method

Most sites support:

• Debit/credit cards
• Interac
• e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller)
• Crypto like BTC, ETH, or USDT

4) Make Your Bets

Pick your game, check the match odds, and place your bet. Start small—even $2 or $5 bets are fine while you get the hang of it. During big eSports tournaments, odds shift fast, especially live, so don’t rush it.

After that? Sit back and enjoy the match. Or bite your nails if you’re sweating a last-second round win.

Betting Strategies and Esports Betting Tips

There’s no cheat code for eSports betting. It’s not Mario Kart—you can’t just find a hidden shortcut and skip to victory. But if you approach it with a bit of logic (and not just vibes), you’ll definitely lose less, learn faster, and maybe even win more than you expected.

Here are a few tips for betting on eSports tournaments that helped me—and what’s burned me—over the years.

Know the Game Before You Bet on It

I once dropped $20 on a Dota 2 betting market, thinking I understood it because “I played it in 2014.” Big mistake. The meta advances, the players change, the pace adjusts. If you haven’t watched a game in months, don’t pretend you’re an analyst.

Watch the Tournaments

The difference between betting cold and wagering while viewing a team in form is night and day. If you’ve ever watched The Queen’s Gambit, you know how much studying patterns matters. Esports is like that, too. Even in a chaotic game like Fortnite, players have styles. You’ll notice things.

Follow Stats, Not Hype

Everyone on Reddit said Team A was gonna crush Team B. I listened. They lost 3–0 in 40 minutes. Lesson? Esports betting odds tell part of the story, but stats matter more than Twitter noise. Look at team win rates, map picks, and head-to-head history.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in eSports Betting

Most betting mistakes come from getting carried away. That’s why responsible gambling matters more than any strategy. If you’re playing smart, you’re already ahead of most people.

• Don’t bet on every match. You don’t need action 24/7. Stick to games and teams you actually follow.
• Avoid crazy parlays. Six-leg combos look fun — until one underdog ruins the whole thing.
• Don’t bet emotionally. Your favourite team might be fun to cheer for, but that doesn’t mean they’re a smart pick.
• Don’t bet when you’re tilted. It’s like solo-queue: bad mood, bad decisions. Walk away.
• Don’t chase losses. If your mindset turns into “I’ll win it back,” close the site and take a break. That’s exactly what responsible gambling is all about.
• Watch for sketchy matches. One way to stay safe is by avoiding match-fixing in eSports betting — stick to regulated sites and official events.

Payment Methods for eSports Betting

Most reliable eSports betting sites let you use the usual stuff:

• Credit/Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
• Interac (very Canada-friendly)
• e-wallets like Skrill or Neteller

Payouts vary. Some are quick (same day), others take a couple of days. Check the fees—some sites quietly sneak one in.

Using Cryptocurrencies for eSports Betting

If you’re into crypto eSports betting, you’re in luck. Sites like 22Bet, Thunderpick, and Stake accept:

• Bitcoin
• Ethereum
• USDT
• Litecoin, and more

Crypto is often faster (especially for withdrawals) and better for privacy. Just watch out for high minimums and transaction delays if the network is busy.

Future of eSports Betting

Esports betting is evolving fast. Live odds update in real time, and bets now cover things like first kill, round winner, or next tower—not just who wins. Some platforms are even testing Twitch-style streams where you can bet while you watch.

AI is starting to power odds based on live gameplay, not just stats, which makes in-play wagers way more dynamic.

Esports betting regulations are coming, especially in Canada and Europe. That means safer, more reliable platforms. Mobile bets are already the norm—if a site isn’t optimized for phones by now, it’s falling behind.

And don’t be surprised if wagering odds start showing up mid-stream, right next to team stats. We’re headed there.

Conclusion

Esports betting used to be a weird corner of the internet. Now it’s one of the fastest-growing gambling markets in the world. You don’t need to be a pro player to get involved—just start slow, learn the games, and treat it like fun, not finance.

With so many eSports betting sites offering flexible options, fast payments, and live features, it’s easier than ever to try. Just be smart about it—and maybe skip wagering on that wildcard Fortnite streamer who only wins once a month.