eSports Betting Sites
In the UK, we’re lucky enough to have our betting needs met with a whole range of sports. While football is widely considered the most popular market, we can also bet on cricket, rugby, tennis, darts, and sports from all over the world. Recently, we’ve also welcomed the growth of eSports in the betting world.
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In years gone by, video games were something we played in the living room. Now, companies host global events, and fans from around the world bet on outcomes. If you’re new to this niche, you’re in the right place because we have a detailed FAQs guide today!
Is betting on eSports legal?
In the UK, we’re fortunate because this has been a question that has troubled many countries. With the rise of gaming, there has been a huge debate as to whether eSports gambling falls under sports betting or gaming regulations. In the past year alone, we’ve been watching other countries as they struggle to regulate this whole niche. With the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), eSports gambling has been managed well in recent years.
Back in 2016, the UKGC took the responsibility of this area and started to introduce regulations to make it as safe as possible for consumers. Alongside Denmark, Malta, Italy, and Spain, the UK now offer legitimate websites where eSports is available.
Of course, you will need to be 18 years of age to even think about betting on eSports. With eSports betting occurring on legitimate platforms, your identity and age will need to be verified before you create an account or withdraw from this account. For those found to be underage, the account will be closed, and you’ll find it hard to recover any funds left in the account.
In 2016, as part of a wider discussion paper, the UKGC concluded that eSports betting counts as gambling. As such, the websites offering this service will need to follow all the same regulations as any other sport. Essentially, the UKGC and the 2005 Gambling Act work together to achieve three goals:
- Keep all gambling open and fair
- Prevent disorder and crime
- Protect vulnerable persons such as children
What eSports can I bet on?
Ultimately, this depends on the platform you choose. While some betting websites only cover the most popular games, others will attempt to cover all sorts of eSports events. A list of popular games for betting includes:
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
- Fortnite
- Call of Duty
- NBA 2K
- Hearthstone
In the UK, the list of eSports available for betting seems to be expanding each and every year. As more people watch the competitive streams on YouTube and Twitch, it opens the door to more competitions and more betting opportunities. For example, even games like FIFA have seen eSports betting markets.
If you have a specific game in mind, check that a prospective bookie offers this sport before you create an account only to be left disappointed.
Some recommended eSports Betting Sites;
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Get a £10 Free Bet when you bet £20 via the signup link at Find Betting Sites.
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Mansion Bet offer new customers a 50% up to £50 welcome bonus when they signup via Find Betting Sites.
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SportNation offer Rewards Points when customers signup via Find Betting Sites.
What bookmakers offer eSports?
This is an interesting question, and the answer seems to be changing all the time. For some, they remain sceptical of the eSports market and they are avoiding the option as a result. For websites like Bet365 and Betway, they are fully embracing this surge in demand. In fact, some betting websites are not just offering markets but are also investing in eSports teams and sponsoring events.
When choosing a platform for eSports betting, you have two options:
- Established Betting Platform – Firstly, you can choose a big name (like those already mentioned) that have experience in all sports.
- eSports-Only Brand – Secondly, you could choose a platform that specialises in eSports and not much else.
There are pros and cons to both, but we believe the first option to be the better of the two. With an eSports-only brand, you might have a specialist service but the opportunities for growth, and therefore new features and customer experience, are limited. On the other hand, websites that cover all sports have a bigger reputation, innovate as the market develops, and have more security for the future.
What bets can I place on eSports?
If you have experience with sports betting, you’ll be somewhat familiar with your options for eSports. For example, newcomers may want to bet on the outcome of a match. Simply put, who do you think will win the event?
Alternatively, you can place accumulators, and this is where you choose a handful of fixtures and select a winner from each. Let’s say there are five fixtures; you can choose a winner from each and place a bet that all five selections are correct. If one loses, the bet loses. If all five teams win, you’ll get a nice return. With the odds of each selection multiplied together, it’s a great way to build the odds quickly.
From here, the betting options depend on the eSport you’re watching. With CS:GO, players often bet on who will win individual maps. This brings us to live betting because you can also place bets as the event unfolds. If the underdog wins the first map, you can quickly place a live bet that the favourite will win the next one. If you have knowledge of the eSport, this is a good option.
With some eSports, you can even place bets on individual players. For instance, it might be the next player to get a kill or the player to get the most kills across a whole fixture. As time goes on, betting markets are only expanding with eSports.
How do you rate betting websites for eSports?
Firstly, we have extensive experience in this niche. We’ve tried nearly every platform on the market, and we know the ins and outs of how they all work. With this knowledge, we already know the pros and cons of every platform. From here, all we need to do is assess their eSports offering to decide whether or not to recommend the service to good people like yourself.
When considering eSports, we look at the number of tournaments a website offers, the markets in each fixture, and the number of games available. Most websites will offer Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Not every website will go into smaller games and tournaments.
When you see a recommendation from us, you can be sure that it offers a strong eSports experience. Also, you can be confident that the platform itself has the foundation of good banking methods, customer support, VIP services, mobile experiences, bonuses and offers, and responsible gambling features.
How do I choose between the many betting websites?
You’re here, and this is a great starting point. However, even choosing from our recommendations can be difficult at times. Therefore, the best piece of advice we have is to pick a platform that meets your needs. Although we have suggestions on this page, they aren’t equal for YOU. Some won’t have the right banking methods, some won’t have all the games you want, and some may not offer extensive markets for each game. Above all else, write down a list of things YOU want from a bookmaker and find one that matches this list closely.
You might not find the ‘perfect’ betting website, but you should find something that allows you to have fun betting on the eSports you know and love.
In our opinion, there are three main things to keep in mind:
- Variety – If you’re new to eSports, you may not have a game preference. If this is the case, choose a platform that offers a good variety. Over time, you’ll learn the best eSports and the best markets for the way you bet. You can also take advantage of the many tournaments as they occur.
- Availability – Since eSports is still such a new niche, many bettors get frustrated by the availability of events on their chosen website. While some certainly have a whole page dedicated to eSports, others just have eSports as ‘specials’ and niche betting opportunities. If your main focus is on eSports, choose a platform that takes it just as seriously as yourself.
- Betting Types – Finally, we discussed the different ways to bet earlier, and this is another important consideration when choosing a website. It’s no good choosing one that doesn’t have many live betting markets if this is your sole focus.
Once you consider your own betting behaviours, it becomes much easier to find the ‘best’ website for eSports betting.
What are the payment methods for eSports betting?
Just to keep things confusing, every betting website seems to have a different selection of payment methods. When depositing into your account, the most common option is a debit card. After entering your details, choose the amount you wish to deposit, and it will enter your account. Since Visa has all sorts of security systems and technology, be confident that this is not just a convenient way to deposit and withdraw but a secure one too. In addition to Visa, most platforms will also support MasterCard debit cards.
After this, another common option is PayPal. Over the last decade, this has become perhaps the biggest and most trusted eWallet on the internet. Essentially, it acts as a digital wallet in that you can load up the wallet and then use this money all over the internet without entering your card details on each website.
With the extra security they provide, eWallets have gained in popularity through the years. With this, betting websites have also allowed other eWallets as banking methods whether this is Neteller, Skrill, Apple Pay, EcoPayz, paysafecard, or Payoneer.
Lastly, bank transfers are still an option with many platforms. For both depositing and withdrawing, you can transfer funds directly from your bank account. Be aware that this is often the slowest withdrawal method and can sometimes take up to ten business days.
How do I get started with eSports betting?
All betting experiences start with an account on a betting platform, so click on the ‘Join’ button after choosing a service. At some stage, you may need to send some documentation to verify your account; proving your address, identity, and age may seem frustrating but it helps with gambling addiction, underage gambling, and other industry problems.
With your account ready, you need to deposit funds. When doing this, remember the different banking methods and that your welcome bonus might rely on depositing a certain amount. From here, we advise absolute beginners to place small stakes just to get accustomed to the betting process. As you gain experience, you’ll quickly learn your favourite eSports and markets.
Do you have any advice for eSports betting?
One of the best things about eSports is that the events are so easily accessible through Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms. With this in mind, we recommend watching as many tournaments and games as possible. Eventually, you’ll get used to the teams, names, and have a better understanding of how everything works. If you’re a fan already, this is great news. With any sport, a little bit of knowledge goes a long way.
Remember, betting is a game of risk against reward. Something with odds of 100/1 might make the rewards look attractive, but this is because it’s incredibly unlikely to happen. On the other hand, something with odds of 1/7 might seem a certainty but the rewards will be lower. To win something worth withdrawing, try to find the balance between risk and reward.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with live betting. Especially if you’re already watching an event, you’re in a great position to make good betting decisions. You might see that a comeback is on the cards in Rocket League, or that a favourite is going to lose. Jump on the opportunities you see and hopefully, it will lead to a quick reward.
Good Luck
With this, you now have all the answers you need to have a fun and rewarding experience with eSports betting!
