Esports betting: how to bet on competitive video games

An up-and-coming arena in the online betting world, Esports might be virtual, but that doesn’t mean its games aren’t packed with the kind of clutch wins and nail-biting moments that are oh-so common to more traditional sports.

Be it a last-minute Hail Mary to capture the enemy’s home objective, or a total team wipe by the underdogs that no one saw coming, the action is nonstop when it comes to Esports, with every kind of game you can imagine being open and available to bet on within our markets.

Of course, in order to beat those Esports odds, you’ll need to know what you’re up against, which is why we’ve shared all of our Esports online betting tips and insights below to give you a leg up. Take a look now to get started.

What is Esports betting?

Esports betting means wagering on the outcome of competitive video game matches, played by professional teams and individuals in front of live audiences. It is not the same as virtual sports, which are computer-simulated events with random results; esports are real contests between real players.

In every other respect it works like betting on any sport. The common bet types are straightforward: Get comfortable with those four and most esports markets will make sense.

• Match winner: who wins the overall match.
• Map winner: who takes a specific map within the match.
• Tournament winner: the outright winner of an event.
• Correct score: the exact map scoreline, such as 2-0 or 2-1 in a best-of-three.

Get comfortable with those four and most esports markets will make sense.

How to bet on Esports online

Much like traditional sports, when betting on Esports, you’ll first want to get a good understanding of how betting in the UK and on the Betway site is presented. Specifically, you’ll need to know how fractional odds work.

Displayed as adjustable fractions, these odds reflect how likely and unlikely a bet is to pull through, and how much it will pay out should you win. The smaller the fraction, the more likely your bet is to succeed.

Case and point, if you were betting on M80 to beat G2 Esports in an upcoming Rainbow Six match, and your odds were 6/4, for every £4 you bet, you’d win £6, with an overall profit of £2. Or, to put it another way, the number on the left represents what you’ll win from placing a minimum bet (the number on the right).

Understanding esports odds and how they move

Every fractional price also tells you the implied chance behind it: divide the second number by the sum of both, so 6/4 implies 4 divided by 10, or 40 per cent. Esports odds rarely stay still, either. A surprise roster change, a patch that reshapes the meta, or a wave of money on one side can shorten or drift a price before a match, and in-play they move faster still, map to map and round to round.

How live (in-play) esports betting works

Live esports betting, also called in-play, lets you bet after a match has started, with the markets updating as the game unfolds. It suits esports especially well, because a single team fight or a lost economy round can flip a series in seconds.

Commonly available live markets include map winner, next map, round winner and, in shooters, markets such as first blood or next kill. Prices react to what is happening on screen, so a team that takes a commanding map lead will see its odds shorten fast. One practical point is latency: the stream you watch usually runs a few seconds behind the bookmaker’s live data, so a market can move or briefly suspend before the play reaches your screen. Treat the broadcast as a guide, not the live state.

The most popular Esports betting markets

Although any game can be classed as an Esport, for the purposes of simple betting, the majority of Esports markets keep their focus on the most popular online Esports games right now, with direct attention being given to the following games:

Dota 2

A classic of the Esports genre and the third most popular Esport in the world right now, Dota 2 has long been a staple of the virtual sports scene ever since its beta was released, with its first official tournament being held in 2011. Loved by its fans for its RTS nature and unpredictability, the Dota 2 International is always one to watch.

League of Legends

Widely considered the number one Esport of all time, League of Legends helped to pioneer the recognition of the virtual sports scene by official bodies. Effortlessly matching Dota 2 in terms of intensity and strategy, League’s continued popularity makes it a go-to for many punters just getting started with Esports betting.

Valorant

A relative newcomer to the Esports space, Valorant has nevertheless cemented itself as an Esports go-to for many. Epitomising the squad-based hero shooter style gameplay popularised by the likes of Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch, its notable brand of slow build-ups and hectic final firefights makes for a consistent edge-of-your-seat viewing experience.

CS2

Valorant’s main and arguably more famous rival, CS2 (formally CS:GO), ups the ante when it comes to pacing, with most guns capable of downing an opponent with one or two well-placed shots. Naturally, this has led to a rather unique betting market, one where prediction upsets are common and Esports odds are constantly changing.

Overwatch 2

Replacing Overwatch as Blizzard’s primary Esports game, Overwatch 2 might not be as popular as its predecessor, but that’s not stopped it from amassing quite the following. As with Valorant and CS2, Overwatch 2’s strong focus on squad-based gameplay makes for a thrilling betting space where any outcome is possible.

CS2 (CS:GO) markets and where to find coverage

Counter-Strike has been a pillar of CSGO esports betting sites for over a decade, and that hasn’t changed under CS2. Because matches are built around maps and rounds, so are the markets. Alongside the match winner, you’ll find map winner, map handicaps, correct map score, total rounds over/under, and pistol-round markets for the opening round of each half. Coverage runs deepest around the big events: the CS2 Majors, the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) and PGL tournaments draw the widest range of markets, while smaller online qualifiers carry a tighter set.

FIFA esports betting: formats and markets

FIFA esports betting now sits under a new name. EA and FIFA split after FIFA 23, so the game is EA Sports FC and its competitive circuit runs as EA Sports FC Pro, though plenty of fans and searches still say FIFA esports. The format is unlike the team games above: matches are 1v1, decided on goals over 90 minutes with extra time and penalties if level. The markets follow the football, so expect match result, total goals and over/under lines, plus tournament winner futures for events like the FC Pro Open and FC Pro World Championship.

Advice for Esports online betting

Even though virtual sports betting takes place online, you’ll still need to carefully consider the odds in front of you for every match before placing your bet. After all, if a team doesn’t have their head in the game, then their odds of winning will be that much lower.

So, before you decide on which Esport odds you like the look of, be sure to consider all of the following factors ahead of the game in question:

• The skill levels of both teams.
• Each team’s competitive history.
• How each team has fared against the other in the past.
• External factors, such as jet lag and injuries.
• Current game trends and how teams have reacted and adapted to them.

On top of this, we’d also suggest doing your own research on the game in question. For example, Esports like League and Dota 2 take a lot longer to play out than Valorant, and if a team pulls ahead early, it may be impossible for the other team to catch up. On the other hand, games like CS2 are so fast-paced that it’s nearly impossible to truly predict the outcome of any singular round.

How to choose the best esports betting site for UK players

With so many options, it helps to know what makes one of the best esports betting sites stand out, and none of it is about a brand name.

Start with the licence: a site operating legally for UK players is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, which sets the standards for fairness, fund protection and identity checks. Then look at how many titles it covers and how deep the markets go, since a strong site prices CS2, League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant and more, not just the headline matches. Check the odds and the live offering too, because clear fractional pricing and fast-moving in-play markets matter when esports turns on small moments. Finally, weigh the customer protections, such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.

Safety, legality and UK regulation for esports betting

Esports betting is legal in the UK, provided you bet with a licensed operator. Every site taking bets from British customers must hold a licence from the UK Gambling Commission, which regulates how operators handle your money, verify your identity and protect vulnerable customers.

The same rules that cover football or horse racing apply here: you must be 18 or over, operators run age and identity checks before you can withdraw, and tools like deposit limits and self-exclusion are built in by law. Betway holds that licence, so esports betting on the site carries the same protections as any other market.

Start betting on Esports today

The marquee events are all here. From the CS2 Majors and Intel Extreme Masters to the VALORANT Champions Tour, the League of Legends MSI and Dota 2’s The International, you’ll find markets running from outright tournament winners through to map-by-map and live in-play betting once the matches begin.

Can I use the Betway app to bet on Esports?

Looking to bet on upcoming Esports games while on the move? Stay ahead of the game with the Betway Sports app! Download it now from the Play Store or the App Store to enjoy live betting, real-time updates on Esport odds, and exclusive offers right at your fingertips.

Where can I find Esports betting tips?

While we’ve covered all of the basics around Esports betting above, if you want even more insights into specific Esports niches and betting opportunities, then be sure to check out our Esports betting blog for extra tips and breakdowns on all the most recent Esports events taking place.

Frequently asked questions about esports betting

What is esports betting?

Esports betting is wagering on competitive video game matches, such as CS2, League of Legends or Dota 2. You can bet on the match winner, individual maps and tournament winners, all priced in fractional odds in the UK.

Is esports betting legal in the UK?

Yes. Esports betting is legal in Great Britain through operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, and you must be 18 or over to place a bet.

Can you bet on esports live (in-play)?

Yes. Live esports betting stays open after a match starts, with markets like map winner and round winner updating as the game is played. Note that the stream usually runs a few seconds behind the live odds.

What are the most popular esports to bet on?

Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2 and Valorant draw the most betting interest, and their major events carry the widest range of markets.

Can you bet on FIFA esports?

Yes. FIFA esports now runs as EA Sports FC Pro after EA’s rebrand. The markets cover match results, total goals and tournament winners, much like real football betting.

How do esports odds work?

Esports odds are shown as fractions in the UK. A price like 6/4 returns £6 profit on a £4 stake, and the shorter the fraction, the more likely the result is judged to be.