Best Esports Betting Sites
In recent years there has been an increased demand for Esports betting. A new generation of bettors is showing great interest in CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends and other computer games. Betting on them can be just as interesting as betting on sports. Although the field of eSports betting is still in its infancy, betting sites are actively introducing new markets and expanding the range of events.
There are plenty of online betting sites offering odds on Esports, but not all of them are the same. Some Esports betting sites offer only a limited selection of games and markets, while others may have low odds or poor customer service.
To help you find the best online betting site for eSport, we ranked Esports betting sites based on factors such as the range of games and markets offered, betting odds, customer service and others. Check out our list of the best eSports betting websites below.
Best Esports Bookmakers
How to Sign up with an Esports betting website?
Here’s a step-by-step instruction on how to create an online sportsbook account and make an Esports bet:
- Click on the “Join Now” or “Sign Up” button. It is usually placed in the upper right corner of the home page;
- Fill in the registration form. The required fields are username, password, email address, name, date of birth, etc.;
- Accept the bookmaker’s terms and conditions. To do so, tick the respectful box;
- Click on the “Join Now” or “Sign Up” button again. Once you have completed all these steps, you can log into your account and start betting. Good luck!
How to Place a Bet at Esports Betting Sites?
The way the Esports betting sites work is similar, so here are universal instructions on how to place a bet on an Esports match:
- Go to the Esports category. Open the section of a specific tournament, if it isn’t presented on the home page.
- Choose the event and market you want to bet on.
- Add the amount you want to bet to your betslip (or use a free bet if you got one).
- Click on the “Place Bet” button to confirm your bet.
Bookmakers with the Best Esports Odds
Bet365
Bet365 is one of the leading bookmakers offering a great service for betting on Esports. The huge list of disciplines covers Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty, Valorant, King of Glory, Rocket League, PUBG, Heroes of the Storm and others. There are eFootball, eBasketball leagues and some mobile games. There is a regular and wide range of markets for all these types of Esports.
The range of betting markets is record-breaking: you can make to 75 different Esports bets on a top match. Margin depends on the popularity of the event, but in any case it is between 6% and 7.5%. So this is a good Esports betting site.
Bet-at-home
One of the Esports bookmakers. This is an Irish bookmaker with one of the best Esports betting services. The first thing that stands out is that there is a separate tab for each Esports discipline in the overall list. Other bookmakers often cram everything into one category, ignoring the diversity and peculiarities of Esports disciplines.
Bet-at-home website contains a separate section for Esports, featuring over 20 disciplines on the. You can bet on CS:GO, Dota 2 , LoL, King of Glory, Rocket League FIFA and NBA2k. There are no markets for most of them yet, but the groundwork for the future is encouraging.
Bet-at-home covers all levels of events, the implementation is also very good: you can open the Esports tab in the list of all sports and immediately access the list of all tournaments. Margins vary from 5.5% to 7.5% depending on the popularity of the event.
SportNation
A new bookmaker (operating since 2017), which already hits the top Esports betting sites
with of the most comprehensive betting services. While it focuses on traditional sports in the Republic of Ireland (horse racing, football, darts, etc.), it treats Esports with respect. SportNation stands out with a margin between 5.5-6%. This is one of the best offers on the Irish conservative market. It’s an interesting thing that this bookmaker’s fee is kept within these relatively narrow limits even for unpopular matches. Starcraft 2 and Warcraft 3 are offered along with the Big Three (CS:GO, Dota 2, LoL). Mainly top level matches are presented. Around 10-12 markets for each match are provided, i.e. a couple of options on the most popular markets which is OK if you want to make Esports bets.
Mr Green
Another bookmaker with relatively low margins. It charges 7.5% on unpopular Esports matches. It’s an average figure, but it can still be described as low. The margin drops to 6.5% and sometimes even lower for top events, ultimately giving some of the best odds on the Irish bookmakers’ market. Starcraft 2, Valorant and Rainbow Six extend the standard set of the Esports disciplines. The widest range of betting markets is provided for CS:GO with up to 30 options per match.
Quinnbet
A relatively new Irish bookmaker (founded in 2017) can be the best solution for many bettors. It covers a huge number of tournaments at every level in all the disciplines represented. The wide range of markets includes CS:GO, Dota 2, LoL, Valorant, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty, Starcraft 2, Heroes of the Storm. The margin for most events is between 6-7.5%. However, there’s quite a small selection of markets with only a dozen or two dozens of options to bet on.
BoyleSports
John Boyle’s Irish bookmaker was founded in 1982. It focuses on traditional British and Irish sports, but also covers Dota 2, League of Legends and NBA2k. You won’t find any niche tournaments among the Esports betting offerings. One thing that has made the Match.Center’s expert team pay attention to this bookmaker is the moderate margin (6-7%). Just like what the leaders on the Irish market offer.
Bethard
The odds at Bethard show that Esports betting in the Republic of Ireland is still developing, but has already taken a step towards a top service. The margin is as high as 9% for unpopular matches, but it drops to 5-6% for popular events. This means that some bets are provided with the best margins in the country. The bookmaker has added Starcraft 2 and Valorant to the standard set of games (CS:GO, Dota 2, LoL). Up to 15 selections are offered on the top matches which is good among the Esports betting sites.
LiveScore Bet
This modern bookmaker has incorporated Esports into the range of sports they offer right since it was founded in 2021. This is supposed to suit the preferences of a new generation of bettors. There aren’t many events so far, although all the top CS:GO, Dota 2, LoL and Starcraft 2 matches are represented. Note that margin remains at the same level of 5.5-6.5% for almost all events. It is moderate and remarkably stable rate.
William Hill
The history of this bookmaker started in 1934. Today it is owned by Caesars Entertainment, the American casino giant. William Hill is the leading bookmaker that allows you to bet on various popular Esports (CS:GO, Dota 2, LoL), as well as on some that are not always available at Irish bookmakers (Valorant, Starcraft 2, Rainbow Six, King of Glory).Bookmaker accepts bets on a variety of markets, regardless of their level. The margin on top matches is around 6.5%, although it rises to 7.5% in case of unpopular markets. William Hill often runs various promotions for active customers.
Paddy Power
The large Irish company, which is primarily known for the betting service with markets for traditional disciplines. They start to pay more attention to Esports, too. Paddy Power focuses on CS:GO, Dota 2 and LoL. There are also several FIFA leagues, Rocket League and King of Glory (Honor of Kings), which are not popular among other bookmakers. The margin is kept at the level of 6-7% for most of the events, which allows you to count on fairly high odds.
Free Bets and Welcome Offers for Esports
As Esports online is not a main focus for Irish bookmakers, special promotions for this sport are not usually offered even on best betting sites. However, many sports betting sites provide various bonuses without a link to Esports. Most of them are aimed at new customers. Let’s take a look at some of the free Esports bets offers.
Make sure you read the terms and conditions of a promotion before accepting any offer. Deposits and minimum odds requirements can be applied.
BoyleSports - Bet €10 get €40 in free bets
The bonus is available to new customers who haven’t previously registered on the sports betting site. After creating an account, make a deposit of €10 or more. Then place a €10 single or accumulator bet at minimum odds of 1/1 (2.00). There is no max qualifying bet stake, you only need to meet the minimum conditions. You will receive a €30 free bet that can be used in the Sportsbook section and an additional €10 Casino Bonus.
Bet365 - Bet €10 get €50 in Bet Credits
One of the most generous promotions for new customers among major online sportsbooks is offered by Bet365. Sign up on the sports betting site. Make a deposit of €5 or more. For the maximum bonus you have to make a €10 deposit. Place a single or an accumulator qualifying bet (a first bet with the amount of the entire deposit) at min odds of 1/5 (1.2) in pre-match mode. Then you’ll get a bonus of 500% on your deposit (up to €50) in the bookmaker’s special currency — Bet Credits.
Unlike regular free bet bonuses, you can choose your own bet amount using Bet Credits, including Esports wagers.
William Hill - Bet €10 get €30 in Free bets
Register from your smartphone or tablet and enter the promo code N30. Use your mobile device to place a €10 bet at min odds of 1/2 (1.50), either in pre-match or in live mode. After the qualifying bet settlement you will receive 2 x €15 Free bets.
Mr Green - Up To €50 In Free Bets
To participate in the promotion you need to:
- Register on the betting site;
- Make a deposit of at least €20 by any method except Skrill, Moneybookers, paysafecard or Neteller;
- Place a bet with real money from €20 with the minimum odds of 1.80.
If you follow the above steps, you will get a €25 Free bet. You can use this offer twice. Each €25 Free bet can be placed on any sport and is valid for 7 days after receipt.
Bethard - 100% deposit bonus up to €50
After registering, make a deposit of €20 or more and receive a 100% bonus. The maximum bonus amount is €100. Please note that in order to unblock a withdrawal, the bonus amount must be wagered 4 times at min odds of 1.80.
Netbet - Bet €20 Get €20 Free Bet
Register, make a deposit of at least €20. Deposits via Neteller, PayPal and Skrill do not participate in the promotion. Place your first sports bet of at least €20. Singles and accumulators are valid as long as the odds of each selection exceed 1.50. Bet must be placed and settled within 30 days after registration. Then within 24 hours of settlement, you will get a €20 Free bet. You can only use the Free bet for an accumulator of 2 events within 7 days of receipt. The net amount (total payout excluding the Free bet amount) will be credited to your account in case of win.
Bet-at-home - 50% deposit bonus up to €50
This promotion is open to new and active customers who have never credited money to their betting accounts. To get the bonus, create an account or log in. Enter the bonus code FIRST in your personal account and make a deposit. In order to receive the maximum €50 bonus, you have to deposit €100.
Spreadex - Bet £25 get up to 5 x £5 in free bets
Create an account on the sports betting site and make a single qualifying bet in pre-match mode at min odds of 1/2 (1.5). It doesn’t matter if it’s a Esports bet or not. The number of bonus free bets depends on the amount of the qualifying bet:
- £5 to £9 = 1 x £5
- £10 to £14 = 2 x £5
- £15 to £19 = 3 x £5
- £20 to £24 = 4 x £5
- £25 = 5 x £5
One free bet is awarded per day, which means that you can only get the maximum 5 x £5 bonus on the fifth day. Once you wager the first and second free bets, you will receive a special £5 Total Goals spread bet.
LV Bet - Bet €10 get €10 bonus
Register and make a deposit of at least €10. Place your first bet as accumulator or single of at least €10 and the minimum odds of 2.00. Your bet must be settled with the minimum odds of 2.00. The day after the bet is settled, you will receive the €10 Free bet. Within 7 days, you must place the Free bet as an accumulator bet, with accumulated odds of 2.00 or greater. Each selection in the accumulator must be at min odds of 1.25. The net winnings (total payout excluding the Free bet amount) will be credited to your account.
Paddy Power - First risk-free bet up to €10
Enter code YSKAMR to claim your bonus. Make a deposit of €10 or more using your debit card. Place a bet on any event at any odds. If it loses, a cashback will be credited to your main account without any conditions in one hour, so it’s even better than a free bet.
Most Popular Esports and Competitions to Bet On
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
A tactical shooter with a 20-year history in Esports world. The current version of the game (CS:GO) was released in 2012. It is used in the vast majority of Counter-Strike competitions, although some tournaments use the 1.6 Classic Edition.
Competitive Mode is the most popular mode in Esports and online betting, where five-person teams face off against each other. One map has 30 rounds in regular time. Teams switch sides after 15 rounds. If team A played on the Counter-terrorists (CT) side in the first half, they will play on the Terrorists (T) side in the second half. To become the winner, you have to win 16 rounds with two rounds of handicaps. If the main phase (regular) ends in a draw (15:15) the overtimes begin — phases of 6 rounds: one team must play 3 rounds each for the CT and T sides. To win in overtime you have to win 4 rounds out of 6 in any overtime phase. This rule applies to most tournaments, on rare occasions competitions allow a draw as the final result of the match. The number of overtimes and game time are not limited.
In the best of 1 (bo1) format only one map is played in a match, but usually several maps are played. The most popular format is bo3, which requires winning two maps to win. Finals of larger tournaments are often played in bo5 (up to 3 winning maps). There is also a bo2 format, in this case a draw is possible.
Other modes include 1×1 and 2×2. However they are rarely used — usually in exhibition matches of top tournaments or semi-professional competitions.
The most popular Esports bets on Counter-Strike matches are Team to win the match or map, over/under and handicaps by rounds and kills, individual over/under of player’s kills, Round 1 winner and Round 16 winner (the first round of the second half). Some Esports betting sites provide a market on a conditional duel of players: for example, the winner will be the one who makes the most frags, regardless of the result of the match.
CS:GO has several organizers who run regular tournaments at various levels. The most prestigious tournaments (they are usually called Major tournaments) are hosted by Valve. That’s why we’re not pointing out specific tournaments, but rather the companies that run the most popular competitions in Counter-Strike:
- PGL
- IEM (Intel Extreme Masters)
- ESL (Electronic Sports League)
- BLAST Premier
- ESEA
- Pinnacle Cup and Series
- Global Esports
- DreamHack
- Elisa Invitational
Top 3 bookmakers to bet on CS:GO
Bet365
The bookmaker provides markets for almost every shooting by professional players in a tactical shooter. The range of markets to bet on is small, but it is extremely varied, with a record number of 75 markers per match.
Mr Green
Customers can count on a wide range of pre-match markets (up to 50). Live betting is also regularly available. There is a sign that informs you in advance on which matches you will be able to bet live. Small but informative statistics help to prepare for online wagering.
Quinnbet
An Esports betting site that won’t let you get bored. It provides a full market on the most popular events, but also covers many second- and third-level tournaments that remain unknown for many competitors. Bets on some championships are accepted long before the start of the tournaments.
Dota 2
Defense of the Ancients is one of the oldest competitive games along with Counter-Strike. The second part, released in 2013, is used for modern tournaments.
In Dota 2’s most popular mode teams of five (Radiant and Dire) face off against each other on the same map with bases, buildings, shopkeepers and creep camps (neutral characters). Each player chooses a hero from over 100 options according to their own skill, teamwork and counter factors against their opponents.
Destroying an enemy ancient (or throne) is necessary to win. In the course of the game, players gain experience and upgrade characters, buy items and artifacts to increase the various characteristics of the heroes. The main sources of experience and gold are from killing enemies and different creeps.
The betting site offers such options like Team to win the match or Team to win by kills, over/under and handicaps by kills, players’ statistics. You can also bet on first blood, first kill of Roshan (the most powerful and profitable creep in the game), first destruction of the tower.
Some regular tournaments are firmly entrenched with specific organizations, but the biggest tournaments are run by different companies.
List of the most popular Dota 2 tournaments:
- The International (TI)
- Major
- DPC (Dota Pro Circuit). Various regions
- BTS Pro Series (Beyond The Summit)
- OGA Dota PIT (One Game Agency)
Top 3 bookmakers to bet on Dota 2
BoyleSports
One of the few legal bookmakers in the Republic of Ireland that sees Dota 2 as a main discipline in the Esports section. The market covers all divisions of the regular regional leagues and, of course, international tournaments. The margins are quite moderate, allowing you to rely on good odds.
William Hill
The long-established betting company keeps a close eye on Esports and Dota 2 in particular. The market features all the strongest regional championships, as well as the big international competitions. As a reminder, William Hill is on our list of bookmakers with the best odds.
Spreadex
A quality service for popular Dota 2 tournaments. Despite the lack of a separate category, the Esports section is perfectly structured: you can bet on the tournaments you are interested in. In addition to fixed odds, the bookmaker offers an original spread betting mechanic, which makes your winnings depend on the accuracy of the prediction.
League of Legends
Released in 2009, the game was intended to be an alternative to the first edition of Dota. It adheres to the canons of the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre, so it is similar to its main competitor in rules and gameplay.
The most popular match format for betting is a 5×5 game between two teams. The main objective is to destroy the opponent’s nexus (analogous to ancient in Dota). Before the game starts, each team chooses 5 champions (heroes), and then they should be upgraded by killing the opponent’s players, creeps and towers, and buying artifacts.
Despite the similarities between MOBA games, Dota experience is almost useless for betting on League of Legends. The pace of LoL is much slower, so the number of kills is relatively lower. The mechanics of the champions’ control are as different as the set of champions themselves.
The most popular tournaments in League of Legends are clearly structured. Top teams compete in regional leagues which are held in spring and summer. Regional regular leagues are used to get into international tournaments. List of the most prestigious LoL Esports events:
- LPL (LoL Pro League — China)
- LCS (LoL Championship Series — North America)
- LEC (LoL European Championship — Europe)
- LCK (LoL Champions Korea)
- Mid-Season Invitational
- World Championship
Top 3 bookmakers to bet on League of Legends
Bethard
High odds for Esports are not a marketing ploy, but a real advantage, and Bethard has one. Margins on popular League of Legends matches fall as low as 5%, and the average is lower than many competitors offer.
Bet-at-home
If you are interested in champion battles at all professional levels, you should consider this bookmaker. As well as excellent service for major regional and international Esports tournaments, Bet-at-home regularly accepts Esports bets on A and B Tier championships.
SportNation
An excellent bookmaker for Esports betting on popular League of Legends tournaments, as well as second tier championships. Not only the range of markets, but also the betting odds are one of the best among all legal bookmakers in the Republic of Ireland.
Other Esports disciplines
There are several dozen other competitive games that have tournaments. Apart from the Big Three, competitions are quite popular in the following games:
- Overwatch
- Valorant
- Rainbow Six
- Call of Duty
- Rocket League
- Starcraft 2
- King of Glory
- Fortnite
- PUGB
- FIFA
- NBA2K
Unfortunately, they are not in demand among Irish bettors, so national bookmakers rarely offer Esports waggers on them.
Live Betting on Esports
In terms of Esports betting during a match, Esports are different from traditional sports. When choosing a bookmaker for Live betting, the following factors should be considered:
- Make sure the match is available for Live betting. Esports is an emerging area of betting. Our top bookmakers offer bets on many pre-match events, but they won’t necessarily have an in-play market. If you expect to bet during the match, check this in advance. Many Esports betting sites have a special sign or icon informing you that live and streaming are available.
- Some functions may not be available. Cash out is rarely offered on Esports matches. It is also rare to be able to assemble accumulators with in-play bets. Use of a free bet may also be restricted.
- Observe the features of the in play betting. During the course of a match, bets may be closed repeatedly. This is a natural process for some Esports, especially for unpopular games, but the measure is determined individually. Some bookmakers don’t close the in-play line at all, while the others allow you to bet 75% of the time, and some leave just a couple of minutes per hour of the game and that is not an exaggeration. Unfortunately bookmakers’ policies vary too much between disciplines to be able to draw a clear bottom line, so you have to observe it individually.
- Live streaming is delayed. In the vast majority of cases the bettor watches the game with a lag in relation to the actual moment of the match. This is the case even for the online tournaments. The Esports betting sites always have direct access to the match: to the server or to the venue. They give odds without delay, according to what the bookmaker can see, but not yet seen by the bettor. This makes Live betting difficult, but there’s nothing you can do about it. To bet during the match, you have to monitor the situation according to the bookmaker’s information on the website — it is published with minimal delay and ahead of the Live streaming.
Is Esports Betting Legal in Ireland?
Yes, online betting is legal in the Republic of Ireland as long as the bookmaker is licensed by the Irish Revenue Commissioners. All legal best Esports betting sites offer Esports betting markets. If you’re unsure about whether a bookmaker is licensed, you can check the list of licensed operators on the Revenue Commissioners website.
There are no separate websites for betting on Esports alone. Most bookmakers have a section on their websites that contains Esports betting markets. The most popular Esports games to bet on in the Republic of Ireland are League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. However, you can also bet on other games such as Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone.
Conclusion
In this article, we have provided information to help you choose the most suitable Esports betting site. Let’s look at the main criteria for choosing a sports betting site:
- Place your bets with legal bookmakers. Match.Center only cooperates with licensed Irish bookmakers who comply with the laws of the country and pay taxes. With our advice, you can rest assured that you can bet legally and safely.
- Start betting with bonuses. The gambling market is very competitive. The best Esports betting sites are fighting for customers, especially new ones. You can choose among many welcome bonus offers. In our Free Bets and Welcome Offers for Esports section you can find the most exciting ones.
- Bet on Esports at the best odds. Bookmakers make money on margins, but there’s always a limit. This is especially important for bettors who play for small winnings. For them, odds that are too low can turn into losses over the long haul. Check out the best offers in our list of Bookmakers with the Best Esports Odds to learn about the companies that offer competitive odds on the Irish Esports betting market.
- Choose a bookmaker to bet on particular Esports betting markets. The Esports titles are different, both in nature and in terms of betting. You should be able to bet on what you like. Despite the conservative nature of the Irish betting market, we can advise you on bookmakers for betting on popular Esports disciplines. For more details, please check out the Most Popular Esports and Competitions to Bet On section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t some sports betting sites offer bets on all Esports disciplines?
Compared to football, most Esports events are niche, they do not attract too many Esports fans and thus do not yet generate much public interest. The most popular Esports games are those that have the biggest prize pools and the biggest viewership. ESports titles like League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch attract the most viewers because they offer the biggest prize pools. That’s why most Esports betting sites offer markets only for these games.
Is Esports betting legally different from sports betting?
No, in the Republic of Ireland there is no legal distinction between the two. All forms of online Esports gambling are regulated by the Gambling Control Bill 2013, and all operators offering gambling and betting products to Irish customers must be licensed by the Revenue Commissioners.
How to choose the best Esports betting sites?
Read this page on Match.Center, here you will find all the information you need. Our team determines several factors to consider when choosing the best Esports betting websites:
- Number of games offered
- Number of markets offered
- Odds
- Bonuses and promotions (welcome and free bet promos)
- Payment options
- Customer support
You should also make sure that the Esports betting site is licensed and regulated by a reputable authority. Read the reviews of other Esports bettors to get an idea of what they thought of the website before you sign up.
Is betting on Esports illegal?
It is completely legal in the Republic of Ireland as long as you’re using safe Esports betting sites that we listed in our tops. You can bet on any Esports event you like as long as the bookmaker is licensed to operate in the Republic of Ireland. All the big online bookmakers (bet365, William Hill, Betway and many others) are licensed here. However, there may be restrictions in other countries.
Do sports betting sites offer Esports markets all year round?
Considering tournaments in various Esports are going on all the time, betting sites likely offer some sort of Esports betting all year round. However, the popularity of games and tournaments can vary greatly, so the specific Esports markets available may also change throughout the year. For example, more markets are likely to be available during big tournaments like The International or the League of Legends World Championship, while smaller tournaments or events for less popular games may not have as many Esports betting options. It’s always best to check with your bookmaker to see what Esports markets are currently available.
Who has the best Esports betting tips?
The bestEsports betting hints should be found on specific websites dedicated to the particular game. All-in-one websites that publish betting tips are usually poorly versed in Esports. We recommend that you refer to websites that are dedicated to one particular Esports discipline.
Esports is closely linked to betting, which is why sports betting markets predictions are regularly made by analysts and commentators. You can find out what they think during the live streaming.
Of course, you can form your own opinion based on strict statistics. The HLTV website has comprehensive data on CS:GO, while Dota 2 is covered by DLTV and Dotabuff. For LoL Esports fans, GOL is recommended.
Also don’t forget your welcome free bet frome top Esports betting sites we mentioned. Good luck Esports betting!