With the world’s biggest esports tournaments offering huge prize pools for pro gamers, it’s no surprise to see that punters are looking to get in on the action too. As esports betting becomes more popular, a few top betting destinations have begun to set themselves apart from the rest. Looking for your best bet on esports? Let us show you the ropes so you’ll know exactly what to expect from a top betting site.
Welcome bonus
Looking to get your esports adventure off to a flying start? Then, you’ll want to pick up a decent bonus to kick things off. With the esports betting industry rapidly growing, you can expect to see online bookmakers rolling out esports welcome bonuses to remain competitive and attract new customers.
Welcome bonuses come in several shapes and sizes, including risk free bets, no deposit bonuses and profit boosts. The matched deposit bonus is arguably the most popular type of introductory offer. The concept here is simple – your chosen bookie offers a percentage of your first deposit as a bonus. This figure usually falls anywhere between 50 and 200 percent!
Another hugely popular esports welcome bonus is the free bet offer. Again, this is just as straightforward as it sounds. Here you’re required to wager a certain amount on esports events such as Overwatch, Starcraft 2 or League of Legends. You’ll then be credited with a free bet to use on more of the very best esports games and tournaments.
Whichever type of bonus you opt for, remember that bigger doesn’t always mean better. The best bonus is one that you believe suits your betting style and can land you a profit. Remember to keep an eye out for any wagering requirements and always read the terms and conditions before claiming your welcome bonus.
Promotions
Welcome bonuses don’t last for long, so you’ll want to make sure there are plenty of treats for existing players to enjoy before you sign up at any esports bookie. While you won’t find as many enticing promotions for esports as you would for a traditional sport like football, there’s still enough for esports punters to sink their teeth into.
Price boosts are one of the most valuable bonuses you can get your hands on. You simply get an increase on the original odds offered – there’s absolutely no catch! Price boosts are quickly becoming a popular offer amongst esports punters betting on many of the top-tier Dota 2, CS:GO, League of Legends and Starcraft 2 games. If you like to keep your betting simple by backing the outright winner, then a solid esports price boost is the perfect promotion for you. BetWay are one of your better options when it comes to esports bookmakers and their promotions. Among their many promotions, Betway offers a unique ‘Weekly Objectives’ esports challenge. Players complete the objectives listed, such as placing wager on certain matches and betting on selected boosted markets, in order to win free bets. This is a great way to get better value for your money and for frequent bettors to land some top rewards!
Games
Fundamentally, betting on esports is no different to betting on any other sport. The secret to your success comes down to your knowledge of the game – and on occasions a little bit of luck. Sure, the list of esports available for punters to bet on is growing all the time, but there are a few games, which we’ve listed below, that already command hall of fame status in this niche. You’ll want to make sure that these games are available to bet on before registering an account!
- League of Legends (LoL): This is the classic MOBA game which many people credit with launching esports into the public eye. Each team member will control their own champion who has a special skill set. The aim is to complete missions to build up your champion in preparation for battle, with the ultimate goal being to destroy the opposition’s Nexus.
- Dota 2: This somewhat similar to LoL in that its a MOBA game with players building up their chosen characters before doing battle. Each side has to defend their own sacred structure known as the ‘Ancient’ whilst plotting how to capture the opposition’s. To achieve this a clever strategy and coordinated teamwork is essential.
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: Simply know as CS:GO, this is a multiplayer first-person shooter game. There are two teams: the Terrorists and the Counter-Terrorists which do battle to eliminate each other while also conducting special missions as well.
That’s a mere taster to whet your appetite. Other leading esports games include the military-based, strategy game StarCraft 2, Overwatch, a popular First Person Shooter game and FIFA – the classic football game that needs no introduction.
Market Depth
Each esports game present punters with different ways to win big at the bookies. You’ll want to make sure that comprehensive market coverage is on offer before selecting a bookie as your new favourite. So if you love placing pistol round bets on CS:GO, you’ll obviously want to make sure that market is on offer.
As esports betting is a relatively new concept, the market depth on offer doesn’t even come close to sports like football and basketball. However, there are a few bookies pushing the envelope. The top esports betting sites offer player markets on team games such as LoL, StarCraft 2 and CS:GO. Here, you can bet on an individual’s match performance, such as how many dragons they will slay or total kills of the opposition. Much like football’s goalscorer betting, player performance bets are a great way for in the know punters to land some big wins. You can also find over-under markets across a range of esports games. These include goals in FIFA or total kills in Overwatch.
Another area in which the top esports bookies shine is in their in-play betting coverage of matches. Depending on how a game unfolds, savvy punters can turn to in-play betting to find more favourable betting opportunities or even double down on bets that have got off to a shaky start! Successful in-play betting is all about predicting what happens next – and the top esports betting sites present plenty of opportunities for you to do exactly that!
Odds
While you’ll want to look out for free bet offers and impressive market coverage, they won’t be worth much if the odds on offer aren’t up to scratch. Fortunately, the top esports betting sites price competitively, so punters can expect to find the best value at these bookies. However, there are still other ways to find the very best when it comes to value. The top sites often have higher maximum bet limits, allowing high rollers to lump big amounts at the price on offer.
Licences
Away from the match arena, if this is your first foray into online esports betting, it’s essential you sign up with a bookie which is fully licenced by a reputable governing body. At Compare.bet, we only work with gambling operators that hold a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence. The UKGC is widely regarded as gambling’s best governing body and the player protection it offers is unrivalled.
That’s why our lists don’t name every bookie under the sun – if it hasn’t got a license, you won’t find it here. By picking from our list, you are assured of picking a legitimate, trustworthy bookmaker that will provide you with a world-class esports betting experience.
Compare & bet on esports!
Now that you know exactly what makes a top esports betting site, you’re probably ready to pick one out and place your bets. Not sure where to start? Our expert review team has sourced the very best esports bookies for you, all you need to do is compare, choose a favourite and sign up to claim your exclusive welcome bonus!
