🖥️ Esports betting: Pros and cons
- Dynamic betting opportunities
- Wide range of esports titles
- Generous bonuses
- Live streaming
- Restricted in some states
💡 Is betting on esports legal in the US?
The legality surrounding betting on esports isn’t straightforward in the US, as some states allow it while others strictly ban the activity. The US online gambling industry is quite complex and it does vary on a state level. This means that you will have to familiarize yourself with the local laws before attempting to bet on esports.
With esports and sports betting legislation changing all the time, it’s always best to check. For example, as of right now, placing bets on esports is legal in New Jersey, Nevada, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Other states allow esports on some level such as Iowa, Arkansas, New York, Illinois, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, and Delaware.
Finding the perfect bookmaker can be challenging when you first get into esports betting. With a lot of competition out there, it can be difficult to know where to start. To give you a helping hand, you can check out any of my recommended bookmakers throughout this page.
For further help, I have outlined some of the best features to look out for below.
- Esports betting sites with live betting – Long before online bookmakers became a thing, live betting for sports has been commonplace. The growth of esports online betting has helped to pave the way for live esports betting. Even though esports betting websites are relatively new still, they are still incredibly popular.
- Esports betting apps – Plenty of online gambling sites that offer esports are compatible with mobile. Whether the platforms offer a dedicated mobile app or an optimized mobile site, there are usually ways of accessing the best esports betting sites wherever you are, on the go. Esports betting apps are usually available for both Android and iOS.
- Valuable bonuses – All of the major sports betting sites that offer esports will reward new players with welcome bonuses. You will also usually find plenty of ongoing promotions such as reload offers, no deposit bonuses, free bets, and much more. Every bonus will vary, so make sure you check out the T&Cs for important details such as wagering requirements, time limits, and expiry dates. While there are requirements to consider and work around, these generous bonuses will enhance your overall experience.
Our go-to eSports betting sites for April
1.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from United States of America accepted
2.
Up to 57.500 Gold Coins + 27.5 Free Sweepstakes Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
3.
5 Sweeps Coins + 250 Game Coins + 600 Diamonds
Players from United States of America accepted
4.
Get 55,000 Lucky Coins and 34 Sweeps Coins with first purchase
Players from United States of America accepted
5.
1.75 million WOW Coins + 35 Free Sweepstake Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
🔑 Key features to look for in the best esports betting sites
For everyone who is searching for the best site for esports betting, here are some things to look out for. I have put together a list of the most important features to consider.
Customer support
Even on the most reputable of esports betting sites, issues can occur. When this happens, you need to know that your bookmaker is capable of helping you efficiently. Unfortunately, not all bookmakers are great at looking after their customers, so it would be beneficial to check out reviews on Jaxon and customer reviews online first.
Make sure that the bookmaker offers at least a couple of decent options for reaching the support team, such as live chat, email support, telephone support, and FAQs.
Intuitiveness of navigation
If you are new to the world of esports betting, you might not know your way around the platform. Look for platforms that are neatly presented and easy to use. Ideally, you need to be able to land on the homepage and be able to find a link to a page that you want within moments. Betting sites that are confusing to look at will simply make potential players go elsewhere.
Payment methods
If you have a preferred banking method, make sure that your chosen bookmaker supports this. The best esports betting sites accept a range of payment options including credit and debit cards, PayPal, bank wire transfer, and cryptocurrency. The available methods may be a deal breaker for you, so make sure you check these out before registering an account. That way, you can get started quickly and be able to deposit funds and bet on esports in no time.
🔎 How to find the best esports sites
When it comes to searching for the best of the best, you can often get blinded with the abundance of choices that you have. Before you get started, here are some questions you should ask yourself first.
Is the site legally allowed in my state?
As I have already mentioned, esports is not regulated in all states. You need to double-check that you can actually access the bookmaker’s site safely first. You should also confirm the legal age of gambling there, as some sites will require you to be either 18 years old or 21 years old and over.
What esports are available?
Of course, the main attraction to any esports site is the actual selection of esports itself. With a lot of major esports covered on most platforms, you shouldn’t have an issue finding a site that suits you. But consider what esports you want to try out, to help you find the best site for you.
Is live streaming offered?
While in-play betting may be supported, live streaming isn’t always available. If this is a deal breaker, you will need to clarify this first. Most esports sites will have an embedded live stream on each of the pages, allowing you to place accurate in-play bets.
Does the esports site work on my device?
Let’s face it, not everyone wants to place bets on their desktop PC. While you might like to use your desktop sometimes, you also may want to relax on your sofa with your mobile or tablet. Look up the best bookmakers that offer an esports app or mobile-friendly site.
When you’re interested in placing bets, there’s nothing better than boosting your bankroll with a promotion or two. You will come across a selection of promotions such as welcome bonuses, free bets, deposit bonuses, reload offers, and more. While all bookmakers will offer varying deals, they will all offer great value.
Every bookmaker that is detailed on this page has been reviewed by the Jaxon experts. When I review esports bookmakers, I always look out for ones that offer:
- A safe betting environment
- Secure banking options
- Generous bonuses
- High-value odds
- Mobile-friendly site or app
- Great customer service
If you’re not sure where to start your search for the best esports platform, check out my recommendations via the banners on this page.
⭐ Most popular esports games to bet on in April 2024
The best esports betting sites host an abundance of esports titles to bet on. The most popular genres are typically first-person shooter or multiplayer online battle arena games. Among these genres, you will find titles such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Fortnite, CS2, and Valorant. These titles are some of the most popular and if you are interested in betting on these, you will have no issues finding them on esports betting sites.
✔️ Fortnite
Fortnite Desktop
Fortnite pro play
Fortnite is an esports game across the globe, so there will never be a shortage of Fortnite betting sites. It is a multi-player game where all players will work together to survive. You will battle against characters that are either controlled by other players or the game. It can feature up to 100 players at any one time, who are all competing to be the last man standing.
✔️ Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CSGO in play
CSGO in action
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, also known as CSGO, is one of the leading first-person shooter games. As such, you will find plenty of CSGO betting sites to choose from, including the recommended bookmakers on this page.
CSGO is an objective-based game where players will play the role of either a terrorist or counter-terrorist, who will be trying to eliminate the other team. At the start of each round, you will purchase weapons and equipment to help you, with rewards for your performance. If you complete an objective, such as planting a bomb or killing an enemy, you will also earn money.
✔️ League of Legends
League of Legends battle arena game
League of Legends live events and tournaments
League of Legends (LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena game with two teams of five players. Both teams are working against each other and every player will select a champion from a list of 150, who have their own traits and abilities. If you secure a kill or complete an objective, you will be rewarded with gold. Gold can be used to purchase items to make your character more powerful. To win, your team must progress from your side of the map to the opposite side, and destroy the other teams base.
You can find hundreds of LoL betting sites, including my recommended bookmakers right here via the banners on this page.
✔️ Valorant
Valorant desktop gameplay
Valorant mobile play
If you enjoy CSGO, the chances are that you would also like Valorant. It’s a team-based first-person shooter that is similar to CSGO. You will choose your character which will have their own unique abilities, as you progress through your objectives. Your main goal is to either eliminate the Defenders’ team or plant a Spike before you run out of time. There are usually approx 25 rounds per game with each lasting just 100 seconds. To be the overall winner, your team will need to reach 13 rounds.
If you want to check out Valorant, you can browse my suggested Valorant betting sites on this page.
✔️ Dota 2
Dota 2 laptop play
Dota 2 strategy gaming
Another one of the most popular games is Dota 2, so finding Dota 2 betting sites will never be an issue. It’s a competitive game that is also available for tournaments, where players can win millions of dollars. It’s a multiplayer online battle arena game where you will choose from over 100 heroes. To win the game, you will need to be the first one to enter the other team’s stronghold to destroy their ancient.
⏩ Other esports to bet on
With the growth of esports betting, you can access plenty of popular titles on sports betting sites and some online casinos too. Here are even more titles you will find online:
| Title | Genre |
| Overwatch | FPS |
| StarCraft II | RTS |
| Rainbow Six | Shooter |
| Rocket League | Sports/Action |
| Call of Duty | FPS |
| Warcraft III | RTS |
| Street Fighter V | Fighting |
| FIFA | Sports simulation |
💸 Types of bets for esports betting online
Whether you are looking to join sports betting sites, esports sites, or sweepstakes casinos, it’s important to know exactly how you place bets. Like all forms of online gaming and gambling, you need to know how the process works. Here’s an explanation of the different types of bets you can place online:
| First map | First map bets are a great option for first-person shooter games like CSGO. Rather than predicting who you think will be the overall winner, you will place a bet on which team will win the first map. |
| First kill | This type of bet will take a little more experience than other kinds of betting. Before you place a first kill bet, it would be a good idea to follow live streams to get an idea of who could perhaps get the first kill. Research will help you a long way in placing this type of bet. |
| First blood | First blood is similar to first kill, but instead of killing it will be the first to draw blood as in cause injury. Much like the first kill, this betting type will take some expertise. You will need some knowledge of the players in the match, which means you will need to carry out some research before the match starting. |
| Odd/Evens | An odd or events bet is where you guess whether there will be either an odd or even number of games won, rounds played, or players killed. Whilst this bet can be complex, it’s a fun alternative to outright winner bets. But there is no real expertise required, as it’s very much a 50/50 approach. |
| Over/Under | Once you have got to grips with odd/events bets, you may even like to try an over/under bet. This bet type will require you to predict whether a team will score more or less than a certain amount, which has been set by the esports betting site. For example, if the bookmaker gives a number of 4, you would bet whether you think a team will score over or under this number. |
🎁 Types of esports bonuses
Esports bonuses can be found in all shapes and sizes, but they will all enhance your experience and give you some valuable offers. Here is a quick overview of what you can expect to find.
- Welcome bonus: Welcome bonuses are the most common type of esports promotion that you will come across. This is a one-time offer that is only given to first-time users at the time of registration. Once you create an account, you will not be able to claim any further welcome offers. The standard welcome bonus will come in the form of a deposit bonus. For example, if you deposit $100, you may be given another $100, bringing your total bankroll to $200.
- No deposit bonus: Another type of bonus is one that requires no initial investment at all. This can be in many forms, including free bets and credits. It’s a great way of boosting your bankroll, allowing you to place even more bets on your favorite esports.
- Reload offers: A reload bonus is one that comes after depositing money into your esports account. It can be given to you in a variety of forms, such as a deposit bonus, free bets, credits for placing bets, and much more.
❓ A guide to understanding how esports odds work
If you are going to have successful esports bets, you will need to have a basic understanding of how odds work. Here is a guide to everything you need to know about odds to get started.
If you are a beginner, you need to understand that the odds are what tells you the likelihood of an outcome. You can use this to calculate what your chance of winning is and your potential returns on every bet. Odds can be shown in a few different forms, including decimal, fractional, and American.
Is there a difference between esports odds and sports betting odds?
In terms of odds, there isn’t much difference between esports and sports betting. Both will be displayed clearly on the betting platform and you will use this to calculate your potential winnings and chances of winning the bet.
The difference between odds formats
As I’ve already explained, there are three different odds formats – fractional, decimal, and American. While they show the exact same information, it is presented differently. Once you get to grips with the formats, it is easy to understand. Here is a breakdown of the odds formats and how to read them.
When it comes to fractional odds, you can easily calculate how much you may be able to win, comparing the potential win amount to your wager. The number that is on the left side represents how much you could win if your bet is successful. The number on the right is how much money you need to bet.
For example, if for every $1 you bet, you will win $9, this could be shown as 1/10. We get this number by 1 / (9 + 1) = 0.10. This shows that there is a 10% chance that the outcome will happen.
If you ever come across odds that are shown in the following format – 8.00 – this is a decimal format. Decimal odds enable you to calculate how much money will be returned should your bet be successful. All you need to do is multiply your wager amount by the decimal shown, and this will equal how much you will win. But keep in mind that the return will be given out to the nearest $1. For example, if you placed a bet with the odds of 4.33, the return would be $43.33.
American odds are the most popular format in the US. Whilst it can be confusing at first, it is surprisingly easy to learn. You will find American odds in two different forms – positive and negative.
Positive number odds show the amount that you will win should you place a bet. For example, if the odds are +300, this means that you will win $300 if you place a bet of $100. For negative number odds, if the odds are -300, you will need to place a bet of $300 to win $100.
✖️ Common mistakes: Staying safe when betting on esports
Now that you know a lot about betting on esports, I will provide you with a guide on how to keep safe when betting online. So, before you dive in, take a few minutes to check out the most common mistakes to avoid.
- Chasing losses: This is the easiest way to find yourself in financial trouble. When you’ve had a loss, you should accept it and move on. Only place bets that you would have, regardless of the outcome.
- Not sticking to your budget: Before you step online, you should decide on a betting budget. Regardless of what happens, you should avoid breaking this.
- Not understanding the basics: It’s okay to not be experienced, but the key is trying to understand the very basics before attempting to place bets. Make sure you know enough about odds, betting types, and how the overall process works.
- Ignoring stats: When it comes to research, you should never ignore the states you find. Every piece of information you find should be taken into consideration when placing your bets, so that you’re making an informed decision.
- Not following trends: Follow the prominent teams and players, check out social media platforms, and follow everyone’s moves. Make sure you know exactly what’s happening, so you stay ahead of the game.
💪 Conclusion: Get ready to enjoy plenty of esports fun
If you are just starting out in betting on esports, or you don’t have a lot of experience, hopefully I have provided you with a lot of valuable insight. Likewise, if you’re an experienced bettor, you should have come across a lot of helpful advice or answers to common questions.
I have highlighted some of many reasons why you should be getting involved in esports. You will find plenty of legal esports sites that offer a safe and fun environment. There are lots of esports titles to enjoy, as well as valuable bonuses. Not to mention competitive odds to look out for. Whether you are into CS2, Dota 2, Valorant, Fortnite, or League of Legends, the perfect esports platform is just around the corner.
Our favorite esports bonuses
1.
$55 Stake Cash + 260K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Players from United States of America accepted
Requirements (WR): 3x Deposit
2.
Up to 57.500 Gold Coins + 27.5 Free Sweepstakes Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
3.
5 Sweeps Coins + 250 Game Coins + 600 Diamonds
Players from United States of America accepted
4.
Get 55,000 Lucky Coins and 34 Sweeps Coins with first purchase
Players from United States of America accepted
5.
1.75 million WOW Coins + 35 Free Sweepstake Coins
Players from United States of America accepted
Min. Deposit: 9.99
❓ Esports betting FAQs
🤔 Is it legal to access esports sites in the US?
Yes, but this will depend on which state you are located. Only certain states in the US regulate esports betting, so you should check the latest laws in your home state before attempting to register an account.
🎁 What are the best bonuses on esports sites?
You will find a lot of generous offers on bookmaker sites, including welcome bonuses, no deposit bonuses, and reload offers. You will be given free credit, free bets, or other types of rewards to enhance your experience.
🖥️ What are the best websites for betting on esports?
The best platform for you will vary on your preferred esports games. But don’t worry, I have put together a fantastic list of recommended bookmakers. Check out the banners on this page for all my favorites.
