What Is eSports?
eSports (Electonic sports) is a competitive video game sport in which teams of people play games against each other in video games. Like with professional real-life sports, the best eSports players are recruited into different organisations and are required to train and hone their skills for upcoming matches against other teams and organisations.
In fact, there are dozens of different eSports organisations around the world, each of which recruits players for several teams to play different games. Some famous organisations include Fnatic, Cloud9, Team Liquid, G2 Esports, Team SoloMid, FaZe Clan, ESL, Overwatch League, Evil Genuises, 100 Thieves, and plenty more.
When it comes to watching eSports games, most events are streamed online via YouTube or Twitch, meaning they’re available to anyone interested in the sport or game and anyone looking to place a bet on which team they believe will win.
What Games Are Involved With eSports?
As we’ve already explained, eSports is a competitive sport on multiplayer video games so only select games are used for competitions. Some of the most popular games used for eSports include:
- League Of Legends
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Overwatch
- Fortnite
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Rocket League
- The StarCraft series
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Siege
- Apex Legends
- The Halo series
- Sports games like FIFA, Madden, NBA 2K, Pro Evolution Soccer, and more
- Gears Of War
- Tetris
- Hearthstone
- World Of Warcraft
- Gran Turismo
- The Call Of Duty series
- Doom
There are plenty of others too, but the games we’ve listed above are some of the most common to crop up. As you can see, the games we’ve listed span multiple genres, which is why organisations tend to recruit for multiple teams – they want to have players competing in more than one game.
A Quick History Of eSports
eSports has long been prevalent within the gaming community but was mostly played by unprofessional players and between friends. South Korea was one of the earliest countries to see an increase of interest in eSports and the Korean eSports Association, a brand of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, was founded back in 2000 to regulate the eSports industry within the country.
For the rest of the world, eSports didn’t pick up until around the late 2000s and early 2010s when video game developers began running and funding events and competitions. The founding of Twitch in 2011 along with other online streaming services boosted eSports popularity, and it’s steadily grown since then and has become more mainstream across the Western world.
Today, it’s a recognised sport, events are watched by hundreds of people on a regular basis, and most betting sites and shops now allow people to bet on events and tournaments, just like with other professional sports.
How Does eSports Betting Work?
eSports betting works the same as betting on other sports. You simply have to register with a betting website that offers eSports betting, navigate to the eSports section of the website and then find an upcoming event that you want to wager on.
From there, you simply need to select the team you believe will win the game or event, enter your wager amount, and then confirm the bet. Once that’s been done, you’ll need to wait for the game or event to be finished so your betting site can update its results and pay yours accordingly.
Unlike with most sports which offer various betting opportunities, you can currently only bet outright on eSports games and events, which some people may find disappointing.
Are There Any eSports Bonuses?
Since eSports betting is still in its infancy, there generally are no eSports specific bonuses available at betting sites. However, many websites offer new players free bets for registering and completing your first bet, and these funds may be compatible with eSports betting, depending on the website. Just make sure to read through the terms and conditions or contact customer support if you’re unsure.
However, it is worth pointing out that some websites may run special promotions in which they boost the odds of events. This is known to happen for most major events and competitions for other sports, so you may see it with eSports too.
Best eSports Betting Sites UK
Anyone interested in wagering on eSports games and events will need to register with a UK betting website. There are dozens of betting sites that operate in the United Kingdom, which means it can be somewhat difficult to find a website that meets your needs and offers eSports betting. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our recommended eSports betting sites for UK players. Take a look below for our suggestions:
Casumo
To many peoples shock, Casumo, a very popular online casino in the United Kingdom, offers a sports betting service and allows for eSports betting. Customers can bet on various competitions and events. In addition to that, you can enjoy Casumo’s gigantic selection of over 2,000 casino games which includes slots, table games, jackpots, live casino, and more, and as a new customer can claim Casumo’s £300 casino bonus with 30 spins. Interested in learning more? Take a look at our in-depth Casumo review.
10Bet
10Bet is a leading betting website and one of the many UK-faced sites to allow betting on eSports. New customers who register here can claim a £50 welcome bonus which can be used on any sports, and enjoy making payment through the website’s several accepted payment options. it’s also home to a small selection of casino games which you can enjoy while waiting for bets to settle, isn’t that great? You can discover more about the website by reading our 10Bet review.
Bet365
Bet365 is another popular betting website and brand available in the United Kingdom. The site allows for betting on dozens of different sports including football, snooker, racing, and eSports too. Right now, new customers can claim up to £100 in bet credits and can various casino games, but nothing as extensive as Casumo’s catalogue. Mobile-friendly, Bet365 is one of the best when it comes to online betting. Read our Bet365 review for more details on this.
William Hill
William Hill is arguably the biggest betting brand in the United Kingdom. The website is offering all users two £15 free bets to use on various sports, and it runs a wide catalogue of casino games for all users to enjoy too. If that isn’t enough, the website is mobile-friendly allowing you to play when you want, and it accepts most major payment options too including PayPal. Discover more about the site with our William Hill review.
Mansion Bet
Our final betting site recommendation is Mansion Bet, an online casino and sports betting website which allows for betting on eSports. New customers who register can claim a £10 free bet or a 20 free spins casino bonus. Alongside the sports betting opportunities on most games and events, you can enjoy dozens of casino games from various developers including Microgaming, Playtech, and so many others. More information on this can be found in our Mansion Bet review.
eSports Competitions And Events
If you’re looking to start betting on eSports, it’s a good idea to take a look at some of the recurring competitions that take place each year. Take a look below for information:
- Battle.net World Championship Series (BlizzCon)
- Call Of Duty League
- Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour
- eGames
- Electronic Sports League
- Electronic Sports World Cup
- Apex Legends Global Series
- FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC)
- Fortnite World Cup
- Halo Championship Series
- Hero Pro League
- International eSports Federation
- League Of Legends World Championship
- Tekken World Tour
- The International
- Wargaming.net League
- World Cyber Games
There are plenty of other eSports tournaments, many of which are restricted to certain countries, continents, or regions across the world. Popular tournaments that involve the UK include all of the above along with the European Gaming League, GameBattles UK, the Overwatch League, the British Gaming League, and plenty more.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on all of these so you can prepare yourself for the events and start working out which teams you should place bets on to make wins.
eSports Betting Tips
If you’re new to eSports betting, we’ve decided to put together a small list of tips to help start you off. Although our tips won’t guarantee you any wins, we do hope that they’ll make playing much easier for you. Take a look below:
Tip #1: Familiarise Yourself
Before putting any money down on bets, you’re going to need to familiarise yourself with the different games you can bet on and the various competitions. If you’re new to betting, try to stick to one game or tournament and learn all the rules so you know exactly what to expect.
Tip #2: Research, Research, And Research
When it comes to eSports betting in the UK, doing your research will help you a lot. Before confirming any bets, make sure you research various teams extensively to work out their strengths and weaknesses, then pit them against another team to work out who you believe will be the winner. Doing this can potentially increase your chance of success, and who doesn’t want that?
Tip #3: Start Slowly
Betting is exciting but many people find themselves irritated, bored, and impatient when it comes to waiting for bets to settle. This doesn’t mean you should quickly make another bet on a different game. No, instead find another way to pass time until your bet is settled and keep your spending down and bet slowly.
Tip #4: Keep A Look Out For Promotions
While playing, you should always be on the lookout for some eSports promotions. Whether this is free bets you can use, cashback bonuses on losses, or boosted odds, it can be a good idea to claim a promotion to help your chances of success. Just remember to read through the terms and conditions before claiming anything!
Tip #5: Have Fun
It might be silly that we need to remind of this, but remember to have fun while betting on eSports. The entire point of gambling is to have fun but if you find yourself getting frustrated or annoyed, take a break from gambling. If things get serious, there are plenty of charities and gambling services you can contact for help and support.
Questions & Answers (FAQ)
Can I claim eSports bonuses?
At the time of writing, there are no eSports bonuses available for you to claim. As we’ve already explained in our eSports guide here, some sites may offer boosted promotions but that will be down to the individual website.
Can I become an eSports professional?
You can, but it will need a lot of practice. Requirements will also depend upon the game, organisation, and the teams you’re looking to join. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but you can certainly become a professional if you put enough work into it.
What video games can I bet on in eSports?
As we’ve already explained, most of the games available to bet on via eSports are multiplayer games and we’ve provided a list of some of the most popular titles here in our guide so take a look and find any games you know.
Should I try sports betting?
That’s entirely up to you. If you enjoy video games and if you enjoy the excitement of betting on sports, why not? Just remember to remain safe, don’t go crazy, and have fun.
Do all betting sites in the UK offer eSports?
No. While eSports is available at most UK betting sites, there are some websites that do not offer eSports betting. If you’re looking for a site that does, we recommend you stick with the websites we’ve suggested.