How to Bet on Esports

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by James Duffy Updated on December 7, 2020
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Even if you’re familiar with esports in general, esports gambling may be a completely new area to you. Just like the video game industry at large, the esports betting industry is booming. Estimates expect the market to be worth more than $12 billion by next year. If you’re unfamiliar with esports gambling but interested, check out our beginner’s guide to get started. If you think you have the basics locked down, here are some more advanced tips on how (and where) to bet on competitive esports.

Is it Legal to Bet on Esports?

Like sports gambling in general, this is a fairly simple question with a complicated answer. Generally speaking, esports gambling is completely legal in the United States, but each individual state sets their own regulations. This can be confusing because now major companies like ESPN produce gambling content, but only people in certain states can legally place wagers.

Be sure to look into your own state’s regulations before placing a bet. Most states don’t have specific laws for esports gambling, but their stance on general sports wagering can give you a hint.

Even if gambling is legal where you live, be sure to wager responsibly.

Finding A Book

First and foremost, you need to be sure that the site you use to gamble is safe and legitimate. When your money is involved, security should be your first concern. Not all esports betting sites are created equally, and some are much safer than others. Knowing the difference can save you a lot of time, stress, and money.

Sticking with known betting brands like Pinnacle and William Hill will guarantee you’re in good hands. Usually, these sites will have location restrictions and may exclude people in most U.S. states.

Unikrn is one of the most prominent esports books. In addition to wagering on professional matches, Unikrn also allows you to place bets on yourself in certain games.

Two other examples of legit sites are Betway and Betspawn, as both sites feature comprehensive terms and conditions as well as privacy information. A surefire way to spot a scam site is if it hides its terms or doesn’t have an FAQ page or contact info.

Placing Your Bets

Once you’ve found a site you’re comfortable with, it’s time to start making wagers. The process of placing a bet is fairly intuitive if you understand odds and the various types of bets available. If not, make sure you brush up before accidentally putting money down on something you’re not familiar with.

Here’s a quick crash course:

  • Some esports gambling sites allow you to wager cash, while others let you use in-game skins as currency. Skin gambling is a massive sub-economy in esports betting, while cash wagers are very similar to standard sports bets.
  • Odds are presented as positive and negative values. Positive numbers indicate underdogs, and the number listed is the amount of money a $100 wager would pay if the underdog won. Negative numbers are favorites, and you would need to wager the number listed to win $100.
  • Straight bets on single matches are the most standard wagers. You choose one team and place a bet and win if they win, or lose if they lose.

There aren’t many specific tips that can help you win when betting on esports; it is a gamble after all. In general, you should make sure to do your research before placing any bet. Throwing money at something you don’t know about is the fastest way to burn that cash.

Interested in earning money through video games without gambling? Check out our guide on How to Make Money on Twitch.