CS2 betting isn’t your only option. The wider esports scene is bigger than ever, and the popularity of esports betting continues to grow. Dota 2, Overwatch and League of Legends are just a few esports titles covered by most of the big time betting sites. This guide will run you through the basics of esports betting, the most popular games to bet on and the best online gambling sites to use.
Best Esports Betting Sites – December 2025
We’ve reviewed each esports betting site and their esports betting offering to help you get the most out of your money. The list below features the best betting sites for esports fans. Just find your state in the drop down menu to see the CS2 betting sites that are available in your location.
Esports Betting Explained
Esports betting is simply placing a bet on competitive pro video game action. It works identically to betting on traditional sports. You need to find a reliable esports betting site, then find esports betting odds that represent good value.
As esports have exploded over the past decade, so have the betting options available to fans. Betting sites like DraftKings and bet365 recognised the popularity of esports early on and quickly started offering a varied selection of esports betting options.
Most betting sites now provide esports odds for all the biggest games, events and tournaments. Whether you’re a First-person Shooter fan, a MOBA grinder or a Sports Gamer (there are some), you can bet on all the competitive events for the biggest games.
Popular Esports Betting Games
The world of esports is vast. The number of games developing a competitive scene continues to grow yearly. We’ll give you the lowdown on several of the most popular esports games you can bet on
Betting On FPS Esports
First-person Shooters are a massive part of the esports scene. That’s hardly surprising, given how popular games like Call of Duty are in gaming and broader culture.
Of course, CS2 is the best FPS esports game (sorry COD players, it’s just a fact). Counter-Strike is the FPS most suited to competitive play. CS:GO’s popularity has helped develop an extensive esports community, and you’ll find odds on most tournaments and events at many CS2 betting sites.
Another FPS you can bet on at most esports betting sites is Valorant. The fast-paced 5v5 character-based tactical shooter has quickly become one of the most-watched esports. Overwatch betting is also available at most reputable betting sites.
Betting On MOBAs
Some would argue that Battle Arena games represent the highest level of esports, but most of those people also probably spend too long playing DOTA 2. The intricate gameplay of Battle Arena games means there are numerous ways to bet on them.
When Battle Arena games come up, many people think of League of Legends. LOL has a highly competitive esports scene, with teams from all over the world at the top events. You can bet on various aspects of competitive LOL at most betting sites.
DOTA 2 is another of the most popular Arena esports games. You’ll find a wide array of markets for the biggest DOTA 2 tournaments and matches at the top esports betting sites.
Betting On Sports Games
Despite what some people say, sports gamers can be real gamers. The highly competitive pro circuit for sports games like FIFA and NBA 2K prove that.
The much-maligned EA Sports has a stranglehold on sports games. While you can criticise them for the lack of development in sports games, they have helped grow the esports scene around them. At most betting sites, you’ll find odds for the big events on the FIFA and Madden esports calendars.
One sports game that most people love is the car-based football game Rocket League. The intuitive gameplay makes it fun for both new and experienced gamers. The competitive scene around Rocket League is well-established, and there are several betting markets for all the action.
Other Esports Games
You’ll find odds for many other games at the top esports betting sites. Several fighting games like Tekken have healthy competitive calendars, and you can easily find betting odds for the top events.
Battle Royale games are also prevalent in esports. Popular titles like Fortnite have massive player bases. Most esports betting sites have betting markets for the major Battle Royale events. If you’re not good enough to make the endgame, why not bet on the players who are?
Esports Sportsbooks Reviews
Need a bit more intel about a specific site? Give our in-depth esports gambling site reviews a look.
- bet365 Review – Discover the esports betting coverage available at one of the world’s most popular betting sites.
- BetMGM Review – A name synonymous with Vegas, this site provides plenty of esports betting options.
- Caesars UK Review – Caesars has a wide range of esports betting odds!
- DraftKings Review – One of the US’s most well known betting sites. Learn more about the site’s esports betting options.
These in-depth intel reports contain all you need to know about each platform. We’ll examine each site’s esports betting options, live betting coverage and more.
Popular Esports Bet Types
Obviously, the number and nature of esports betting markets vary depending on the game you want to bet on. However, some bet types will be available for most esports. We’ll run you through the most common esports betting markets.
Esports Moneyline Betting
Match betting is the simplest way to wager on esports. You’re simply betting on the winner of a specific esports match. If you think an esports team or player is a lock to win their next clash, match betting is the easiest way to back them.
Esports Handicap Betting
Want to back an esports team but find they’re a big favourite? Handicap betting is a way to boost those odds, but the team you back will need to win big and overturn the specified handicap.
A typical example is the CS2 handicap market, ‘Match Handicap’. If you bet on a CS2 team to win with a handicap of -1.5, They’ll need to win the match 2-0 for you to bag some cash. The esports handicap markets you can bet on vary for each game.
Esports Futures
Future betting is a great way to back your favourite esports teams, as you’re betting on them to win an entire event or tournament. The right esports Future bet can be highly rewarding, especially if you pick a less fancied winner.
Esports Prop Betting
At the big-name betting sites, you’ll find a range of prop betting markets for each game. ‘Player to get the first kill’ is a common prop market for FPS esports matches.
The esports bets available for each title will vary at each site. The CS2 betting sites at the top of our rankings provide a massive selection of bet types for the esports they cover.
Esports Betting Explained – Step-By-Step
If you’re a gamer, you’ll find the process of placing an esports bet extremely simple. The steps you’ll need to follow will be similar, regardless of which esports betting site you pick. If you do need some help, we’ll run you through the entire process below.
1. Pick one of the esports gambling sites listed below and open an account. Using a link from HLTV ensures you’ll receive the best possible new customer bonus.
2. Enter your details, pick a username, and select a secure and memorable password.
3. Navigate to the betting site’s esports page. There’s usually a link in the main navigation menu.
4. On this page, you’ll find the most popular esports matches and the latest esports odds. You’ll also find a list of all the games they have odds for, so click on the one you want to bet on.
5. Once you’ve opened the page for the game you want to wager on, find the match or tournament you’re looking for.
6. Next, find the esports betting market you want. You can then add your esports pick to your betslip by clicking on it.
7. Enter your stake to see your potential winnings. If you’re happy with your esports bet, click ‘Confirm’ or the equivalent.
8. Find a live stream to watch the esports action you’ve bet on.
Responsible Esports Gambling
Whenever you’re betting on esports, practising responsible gambling is essential. Esports gambling should be fun, so if it’s harming you in any way, you should stop.
Take the Gamalyze self-assessment test to learn more about your online gambling habit and find the responsible gambling tools that will be most useful to you.
At HLTV, we’ve got a wealth of responsible gambling resources you can use for additional support. Here are some of our articles you should take the time to read:
- Time Management – This page reveals the time management tools you can use while esports betting.
- Money Management – This article details the money management tools you’ll find at most esports betting sites.
- HLTV Responsible Gambling Commitment – Read more about HLTV’s commitment to promoting safer esports gambling practices to our users.
Esports Betting Sites US – FAQs
You can bet on a wide range of esports action, from first-person shooters like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike to battle arena games like DOTA 2 and League of Legends. The top betting sites also provide odds for sports games, battle royale shooters and many other esports titles.
Of course, but it relies heavily on your esports knowledge. Every bet can lose, no matter how sure you are when you place it. That’s why esports betting should always be treated as entertainment and not relied on as a source of income.
Most esports gambling sites provide a new customer bonus when you sign up. Each esports bonus will differ in value and the requirements to earn it.
Yes, bet365 has a wide array of esports betting markets for all the most significant events and tournaments. They also offer an excellent new customer bonus, which you can learn more about in our bet365 US esports betting review.
