Best esports betting sites for UK gamers in 2024
ESPORTS have significantly risen in popularity in recent years, with more and more bettors warming to the concept of betting on virtual events.
In this guide, I will look at the most popular esports games to bet on, the best esports betting sites from our partners, and more.
Games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Valorant now attract millions of viewers online every day, and punters are beginning to realise the betting potential of these events.
Find The Sun's betting publishing principles here.
Is esports betting legal in the UK?
Yes. Esports betting is totally legal in the UK, with many of the country’s top bookmakers providing odds and markets.
Top esports betting sites that we work with
The following bookmakers are my picks for the best esports betting sites in the UK:
🎮 Top esports betting markets: Spreadex
Spreadex offers a good range of spread betting and fixed-odds markets for various esports games. While it covers popular games like FIFA and League of Legends, as well as other well-known sports games like the NBA 2K series, I liked it mostly for the option of having access to spread betting for the next game in the CS:GO series, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2).
| Pros |
|---|
| ✔️ Covers a selection of different games, including FIFA, League of Legends, and more |
| ✔️ Both spread betting and fixed-odds betting are available |
| ✔️ Strong in-play betting options are available |
| Cons |
|---|
| ❌ Limited promotions and price boosts for esports |
🐉 Best UK betting site for League of Legends: BetUK
BetUK is one of the UK’s leading online bookmakers. The site is home to a big selection of sports betting markets, with a strong esports section. I liked that you can bet on various games besides League of Legends, including CS2, Overwatch 2, Valorant, and more. I liked the variety of betting markets available for LoL, such as handicap betting, correct map score, betting on which team can score more player eliminations, first blood, and more.
| Pros |
|---|
| ✔️ Big selection of markets for League of Legends and CS2 |
| ✔️ Competitive esports odds |
| ✔️ Great in-play betting options |
| Cons |
|---|
| ❌ Missing a few popular games |
🔫 Top bookie for Counter-Strike 2: 10bet
10bet is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the UK for betting on League of Legends and CS2. I found the site easy to navigate, and it does offer great odds for the esports markets that it has on offer. It is also home to an excellent range of sports betting options and promotions for players to take advantage of which is always a plus for me.
| Pros |
|---|
| ✔️ Excellent coverage of League of Legends and Counter-Strike |
| ✔️ Great mobile betting options |
| ✔️ Good promotions for both new and existing customers |
| Cons |
|---|
| ❌ Esports markets are not as in-depth as some competitors |
🏅 Best esports tournament coverage: Parimatch
In my experience, Parimatch is one of the few bookmakers that has put a real focus on esports. The operator covers a range of international tournaments, and a variety of esports. You'll also be able to see which bets are trending and what team is favoured by the punters. On top of that, Parimatch are offering odds on everything from League of Legends to FIFA.
| Pros |
|---|
| ✔️ Esports welcome bonus for new players |
| ✔️ Excellent coverage of all top esports games |
| ✔️ Extremely competitive esports odds |
| Cons |
|---|
| ❌ Some website navigation issues |
📊 Most competitive esports odds: Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes, besides being my go-to choice for betting, is one of the most popular bookmakers in the UK, so it should be no surprise that the operator has a stacked esports section. Punters can bet on all popular games, including League of Legends, Valorant, and CS2. In my opinion, the biggest selling point at Ladbrokes is their competitive odds and wide range of future betting markets.
| Pros |
|---|
| ✔️ Some of the best esports odds in the UK |
| ✔️ Brilliant selection of future markets |
| ✔️ Great live streaming options |
| Cons |
|---|
| ❌ Could benefit from more esports promotions |
How I picked the best UK esports betting sites
I have carefully selected all of my top UK esports betting sites using the following criteria:
- Selection of esports games and tournaments - The biggest factor when choosing the best UK esports betting sites was the number of esports games and tournaments they covered. All the selected ones cover big and small esports tournaments, and their markets extend past the main esports games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and FIFA.
- Dedicated mobile app - Esports betting tends to attract a more tech-savvy type of bettor, and as such, mobile betting options were a huge factor when determining the best esports betting providers in the UK. Almost all of the recommended bookmakers in this guide offer apps for Android and Apple phones and tablets.
- Live esports betting - Esports are extremely thrilling to watch and, like real sports, are packed with twists and turns. I want to ensure my readers can take advantage of this, so I factored in the live-betting options provided by my chosen bookmakers.
- Promos and bonuses - What would a good esports bookmaker be without any good bonuses or promotions? All of the operators I have listed offer a selection of bonuses for both new and existing customers. Several will run promotions specifically for esports events, especially the year’s most popular events.
- Variety of payment options - The bookies I have chosen provide bettors with different payment options to keep the betting process as streamlined as possible. Punters can deposit funds with popular methods, including debit cards, bank transfers, and ewallets like PayPal.
- Licensed and regulated operators - All operators I recommend are fully licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). This ensures they are up-to-date with the latest industry standards and regulations.
How to sign up and bet on esports at online bookmakers in the UK
If you’re new to the world of esports, then getting started with your first bets can feel a little daunting. However, betting on esports is no different from betting on traditional sports. All you need to do is follow these steps:
- Choose which bookmaker you would like to use and register for an account.
- Don’t forget to claim your welcome bonus when you sign-up.
- You must verify your details and add a payment method to get started.
- Once you have done this, make sure you have added funds to your account.
- Scroll through the sports section until you find esports.
- Select the game or event you would like to bet on.
- Click on your preferred market and add your selection to your betting slip.
- Enter your stake and double-check everything before confirming.
- Hit the place bet button, cross your fingers, and enjoy some esports action.
- Find The Sun's betting publishing principles here
What are the most common esports betting markets?
Most bets in esports would be similar to those in traditional sports, but some betting markets are exclusive to esports. Let’s look at the most common betting markets for esports and what games they might be placed on.
- Match winner: The most common type of bet to place is on the match winner. This can be an individual or a team, depending on the esports event and game you are betting on.
- Tournament winner: As well as betting on match winners, you will also be able to bet on outright markets like tournament winners. Once again, this could be a team or an individual, depending on the game.
- First blood: First blood is a popular type of bet for League of Legends. This is when you bet on which team will achieve the first kill of an enemy player.
- Over/under: Like other sports, over/under-betting is extremely popular in esports. It is a bet on whether the total points of a game will be higher or lower than a predetermined amount. This is popular in lots of different esports games.
- Handicap: Handicap betting in esports is when a team is assigned a scoring handicap. This can either be a hypothetical advantage or disadvantage. For example, you might back a team to win a best-of-five series with a -1 handicap. They would then need to win the series by at least two for you to bet to pay off.
- First map: First-map betting is extremely popular in first-person shooters like Counter-Strike 2 (formerly Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) and Call of Duty (CoD). This is when you bet on which team will win the first map in a game.
- Player’s performance: Most esports are team games, and as such, you can bet on the performance of an individual player in that team. The most common bets on a player’s performance are related to their kill count or overall score.
- Score: Score betting is particularly popular in games like FIFA. This is when punters bet on the final score of a match or game. In team-based games, you will often bet on the outcome of a series. For example, you may bet on a team winning a best-of-three series of CS2 games 2-0.
What UK betting site has the best esports odds?
Parimatch is my pick for the best esports betting site in the UK. The operator’s esports section is one of the most in-depth on the market, and its odds are almost always the hottest available.
It is also one of the few bookmakers that have put a real emphasis on esports, with the site having a dedicated esports welcome offer and regular featuring price boosts.
What esports can you bet on?
The list of different esports games you can bet on is constantly growing, with new tournaments and events appearing every month. The following games are currently the most popular esports to bet on.
Counter-Strike 2
Formerly known as CS:GO before the free upgrade, CS2 is one of the most popular esports games in the world. The game was originally released in 2012 and is the fourth game in the Counter-Striker series from Valve. It is a multiplayer first-person shooter with two teams battling it out for supremacy; The Terrorists and the Counter-Terrorists. It has established itself as one of the most popular esports games in the world, with players betting on markets including first map, game winners, and individual player performances.
Dota 2
Dota 2 is a hugely popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game also developed by Valve. In the game, two teams of five compete against one another with the aim of destroying the opposition’s ‘Ancient’, a huge structure in the middle of their base. Players can select from a huge roster of characters and assemble a team to fight in one of three lanes across the map. It is an extremely tactical and engaging game, which is one of the reasons it has remained so popular in esports.
Valorant
Valorant is an extremely successful first-person tactical shooter developed by Riot Games, the company responsible for League of Legends. Like other esports games, Valorant pitches two teams of five against each other in round-based matches. It is a particularly popular game for over/under-betting markets and has one of the most active online communities.
League of Legends
League of Legends is the best-known free-to-player MOBA game in the world. It was released all the way back in 2009 by Riot Games and remains one of the world’s most popular esports games to this day.
Like other games on this list, League of Legends sees two teams of five players battle it out to take down the opposition's Nexus, a structure in their home base. From that description alone, you can probably tell how influential this game has been, with other games like Dota 2 taking inspiration from it. Popular bets for League of Legends include first blood, individual bets on a player’s performance, and tournament outrights.
Overwatch
The original Overwatch game was released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2016, with the sequel, Overwatch 2, hitting the shelves in 2022. The game is a cross-platform multiplayer first-person shooter, with teams of six battling it out with one another to win each game. Like other first-person shooters, first-map betting and individual performance bets are popular with Overwatch. Despite having a sequel, the original game still remains hugely popular among esports fans and bettors.
Rainbow Six Siege
Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six series, based on the Rainbow Six novels by Tom Clancy, is one of the most popular games series in the world. Rainbow Six Siege, released in 2015, is the franchise’s most popular game, with a dedicated player base of millions worldwide. The game is a tactical first-person shooter, with two teams of five battling across multiple maps to achieve their targets.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty is one of the most recognisable game franchises on the planet, so it should come as no surprise that it has one of the most active esports scenes. Multiple developers have developed the Call of Duty games over the year, but Activision produces the Call of Duty Esports League. Different versions have existed over the years, but the basic premise has remained the same - team up with other players to defeat the opposition team.
FIFA
FIFA is the only game in this list that focuses on single-player action. FIFA is the most popular sports game globally, with players from around the world pitting their wits against one another on the virtual pitch. The game has a robust esports scene, with each new edition being more popular than the last.
The scene will likely undergo changes in the near future, with EA Sports FC set to replace the annual title. Popular football bets are common in FIFA, with the total score, over/under, and tournament outright markets being particularly popular.
What are the most popular esports tournaments for betting online?
Esports events run throughout the year. Like traditional sports, some of these events are much bigger than others, and the following tournaments are the most esports-betting tournaments to bet on.
The International (DotA 2)
The International is one of the biggest esports tournaments in the world. It is organised by Valve, the developers behind Dota 2. The tournament pits the best Dota teams in the world against one another, using a best-of-three format up to the final, where the two best teams meet in a best-of-five series.
The tournament expanded to 20 teams for the first time in 2022, with Tunda Sports taking the trophy. The tournament's timing has changed over the years, with the 2023 edition set to take place in October.
World Championships (LoL)
The League of League World Championship, often referred to as the ‘Worlds’ is the biggest League of Legends tournament in the world. Like the International, it is organised by the game’s developers, with Riot Games being the team behind League of Legends.
It is an annual tournament that started in 2011. The original tournament started with just eight teams, but this has increased steadily over the years, with the 2023 edition set to host 22. It is hosted in different countries each year, with South Korea set to host this year’s event. It is one of the biggest esports events in the world and is covered by most major UK bookmakers.
Major Championships (CS2)
The Counter-Strike Major Championships is the biggest CS2 tournament of the year and is seen as a showcase of the game’s best players. The Valve Corporation sponsors it, and it is one of the most attended and watched esports events on the planet.
Like the LOL World Championships and the International, it is held in different host venues each year. The Danish team, Astralis, is the most successful in the tournament’s history, winning four Majors. The most recent winners were Team Vitality.
FAQs about esports betting in the UK
Below, we'll answer some of the most common queries prospective esports punters have in the UK.
1. Are UK betting sites streaming esports competitions?
Yes. In some cases, betting sites UK will offer live streams for big tournaments like The International and the LOL World Championships. You will also find regular streams of FIFA competitions at UK bookmakers.
2. Is there in-play betting on esports?
Yes. Most UK bookmakers that offer odds on esports will allow you to bet on the action in-play. Like real sports, betting on esports in play allows you to take advantage of the action as it unfolds.
3. What bonuses and promotions can you use for esports betting?
Esports betting presents players with plenty of opportunities to get their hands on bonuses and promotions. Let’s look at some of the most popular bonuses used by esports bettors.
- Free bets: Bets you haven't paid for are always going to be popular, regardless of the sport. These are bets given out by the operator, often to be used on specific markets or events. While you will not find a lot of esports-specific free bets, there are plenty of generic free bets that operators will allow you to use on them.
- Matched deposit bonus: One of the most common betting bonuses you will encounter is matched deposit bonuses. These are often used as part of welcome packages and similar promotions. For these, a player's deposit is matched by a certain percentage by the bookmaker and given out as a bonus. For example, you might get a matched deposit of 50% up to £100. For this, any deposit you make up to £100 will be matched 50% and added to your account as a bonus.
- Boosted odds: Bettors will always welcome a cheeky odds boost, and bookmakers are likely to offer them during the biggest esports events. Some operators will also run regular price boosts for selected markets and games.
- Find The Sun's betting publishing principles here
4. What payment methods can you use at UK esports betting sites?
Most UK bookmakers will offer a selection of payment methods for betting on esports. Using a Visa/Mastercard debit card remains the most popular option, but ewallets such as PayPal and Neteller have become increasingly popular in recent years. UK punters should be aware that they cannot deposit using credit cards as per UKGC regulations.
5. What UK bookie has the best esports betting app?
Plenty of the online bookmakers I have recommended have mobile betting apps available. The best of these is 10bet. The simple, stylish design of the bookies’ desktop site makes a seamless transition to the mobile app, and it looks fantastic on both desktop and mobile. The app also offers live-betting options and has the occasional live stream of esports events.
My tips and recommendations for betting on esports
If you’re new to the world of esports betting, then these tips are an excellent place for you to get started.
- Make sure you understand the games: As an esports bettor, you will probably be betting on the outcome of different kinds of games. League of Legends, for example, is very different to FIFA. As such, you must understand how each game works. One of the best ways to do this is by playing them yourself. All of the games used in esports are widely available to the public, and this can be the perfect way to boost your understanding.
- Analyse players and teams: Just as you would with any sport, you must closely follow the performances of teams and players in esports. You should check individual and team records, as well as monitor streams and tournaments closely to analyse a player’s performance.
- Shop around for odds: The popularity of esports has boomed in recent years. As such, more and more bookies offer competitive odds on major esports markets. This is great news for bettors because you can shop for the best odds and make the most of your esports betting opportunities.
- Become a part of gaming communities: Gaming communities are some of the most open and friendly on the internet. Joining gaming forums and groups can be a great way of keeping up to date with all of the news and rumours from esports. Each of the individual sports will have its own communities, and these can provide incredible insight into upcoming games and tournaments.
- Keep track of your wins and losses: Like betting on anything, the key to success with esports betting is making sure you are paying close attention to your bankroll. Keeping track of your wins and losses will allow you to reflect on what works for you and doesn’t. Of course, this also helps you gamble responsibly and stay in control over your budget.
About the author
Liam Hoofe
Liam is an experienced iGaming and sports betting journalist based in Cardiff. He has worked in the sports betting industry since 2017 and has provided content for some of the biggest casino and betting brands in the UK. He has also covered football and other sports for both regional and national newspapers.
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