The Fast-Growing World of eSports Betting in the UK
One of the fastest-growing sectors in UK sports betting today is also one of the newest and most exciting: eSports. While some bettors may be unfamiliar with this market, eSports betting has surged in popularity, driven by the digital age’s expanding influence and the massive popularity of gaming with the younger generation.
If you’re new to eSports or curious about this rapidly growing niche, read on for a comprehensive overview of what eSports betting involves and why it’s gaining such traction on sites such as bet365 Sport.
What Are eSports?
In simple terms, eSports refers to competitive video gaming, where players—often from all over the world—compete against one another for victory. These games are played on PCs or gaming consoles (such as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X) and can take place in physical venues using local networks or online via the internet.
In many eSports competitions, players form teams that battle it out across various rounds to determine an overall winner. While countless games attract casual players, only a select few are played at the professional level, where team-based, multiplayer formats are central to the competition.
Am I Betting on Regular Gamers?
Not exactly. While millions of people around the globe play video games online, and some of those games technically qualify as eSports, these aren’t the types of contests you’d typically bet on.
At the professional level, eSports involves teams of elite gamers, some of the best in the world at specific games. These professional teams compete in high-stakes, sponsored tournaments held across the globe—though many are based in South Korea, the United States, Germany, and the UK.
These teams consist of full-time, professional gamers who earn their income by competing and winning part of the prize pools or sponsorship money available at these events.
A useful analogy is comparing casual online gaming to Sunday League football, while professional eSports are more akin to Premier League or Champions League-level competition.
Why eSports Betting is Gaining Popularity
Because these eSports tournaments feature top-tier players, substantial sponsorship deals, and a highly organised structure, they are well-regulated and ideal for betting. The professionalism of the industry, combined with the excitement of the games themselves, makes eSports betting a compelling new option for bettors looking to explore a dynamic and evolving market.
Which UK betting sites can I bet on eSports with?
Almost every betting site in the UK now offers at least some form of esports betting. In addition, there ate other specialist esports betting services available to join online. These are ideal if you are a hardcore fan of esports, or like to bet on the less popular esports tournaments and matches.
There is an extensive esports betting section at bet365 Sport which includes coverage of all the main esports titles and top tier and mid-tier esports events, as well as a good selection of lower tier events too.
Always remember to gamble responsibly.
Check out bet365’s Safer Gambling page for more details.
Who makes up these eSports teams?
The best eSports teams are made up of teams of gamers from all over the globe who compete together as a team to win the top prizes on offer. Essentially, these gamers are generally paid to play for their chosen teams.
Some of the top teams in esports, including some of those in the list below, now have multiple squads of players across a number of esports games. Those teams include:
- Fnatic
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- OG
- Team Liquid
- Natus Vincere
- G2 Esports
- FaZe Clan
- Evil Geniuses
- Cloud9
- Team SoloMid (TSM)
- T1
- Virtus.pro
- Team Secret
- Astralis
- Vitality
- 100 Thieves
- OpTic Gaming
Many celebrities that are popular with Gen Z and Millennials have emerged from the esports sector in recent years. Some of the most famous celebrities to have become esports legends over recent years include:
- Moon (Warcraft III)
- Patrik “f0rest” Lindberg (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
- Boxer (StarCraft)
- Flash (StarCraft)
- Faker (League of Legends)
- Johan “n0tail” Sundstein (Dota 2)
- M.S.Dossary (FIFA)
- Scarlett (StarCraft & Dota 2)
- Peter Dager (Dota 2)
- Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel (Quake 3)
- S1mple (CS2)
What games are the most popular eSports games to bet on?
While many online multiplayer games have the potential to be featured in eSports competitions, only a few games dominate the professional eSports scene. These titles are specifically designed for team-based, high-level competitive play, drawing in millions of players and viewers worldwide. Here’s a closer look at the most popular and competitive eSports games:
1. League of Legends (LoL)
- Genre: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
- Overview: League of Legends is the most-played game globally and a staple of eSports. Two teams of five players battle to destroy the opponent’s base while defending their own. With its fast-paced action, strategic depth, and constant updates, LoL has become the centerpiece of many major tournaments, including the annual League of Legends World Championship, which attracts millions of viewers.
2. DOTA 2 (Defense of the Ancients 2)
- Genre: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
- Overview: DOTA 2, another MOBA, is known for its complexity and strategic depth. Like LoL, it features two teams of five players competing to destroy each other’s base. What sets DOTA 2 apart is its enormous prize pools, most notably in The International, an annual event with prize money exceeding tens of millions of dollars, making it one of the richest eSports tournaments in the world.
3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) & Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
- Genre: First-Person Shooter (FPS)
- Overview: CSGO was one of the most iconic first-person shooters in eSports. In this game, teams of terrorists and counter-terrorists face off in objective-based missions such as bomb planting and defusal. Known for its precise gameplay mechanics and tactical teamwork, CSGO remains one of the longest-standing and most-watched eSports titles. It was updated a few years ago with Counter-Strike 2 now the default game for CS-fans and players to compete in.
4. StarCraft II
- Genre: Real-Time Strategy (RTS)
- Overview: StarCraft II is a fast-paced real-time strategy game where players select one of three factions (Terran, Zerg, or Protoss), each with unique units and strategies. Players build bases, manage resources, and command armies to outwit their opponents. StarCraft II has a particularly large fan base in South Korea, where it helped shape the early days of professional eSports.
5. Valorant
- Genre: Tactical First-Person Shooter (FPS)
- Overview: Developed by Riot Games, Valorant combines elements of traditional FPS gameplay with unique characters, each equipped with special abilities. Since its release, Valorant has quickly become a major player in the eSports world, attracting high-profile teams and tournaments. Its strategic depth and emphasis on team coordination make it a favorite for both players and viewers.
6. Overwatch
- Genre: Team-Based Shooter
- Overview: Overwatch is a colorful, team-based shooter where two teams of six players compete in objective-based modes. Each player chooses a hero with unique abilities, leading to diverse strategies and fast-paced gameplay. Overwatch League, the game’s premier tournament series, has a dedicated fanbase and has helped push eSports into the mainstream.
7. Fortnite
- Genre: Battle Royale
- Overview: Fortnite is a unique blend of shooting and building mechanics, set in a large, open world where players compete to be the last person (or team) standing. With its wide appeal and high-profile events, such as the Fortnite World Cup, this game has become a key part of the eSports landscape, particularly with younger audiences.
Other Popular eSports Games:
- Hearthstone: A strategic card game where players build decks to outsmart their opponents using various heroes and spells.
- Rocket League: A highly competitive game that combines soccer with cars, where teams attempt to score goals in fast-paced matches.
- FIFA: The popular football simulation game has its own dedicated eSports tournaments, particularly the FIFA eWorld Cup.
- Call of Duty: Known for its fast-paced, action-packed gameplay, the Call of Duty franchise has a strong presence in eSports, especially with its Call of Duty League.
- Apex Legends: A squad-based battle royale game that has quickly gained traction in the eSports scene due to its high-stakes tournaments and team dynamics.
- NBA2k – A basketball simulation game that boasts its own professional league with pro teams based on the NBA franchises.
- Rainbow Six Siege – Similar to CS2, a first person shooter that has you working as part of a team to complete a series of objectives, or to eliminate the opposition.
While this list highlights the biggest names in eSports, the landscape is constantly evolving, with new games emerging and gaining prominence in the competitive gaming world.
Are eSports legit?
Absolutely they are. For some of the biggest eSports events, sponsors such as Valve, Asus, Coke Zero, Nissan, Red Bull and many other top companies are spending millions on their sponsorship of key events.
What is absolutely undeniable is that eSports may be a niche market, but it is also one of the fastest growing gaming and betting markets in the world. Not only are the top events streamed live on the Internet via Twitch TV, but now TV companies, such as ESPN are also bringing the events direct to television.
With sponsorship of events reaching new levels, major events are now taking place in arenas and stadiums that hold tens of thousands of avid fans and viewers who can not only try the games themselves, but also watch the world’s best teams compete in an arena for eSports supremacy.
Esports are here to stay and so is esports betting!
Always remember to gamble responsibly.
Check out bet365’s Safer Gambling page for more details.
Updated on 8th October 2024.
