Esports have crashed into the gambling industry, with millions more wagers placed on the top titles every month than we saw just a few years ago. Wagering on professional esports competitions and games is nothing new. Experienced gamblers may have noticed the tab present at the best apps for many years. Often, it was found tucked away at the foot of the page, ranked alongside unpopular options, such as bandy and volleyball betting. But all that changed in 2020.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and most professional sports were canceled, including the Grand National and Wimbledon tennis championships in the UK, bettors struggled for an interest. With no sport on TV and uncertainty over when it would return, bettors became interested in alternative forms of gambling. Some chose to wager on the specials, such as TV Awards or the Oscars. Others got through the long, boring days by gambling on virtual sports, such as horse racing and soccer. Then there were the gamblers with the foresight to try esports.
Esports success isn’t a fluke
The betting industry had built the esports platform for many years, ensuring it was in the best shape possible before launch. But it’s by no means a fluke or overnight sensation. Those in charge also knew the importance of timing and understanding one wrong move could undo years of hard work. Canceling all professional sports in the early exchanges of 2020 was a disaster for the betting industry, but their esports offerings helped drag them through the dark times.
Have you tried gambling on esports? The leading betting apps offer markets and odds on an abundance of popular games, including League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Make your predictions on the outcome of a fixture by selecting which player or team will win outright, take the first game, win the second game, or you could play one of the specials. There’s plenty to enjoy about esports gambling, and we’re here to help you get the most from your experience. We give readers the lowdown on esports gambling.
Getting a free bet
The best bookies offer all new players a welcome bonus. The marketing team created this promotion to help a bookie stand out from the crowd. In most cases, when you create an account and place your first bet on Esports, you’ll qualify for the new customer bonus. This may be a free bet, risk-free bet, enhanced odds, cashback, profit boost, or extra places each way. You must find the best deal for you and get VIP treatment.
Before placing a bet on esports and claiming your welcome bonus, you must register at the betting app of your choice. You can do this by visiting the homepage and clicking to register. Fill in the registration form, create a secure username and password, and then make your first deposit using a debit card, e-wallet, voucher or Bitcoin account. The amount you deposit and bet will decide the value of your free bet. Most bookies offer a 100% deposit match-free bet.
Gambling on esports
Click the esports tab when your account is set up and ready to place a bet. There you’ll find a list of all upcoming fixtures and competitions. Click the one that catches your eye and then the selection you want to add to your bet slip.
Input a stake, and your bet will become live. It now can’t be changed, and you’ll often find a cash-out value added. Follow this closely and consider cashing out your bet when the offer moves to a profit.
Watch live
You have created your online betting account, landed your welcome bonus free bet and gambled on an exciting esports fixture. Now, all that’s left to do is wait for the fixture to be played, then check a results website for news on how your selection got on, right? Wrong.
The top bookies offer live streaming of the best sports and esports matches. You can watch your players in action through a live stream available on your smartphone or desktop computer. Cheer on your picks in real-time and, fingers crossed, you bank a winner.