Esports Betting / Best Bookmakers for Live Esports Betting in 2023

Best Bookmakers for Live Esports Betting in 2023

Last Updated on 01/06/2023
Fact checked by: James Leeland

Live betting is an important part of any betting experience, and it’s no different with live esports betting. Before you bet live on esports though, you’ll need to know which eSports to bet on, and where to make that bet.

There can be plenty of choices when betting on esports live. However, you are likely to find some strategies, eSports, and bookmakers better than others. This short guide aims to provide you with the information you need to find the best experience for you.

Read More

Check out these top bookmakers for live esports betting

BetMGM
Recommended
Favicon
4.7/5
  • Covers major sports
  • Live game stats
  • Simple site navigation
BetMGM Bonus
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply, 21+
Go to BetMGM
Visit Site
Payment Methods
PayNearMe
PayPal
Bank Transfer
+
Withdrawal
1 – 5 Days
Accepts Customers from
AZ
CO
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show less
Bet365
Hot Offer
Favicon
4.6/5
  • Genuinely one of the leading brands globally
  • Countless markets to bet on - all with great odds
  • Claim their fantastic bonus bets offer today
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Go to Bet365
Visit Site
Payment Methods
Find out more on Bet365.
Withdrawal
0 – 10 Days
Accepts Customers from
CO
IL
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Show less
BetRivers.com
Hot Offer
Favicon
4.5/5
  • Great deposit match for new players
  • Free credits for placing your bets
  • Weekly prizes and boosts for betting bankroll
BetRivers.com Bonus
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply, 21+
Copy
Visit Site
Payment Methods
PayNearMe
Bank Transfer
VIP Preferred
+
Withdrawal
0 Days
Accepts Customers from
AZ
CO
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show less
PointsBet
4.
Favicon
4.5/5
  • Risk-free bets of up to $2,000 for new customers
  • Up to $500 of free bet credits as sign up bonus
  • PointsBet offers unique promotions to returning customers
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply, 21+
Copy
Visit Site
Payment Methods
E-Check
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
+
Withdrawal
1 – 5 Days
Accepts Customers from
AZ
CO
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show More
FanDuel
5.
Favicon
4.5/5
  • Offers a $1000 no sweat first bet
  • Amazing joining offer
  • Promo codes for specific bets
FanDuel Bonus
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
T&Cs apply, 21+
Go to FanDuel
Visit Site
Payment Methods
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
PayPal
+
Withdrawal
1 – 10 Days
Accepts Customers from
AL
AK
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show More
Unibet
6.
Favicon
4.5/5
  • Wide range of markets and odds
  • Take advantage of Uniboost odds boost
  • Casino, esports and other products available
Unibet Bonus
100% up to $100
T&Cs apply, 21+
Go to Unibet
Visit Site
Payment Methods
E-Check
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
+
Withdrawal
0 – 7 Days
Accepts Customers from
AZ
IN
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show More
DraftKings
7.
Favicon
4.5/5
  • 21 sports to choose from.
  • No specific betting limits listed.
  • Ability to bet in-play on most sports.
DraftKings Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Visit Site
Payment Methods
PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
+
Withdrawal
1 – 5 Days
Accepts Customers from
AL
AK
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show More
WynnBET
8.
Favicon
4.5/5
  • Generous sports betting welcome bonus
  • Great odds on the biggest sports
  • Fast and fun live betting platform
WynnBET Bonus
Bet $100 Get $100
T&Cs apply, 21+
Go to WynnBET
Visit Site
Payment Methods
Visa
Mastercard
PayPal
+
Withdrawal
1 – 5 Days
Accepts Customers from
AZ
CO
+
Apps
License
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Show More

The popularity of live eSports betting

There is no doubt that live eSports betting is more popular than ever, which makes ensuring that you have the best experience possible very important. The exact experience you are looking for will depend on a few factors. These will include your level of experience with any given eSports, and your experience with betting. Either way, this Strafe.com guide will take you through what you need to know, so you can place your eSports bets with confidence you are not getting second best.

The popularity of live eSports betting has brought in a variety of bettors from various backgrounds

You might, for instance, have a love of a particular eSport like Overwatch and want to take that passion and knowledge into an Overwatch live betting scenario. As a result, you have an intricate knowledge of how the game works, but your only experience of placing a bet might be an ill-advised punt on the Grand National a few years ago. After reading the guide, you’ll know how to find the right bookmaker for you, and how to find the best deals to get your eSports live betting off to the best start possible.

Alternatively, you might be an experienced bettor who knows the ins and outs of bookmakers, how odds work, and which types of bets you prefer to make. You might well have a love for conventional sports, and have recently had your interest piqued by the world of eSports. If this is you, then you’ll be looking for an overview of the most popular eSports and the most popular markets for each. That way, you can start to build your knowledge to look for the best wagers and value bets in this relatively new arena.

Regardless of your starting point, you probably don’t want to waste time going from game to game, or from bookmaker to bookmaker, trying to find exactly what you are looking for. Here at Strafe.com, we’ve got all of the answers you need to fill all of the gaps in your knowledge, both in this guide and the other free resources elsewhere on the site.

Can you place eSports live betting at normal bookmakers?

This is one of the biggest questions so we’ll start by answering it. The short answer is yes, but as with all things - the devil is in the details. For instance, you might see a bookmaker with options for CSGO live betting, but the markets available and the odds offered might vary wildly between that bookmaker and others.

The depth and quality of the experience can vary as well as betting sites with live streaming of eSports are not always easy to find. For this reason, you need to find the best option before you put your hand in your pocket. This can take time, or you can find people that have already done the legwork for you and can point you in the right direction. The same can apply to finding the best deals for newbies or even more established bettors looking for a new home in which to start their live eSports betting journey.

Live eSports betting or pre-match betting?

Although many of the same markets are involved, these are very different experiences for the bettor, and some will certainly prefer one over the other. Pre-match betting is very much a set-and-forget affair, and you just wait for the outcome.

Live eSports betting, on the other hand, puts you more in the moment, and quick thinking and fast action can have you making the most of a situation. You would typically be watching the live stream of the event taking place and could make multiple bets in the same or similar markets during a match. For this reason, you will need to make sure that you pick your eSports and markets carefully.

Our favorite esports betting sites

BetMGM
1.
Favicon
4.7/5
100% up to $1000
PayNearMe
PayPal
Bank Transfer
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet365
2.
Favicon
4.6/5
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetRivers.com
3.
Favicon
4.5/5
100% up to $500
PayNearMe
Bank Transfer
VIP Preferred
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
PointsBet
4.
Favicon
4.5/5
5 x $50Bet Credits
E-Check
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+
FanDuel
5.
Favicon
4.5/5
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 21+

The best live eSports and markets for you to bet on

In an effort to gain this knowledge, you can then look at the various eSports available for you to wager on. In the same way, you might look for a favourite game during live casino promotions, you might already have some hard and fast favourites.

Yet, you might find on closer inspection that, for example, you could be better off StarCraft 2 live betting than placing wagers on LoL. However, you won’t know for sure until you take a look at all of the options.

CS:GO

CS GO is an acronym for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and is a first-person shooter game. For eSports, there are two teams you compete to complete missions as either terrorists or counter-terrorists.

CS:GO live betting markets:

As well as match winner and map winner you can also bet on:

  • Correct Score
  • Round Winner
  • First Blood
  • Total Kills

Call of Duty

This one might need no introduction as this is another first-person shooter, and might even be the most famous one around. This familiarity might lead bettors into overconfidence, so it is important to know about the markets.

Call of Duty live betting markets:

Again, there are overall map and match bets, but depending on when you join the games, you can also place wagers on:

  • First blood
  • Hero kills
  • Destroy a tower
  • Destroy a barracks
  • Kill Roshan

DOTA & DOTA2

DOTA, or Defense of the Ancients is an offshoot of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Like many other eSports, there are two teams here, defending or taking various landmarks or completing agreed objectives.

DOTA live betting markets 

The DOTA live betting markets are not as numerous as other eSports, so alongside match winner, you can also bet on:

  • First blood
  • Total kills
  • Race to kill - this is based on how long it takes to make the first or any subsequent kill.

League of legends

League of legends is often shortened to LoL and is probably the biggest eSports for betting due to the following and the number of markets available to bet on. LoL is a MOBA (another acronym, this time for multiplayer online battle arena) and as you might expect, again features two teams who are out to destroy the opponent's Nexus. There are, of course, other objectives along the way which is why there are so many potential markets for live betting.

LoL live betting markets

The list here is quite extensive and as well as the usual overall win markets you have:

  • Correct score
  • Total score
  • The first dragon slayed
  • First Baron slayed
  • First blood
  • The first inhibitor destroyed
  • The first tower destroyed
  • Number of kills by a team

As with all other eSports, the availability of markets will depend on when you join, and rather than betting on the first kill/dragon/tower, you could be wagering on the next of these events to happen.

Other notable eSports for live betting

Starcraft II

This is one of the older eSports and has two opponents facing off to build an army and destroy the other player's base. The number of markets here is more modest and mainly features overall winners and correct scores of the multiple maps that can make up a StarCraft II match.

Overwatch

This game bridges the gap between MOBA and first-person shooters and is very popular as a result. Live betting here will be based on the final result and the performance of heroes completing objectives. Here, the number of different permutations can mean that the savvy eSports live bettor can find numerous special or exotic bets. 

Hearthstone

As well as MOBA, FPS and RTS games, you might also find something different like Hearthstone which is a TCG or Trading Card Game. This being the case there are other strategies at play here, and other markets you won’t find in other eSports like those based around running out of health or cards - as well as who is going to win.

Find bookmakers that make live eSports betting simple, safe, and straightforward

Now you know what to expect from each of the most popular games, it’s time to take a look at the best place to start making wagers. As with picking an eSports, there is not necessarily a ‘one size fits all’ solution for everyone - although some bookmakers will be better than others.

Here at Strafe.com, we have put together guides for the best online live casinos and sportsbooks, as our team of experts have reviewed and rated each one. This means we know our stuff when it comes to helping you look for the right bookmaker. With that in mind, we have put together a shortlist of the best ones available to help you have the best live eSports betting experience possible.

Ladbrokes

If you are quite new to live eSports betting, then you will want to trust your data and cash with a  bookmaker that is a household name, and Ladbrokes fits that bill perfectly. As a very traditional bookmaker, you might be worried that they would concentrate on more traditional sports like football or horse racing and not have too much time for newer pursuits like eSports. In fact, as soon as you arrive at their well-designed website, you’ll find that Ladbrokes have extensive coverage of sports old and new, with a wide range of eSports covered for both pre-match and more importantly live betting.

Ladbrokes are a safe choice, so you’ll have no worries about security or giving over your details. You should also be aware that Ladbrokes is fully licensed and the padlock symbol in the address bar means that SSL encryption is in place and everything is safe and secure. Having this reassurance is vital when opening a new account with a bookmaker, but Ladbrokes also have more on offer to new accounts.

Attractive bonuses

You won’t need to worry about what is in it for you, as Ladbrokes have a great reputation for offering generous bonuses to new bettors, regardless of the sports they have come to bet on. The fact that Ladbrokes like to stay competitive and offer the best service to bettors means that these offers change frequently - so keep coming back to Stafe.com to make sure you stay in the loop.

Bet365

You can also feel safe with Bet365 as they are another big player, who like Ladbrokes, are fully licensed and offer top-notch customer security. They also share a reputation for generous bonuses, and these are open to bettors using a wide range of different payment methods.

eSports are also well represented here, with an extensive range of markets and live streams of all the matches that matter. In addition, the simple layout of the site makes navigation around all of the various eSports matches a breeze - and placing a bet at competitive odds on Overwatch, LoL, or DOTA a straightforward experience.

Unibet

Rounding off this shortlist we have Unibet, who have much in common with both Ladbrokes and Bet365 in that they tick the required boxes of being licensed, legit and safe. Unibet also offers a range of options for the major eSports markets, especially with live matches for DOTA and LoL. Live streaming is also available here, as are competitive odds, making this a good place to start your eSports live betting experience.

Deposits can be made using a number of methods, and an excellent customer service setup is on hand should you have any problems. For anyone opening a new account, there is typically an attractive welcome bonus on offer to get the ball rolling.

Our favorite esports betting site bonuses

BetMGM
1.
Favicon
4.7/5
100% up to $1000
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Go to BetMGM
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet365
2.
Favicon
4.6/5
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Min. Deposit: $10
Go to Bet365
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetRivers.com
3.
Favicon
4.5/5
100% up to $500
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
PointsBet
4.
Favicon
4.5/5
5 x $50Bet Credits
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
Copy
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+
FanDuel
5.
Favicon
4.5/5
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
Go to FanDuel
Get Bonus
T&Cs apply, 21+

Conclusion - All you need to know about live eSports betting can be found here at Strafe.com

There can be a lot to learn about the world of eSports live betting, regardless of whether you have played a lot of eSports before. This is because not all live eSports betting experiences are equal, and by using guides just like this one, you can find the best one for you.

You are also going to be curious about other parts of the experience, like finding strategies for League of Legends live betting. Guides for this and many other aspects of betting can be found here, so take a look around Strafe.com to widen your knowledge in this area.

Live Esports Betting FAQ

💭 Which is the best eSports for live betting?

There are many eSports you can choose to bet on, including Overwatch, Call Of Duty, and League of Legends. However, not all of them might be good for live betting. To get a full overview of some of the most popular eSports and the best markets for live betting, check out our Live Esports Betting guide.

💡Can you bet on live eSports at regular bookmakers?

Bookmakers cover a wide range of sports, and this will typically include the major eSports like CS:GO, Starcraft II, or LoL. This does not mean, however, that they offer live betting or a full range of markets. To get the rundown on how to find the best bookmaker for live betting on your favourite eSports, check out this Strafe.com guide.

🕹️Is eSports live betting legit?

eSports live betting has become a very popular part of the betting experience around the world. This amount of variety means, however, that you can get a vastly different experience depending on where you choose to place a wager. To discover how you can find the best eSports to bet on and the best operator to place your live bet, check out our comprehensive guide.

😕Can you use welcome bonuses for eSports live betting?

Bonus offers vary depending on where you go, as do the terms and conditions and requirements that come with them. This can make looking for the right offer a time-consuming business. You can make the whole process easier by reading our Strafe.com guide, which will tell you where to find the right offer for your own preference and experience level.

LIVE ESPORTS BETTING:
Latest News
Vitality Cruise to Win the 2023 BLAST Paris CSGO Major
The French esports organization, Vitality, put in a ...
FaZe Clan Announces More Layoffs Amid Downturn in Stock Price
The hugely influential esports organization FaZe Clan has ...
Team SoloMId Plans to Exit North American League of Legends 
After over a decade in the North American ...
How Global Poker Succeeded With Its Sweepstakes Model
Global Poker is the only poker room that ...
Cowboys Hand Eagles Their Second Defeat of the Season
Dallas Cowboys came from behind to beat the ...

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive 5% Rakeback bonus with code: STFSOCIAL
  • Social casino with Stake Originals!
  • Play with Stake Cash for prizes!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Bonus Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site