The UK market looks particularly promising. Statista predicts UK esports betting revenue will hit US$250.7m. These numbers make sense given how competitive esports has become and its growing fan base. The UK esports audience keeps expanding too. Predictions show 29.8% of UK users will engage with esports, growing further to 34.5% by 2029. Our team’s expertise in this field led us to create this detailed guide about UK’s best esports betting platforms. This piece breaks down the top betting sites, popular games to bet on, and betting options available to UK punters.
Most popular esports games to bet on
The esports betting world offers exciting wagering opportunities in games of all types. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular esports games UK bettors choose with BetAt.net.
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
CS2 marks the rise of Counter-Strike betting and dominates esports wagering. The game accounts for an impressive 58% of all real-money esports bets in 2024. Players now have more betting options after the switch from CS:GO to CS2, with daily matches in global tournaments. Bettors can choose from markets like match-winners, map winners, handicaps, outrights, and special prop bets such as pistol round winners.
League of Legends (LoL)
LoL ranks as the second most popular esports betting title with 26% of esports betting turnover. This multiplayer online battle arena game has grown to 140-150 million monthly users worldwide in 2024. The World Championship peaked at 6.9 million viewers. UK bettors can place wagers on first blood, total kills, and match winners.
Dota 2
The International drives Dota 2’s betting appeal and sets new prize pool records each year. The 2021 tournament reached a massive £31.77 million prize pool. Viewership peaked at 2.7 million. Players can bet on match-winners, map objectives, and total kills.
Valorant
Valorant has grown faster into a premier betting esport since its 2020 launch. Recent Valorant Champions Tour events hit 1.5 million peak viewers. Players can bet on match winners, map outcomes, and agent-specific performance props.
Call of Duty
The Call of Duty League features franchised teams from major cities. The CDL Championship attracted 350,000 viewers in 2024 with prize pools over £1.03 million. Betting markets include map winners, handicaps, and player performance props.
Overwatch 2
The move to 5v5 gameplay has revitalized Overwatch 2’s competitive scene. The Overwatch Champions Series features a total prize pool of £1.55 million. OWCS Champions Clash tournaments give bettors options for match winner, handicap, and map-specific wagers.
Types of esports bets you can place
Successful esports betting depends on knowing the different types of wagers you can place. Leading esports betting platforms give you many more options beyond what you’d find in traditional sports, and each type needs its own betting strategy.
Match winner
Match winner bets are the most basic and popular way to bet on esports, and they make up the largest share of all bets placed. This straightforward bet lets you pick which team will win the match. To name just one example, in a best-of-three Counter-Strike 2 series, you win your bet when your chosen team wins either 2-0 or 2-1.
Map winner
Games like CS:GO, Dota 2, and Valorant let you bet on individual map outcomes instead of the whole series. This targeted approach works great when you spot teams that excel on specific maps. Most reliable betting sites void these bets if a map doesn’t get played or ends in a walkover.
First blood or kill
First blood betting focuses on which team gets the opening kill, usually happening in the first 5-10 minutes. This creates immediate excitement and shows early momentum. League of Legends rewards first blood with 400 gold for the player and splits another 200 gold among teammates who helped.
Total kills or rounds
Over/under bets let you predict if final numbers will be higher or lower than what bookmakers set. Popular markets include total kills in MOBAs or rounds in CS:GO matches. A bet on “over 26.5 rounds” in CS:GO suggests you expect a close match.
Outright tournament winner
Betting on the overall tournament champion offers bigger potential payouts because these bets take longer to settle and involve more variables. You can also bet on who will be tournament MVP, best regional team, or which teams make it to finals.
Special bets (e.g., pistol round winner)
Prop bets cover specific in-game events like CS:GO pistol rounds or next objective taken. These markets have more volatile odds than standard bets. Experienced bettors can utilize their deep game knowledge here to find valuable betting opportunities.
Live betting and streaming features
Live esports wagering adds a new dimension to betting. Players can now experience dynamic markets that change as matches happen.
What is live esports betting?
Live esports betting, also called in-play betting, lets you place bets after a match starts. Pre-match betting has fixed odds, but live betting odds change based on what happens during the game. You need to make quick decisions because opportunities come and go faster throughout the match. Each esports title offers different markets. CS2 has next round results, MOBAs feature first tower destroyed, and games like Dota 2 track total kills.
These esports betting sites provide integrated streaming for an enhanced betting experience:
- Betway offers extensive in-play markets for Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends, along with flexible cash-out options.
- Thunderpick seamlessly connects Twitch directly on their platform, allowing you to watch matches and place bets simultaneously.
- Virgin Bet delivers HD streams with real-time statistics, helping you make informed betting decisions all in one place.
For a full breakdown of these platforms and more in-depth reviews, check out gambler.biz. Betting sites with live streaming create a seamless experience, and many bookmakers integrate Twitch to let you follow events while tracking odds.
How to use in-play odds effectively
You need these things to succeed at live betting:
- In-depth game knowledge – Game mechanics, team strategies, and player skills are the foundations to spot good betting opportunities
- Real-time match analysis – Watching matches live shows you patterns that numbers alone might miss
- Disciplined bankroll management – You should set limits for single bets and matches to avoid emotional decisions during intense gameplay
- Pre-match preparation – Team stats and match history research gives you context that helps with in-play decisions
When pressure builds up, emotional control becomes vital. This helps you avoid making impulsive bets based on excitement instead of analysis.
Top esports betting sites in the UK
The UK esports betting world has several top platforms. Each brings something special to competitive gaming betting. If you want to play slots, here is the best site to choose a casinos online with the best RTP.
1. Betway – Best for promotions
Betway shines as the go-to place for esports bettors looking for great promotions. Their Free Bet Club gives you £10 in weekly free bets when you place qualifying trebles worth £25 or more. On top of that, it offers better odds for games with Ninjas in Pajamas. With special coupons for CS:GO, Overwatch, Dota 2, and League of Legends, Betway has grown into one of the UK’s most complete esports betting platforms.
2. Bet365 – Best for live streaming
Bet365 leads the pack in live streaming with over 600,000 streamed events each year. The platform shows HD coverage of major esports tournaments in real-time, so you can watch matches and place bets as they happen. Beyond great streaming, Bet365 offers one of the most varied betting experiences. It covers all major titles and has unmatched in-play options, especially for FIFA and NBA esports.
3. Unibet – Best for user experience
Unibet makes betting simple with its dedicated esports section. The mobile app works on both iOS and Android and lets you stream live esports events without interruption. The platform has competitive odds for League of Legends, Dota 2, CS:GO, Starcraft 2, Overwatch, and Rainbow 6. Most payment methods need just £5 as minimum deposit, making Unibet’s user experience even better.
4. 888Sport – Best for odds boosts
888Sport stands out by regularly boosting esports odds and offering better prices during major tournaments. The platform focuses on four of the most popular leagues, including big names like the LoL Legends Pro League and Pacific Challenger League. It’s also one of the few places where you can bet on Age of Empires II.
5. BoyleSports – Best for league coverage
BoyleSports shows its strength with complete coverage of nine top esports leagues. These include Fortnite, Call of Duty, Rocket League, LoL, and Dota 2. You’ll find competitive odds and countless markets across these gaming competitions. As they say, “With so many competitions played around the world across so many games, there’s never been a better time to get into esports betting”.
6. Virgin Bet – Best for in-play betting
Virgin Bet excels at live betting with HD streams right on their platform. Their service mixes “the thrill of the beautiful game with live esports action”. Bettors can watch goals and make moves in real-time. Quick matches and instant stats help you make smarter in-play betting choices.
Conclusion
Esports betting has become one of the most dynamic sectors in the UK gambling industry. The market continues to grow faster, with worldwide projections reaching £2 billion by 2025. Our research shows several outstanding platforms that cater to different priorities. Betway leads with promotional value, while Bet365 offers high-definition streaming, and BoyleSports provides detailed league coverage.
Your betting strategy depends heavily on game selection. CS2 leads the market with 58% of all real-life esports wagers. League of Legends follows with 26% of total betting turnover. Games like Dota 2, Valorant, and Call of Duty provide unique betting opportunities through their distinctive gameplay mechanics and tournament structures.
Bet variety improves the esports wagering experience significantly. Match winner bets form the foundation of esports betting. Specialized markets like first blood wagers and map-specific outcomes let you diversify strategically. Many experienced bettors combine pre-match outright predictions with in-play opportunities to maximize returns while keeping reasonable risk profiles.
