Looking for the best esports betting sites in the US, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry I’ve got your back. Here at the Frog, we are esports fanatics and know the ins and outs of esports bookmakers.
In my esports wagering guide, I give you my criteria for what makes a great esports sportsbook. Moreover, I will cover all the games you can wager on, and provide an in-depth analysis of the betting markets. I’ll even conclude by providing you with a cheat sheet, so when you start betting on esports, you’ll be ahead of the curve.
Esports is another term for competitive video games, which come in many variants. Nevertheless, the most popular types of eSports are first-person shooters, battle royales, MOBAs, sports, and strategy games.
Therefore, esports betting is placing wagers on the outcomes of these games or tournaments. There are many different markets just like in regular sports betting. These include moneyline, handicaps, under/over, outright winner, and special bets.
Esports are structured the same way as all your favorite sports – in teams or individuals. Thus, there are favorites in each video game and star players, just like the MVP in basketball.
Placing an esports bet is simple. Simply choose the eSport you want to wager on and the market. Next, click the eSport betting odds and the stake you want to bet. After, hit the confirm button. The bonus is that when you register for an account, you’ll be able to claim a welcome offer.
Moreover, you can place bets before a match or tournament and in play. The latter is great if you are watching a live event and think something will happen. But remember to be fast, as things can change in the blink of an eye!
Before I ever recommend an esports wagering site here at the Frog, I always have a set of criteria I’ll check. I do all the hard work for you and provide you with impartial information. Below are the key criteria for judging the best esports betting platforms.
The range of esports you can bet on depends on the sportsbook. Of course, just like regular sports, some esports are more popular than others. I’ll provide you with the top 5 most common games you’ll find at esports betting websites.
League of Legends known as LoL is one of the most popular esports across the entire world. It’s a fantasy team-based game, which is another MOBA game, similar to DOTA 2. In LoL, the goal is to destroy the other team’s “Nexus”, and there are five positions each team member must occupy; top lane, mid lane, marksmen, support, and jungle. The most famous tournament in LoL esports is aptly called “League of Legends World Championship”. Teams have to qualify to get to the World Championship, and the 2023 winner was T1, who scooped home the trophy and an impressive $445k prize check.
Another team-based game, CS: GO (Counter Strike Global Offensive) is the fourth in the series, but is the most popular esports game. It’s a first-person shooter played by two teams; the terrorists and the counter-terrorists played on a wide range of maps. It’s the terrorist’s team’s job to plant a bomb at one of the two sites displayed on the screen. Moreover, they also need to take hostages in the short rounds (2 mins). The counter-terrorists need to free hostages and stop any bombs until the time runs out. There are also game modes like deathmatch, arms race, and danger zone. The top tournament is the CS Major Championships.
Fortnite is a last-person standing esports combining parts of battle royale, third-person shooting, and sandbox. At the start of the game, 100 players are on a map that shrinks over time. The normal amount of time for a round is between 20 mins and 20 mins and whoever is the last player wins the game. Because it requires many skills, it’s quickly become one of the most popular video games in the world. The Fortnite World Cup still remains the largest esports competition by prize pool, In 2019, the solo winner, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf took home a whopping $3m!
If you want to know “Where to bet on DOTA 2?” the answer is pretty much every sportsbook. DOTA 2 is easily the top 3 most popular esports in the USA, alongside LoL and CS: GO. DOTA 2 was released in 2013 and is a MOBA-type team game not too different from LoL. There are two teams of five players aiming to work together to destroy the opponent’s “Ancient” structure. Furthermore, the biggest DOTA 2 tournament is called “The International” where the prize pool is in the millions of dollars. The best known DOTA esports teams include; Team Liquid, Team Falcons, and Gaimin Gladiators.
If you love cars and adore soccer, then Rocket League is the perfect game for you! It’s easy to learn, get the ball in the opponent’s net with your high-speed car. However, it will take you a long time to become a great player. Released in 2015, there are many game modes, from 1v1 up to 4v4, for more frantic and exciting gameplay. There are many skills to master in Rocket League such as air dribbles, flip resets, and pinch shots. The best players and teams all compete at the annual Rocket League Championship Series. You can place many bets on Rocket League such as moneylines, handicaps, and points spreads.
As esports betting is still growing in the US, you won’t find as many markets for games as conventional sports like football or basketball. Nonetheless, here at the Frog, I’ll give you the main betting markets that the majority of US sportsbooks will offer.
The easiest bet to make at the best esports betting sites is called “Moneyline”. You are simply choosing which team will win the match or tournament. For example, in League of Legends, if you are betting on the team, G2 esports (world no. 6) to beat Vitality. bee (world no.39), then expect low odds. You can also apply the moneyline to a specific outright tournament winner such as The International (DOTA 2). When there is a heavy favorite for a tournament or match, it’s preferable to use handicaps or point spreads.
Handicap betting is a popular market in all sports, with esports betting being no exception to the rule. In a handicap bet, you are adding a set number of rounds (normally +1.5) to the underdog, or taking away 1.5 rounds from the favorite. This gives you much better odds if you think that the match will be close, or the favorite will win easily. You can also combine handicap bets from across different esports teams on parlay bets to increase your odds and chances of a bigger payout.
The under/over bet can be applied to a wide range of outcomes in any esports match. For instance, in an EAFC (formerly FIFA) game you can place bets on under/over the number of goals. However, in MOBA or battle royal games, it’s possible to bet on a team to win a certain amount of maps. This is quite a niche bet, reserved for bettors who want to accurately predict a game, and consequently get a much better payout than just betting on the moneyline.
If you are interested in an esports betting bonus don’t worry, they come thick and fast at US online sportsbooks. In the table below, I explore the main types of promotions US players can expect to claim right from the start.
| Welcome offer | At all the best eSports betting sites, you’ll get some sort of welcome bonus. It will often be a matched bonus such as a deposit $10 get $20 in free bets. The bonus is automatically applied, or you’re required to input the relevant promo code. With all welcome offers, ensure to read the terms so you understand the wagering requirements and maximum cashout amounts. |
| Odds boosts | Sportsbooks love randomly placing odds boosts on eSports matches and tournaments. It’s exactly what it sounds like, instead of Mouz CS: GO moneyline to beat Astralis being -200, the bookmaker will add a boost to -125. You’ll see all the odds boosts on eSports events on the app/website and via email notifications. |
| Cashback offers | Some US bookmakers go the extra mile and offer cashback on any losses in the previous day, week, or month. It will vary by the sportsbook, but can be as high as 20%! Also, many times, cashback offers go hand in hand with the loyalty program. Therefore, the higher the level you are on the scheme, the better the cashback will be. |
| Matched bonuses | A common type of promotion offered by eSports online betting platforms is a 100% matched bet. It’s simple, all you need to do is deposit anywhere from $10 to $100, and the bookmaker will match the funds 100%. Nevertheless, there are terms attached as the bonus money will need to be wagered a certain amount of times until you can make a real money withdrawal. |
| Free bets | When you register for an eSports betting app or site, ensure to run on email notifications and follow the social media channels. That way, you’ll always be in the loop about any free bets. A free bet allows you to wager on any eSports event (usually with odds of at least -200). Also, you may have to meet any wagering requirements from the free bet. |
If you prefer placing bets on the go, then many US sportsbooks offer esports betting apps for iOS, Windows, and Android devices. You’ll be able to download the app for free, from the respective app stores.
The user experience of any esports betting app is the same as the website version. Yet, you may find a few esports betting USA app exclusive bonuses. Moreover, you’ll be able to stream the event live once you’ve placed a bet on any device.
On esports betting apps, all the stats are provided, and placing a wager is fast. Simply select the esports, then the market, tap the odds and choose your stake. Once you’re happy the bet is live. With many sportsbooks, you can even cash out your wager if you do not want it to run until the end of the event.
To help you stay ahead of the field, I’ve put together a little cheat sheet with everything you need to know about esports betting. These are a few hacks to maximize your overall experience:
Sounds simple, but so many of you are sleeping on free bonuses offered by US sportsbooks. I always have my email notifications on and follow US sportsbook social media pages so I never miss out on any juicy bonus codes.
The META is “the most effective tactic available”, so before making bets make sure you understand the game inside out. As video games regularly update, teams can gain an edge, it’s your job to predict which teams are able to adapt and wager on them.
When placing esports bets, statistics are your bible. Check the head-to-head form, as some teams or players struggle against others. Also, form is always your friend. If there’s been an update in a game, and one team has mastered it, get in early to benefit from favorable odds.
If you know there is a heavy favorite going into a match, there is little point in just placing a moneyline bet. If you think the favorite will win the match easily, use a handicap. That way, you’ll get much better odds. Alternatively, you can place point spreads (if available).
When esports betting, or any gambling online for that matter I cannot stress enough to have a plan. If you deposit 100 bucks, set 10 bets and never chase any losses. Use safer gambling tools to stay in control like deposit limits or session limits.
I’ve given you the rundown on a complete 101 course concerning esports betting – the best sites, the games you can wager on, and even the most popular betting markets.
But where do you start? Pick any of my recommended US sportsbooks, check the esports section, and claim yourself a nice welcome offer. Use all the statistics available, and on many sportsbooks, you can live stream all the events when you place a bet.
Esports online betting is catching up with the popularity of video games. If you want to keep things simple, just bet on moneylines, but if you know your stuff, then handicap betting and even parlays are better because you’ll increase your payout opportunities.
Begin your journey today, take on board my top tips, check all the esports news at The Frog, and start betting on esports at US sportsbooks!
Esports are competitive video games played by individuals or teams. Therefore eSports betting is placing wagers on which team or individual will win a match or an event.
This will depend on the state you are in. Check your jurisdiction to know if online sports betting is legal in your state.
Yes, at all the US sportsbooks I recommend every player will be able to claim a welcome offer. It is a matched bonus, so just make a deposit and it will be doubled by the bookmaker.
It will vary by the US sportsbook. However, the most popular ones are always available to bet on pre-match or in-play. These include; League of Legends, Fortnite, DOTA 2, Rocket League, EAFC, CS: GO, and Valorant.
On the most popular esports, US bettors can make a wide range of bets including; moneyline, under/over, handicaps, point spreads, and outright winner. You can also add bets together which are called parlays.
