Esports, short for electronic sports, is the term used to describe competitive video gaming. Over the last few decades, video games have gone from being a niche and fairly expensive hobby to going completely mainstream, and today, three out of every four people in the US play video games regularly. With more people playing video games than ever before, Esports has also grown into a billion-dollar industry.

Esports first began in the 70s where arcade owners would offer prizes for high scores. Today, the biggest tournaments are watched live by hundreds of thousands of people, and winners can receive prizes worth millions of dollars. As the competitions have become bigger, fans from all over the world have started watching, and today you can even bet on Esports events. Just like with regular sports, users can sign up to online sportsbooks, collect a bonus, and place bets on which team or competitor they think will win. Sites like BonusSeeker offer reviews and guides on how to get the most out of your Esports bets.

How Popular is Esports Betting?

While Esports might not be as big as traditional sports yet, the scene is growing at a rapid pace. Live streams of events are available to watch online, and the younger generations are now more likely to watch live Esports than live sports. Because it’s much more easily accessible, there are a growing number of fans who love to watch and bet on live Esports events.

In 2020, the global Esports betting market was expected to hit $14 billion, doubling the previous year’s figures. Odds on Esports events can be found at a growing number of online sportsbooks, and several Esports-only sites have also emerged, targeting this growing market of Esports fans.

With online gambling now being legalized across several states in the US, there’s potential for Esports betting to grow even more popular. Many US sportsbooks now take bets on the biggest Esports events, and there’s no doubt a lot of room to grow in this market. Meanwhile, some other countries such as the UK and Australia are still behind the times with Esports betting regulations. In these countries, live betting on Esports isn’t allowed, although it is available in the vast majority of places where betting is legal.

What Esports Do People Bet On?

Esports, much like regular sports, has many different varieties, each with different rules and ways to play. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games such as League of Legends and Dota2 have always been the most popular Esports, especially in Asia. However, in recent years, a number of new games have become just as popular. Battle Royal games like PUBG and Fortnite have amassed global followings while sports simulator games such as FIFA and Madden are played by people all over the world.

When it comes to betting, most bets are placed on big events that are featured on live streaming sites such as Twitch.tv. League of Legends and Dota2, are featured at some of the world’s biggest Esports events, along with Counterstrike. This first-person shooter game is highly strategic, and the biggest event tournament, the MLG Majors, offers a $2 million prize pool. Teams compete in these tournaments, while fans can bet on which team they think will win, as well as events that could happen during the rounds.

As Esports grows in popularity, betting sites are offering more markets and odds on these competitions than ever before. On top of that, many sites also offer odds on smaller Esports events, letting fans discover new tournaments and players to watch.

Although it’s true that Esports betting has become much more popular over the last few years, it has had its fair share of issues too. Match-fixing has become a serious problem in some tournaments, with players admitting to throwing games in exchange for money from gambling syndicates. As a result, the Esports Integrity Commission was founded, aiming to work with law enforcement to help ensure that Esports remains free from corruption. As the sport becomes more professional and reaches a wider audience, this problem will need to be dealt with if fans are to take it seriously as a competitive event.