Esports Betting in the UK – Top 10 eSports Bookies of 2023 reviewed
Competitive video games – or eSports as they are more commonly known – are growing in popularity in the UK. Gamers watch their top gaming preds play Dota 2, CS:GO, LoL and many more, and not only do gamers like to watch eSports, they like to bet on them too.
Here now is our list of the best eSports betting sites in the UK. Learn what makes a good eSports betting site, how you can get the best eSports betting odds, and a few eSports betting tips that you ought to follow.
Top UK eSports Betting Sites
- All
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Our Top 10 eSports Betting Site Ranked
Here now are our top ten sites for eSports betting in the UK, as well as an interesting, maybe eSports-related snippet about them …
- Midnite – Simply the best eSports betting site UK
- Betway – a famous name, sponsors of EPL side West Ham United (for now!)
- Bet365 – the most popular online betting brand in the UK
- William Hill – the bookie that everyone in the UK has heard of!
- BetUK – a new name that’s gathering up plenty of content site users
- Luckster – our top pick for eSports from the Aspire Global group
- Betstorm – a sister site for Luckster but not quite as good (but close!)
- The Pools – a site for those remembering the days of eight score draws
- BzeeBet – another new site that we really recommend for eSports
- LiveScore Bet – keep in touch with eSports events and bet on them!
Best eSports Betting Sites in the UK Reviewed
We’ve given you a brief introduction to the best eSports betting sites in the UK, but now it’s time to add them to your friends list. Here are five mini reviews of the leading sites in the UK for eSports betting.
1. Midnite – Bet £10 & Get £20 In Free Bets
It really is an easy choice for number one for UK eSports betting. Midnite is clearly the top predator when it comes to wagering on competitive video gaming, giving coverage to eSports like no other UKGC-licensed site.
The full list of eSports covered at Midnite is as follows: CSGO, LoL, COD, Dota 2, Valorant, Wild Rift, King of Glory, Rainbow Six, FIFA/EA Sports FC, NBA2K, Halo, Overwatch, Starcraft & Starcraft II and Rocket League – that is quite simply, a list that no one in our top ten selection can match.
Midnite is also a very cool-designed site (think Discord) that’s crystal clear and incredibly easy to use. Market options are exceptional, and most eSports match-ups can be streamed for free.
This site would be absolutely perfect for eSports betting, but we do have one downvote – no specific promos for eSports bettors!
What we like:
- Clearly the number one for UK eSports betting
- Unrivalled eSport markets coverage
- Plenty of live streaming
- Discord-like appearance
- In-play betting readily available
What we don’t:
- No specific eSports bonuses
2. Betway – £30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses
Sitting happily at number two on our list we find Betway. This name may be familiar to FIFA players, as they have been the main sponsors of EPL side West Ham United since 2015. Betway is a superb all-round sportsbook, and it has a very appealing dedicated eSports betting section.
The coverage of eSports at Betway extends to the big three of CSGO, Dota 2 and LoL, and they cover Valorant and Call of Duty too. There is full coverage of the LoL Worlds, the Call of Duty League, the ESL Pro League and the Valorant Champions Tour.
Sadly, the welcome bonus available at Betway does not cover eSports, but instead sticks to football (and not FIFA … er, EA Sports FC!). Place a footie acca bet and you’ll get back a maxed £30 free bet if your acca bet loses. The good news for promo loves is that ‘Betway Boosts’ – price boosts on specific events – does cover eSports.
What we like:
- Covers CSGO, Lol, Dota 2, COD and Valorant
- Betway bet boosts are available for eSports
- Plenty of markets per eSports event
- Dedicated eSports section
- Can be seen in EA Sports FC!
What we don’t:
- Welcome deal not available on eSports
3. bet365 – Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets
When it comes to ALL sports in the UK, then bet365 is the clear winner. It’s the most popular and most well-known brand in the UK for sports betting, and you’ll probably know bet365 best from Ray Winstone growling at you to ‘gamble responsibly’.
With eSports in mind, we can only place bet365 at number three in our top ten list. Esports coverage at bet365 is excellent, but both Betway and especially Midnite do things better when it comes to competitive video gaming. Bet365 mainly covers CSGO, LoL, Dota 2 and COD, with options for Honor of Kings, Valorant, Wild Rift, Starcraft II, Rainbow Six, Crossfire, Arena of Valor, Mobile Legends and Warcraft.
Sporting eSports contest stretches to eSoccer and eBasketball. Bet365 offers a high number of eSports streams, although for many of them you need to have a funded account in order to watch them.
What we like:
- Covers 15 different eSports!
- Plenty of live streaming
- Live betting on eSports available
- £30 welcome bonus can be used on eSports
- Site works really well on mobile devices
What we don’t:
- You need a funded account to watch most live streams
4. William Hill – Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets
You can imagine William Hill playing ‘Pong’ in 1973 and never dreaming that one day people will be betting on video games, lol (and we don’t mean League of Legends). William Hill is now one of the UK’s most recognisable sports betting names, but people might think such a ‘long in the tooth’ bookie might not bother with eSports coverage – happily, nothing could be further from the truth.
William Hill thorougly deserves a place on our top ten list for the site’s eSports coverage. Coverage is limited mainly to CSGO, Lol, Dota 2 and COD, but what coverage there is, it’s extensive. We found over 20 different markets on some events, including handicaps and specific betting per map. William Hill even has a specialised eSports coupon, just like football.
There’s no specific eSports bonus at William Hill, but the welcome bonus (bet £10 to get £30 in free bets) can be used on all eSports markets.
What we like:
- Excellent coverage of the main eSports
- Covers Overwatch, King of Glory and Rocket League too
- Esports coupon covers all daily match-ups
- Extensive markets per eSports event
- Some live streaming
What we don’t:
- Rather tired site design
5. BetUK – Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets
BetUK is probably the most unfamiliar name on this list, but we’ve a hunch that such a fact is not going to be true for much longer. This site is attractive, easy to use and has plenty to making it an appealing place for all your eSports betting.
We have to start this mini-review with a moan, though – eSports are not easy to find at BetUK. Our tip – choose ‘Betting’, then ‘A-Z Search’ (or ‘Live now’ if you’re interested in live eSports betting) and the ‘Esports’ … it really should be easier!
BetUK will prioritise live betting when you (finally) reach the eSports section, but you can easily switch to ‘outrights’ or ‘all’. Coverage extends to COD, CSGO, LoL, Dota 2, Valorant and Rainbow 6.
This site of course comes with a welcome bonus – bet £10 to get £30 – and you are free to use it on eSports markets.
What we like:
- At least six eSports covered
- Clean site design, easy to use
- Daily BetUK specials
- Good for football, horse racing and tennis
- Primed for live eSports betting
What we don’t:
- The actual eSports should be easier to find!
What Makes the Best eSports Betting Site?
You may be wondering what makes a decent eSports betting site? We suppose the obvious answer would be the range of eSports betting options a site provides, but we think there’s a little bit more to it than that. Here are the aspects of an eSports betting website we look out for when we’re choosing a UK betting site specifically for betting on competitive video gaming.
Major Tournaments and Events Coverage
Just like any other sport, eSports has it own calendar of tournaments and events. For an online betting site to regarded as a decent one for eSports betting, it must provide coverage of all the top tournament and major events in the eSports world for CS:GO, League of Legends, DOTA2 and more.Decent Variety of eSports Betting Options
If you are new to eSports betting, then you might be surprised about the number of betting options available to you. It is certainly not just a case of picking the winner of the tournament, or any particular match up. Other options include ‘first blood’ (first team or player to secure a kill) or individual map winners. The more options a site has per match, the better.Bonuses and Promotions
All UK betting sites tend to offer a welcome bonus or free bets, but we prefer sites that go that extra few pixels. We feel you should be rewarded for your ongoing use of a site, with bonuses and promotions that go beyond that initial welcome deal. Esport-specific bonuses are always good, too.Usability, including Mobile Compatibility
It really goes without saying that a site should be easy to use. No one wants to struggle through dozens of menus while being bombarded by ads just to place a bet. That usability must extend to mobiles too, with mobile-friendly sites being extremely important. Downloadable apps are a nice option to have, too – they had fallen out of fashion but seem recently to have made a comeback.Plenty of Payment Options
The good old debit card is the main way people in the UK fund their gambling (credit card gambling payments are banned of course). Not everyone wants to type in their Visa or MasterCard number online though, so alternatives such as eWallets like eSports betting with PayPal are always good to see. Payment options in the UK at betting sites are naturally limited though by government restrictions, such as the banning of pay-by-mobile and cryptocurrencies.Legal and Safe
We wonder never dream of betting at an non-licensed site, and we suggest that is one piece of advice we give that you definitely adhere to. In the UK, that means UKGC-licensed sites, an no other. Also, we like sites that have a good track record for customer data security, as well as sections detailing how to gamble responsively, with gambling help options included
How eSports Betting Sites Compare
If you have a particular eSports favourite, and you want to know which of our recommended sites offer betting on that game, then look no further! We have selected nine of the most popular eSports played and wagered upon today, and indicated which of our recommended sites offers betting on them.
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| Midnite |  |
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| Betway | |
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| Bet365 | |
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| William Hill | |
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| BetUK | |
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| Luckster | |
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| Betstorm | |
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| The Pools | |
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| BzeeBet | |
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| LiveScore Bet | |
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Key:
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CS:GO | |
League of Legends | |
DOTA2 |
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FIFA | |
Overwatch | |
Valorant |
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StarCraft II | |
Call of Duty | |
Rocket League |
Esports Betting Sites vs Traditional Bookies
So, what’s the difference between eSports bookmakers and traditional bookies? The answer is … very little. Okay, there is one main difference in that the coverage of eSports is not (yet) anywhere near as extensive at online betting sites as other pastimes, particularly football and horse racing. That, hopefully, will change one day.
Of course this is not the case at ALL online betting sites and the coverage of eSports at our number one pick Midnite is on par with the amount of coverage the site gives to traditional sporting pastimes.
Bet on eSports Biggest Events
We are now going to take a look at our nine chosen top eSport games, and explain how their contribution towards competitive video gaming is organised. We also list the type of game, the company behind it, and the year it was first released.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO)
(Tactical FPS; Value; 2012)
The eGaming world’s most popular shooter has the annual CSGO Major Championships, which first ran in 2013. There are a large number of qualifying matches for this tournament, plus the CCT (Champions of Champions) tour and the ESL (Electronic Sports League).
League of Legends (LOL)
(MOBA; Riot Games, 2009)
Despite rivals like DOTA2 and Arena of Glory, LOL is still the eSports world’s most popular MOBA. There’s the annual World Championships, while Riot Games currently runs a dozen regional LOL leagues in China, Korea, North America and Europe. There’s the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Asia) Championship too.
Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA2)
(MOBA; Valve; 2013)
Valve’s version of LOL was originally a modded version of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. The first DOTA2 esports tournament took place before the game had even been properly released, in 2011. Valve runs the DOTA2 World Championships, plus the extensive DPC (DOTA2 Pro Circuit) organisation which covers the whole globe.
FIFA (EA Sports FC)
(Sports simulator; EA Sports; 1993)
First available as ‘FIFA International Soccer’, then commonly known as FIFA, and now EA Sports FC (as EA Sports could not agree a license deal with the real-world FIFA), FIFA remains the world’s most popular sports simulator. An annual FIFA World Cup (FIFAe) has been played since 2004, and many nations have FIFA leagues.
Overwatch
(Hero FPS; Blizzard Entertainment; 2016)
This cartoon-style, hero-based FPS debuted in 2016 with Overwatch 2 released in 2022. Esports bettors can bet on the Overwatch League, Overwatch Contenders and the Overwatch World Cup.
Valorant
(Hero FPS; Riot Games; 2020)
Inspired by CS:GO but with elements of Overwatch, Fortnite and Apex Legends, Valorant rivals Overwatch as the world’s most popular hero-based FPS. Valorant has become the fourth-most popular eSport, with the VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) and the annual Valorant Champions global tournament.
Call of Duty (COD)
(Tactical Shooter; Activision; 2003)
Despite behind around since 2003, COD has only really been part of eSports realm since the release of COD4 Modern Warfare in 2006. Interest in COD as an eSport exploded in 2020 with the release of COD:MW and the creation of the city/franchised-based COD League.
StarCraft II
(Real-time Strategy; Blizzard Entertainment; 2010)
Unique on this list is StarCraft II, the sci-fi resource and combat strategy game. Despite now looking dated, interest in StarCraft II has yet to wain, even as an eSport, and it remains hugely popular in South Korea. The World Championship Series is now run in tandem by Blizzard and ESL.
Rocket League
(Sports simulator; Psyonix; 2015)
Despite being aimed at younger gamers (it is football with cars, after all) there’s a decent amount of interest in Rocket League as a competitive eSport, which is understandable given it’s … football with cars. There’s the Rocket League Championship Series, as well as national Rocket League tournaments.
Esports Betting Specials
The most obvious bet to place on an eSports match-up is who will win, but of course there’s more to eSports betting than that! Here are details are some alternative bets you will do well to consider.
- Match Handicap – to make match-ups more interesting bookies may give one team an artificial handicap. It is then up to you to judge who will come out on top when the game is over and the handicap is applied.
- Map Winners – on many games, a eSports match-up will be played over several legs, or ‘maps’ as there are known in the eSports world. You can bet on the winner of any particular map.
- Map Overtime (yes/no) – for specific eSports only, wager on whether a specific map or any map will go into overtime.
- Kills (map/overall) – bet on the competitor to secure the most kills, either overall or for a particular map.
- Kills Handicap (map/overall) – the same as above but with a handicap applied.
- First Blood – bet on the team or competitor that secures the first kill recorded in the game.
- Total Maps Played (over/under) – most eSport match-ups take place over three (first to two) or five (first to three) maps. You can place a bet on the total maps played over/under (2.5 for three maps, 3.5 for five maps).
- Correct Score – predict the correct score, including (or not) the winning competitor.
You will also find bets specific to certain eSports, such as betting on the ‘pistol round’ with CSGO eSports betting (the round in which competitives may only use pistols as their weapon).
How to Bet on eSports
Betting on eSports is no different to betting on non-eSports, but just in case you need help in placing an eSports bet, we are here to help! Naturally, you will need an account at an eSports-friendly bookie, so if you haven’t got one chose any site on our top ten list, create an account, fund your account and then log in.
We are going to use our first-choice Midnite as our example. We’ve logged into our Midnite account and are looking at the main eSports page, as you can see below:
We immediately note that the legendary FaZe Clan will be taking on Team Vitality at the CSGO IEM Rio tourament. We click on the event so we can see all the options that are available to us.
This is the main betting page for the event, with all the available betting markets shown. Despite all the options, we’re going to keep things simple by betting on FaZe Clan to win. To add this to our betting slip, we click on the odds offered for a FaZe Clan victory.
This is what our betslip now looks like. We set our stake (£10.00) and Midnite tells us how much a winning bet would return (£18.40). To place our bet, we only need to click the ‘Place Bet’ button. Go FaZe Clan!
Esports Live Betting
Esports is synonymous with live betting. Most eSports are streamed at eSports betting sites because they are available for free on streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. This means it’s easy to watch the event and place bets in real time.
You’ll be able to respond to the eSports competition you are watching (or following via some other platform) and tailor such bets as the next map winner accordingly.
Cash out is also usually available with live eSports betting. This is where you can cash in a winning bet before the bet has been settled if you feel there’s a risk of the winning bet turning into a losing one. The downside of doing this is that you’ll sacrifice a percentage of your potential return.
Esports Betting Exchange
Esports betting is available at betting exchanges as well as fixed odds betting sites. The leading betting exchange in the UK is Betfair, which is a site that has betting exchange coverage of CS:GO, LOL and DOTA2.
Exchanges work differently to fixed odds betting sites. With fixed odds, you are betting against the bookie, but at an exchange you are betting against your fellow exchange users.
To illustrate, we are going to take a look at that FaZe vs VIT match-up we placed a fixed odds bet on earlier. The most popular price offered by exchange layers (people who are backing a VIT win) on a FaZe win is 1.96, with £417 available. That means if we were to take that price (other, less popular prices are available) we could bet up to £417 and our bet would be covered. A £10 bet would present no problem, then.
A winning bet would return £19.60, as opposed to the £18.40 if we bet at Midnite, but there is one final step to consider. Betfair (and other betting exchanges) makes money by charging a commission on winning bets only, usually around five percent. As five percent of £19.60 is £0.98, our winnings would be reduced to £18.62.
Esports Betting Offers
Now it’s time for some disappointing news … eSports betting offers are not common at all. Despite the rise in interest in eSports betting, it remains a niche aspect of betting so is not seen as a big money earner, therefore online bookies usually concentrate their offers on football, horse racing and other popular non-eSports.
We have found some offers though that you are free to use on eSports.
Bet Builder Club – £2 Free Bet
Opt-in to join the Midnite Bet Builder Club. Place a minimum single £10 Bet Builder each week to unlock a free £2 bet. The offer is only available to UK Midnite customers, and customers must be verified and aged over 18.
Betway Free Bet Club
Join the Betway Free and earn £10 in free bets every week. Opt in and you’ll earn 2 x £5 free bets every week you wager a minimum of £25 on eSports multis or Bet Builder bets with a minium of three selections. Qualifying period Saturday to Friday, bets received (if criteria met) on the following Saturday and then Monday.
Esports Betting Tips & Strategy
To get the most out of your eSports betting, it is desirable that you follow a specific strategy. Here are three top tips that we think we will lead to success with your eSports wagers.
Make Sure You Know What You’re Betting On
If you’re betting with real money, losses can be unforgiving and it’s a lack of knowledge that causes more losses than anything. Never bet ‘on a whim’ or follow the herd. Before you place a bet on an eSport make sure you are familiar with it and before you bet on a specific competitor, make sure you have done your homework on them. Your brain is your most powerful weapon when it comes to eSports betting.
Always Be on the Lookout for Value
Once you’ve become accustomed to eSports betting, you’ll learn how to spot value bets and how to avoid ones that have little value. If you feel that an eSports competitor has around a 40 percent chance of winning a match (map, get first blood etc) but the odds are 3.40 (12/5 – which represents odds around a 30 percent chance of winning) then that’s a value bet. You’ll make the most profit successfully backing value bets.
Manage Your Bankroll
Bad bettors become unstuck because of bad bankroll management. If you have a bad run of luck it does not mean you’ve become an eSports betting newb … it just means you’ve had a bad run of luck (it happens to everyone). Don’t be tempted to chase your losses with increasingly dangerous wagers in the hope that the one big win will set your straight again. Instead, adopt a ‘bet little, win often’ strategy and stick to it.
Best eSports Betting Odds
You will of course return the best profits from your succesful eSports betting if you place your bets at the most profitable odds. Although such betting odds are very consistent across most eSports-friendly bookies, we have picked out three sites from our top ten list that we feel consistently offers the best odds for eSports wagers, time after time.
- Midnite – Simply the best for eSports betting in the UK
- Bet365 – the most popular online betting brand in the UK
- BetUK – a new name that’s gathering up plenty of content site users
Bottom Line
This page, we hope, has acted as your expert guide to eSports betting in the UK, and eSports betting sites. We’ve picked out ten eSports-friendly betting sites for you, gone through all the most popular eSports out there and given you the very best in eSports betting tips. What more could we have possibly done?
We wish you all the best with your eSports wagers, and hope that you prove to be a successful eSports bettor at the best eSports betting sites in the UK.
FAQs
What is eSports betting?
The answer to 'What is eSports betting?' is a simple one. It is placing bets on competitive video games such as Counter:Strike Global Offensive, League of Legends and Defense of the Ancients 2.
Is FIFA eSports betting available?
Yes, at a small number of sites FIFA eSports betting available. Note that since 2023 the traditional FIFA eSports franchise has been known as 'EA Sports FC' due to the loss of the FIFA licence.
Can I get an eSports betting app?
Any eSports betting website can be viewed on a mobile browser, so an eSports betting app should not be needed. However, some eSports betting sites offer apps that you can download and install to your device.
Which is the most popular eSport?
In terms of viewing, it is probably CSGO eSports betting with LOL a close second. In terms of playing, it is probably COD.
Can I pace eSports bets in the UK at a site that does not have a UKGC licence?
You could, but we do not recommend it at all. If a site without a UKGC licence accepts UK-based customers it is doing so illegally. Therefore, should you run into problems with the site (such as them not paying you winnings), you won't have any chance of settling those problems in your favour.
Peter joined the BettingSites.co.uk team in 2023, having previously worked for many high-profile gambling-related sites such as RightCasino, JustSlots, WhichBingo and Gambling.com. An experienced head when it comes to all aspects of iGaming, Peter is a fanatic fan of sport, including football and US sports such as baseball and American football. He is also a multi-published fiction writer, although sadly, not a wealthy one.
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