Top 8 Video Games You Can Bet On
Video game betting is a relatively new phenomenon that’s rapidly growing. However, there are many different genres, and it might not be immediately evident which eSports (competitions using video games) have the best markets for bettors.
However you look at it, video game betting is becoming more popular. So, to aid bettors searching for their newest league, here’s a list of eSports titles for betting, moving from lesser-known to more widely followed games.
Before we get started, here's a quick glossary of helpful terms we'll be referencing:
- ESL: Electronic Sports League, a major global esports organizer
- META: Most Effective Tactic Available
- MOBA: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
- FPS: First-person shooter
Note: Depending on your region or betting site, odds may appear in decimal, fractional, or American format.
Rocket League
At first glance, Rocket League might look unusual, but it’s arguably one of the easiest esports to understand. Essentially, Rocket League is football with cars. This team-based game exploded onto the scene when it was released in 2015.
The structure of the two divisions, the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) and the Rocket League Rival Series (RLRS), adds to its accessibility. If we compare it to its real-life counterpart, we can think of the RLCS as the Premier League and the RLRS as the Championship division. Both divisions are funded and organized by developers Psyonix.
Psyonix has since been bought by Epic Games, which already has a hugely popular sport in its portfolio: Fortnite. Having invested $100 million into prize money for eSports events like the Battle Royale, expect bigger things to come for the Rocket League Championship Series in the future.
What to Bet On:
- Match winner
- Total goals
- Series score (e.g., 3–1)
- First team to score
- Goal difference
Rainbow Six Siege
Rainbow Six Siege is arguably bigger than ever. With multiple seasons a year consistently changing the META to completely revamping tried-and-tested competition maps, developers Ubisoft have managed to keep this team-based tactical shooter feeling fresh.
From the ESL Pro League setting the standard for global competitions to Ubisoft's dedication and faith in the game, the future of sports betting in RS: Siege is as bright as a flash grenade.
What to Bet On:
- Match winner
- Round winner
- Total rounds (over/under)
- Correct map score
- The first team to reach a certain number of rounds
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm is often overlooked in the huge MOBA genre dominated by League of Legends and Dota 2. But Blizzard’s take on the genre still has a “Pro League” with seasons in several different regions that you can bet on. Even though its larger siblings overshadow it, it has a very active player base.
What to Bet On:
- Match winner
- Map winner
- Total maps
- First team to destroy a fort/core
- Specific team kills over/under
StarCraft II
StarCraft is arguably one of the pinnacles of video game gambling. When Wings of Liberty came around in 2010, it became one of the esports to bet on. Even though video game betting wasn’t as big back when it peaked, there are still plenty of StarCraft markets at the top eSports betting sites.
What to Bet On:
- Match winner
- Total goals
- Series score (e.g., 3–1)
- First team to score
- Goal difference
Overwatch
Overwatch, from Blizzard, has taken the video game gambling world by storm. It features a league system with four stages and then a playoff, which provides those interested in video game betting with ample opportunities to place wagers regularly.
The game and the number of available bets in every match will probably only grow from here. Digging deeper into the Overwatch eSports scene might be a good investment for the future.
What to Bet On:
- Match winner
- Map winner
- Total maps played
- Team to win a specific map
League of Legends
In League of Legends, you can use your knowledge of how the teams play to bet on which team will be the first to draw first blood or take the first tower.
League of Legends offers constantly ongoing leagues worldwide, and you can bet on almost any of them anytime.
What to Bet On:
- Match or map winner
- First blood/first tower
- Total kills
- Objective control (barons, dragons)
- Handicap bets
Dota 2
Dota might be the smaller of the two MOBA giants, but that doesn’t always correlate with how big the game’s betting community is. Being a Valve game, with its in-game currency of skins, betting has always been popular within the Dota 2 community. League of Legends might have caught up somewhat, but Dota 2 betting sites still deservedly sit in second place.
Dota 2 has more of an open-circuit tournament format with many smaller tournaments alongside huge majors and The International. There’s almost always something to bet on, and just like League of Legends, plenty of different markets are available.
What to Bet On:
- Match or map winner
- First blood/first Roshan
- Most kills
- Map duration (over/under)
- Kill difference handicaps
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
The undisputed No. 1 on this list is, of course, Counter-Strike.
The player base was gradually declining toward the end of the 1.6 era (the predecessor to CS:GO), and the release of Global Offensive was not a hit at first. But now the percentage of players surpasses that of any other eSport. Many eSports betting sites focus exclusively on CS:GO, and it’s fair to say that betting made Counter-Strike what it is today.
CS:GO is also the king of the open-circuit format. There are dozens of matches to bet on daily, thanks to a much larger semi-pro scene than any other eSport—even surpassing the combined semi-pro scenes of League of Legends and Dota 2. The bigger events also feature bets like winning by a round margin, determining if there will be a kill with a grenade, or determining how many kills a player will get in a pistol round.
What to Bet On:
- Match winner
- Map winner
- Total rounds (over/under)
- First kill/pistol round winner
- Player props (most kills, grenade kills)
