eSport betting sites - the best eSports bookmakers for 2022

MansionBet’s ranking system involves putting numerous eSports betting sites through a stringent set of tests, which allow us to determine who the standout performers in the industry are. We’ve supplied a rundown of some the criteria involved.

• Markets, betting types and odds – Perhaps the most important aspects of eSports betting, we do thorough research on the markets, odds and eSports bet types carried by the bookmakers we analyse.
• Promotions and Bonuses – Finding the right promotions and bonuses is key to developing a long-term relationship with new betting sites and we dissect what’s on offer and tell you whether promos are up to scratch.
• Coverage/Betting variety – eSports is a relatively new addition to the betting game, so finding a bookie that offers comprehensive coverage is a must. We put betting sites through a meticulous review process to ensure standards are high.
• Features – Features like in-play betting, cash out, bet builders and live streaming can greatly enhance the user experience and we have the lowdown on who offers what.
• Mobile/App, Mobile Compatibility – Betting apps have become crucial components for all bettors and the best eSports betting sites should have dedicated applications for their customers.
• Safety and Security – We want our readers to feel safe, secure and fully protected when placing eSports bets and we work to ensure we provide recommended betting sites that pass the safety test.

The list above is not exhaustive and offers just a taste of what we look for during our research. We also rank eSports betting sites based on industry reputation, withdrawal/payout speeds, variety of payment options, free bets, customer support and much more. Keep reading to expand your knowledge.

How do we check

Our step-by-step review and ranking process takes time and we aim to be as open and honest as possible when compiling our rundown of the best eSports betting sites in the UK.

Starting with the careful background checks we perform on all betting sites, we ensure that each bookmaker is fully legit and licenced.

Once we’re happy, we run through the task of opening an account to ascertain what’s involved, including the verification process and any welcome bonuses on offer.

Then, we take the journey any new user would expect to take. We browse markets, place bets, process withdrawals, interact with customer services and wager on betting apps to get a proper feel for the eSports betting product that’s being served up.

Most importantly, we want to push home that MansionBet are a completely independent review service. No profit is gained by us for the inclusion of any of the betting sites we feature. Our sole aim is to inform and you can rest assured that we will never steer you in the wrong direction.

From Pong and Space Invaders to the immersive and jaw-dropping titles of today, video gaming has undergone an incredible evolution over the past 40 years and the growth of online gaming since the Millennium eventually spawned the eSports revolution we’re seeing today.

For many, the eSports world is still shrouded in mystery, however, it is now a billion-dollar industry with household names like CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch and Fortnite dominating the space. 

The multiplayer online games now have massive professional leagues with teams who compete in tournaments around the world for huge cash prizes. Esports was set to debut in the Olympics later this year in Asia 2022 before the event was postponed, though it should be a staple in the prestigious games from now on.

With its popularity on a firm upward trajectory, eSports betting has hit the mainstream in recent years and betting sites everywhere have been getting in on the action.

Like other sports, punters can enjoy a wide variety of betting markets and eSports bets, with lines that allow you to bet on the outcome of an individual game, on the number of maps there will be or even the first team to record a kill in the many shooter games that feature.

eSports is similar to other types of sports betting in that bettors can analyse stats, form and teams to find patterns worth backing, while tournament ante-post markets that allow you to predict who might win a tournament outright are also carried by eSports betting sites.

Like any new sport, there is a learning curve involved and once up to speed you can place eSports bets on fighting games like Street Fighter and Tekken, Racing games like the big-hitting Formula One and Grand Turismo Sport releases, Sports titles like FIFA and Madden and multiplayer online battle arena games that include League of Legends, Dota 2 and Smite.

Elsewhere, there are also Digital Card games (Hearthstone, Shadowverse), first-person shooters (Doom, Counter-Strike) and real-time strategy games (StarCraft, Warcraft III) to consider, giving eSports betting fans plenty to sink their teeth into.

From the most famous brands to lesser-known outfits, we’ve done due diligence on a huge number of betting sites to find you the highest-ranking bookies for eSports betting UK and below, we present MansionBet’s list of best eSports betting sites for 2022.

If you are new to the world of eSports betting, then this next section might be a little confusing, but we’ll do our best to cut through the noise. 

The first thing to note is that the betting markets and types for more run-of-the-mill sports where you can bet on match results, goals, cards and so forth don’t really apply to many eSports games beyond titles like FIFA, Pro Evo and Madden.

Instead, markets like maps and kills will accompany win markets in first and third-person shooters, allowing bettors to place eSports bets in a plethora of new and exciting ways.

Some of the most popular eSports bet types for CS:GO for instance include Match Lines, Map Lines, Points Spreads and Kill Totals, though the type of lines available will differ depending on the rules set out in each game. 

Betting types

• Tournament winner – This one is pretty self-explanatory. These types of eSports bets allow you to predict the overall winner of a tournament or competition.
• Match winner – Predict and bet on the outcome of an individual match-up between two players or teams.
• First map – In games like Counter Strike and League of Legends, you can pick a side to win the first map.
• First kill/first blood – Back a player to record the first kill in a first or third-person shooter title.
• Overs/unders – How many maps or kills will there be in total? You decide.
• Most kills – This bet type offers the opportunity to back an individual to post the most kills in a round or map.
• Handicaps – Similar to handicap betting in sports, you can apply a numerical advantage or disadvantage to the player/team of your choice to improve your odds.

 While eSports betting can be a little different to wagering on more traditional sports, the overall target is the same. Profitability (and fun) is the aim and finding the best odds for your bets can help you to achieve your punting goals.

Once you get your feet under the table with eSports betting, you’ll notice pretty quickly that the odds available for matches and events can vary in price from bookmaker to bookmaker – but don’t let the reams of numbers confuse you!

Instead, view it as an opportunity to find value and the most punch for the contents of your pocket. The bookies that made the cut for MansionBet’s list of best eSports betting sites all come outfitted with some of the most competitive odds around – why else would we include them?

While we recommend you make the most of our research and rankings, it’s also important to become familiar with doing some legwork of your own. Shop around for better prices and seek out the most lucrative odds for your eSports bets.

MansionBet don’t offer any odds comparison services at present, though the availability of strong odds is a major factor in how we rank the betting sites that feature in our guide.

 The best bonuses and promotions are the ones that combine generosity with easy playthrough requirements and some betting sites have more balanced offers than others. Below, we’ve analysed what’s on offer in terms of promos with our favourite eSports betting sites.

• bet365 – The £50 in free bets offer you can nab with bet365 is a decent chunk of change but once you’re on-boarded, offers for eSports betting are few and far between. Other sports are much better served and this is an area bet365 could definitely rework. You will find good batches of Bet Boosts on most eSports events however, which serve up enhanced odds ahead of designated contests. You can see the latest Bet Boost on the main eSports betting page on bet365.

• Fansbet – The welcome package offered by Fansbet of a 200% bonus up to £200 is beyond lavish and there are also numerous daily free bets to avail of once you’re up and running. The free bet and risk-free bet promos can all be used on Fansbet’s extensive eSports betting markets.
• Boylesports – The £25 you can collect with Boylesports after you open your account and follow the qualification procedures arms you with a nice little bankroll to kick off your eSports betting exploits, though the bookmakers’ other promotions are geared towards punters of other sports in the main. Football and horse racing fans in particular will have a wealth of choice when it comes to promos and bonuses with Boylesports, though it would be a huge lift to the eSports betting community if more was aimed in their direction too.

• LeoVegas – LeoVegas’ welcome offer give users a 100% boost on their winnings up to £100 on their initial qualifying £10 bet, while their weekly offers on live sports and accumulator profit boosts can also add spice to your eSports bets.

We found the live sports rewards to be particularly enthralling. Every week, you can claim your digital LVLC Reward Card and once you’re set up, you can pocket free bets or boosts for every five qualifying bets you place on sports via the mobile version.

It’s worthwhile to learn about the various tools and features on offer from all eSports betting sites and using the right ones in the correct manner can really augment your overall experience.

The fast-paced world of eSports is hugely exciting where game states can change dramatically on a whim and as such, in-play betting can be an effective feature once you get a handle on how it works.

Combining in-play eSports bets with live streaming can also be constructive and you can make rapid-fire decisions while following the action play-by-play as it unfolds.

Utilising the cash-out feature – which is available with the majority of eSports betting sites we’ve encountered – can also ramp up your chances of profitability.

As we touched on above, games in eSports can be a whirlwind of change and consummate cash-out control when things swing in your favour can help you to fill your pockets before any shifts in momentum.

Safe and security

MansionBet takes your safety very seriously and we won’t include any eSports betting sites that fall short of our standards in this hugely-important area.

Generally, betting sites will have the security information you need in easy-to-find places and there are several crucial safety steps you should always look out for before opening an account.

First, it’s a good idea to ensure that the bookie is licenced and regulated correctly by the UK Gambling Commission or other relevant body from abroad. That will ensure that their safety standards are constantly monitored.

Arm yourself with information about how the betting sites’ login systems operate and how verification works. This is an area where we like to dig deep ourselves and we also work to determine the security methods and systems that bookmakers apply to banking, deposits and withdrawals.

We also like to find out how your personal data is guarded. Is it as protected as it should be? Do any of our featured betting sites share your information with third parties? Our advice is to be as scrupulous as possible about security and that should help you to avoid any nasty surprises.

The latest statistics and trends show that more and more punters are choosing to play using betting apps instead of standard desktop versions, though there are valid reasons to pick either as your preference.

Betting on a desktop version of a bookmaker gives you lots of lovely, uncluttered space where you can navigate menus and markets more easily, though it does have its drawbacks when it comes to live betting in particular. 

This is where mobile betting apps excel and it’s much easier to follow the action from the palm of your hand, taking the need to stay stationary in front of your laptop or PC away completely.

Naturally, screen sizes are way smaller with smartphones and tablets, though all the same features, bonuses and eSports betting options you get with desktop version should be available with the majority of betting apps out there.

 If you’re worried about the safety and security side of mobile betting then you should allay your fears. The technology involved is really high end and you can deposit and bet with confidence knowing that you are fully protected.

With a ban on betting apps now lifted, you can download most titles on Google Play, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, finding direct download links on bookmakers’ official sites is straightforward. 

All good eSports betting apps should come equipped with quick access to markets, slick navigation, easy-to-locate bonuses, one-touch live streaming and well-engineered in-play betting mechanisms – and all the outlets featured in our list of best eSports betting sites have betting apps that tick all the right boxes.

Whether you are new to the game or a seasoned bettor, there are tons of reasons to give eSports betting a crack. With exciting new games and markets to explore, we’re sure that you’ll find eSports a worthwhile addition to your normal betting routine.

MansionBet’s guide has walked you through a number of key aspects to consider when starting your eSports betting journey and we’ve listed our approved list of best eSports betting sites for 2022 to help you on the way.

Remember to do as much of your own research as possible too. From site usability and security to the quality of markets and odds on offer, there are numerous things to scrutinise before taking the plunge, so absorb as much info as you can.

Now we move on to banking and the fundamentals you should know about including the types of deposit and withdrawal methods you’re likely to come across during your eSports betting career. Below, we’ve drawn up a list of the most popular methods we found on eSports betting sites.

• Visa/Mastercard – With almost total availability and rapid transaction times, Visa and Mastercard – both debit and credit – are the number one choice for many bettors. There are rarely transaction fees associated with this method.
• Skrill – One of the many digital wallet providers on the market, Skrill allows you to keep all of your card details stored securely in your account. Many eSports betting fans like to use Skrill because it allows them to deposit without entering all those card numbers each time. Security is strong and transaction times are impressive.
• Neteller – Simply put, Neteller is an e-money transfer service that acts as a gateway between you and the vendor. Another digital wallet to consider, Neteller is instant, secure and free.
• PayPal – Anyone with an internet connection has heard of PayPal. Like Skrill and Neteller, PayPal stores your card information and allows you to make transactions through them rather than directly with the bookmaker. It takes a little longer to make deposits due to the whole login process however, while some betting sites don’t accept payments from them at all.
• Google Pay – Google Pay operates in the same way as many of the payment methods featured above. However, Google Pay isn’t nearly as widely accepted by betting sites as their competitors, which can be a bit of a pain if it’s your primary payment method.
• Bank transfer – If you prefer, you can transfer money to your bookmaker account directly from your personal bank account in the form of a standard bank transfer. If you’re in a hurry, this isn’t the method for you however, as this one can take several days to go through. You’re like to encounter fees with bank transfers too.

Payouts

So, how do you extract those lovey eSports winnings? Luckily, betting sites make the process just as easy to follow as depositing is and most of the time payouts are processed right after your eSport bet lands.

Of course, transaction times in terms of how fast you get your winnings can vary from bookie to bookie and method to method, though some bookmakers like bet365 can process withdrawals to cards almost instantly making it one of the fastest payout merchants around.

Keep an eye out for early payouts too while surfing the markets in the eSports betting realm. These allow you to get paid early on certain events if your bet looks like being a winner.

For example, a bookmaker might offer an early payout on an CS:GO match if one team is a few rounds clear of their opponents with the game’s finish in sight. This allows you to pocket your winnings before the event finishes.