Video game betting is a relatively new phenomenon that is growing rapidly. However, there are many different genres and it is sometimes difficult to understand which e-sports (video game competitions) have the best markets for bettors.
However you look at it, video game betting is gaining popularity. So to help bettors find their next e-sports obsession, we've compiled a list of the top six video games you can bet online:
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm is often overlooked when it comes to the MOBA genre, which is dominated by League of Legends and Dota 2. The genre still has Pro League seasons in several different regions that you can bet on. Although Heroes of the Storm is overshadowed by its older siblings, this game has a very active player base.
Starcraft II
Starcraft is probably one of the pinnacles of video gaming. When Wings of Liberty came out in 2010, it became one of the online sports to bet on. Although video game betting wasn't so popular before when the game was at its height, there is still a lot of choice when it comes to Starcraft markets in the best e-sports betting sites.
Overwatch
Blizzard's new eSports title - Overwatch has taken over the world of gambling video games with a bang. It has a four-stage system, followed by a playoff, which provides those interested in video game betting with many opportunities to place bets on a regular basis.
The game is likely to become more popular and the number of bets available for each match is increasing. The Overwatch e-sports scene can be a really good investment for the future.
League of Legends
It may be surprising to some that the largest eSport in the world is ranked third on this list. Although third, League of Legends offers live leagues around the world and you can bet on almost any of them at any time.
There is a big gap in the list between third and fourth place, which is important to keep in mind. The three best e-sports offer many different betting options for the same match, which the smaller ones simply do not yet offer. In League of Legends, you can use your knowledge of how teams work to bet which team will take the lead, which really enhances players' experience in betting on video games.
Dota 2
Dota may be the smaller of the two MOBA or ARTS giants as Dota2 fans call it, but that doesn't always depend on how big the betting community is. Being a Valve game with the currency of skins, betting has always been popular with the Dota2 community. League of Legends may have caught up with it, but Dota2 still deserves second place.
Dota2 is an open-circuit format with much smaller tournaments, as well as larger ones, like The International. There is always a possibility to bet on something, and like League of Legends, there are many different markets.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Undoubtedly number one on this list is, of course, Counter-Strike. This game has been on the e-sports scene for 19 years and its popularity continues to grow. The number of players slowly declined towards the end of 1.6, and the launch of Global Offtack was not initially welcomed. It was the launch of skins in the game that made it popular.
The percentage of players who also follow the eSports scene exceeds that of any other eSports. As both eSport and "skins" were an integral part of the game, conflicting "bets on skins" developed as a consequence.
There have been many betting sites focused solely on CS: GO and indeed, betting has made Counter-Strike what it is today. However, Valve has now placed many restrictions on betting with skins and the betting community has moved to more traditional and secure betting sites.
CS: GO is also the king of the open-circuit format. There are dozens of matches every day as there is a much larger semi-professional scene than any other eSport around - even bigger than League of Legends and Dota2 combined. Larger events include bets such as a round margin win, whether there will be a grenade kill or not, or how many kills will be in the pistol round. We can say that when you bet on Counter-Strike you will never miss a variety of options. Nowdays, many bookmakers have esports as a part of their sportsbook, so you can check one of the leading ones in our expert reviews: Bet365, 10Bet, Betfair, 22Bet.