- Updated Dec 13, 2023
Top 5 most popular esports to bet on
We all know just how much the online esports betting market has been growing over the last decade. It went from being an unknown niche category available on just a few online betting platforms, to a packed market featuring numerous betting opportunities left, right, and center.
But, if you aren’t a true esports fan, you might not know much about the biggest and most lucrative esports betting categories.
By categories, we’re referring to individual games offered by the top esports bookmakers. For example – CSGO, Dota 2, LoL, Valorant, etc.
What are the most popular CSGO betting categories? What are some of the biggest esports events to follow in 2023 – that’s only a portion of today’s discussion. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and start with the analysis!
CSGO Betting Market Still Rules the Online Betting Sphere
Of course, CSGO betting is still the number one contender in the world of online esports betting categories. This decade-old franchise has been enjoying a healthy betting scene ever since its earliest stages. The good old days of CSGO Lounge and similar skin betting sites have paved the way for what we now call esports betting sites.
Even if you’re a total stranger to video games, chances are that you’ve heard about CSGO AKA Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It’s the newest iteration of the age-old Counter-Strike 1.6 and Counter-Strike: Source which were, at their time, the undisputed kings of internet cafes and basement-bound LAN tournaments.
Even though a decade has passed since its release, CSGO is still going strong. There are lots of major tournaments you can choose from, as well as a healthy dose of betting opportunities too. If you love competitive first-person shooters and bet-depth is of key importance, look no further than CSGO!
Online bookmakers were quick to recognize the demand for CSGO betting markets. Nowadays, you’ll find offers for betting on CSGO on virtually all reputable online sportsbooks.
Biggest CSGO Tournaments to Bet On
There’s a handful of CSGO tournaments you can bet on. Across 365 days in a year, you can count on at least 300 having top-tier CSGO tournaments for you to choose from.
The biggest occasions are definitely CSGO Major Championships. Held twice a year, these tournaments bring forth the crème de la crème of the game’s competitive sphere and make them battle each other for $1 million in prize money.
Other notable events include ESL Pro League events, Intel Extreme Masters, BLAST Premier events, and many more.
Dota 2 Betting Community Still Going Strong
Dota 2 is Valve’s second esports wunderkind. It’s been around for as long as CSGO, roughly a decade, and has established itself as by far the most lucrative esports franchise out there.
You probably know that the prize pools of Dota 2 Internationals are often above $30 million USD. In fact, the 2021 TI iteration had $40 million USD in prize money. Granted, the battle pass changes did lower the prize pools a bit, but we’ll talk about that in the following section.
Biggest Dota 2 Tournaments to Bet On
Even though The International are the most lucrative Dota 2 events, they only last less than a month. The remainder of the season is packed with Minors and Majors, so that’s what you’re most likely going to be betting on.
Minors and Majors are a part of the DPC (Dota Pro Circuit) which has had new changes introduced last season. Now, the whole circuit is based on two divisions, but Majors are still the focal points because they offer the biggest share of DPC points.
That’s what the majority of Dota 2 betting options will be about too. DPC lasts for a big portion of the calendar year, whereas Tis only last a couple of weeks. So, if you’re interested in betting on Dota 2, you should be exploring the next Major.
As for TI Battle Pass changes, last year introduced a new system which drastically cut the TI prize pool. To put it into perspective, TI 2021 had $40 million in prize money, whereas TI 2022 had just shy of $19 million. It’s still a massive prize pool unlike any other events out there, but we have to point out that it has indeed been drastically cut down from previous iterations.
Betting on League of Legends Hasn’t Lost Its Charm
Our list of the biggest esports betting categories is far from finished. Next up, we have League of Legends, an iconic esports franchise that pretty much kickstarted the whole esports scene. Yep, believe it or not, Starcraft II and League of Legends were among the pioneers and are responsible for paving the way for what we call the esports scene nowadays.
In short, League of Legends is a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) in many ways similar to Valve’s Dota 2. It enjoys popularity across six continents, making it a proper worldwide spectacle. Online bookmakers have been offering League of Legends bets for almost a full decade now, which goes to show you professional League of Legends isn’t going anywhere!
Biggest League of Legends Tournaments to Bet On
There are a number of different tournaments we need to mention here. For starters, we need to point out the game’s pivotal circuit labeled as League of Legends regional championships. These are your typical regional series which are, in League of Legends, labeled as LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS, and so on.
Regional championships are divided into two splits – Spring and Summer. In between the two splits is the so-called Mid-Season Invitational. That’s the first big international event every season, a proving ground for teams to assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Following the end of the MSI, Summer Splits kick off and it’s non-stop action till the end of the regional playoffs. Shortly after the champions are crowned, the LoL esports stage turns to the pinnacle of the season – the League of Legends World Championship.
When talking about sheer viewership and exposure, no other esports events come close to LoL Worlds. These events typically last for a whole month and captivate millions of avid fans all across the globe.
Valorant Is Not the New Kid on the Block Anymore
Valorant was quick to assert dominance and climb to the very top of the esports betting stage. The game was properly released in June 2020 but already has a sizeable esports fanbase even before the release… yep, all thanks to extensive coverage on Twitch.
Fast-forward almost three years and Valorant is among the most popular first-person shooters out there. In fact, I’ll dare to say that it’s right up there with the likes of CSGO and Rainbow Six. Of course, it’s not at the level of CSGO just yet, but it’s getting there.
This short-TTK (time-to-kill) FPS is in many ways similar to Valve’s CSGO. But, its esports scene is completely centralized, just like that of League of Legends. Was this the right move by Riot Games? Only time will tell the full story, I’m afraid.
Biggest Valorant Tournaments to Bet On
The only Valorant esports series you should explore for your bets is the VCT. Yep, Valorant Champions Tour is the full name and it’s the only series worth your while! There are other events on a smaller scale, but those typically aren’t available on online betting sites or have very limited coverage.
More precisely, you should aim for either Masters or Champions VCT events. Yes, Challengers have their fair share of charm, but it’s nothing quite like the bigger LAN event played in front of a studio audience and with much more at stake.
After checking out both League of Legends and Valorant, we can safely assume the folks over at Riot Games know what they’re doing with their esports. Legends of Runeterra and TFT are great franchises too but just aren’t at the level of League and Valorant.
FIFA Esports Scene Rapidly Improving
Last but not least – FIFA Esports! Yep, the newest FIFA games are as competitive as ever and such a state perfectly translated to the game’s esports ecosystem. Over the last couple of years, the FIFA esports scene has gone through exponential growth and is showing no signs of stopping.
With well-executed incremental changes with each passing season (and game), FIFA esports is definitely here to stay… especially now that it has captured the attention of all big international sports betting platforms.
Biggest FIFA Tournaments to Bet On
Just like the conventional game of football, the biggest FIFA tournaments are the likes of the Champions League, World Cup, and Nations League… of course, in their electronic variants (eChampions League, eWorld Cup, and eNations League).
On top of all that, however, FIFA also has the FIFA Global Series. We’re talking about a series of smaller events that boil down to one of the biggest tournaments in the world of sports simulations – FIFA global Series Finals.
If you’re a FIFA betting enthusiast, that’s the tournament you want to bet on! Bookies never take it for granted – they always feature outrights, moneylines, and a whole bunch of props during the FGS playoffs.
Other Notable Esports Betting Categories
Needless to say, the five aforementioned esports betting categories are only the tip of the iceberg of what’s available on online bookmakers. The sea of esports are vast and often unexplored by many. There are lots of other esports markets for which online bookies often feature betting odds. We’re talking about the following:
- Rainbow Six
- Rocket League
- Overwatch
- Call of Duty
- Super Smash Bros
Additionally, we have to point out several up-and-coming mobile esports which are showing plenty of potential. PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang all offer superb competitive action. If mobile esports are exactly your cup of tea, make sure you give these markets a try!
