How to Bet on Esports: The Complete Guide to Top Games & Betting Markets 2025
- Top Esports bet types and smart strategies
- Key factors for building winning strategies
- Flashscore tools for live data and research
Richard Trenchard
Last updated 6 Sept 2025
Need to learn how to bet on eSports? Want to maximise your betting game with this popular betting market? Our esports betting guide will provide you with all you need to know, providing information about the top esports betting strategy so you can enjoy live esports betting to its fullest. Esports is a global phenomenon that has continued to expand. Bettors can place bets on elite players and teams who compete across various video games to win massive prizes.
Table of contents
- 1.Best Bookmakers for Betting on Esports
- 2.Understanding the Biggest Games in Esports Betting
- 3.The Main Types of Esports Bets Explained
- 4.How to Analyse an Esports Match: A Strategy Guide
- 5.The Flashscore Advantage: Your Essential Esports Data Hub
Best Bookmakers for Betting on Esports
Find a sportsbook that offers you the best esports betting markets. The best bookmakers offering top esports betting for beginners include those that provide detailed game coverage, market depth for specific games, live streaming integration (such as Twitch), and bonuses.
Coral offers all new customers a welcome bonus free bet when creating an account through this page, and betting on one of the many sports, competition...
Launched in the UK in 2024, 7bet is a new entry to the sportsbook market. They are entirely legal as the UK Gambling Commission licenses them. Our 7be...
Betway is one of the biggest sportsbooks in the UK. They are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and have been in business since 2006...
Betano is a legal and licensed sportsbook currently accepting new players in the UK. Is it a bookmaker worth joining? Flashscore’s Frank Monkhouse pro...
Ladbrokes was founded in 1886, making it one of the oldest names in sports betting worldwide. The company is deep-rooted in UK and Irish sports and be...
Midnite offers competitive betting odds and generous promotions on a long list of sports, competitions, and markets. Today is the perfect time to join...
Understanding the Biggest Games in Esports Betting
Popular esports games that are wagered regularly typically consist of two main genres. Knowing what these are can be beneficial, as it may help you to understand the esports betting odds that have been listed.
- FPS (First-Person Shooters): One of the most common esports to bet on is FPS titles. Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant are among the most popular. These titles are based on tactics and strategy, featuring rounds that players can compete in, with bettors wagering on specific outcomes.
- MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena): League of Legends and Dota 2 are popular MOBA titles for bettors. These games highlight team strategies and objectives, with several outcomes possible to wager on. It’s like wagering on a team sport, rather than an individual.
The Main Types of Esports Bets Explained
Several different esports betting markets exist that you should understand if you want to enhance any session you engage in. Some games will feature specific prop bets, although many share common markets. These include:
- Match Winner: Placing a bet on which team will win the match.
- Map Winner: A bet that is placed on which team will win the specific map within a series.
- Handicap Betting (Maps/Rounds): A virtual advantage/disadvantage is placed on a team to try and even the odds. This could be placed on maps or rounds. For example, the favourite may have a -1.5 line in a best-of-3 series. If this is the case, they must win two of the three for the bet to win.
- Total Maps/Rounds (Over/Under): An esports bet in which the bettor will predict whether more or fewer rounds/maps will be played over a line that the sportsbook has set.
- Game-Specific Prop Bets: In LoL and Dota 2, you may find a ‘First Blood’ prop, which is simply betting on the first kill. In CS2 or Valorant, you may find ‘Pistol Round Winner’, which is betting on the first-round winner.
How to Analyse an Esports Match: A Strategy Guide
The best esports betting strategy available is to learn how to analyse a match before and during. To do this, you should conduct research before placing a bet. Consider the following:
- Team & Player Form: Analysing team and player form can help reveal trends, potential strengths and weaknesses, and more.
- Head-to-Head (H2H) Record: The H2H record should be examined to identify any trends, such as whether one team/player consistently outperforms the other when they compete.
- Understanding “The Meta”: Found asking yourself, what is the meta in esports? It examines how game updates and patches can alter the effectiveness of strategies, characters, and weapons. Some teams can adapt more quickly than others.
- Roster Changes: Checking the latest player roster is essential, as teams frequently update it. If new players are on a team, chemistry can be impacted, but performances in a certain game can be enhanced.
The Flashscore Advantage: Your Essential Esports Data Hub
When engaging in esports betting, you must use Flashscore to obtain an advantage! It’s a free-to-use tool that can provide huge value across all esports betting.
- Live Score & Round-by-Round Updates: Flashscore provides real-time data and trackers that allow bettors to follow matches live and make better betting decisions.
- Detailed Match Statistics: Flashscore’s ‘Stats’ tab can be used to access data suitable for esports prop bets, including Kills/Deaths/Assists (KDA) for MOBAs and Headshot percentage for FPS games.
- Tournament Brackets & Standings: You can use Flashscore to view an overview of specific tournaments and their brackets. This can be useful when making future bets, such as betting on the overall winner of a competition. It can also be used to track a team or player’s display and identify potential upcoming matches that can then be researched in detail.
- H2H to Settle Rivalries: Flashscore’s ‘H2H’ tab allows bettors to access an overview of how two teams have competed against each other in the past and gives them the biggest picture of all, whether it is the eventual outcome or specific ones, such as when betting on maps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest esport to bet on for a beginner?
The easiest esports market to bet on for beginners is the ‘Match Winner’ bet. This simply requires players to wager on who they think will win, regardless of any other aspect.
What does "the meta" mean in esports and why is it important for betting?
“The meta” refers to the set of strategies, characters, tactics, or builds currently recognised as the most effective or optimal for winning under the game’s current rules and balance. It is important in betting because it helps bettors find value in the bets they place.
Can I bet on esports matches live as they are being played?
Yes, you can bet on esports matches live.
Where can I watch esports matches that I bet on?
Most sportsbooks will offer live streams that can be accessed once a bet has been placed.
What is a 'pistol round' bet in CS2 or Valorant?
A “Pistol Round” bet is simply betting on the winner of the first round played in CS2 or Valorant.
How do roster changes affect a team's betting odds?
A change to a roster can impact the team’s betting odds in several ways. Chemistry may not be as high as it needs to be for an effective performance. Conversely, it can improve a team’s odds if a specialist or in-form player is added and another is removed.
Is it better to bet on big tournaments or smaller online leagues?
Both have their pros and cons. Bettors should recognise what they want to achieve and opt for the option that best suits their preferences. Big tournaments can be better for data-driven betting, but smaller online leagues can be perfect for those placing smaller stakes.
Where can I find reliable stats for esports teams?
Flashscore is the top resource for finding reliable statistics around esports teams. You can access detailed, comprehensive data quickly and in a digestible way.
About the author
We're delighted to have Richard on board at Flashscore. Offering a wealth of experience, Rich used to be a national newspaper and sports journalist before focussing entirely on the igaming and sports betting spheres. That means he is able to combine super sharp editorial instinct and crisp content with a wealth of information, having worked with some of the biggest names in the business over the past decade. So, when you see Rich's name on an article, you know it's packed information you can trust. Whether it's information on a particular casino, betting terms explained, betting tips, the best betting sites around, or anything else, Rich has got your back.
