eSports Betting – The Finest eSports Betting Sites in the UK

eSports are attracting more and more attention in the UK, predominantly among gamers. But this fairly new type of sport is also increasing in popularity among punters. If you're interested in learning about eSports betting, then you're on the right page. Continue reading to learn all about this betting form.

eSports Popularity in the UK

The UK is one of the countries where eSports is on an exponential rise. According to a 2025 report, the UK has around 9.4 million competitive gamers, which is 13.7% of its total population. The user penetration of this sport is about 29.8% and will probably go up to 34.5% by 2029.

Compared to other countries, the UK's competitive gamers spend the most money on eSports. Their average monthly spending is around £30. This includes in-game items, DLC, battle passes, and more.

We should note that the projected eSports market in the UK for 2025 is £190.8 million. Now, eSports betting makes up £143.4 million of that sum. This shows that eSports betting generates more revenue than playing or watching eSports competitions.

A 2019 report by the UK Parliament indicates that 7.6% of all adults have placed at least one eSports bet. 67% of those individuals were men, and 23% were women. In terms of ages, the most active betting group is the one ranging between 25 and 34 years of age.

How to Place an Online eSports Bet

Wagering on eSports events is almost identical to placing bets on any other type of sports event. But if you're a beginner, then you might struggle with this task. As such, we decided to construct a simple step-by-step guide that anyone can follow.

Pick a Sportsbook & Register an Account

Explore our hand-picked eSports bookmakers and pick the one that you like the most. Then, click on “Sign Up”, provide your personal details, agree to the T&Cs, and confirm your betting account. 

Deposit Funds to Your Betting Account

Go to the "Deposit" area of the "Cashier" section and choose a payment method. Next, enter a deposit amount, type the required banking information, and approve the money transaction.

Select an eSports Event & Betting Market

Access the “Sports” section, click on the “eSports” category, and pick an event that you want to wager on. After that, you must choose a betting market by clicking on the featured odds.

Pick a Stake Amount and Confirm the Bet

Lastly, you need to enter a stake amount based on the limits and confirm the eSports bet. All you can do now is wait for the match to end to see if you’ve won or not.

Types of eSports Betting Markets

On reputable UK sportsbooks, you'll come across a variety of eSports betting markets. Each of them is different as it allows you to wager on a specific thing within a match. At this stage, we'll reveal and briefly explain the most commonly used eSports betting options:

• Match winner – this is the most basic bet type, as it allows you to wager on a team or player to win the match. You just decide which team/player to back and confirm the bet.
• Map winner – this betting option appears in certain games that feature multiple maps or rounds. It lets you gamble on a team/player to win a specific map or round.
• Over/under – you can also find this bet as a total. It represents wagering on the total maps or rounds played, total kills, or total time of an eSports event. These betting options depend on the type of game.
• First to markets – this betting market depends on the type of game played within the eSports event. It can be the first blood, first map win, first tower, or other. 
• Handicap – bookmakers offer this market to even the odds between the underdog and the favourite. One will start with a disadvantage, while the other will have an advantage in the score. It’s up to you to decide which one to back to win the match based on the adjusted score.
• Outrights – with this bet type, you can gamble on the winner of the tournament or league. Some UK sportsbooks will also allow you to wager on a team/player to win the group or reach the final.
• Prop bets – you can find them as player or team prop bets, and they let you wager on specific things to occur during the matches. For instance, gambling on a team/player to get the most kills.

eSports Betting Bonuses

The finest UK bookmakers tend to give out various eSports betting bonuses to their registered punters. Claiming them can provide additional credits that you can use to generate extra payouts. Here are the most popular types of eSports betting bonuses:

• Welcome bonus: a type of promo that you can only claim with your first deposit. Some bookmakers will reward you with a match bonus, while others may provide one or multiple free bets.
• Cashback: this bonus gives back a percentage of the betting losses you made in the past day, week, or month. It might come with wagering requirements, and it's often part of VIP programs.
• Free bet: it lets you wager on selected events without going over the bet limit and max odds range. You can find this promo as a deposit or no deposit bonus.
• Risk-free bet: this is a special free bet that returns your stake if you don’t win the bet. The amount that you get back usually comes in the form of betting credits.
• No deposit bonus: a promotion that doesn’t require a minimum deposit when applying. On some occasions, you may need to type a promo code. It tends to reward bonus funds or free bets.
• Acca boost: this is another common bonus that increases your potential payout by a certain percentage. The rate depends on the number of selections you have in your bet slip. 

Final Words

eSports betting is on the rise in the UK, which is why it’s available at almost any online sportsbook. The best operators will allow you to wager on the numerous events from the biggest eSports competitions. They will also provide a variety of betting markets, competitive odds, and various bonus offers.

If you’re interested in starting out with eSports betting, then make sure to explore our top-rated sportsbooks. Our BestBet experts made sure to list only the safest and best operators.

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