Esports betting has seen monumental growth over the past decade, evolving from a niche market into a billion-dollar industry. As viewership of professional video game competitions continues to expand exponentially, so do the betting markets and options available to enthusiasts. But what exactly are the most popular esports betting markets today? And what trends can we expect to unfold in the coming years?
Early Days: Limited Markets
In the early 2010s, esports betting was in its infancy. Wagering was confined primarily to major tournaments like the League of Legends World Championship, The International DOTA 2 Championships, and the EVO Championship Series. These competitions drew attention for their million dollar prize pools.
In these early days, options were limited. Typical markets included:
- Outright Winner: Predict the overall winning team
- Tournament Podium Finish: Choose which teams place 1st, 2nd and 3rd
- Team to Advance: Wager on teams to reach the next stage
Bookmakers like Bet 442 took a simplistic approach, wary of the risks in an unproven industry. But it wouldn’t take long for more immersive markets to emerge.
Mid 2010s: Wagering Expands
By 2015, esports viewership was exploding. Suddenly, bookies saw major profit potential. Betting options expanded rapidly, attracting new demographics of bettors.
Additional match wagering markets included:
- Map Winner: Predict the winning team for individual maps
- Correct Map Score: Forecast the exact scoreline
- Total Maps Played: Over/under on number of maps
- First Blood: Which team draws first blood
These innovations allowed fans to wager on finer details, rather than just the outright winner. By immersing bettors deeper into matches, bookies could offer more markets while engaging viewers for longer periods.
Current State of the Industry
Today, esports betting continues to expand alongside record viewership numbers. Fans can now even wager in real time as matches unfold. Top providers like Betway, GG.bet, and Buff.bet offer wide collections of markets across tier one esports.
According to analytics firm Narus Advisors, the most popular current betting markets include:
| Market | Description | Example Competition |
| Outright Winner | Predict tournament winner | CSMajor Champs 2021 |
| Podium Finish | Choose gold, silver, bronze winners | League of Legends Worlds 2025 |
| Team to Advance | Wager on a team reaching the next round | DOTA 2 The International |
| Map Winner | Forecast winner of individual maps | Valorant Champions Tour LCQ |
| Total Maps | Over/under on maps played | EVO 2025 Street Fighter Finals |
As wagering options continue multiplying, bettors can now even wager on markets like:
- Player with most kills (multi-way)
- First team to destroy an inhibitor turret
- Player with the highest creep score at 10 minutes
Years Ahead: Projecting the Future
Esports analytics firm NewZoo projects the competitive gaming market will grow to $1.6 billion by 2024. They predict ~95% of revenue growth will come from media rights and sponsorship deals. Narus Advisors estimates the most likely market innovations through 2025 include:
In-Play/Live Betting
With Twitch and YouTube Gaming streaming matches live, bookies will offer more in-play betting. Imagine wagering on kill-death ratios as a Counter Strike match unfolds.
Player Prop Bets
We’ll see far more prop bets tied to individual player performance. These could include markets like “Total Player Headshots Landed” or “Player with Fastest Completion Time”.
Unique Titles
With franchised leagues for games like Overwatch and Call of Duty, betting providers will offer markets tailored to specific titles. This includes options like predicting MVP winners.
Betting Exchanges
Exchanges allow bettors to set their own odds and take positions as bookmakers. These peer-to-peer platforms remove the middleman, improving efficiency for seasoned bettors.
Cross-title Parlays
Parlay bets combine wagers across multiple games to multiply payouts. Expect more cross-title parlays as esports betting menus consolidate.
Final Thoughts
Esports betting has seen monumental growth over the past 15 years. While markets were limited initially, steady expansions have given fans increasing opportunities to immerse themselves as matches unfold.
Industry analytics predict record growth in the years ahead. We expect further innovations like live in-play betting, player prop bets, betting exchanges and cross-title parlays.
