Live esports betting is one of the most exciting ways to wager on LoL, Fortnite, CS2, and more. We’re covering the best esports live betting sites along with popular in-play wagers, tips, and deposit methods. But first, check our list of top esportsbooks and their bonus offers.
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- Show Full Guide
Esports Live Betting Explained
Live betting on esports differs from pre-match wagering in one significant way—you’re placing bets on matches as they’re happening. You can use in-match observations and monitor momentum changes to place winning wagers.
Think the underdog has a mental edge heading into map 2? See a dark-horse player who could end up with the most kills?
Esports live betting lets you bet on these situations while the match is raging on. Contrast this to the pre-match version, where no bets are allowed once the action starts.
Of course, live bets require slightly different skills than pre-match wagers. You must keep track of the fast-paced live esports odds because they don’t last long.
You’ll also want knowledge of the teams and players beforehand since you won’t have much time for research. You may only have a few minutes to place an esports live bet.
The best online sportsbooks for esports always offer live wagering. So you won’t have trouble finding somewhere to enjoy this style of betting.
Different Esports In-Play Live Bets
You’ll see many of the same wagers in esports live betting as you will with pre-match wagering. Common esports live bet types include moneylines, totals, handicaps, first blood, and map winners.
The key difference is that live bets are updated and based on the current action. Here are examples of what’s available through live betting on esports:
- Updated moneyline on the match winner
- Winner of the next map/round
- Updated map handicap
- A new over/under line on total kills for the match
Some bookmakers get inventive with their esports live odds, especially during big events. The LoL Worlds, Dota 2 International, and CS2 Majors are examples of events where many live wagering opportunities are available.
Favored Games for Live Esports Betting
Well over a dozen esports are available for live wagering. You can read about the most popular games available at esportsbooks below.
League of Legends
LoL is the top esport, garnering over 6.4 million stream viewers for the 2024 World Championship. This MOBA is exciting for viewers due to the complex strategy and teamwork involved.
League of Legends betting has never been more popular, serving as a top market for esports betting live. You’ll find an abundance of live esports odds during the Worlds and Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).
Common live LoL bets include the next team to destroy a tower, kill totals, and the next team to slay a dragon.
Counter-Strike 2
Released in 2023, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is the successor to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)—a first person-shooter that has been a popular esport for over a decade.
CS2 has picked up where CSGO betting left off, quickly developing a significant following among bettors. The Blast.tv Paris Major ushered this game in with a bang, drawing over 1.5 million stream viewers.
This large streaming presence naturally lends itself to live esports betting. Some popular live CS2 wagers include mapper winners, kill totals, and the next bomb plant.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty is the best-selling FPS of all time with 425 million copies sold. Although CoD isn’t the most popular FPS esport, it still has a sizable following. Certain Call of Duty League tournaments attract hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Call of Duty betting is available at many bookmakers during notable league events. Common CoD live wagers include next map winner, kill totals, correct score of the next map, and updated odds on the match winner.
FIFA
With over 3.5 billion soccer (football) fans globally, it’s no surprise that FIFA is a popular esport. The FIFAe World Cup features a $1 million prize pool and draws lots of stream viewers.
Bookmakers are very active in offering FIFA betting markets during the World Cup and other notable tournaments.
When navigating to an esports live betting section, you’ll see wagers like which team will score next, if the match will go to overtime, and updated goal totals.
Dota 2
This multiplayer online battle area (MOBA) is one of the old-school esports, having been around since 2011.
Its “International” tournament is consistently one of esports’ largest events thanks to multimillion-dollar prize pools.
Dota has lost some of its viewership and participation in recent years, due to developer Valve’s lack of attention. Nevertheless, it’s still a major draw at betting sites—especially when The International is running.
Live wagers that you’ll see during this tourney and other Dota Pro Circuit events include most kills on the next map, over/under kills, and an updated correct score.
Valorant
Since becoming an esport in 2020, Valorant has steadily gained a larger audience.
Its Masters and Champions events often draw Twitch viewership in the six figures. Champions is especially significant due to its $1 million prize for the winner.
You can expect plenty of Valorant betting action on the major tourneys. Common Valorant live wagers include the second pistol round winner, updated correct score, next map winner, and if a map will go to overtime.
Overwatch
A first-person shooter (FPS) with MOBA elements, Overwatch recently underwent a major change on the esports front.
The Overwatch League (OWL) has disbanded in favor of the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS).
Fans of the game shouldn’t find much difference in wagering, though, despite the organizational change.
Popular live esports betting markets for Overwatch betting include next map winner, score handicaps, and kill totals.
Rocket League
What do you get when combining soccer and rocket-fueled cars? One of the most entertaining esports for viewing and betting purposes.
Speaking of the latter, Rocket League has a solid presence at online sportsbooks. Some of its live wagers are updated goal totals, the next game winner, updated match winner, and handicaps.
Fortnite Betting
This battle royale game has been on the esports scene since 2018.
Developer Epic Games started with a $30 million Fortnite World Cup and has since transitioned to the Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS).
Live esports betting on this game offers plenty of opportunities due to the significant player fields involved. You may see live odds on the winning player, top 3 finishers, and home region of the winner.
Best Esports Live Betting Sites for Different Categories
You can see our top picks for live betting on esports below. We’ll compare these bookmakers in terms of their specialties, esports selection, live bets, and odds.
Esports Betting Sites: | Best For: | Esports Live Bets: | Esports Live Odds: | Esports Games: | Types of Esports Games: |
BetOnline | Esports betting promotions | ✅ | ✅ | 8 | CS:GO, Crossfire, Dota 2, FIFA, LoL, NBA 2K, Overwatch, Valorant |
BetWhale | Welcome bonus | ✅ | ✅ | 11 | Apex, CS:GO, Dota 2, FIFA, LoL, NBA 2K, PUBG, Overwatch, Starcraft, Warcraft III, Valorant |
TG.Casino | Crypto betting | ✅ | ✅ | 12 | Arena of Valor, CS:GO, Crossfire, Dota 2, FIFA, LoL, Mobile Legends NBA 2K, Overwatch, Rainbow Six, Warcraft, Valorant |
SportsBetting.ag | Esports live odds | ✅ | ✅ | 8 | CS:GO, Dota 2, FIFA, King of Glory, LoL, NBA 2K, Overwatch, Valorant |
Bovada | Live esports betting markets | ✅ | ✅ | 7 | CS:GO, Dota 2, King of Glory, LoL, NBA 2K, Overwatch, Valorant |
Where to Watch Live Esports Streams
Live streaming goes hand in hand with betting on esports live.
You can watch streams and gain insights into matches before placing your next live bet for esports.
Our recommended esportsbooks provide streaming on certain matches. The bigger the match, the more likely you’ll find a stream. You can also see what’s available by visiting your favorite sportsbook and opening the live esports betting section.
Esports Live Betting Strategy and Tips
Just like with live sports betting strategy, you can boost your odds of winning with esports live betting tips. The following advice can help you get off to a good start.
- Know teams and players beforehand – You should learn about the participating teams and pros in a match before the action starts. Live esports odds come and go quickly, meaning you don’t have much time to research in the moment.
- Try paper betting first – Due to the aforementioned fast pace, you should try paper betting on esports live to acclimate yourself to the speed. You could also record your paper results and see if you’re ready for the real thing.
- Specialize in games with more liquidity – Games like LoL, Dota 2, Valorant, and CS2 feature more betting liquidity due to their popularity. So, you’ll find more opportunities and potentially favorable live bets when specializing in these esports.
- Don’t overvalue momentum – Although momentum is important when placing a live bet for esports, you don’t want to overextend your bankroll on a hot team or player. Maintain uniform bet sizes, and only increase your wagers by 1-2 units on streaking players/teams.
- Close non-related apps (mobile) or tabs (PC) – Seconds can make a difference when you’re sifting through live odds on esports. Sportsbooks frequently put up and remove live wagers during a match. You should close unnecessary tabs/apps to boost your browsing speed.
Accepted Payment Methods for Live Esports Betting
The live esports betting world offers plenty of banking options. You can see what’s available and suited for your needs below.
Cryptocurrencies
Crypto lets you deposit and withdraw funds from esports betting sites. Common cryptocurrencies at esportsbooks include Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, and USDC.
This banking method is great for avoiding middlemen (eg banks) due to its peer-to-peer transactions. The peer-to-peer aspect helps you avoid rejections (see debit/credit cards below).
Cryptocurrencies also come with little-to-no fees and deliver fast deposits (usually 0-10 minutes).
Debit and Credit Cards
Credit and debit cards are the best options for starting your esports live betting journey quickly. They deliver instant funding and allow you to place an esports live bet in no time.
The problem with debit/credit cards is twofold: high rejection rates and potential fees.
Regarding the former, you’re more likely to get rejected depositing with a card versus another payment method. Fees depend upon the betting site, but they can rise over 10%.
Wire Transfer
This banking method lets you transfer funds from your bank account to wire transfer casinos and esportsbooks. It’s good for sending money internationally in less than one business day, which is faster than a bank transfer.
The catch is that you must cover a fee when making international wire transfers, which is often the case with betting sites.
For example, you may need to spend $35 when sending funds from the US to a Costa Rica-based sportsbook.
Other Available Payment Methods
You may find more banking options at our recommended esports betting sites or elsewhere.
Here are some additional payment methods throughout the industry:
- Bank transfer – Similar to wires, bank transfers let you send money from your bank account to a bookmaker. They’re usually free but take longer (1-3 business days) than a wire.
- Ewallet – We don’t come across ewallets (eg Neteller, PayPal) much at betting sites. If you can use an ewallet, you’ll be able to make deposits and withdrawals through a linked credit card or bank account.
- MoneyGram – This service lets you send money domestically and internationally using cash, a bank account, or a credit card. It usually involves fees, although they tend to be in the $5-$10 range.
Best Bitcoin Live Esports Sites
If you’re interested in depositing with crypto, you might want to check out the best Bitcoin esports betting sites.
These bookmakers excel regarding their live odds for esports, welcome bonuses, crypto banking options, and customer service.
How to Bet Live on Esports
The following steps show how to bet on esports and begin enjoying live wagering. This process is quick and relatively the same at most bookmakers:
Sign up
Select the registration prompt on the homepage (eg “Join” on the BetOnline landing page). Next, you’ll fill out the form by entering all required fields.Enter a bonus code
You may need to use a promo code when looking to qualify for the welcome offer. Depending upon the sportsbook, you’ll enter the bonus code during registration or while depositing.Make a deposit
Visit the “Cashier” section, choose a deposit method, and enter how much you’d like to start with. Our recommended live esports gambling sites accept crypto, credit cards, and potentially more options (eg MoneyGram).Visit the esports live betting section
The next step involves navigating to the sportsbook, selecting the live wagering tab, and looking for esports markets. You’ll find many live odds on esports at most bookmakers.Place a live bet on esports
Once you find an enticing wager, add it to your slip with the desired stake. Remember, you’ll need to work quickly because live esports odds aren’t usually up very long.
Live Esports Gambling Promotions
You can capitalize on bonuses that will boost your esports live betting bankroll. The following offers are commonly available at our recommended esportsbooks and others.
Advantages of Esports Live Betting
You may wonder about the benefits of placing live bets on esports versus making pre-match wagers. The following advantages show why you should consider live bets.
Potentially Better Odds
Bookmakers are usually sharp on most lines, but they have to release esports live odds at a quicker pace. This situation creates more possibilities for you to find favorable prices.
Keeps the Action Entertaining
You may already be an esports fan and enjoy watching streams. However, live wagering enhances the action even more when you’re viewing streams with the next bet in mind.
Favors a Less-Statistical Approach
If you’re somebody who doesn’t like pouring over stats, then you should appreciate live esports betting over the pre-match variety.
Live wagers are more about overall knowledge of teams, players, and tendencies than extensive stats.
Provides Hedging Opportunities
You may wager on one team before an esports match, only to be worried about their chances as the action goes on. An esports live bet would allow you to hedge by wagering on the other side.
Legalities of Esports Betting Live
Every esports live gambling site that we recommend operates legally within its respective jurisdiction. For example, BetOnline holds licensing with the Panama Gaming Control Board.
You can typically only access these sportsbooks when they’re legal—or at least in a gray area—in your respective state or country.
Otherwise, these bookmakers will block you from visiting their sites. Our favorite esportsbooks legally serve a wide range of countries.
How to Responsibly Bet Live on Esports
The best starting point for responsible gambling involves developing a bankroll management plan. Your bankroll will consist of money set aside specifically for live esports bets and pre-match wagers.
Beyond this, you can check the responsible gaming section of your favorite betting site. Such sections often contain resources (eg Gamblers Anonymous) and tips for responsible wagering.
Live Esports Betting – Key Takeaways
You can find plenty of info throughout this live esports betting page. If you’re looking for a quick summary, though, here are 3 main takeaways:
- Available while matches are happening – Live esports wagering lets you place bets after matches start. By contrast, pre-match betting closes all markets once a contest gets underway.
- Plenty of live esports betting markets – Prominent bookmakers typically cover several esports in their live wagering section. Common examples include CoD, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, FIFA, Fortnite, and Valorant.
- Bonuses and promos on tap – Live esports bettors can take advantage of several promos at the average bookmaker such as sign-up bonuses, enhanced odds, free bets, and loyalty rewards.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Techopedia may receive advertising commissions for visits to a suggested operator through our affiliate links, at no added cost to you. However, all our recommendations are unbiased and follow a thorough review process. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly and you must be of legal gambling age.
References
- https://www.gamingregulation.com/agency/panama/junta-de-control-de-juegos (Panama Gaming Control Board)
- https://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga (Gamblers Anonymous)