// Guide
Esports Betting: Top Esports Betting Sites and Apps in the US and UK
Where to bet on esports legally in the US and UK: the licensed sportsbooks and bookmakers with esports markets, what you can bet on, the rules by state and the market in numbers.
Esports betting has moved from grey-market skin sites to the apps of licensed sportsbooks. You can now bet on Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends or Dota 2 at DraftKings, FanDuel or bet365 in states that allow it, and at most major UK bookmakers. It remains a niche. In Colorado, the only US state that reports it separately, esports took about 1% of all money bet in August 2026.
This guide lists the licensed esports betting sites in the US and the UK, explains how the markets work and sets out where betting on esports is legal. It also looks at the market in numbers and where it is heading. Every fact comes from regulators, game publishers, tournament organizers or the operators themselves.
21+ in US states (18+ in the UK). Bet only where it is legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (US) or visit GambleAware.org (UK).
Esports betting sites in the US: licensed sportsbooks with esports
These state-licensed sportsbooks show esports markets on their own sites or rules pages. Which events you can bet on depends on the state you are in.
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- bet365
- Hard Rock Bet
- Caesars Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
BetMGM, BetRivers and theScore Bet do not publish esports markets or rules on their public pages, so they are not on this list.
Top US esports sportsbooks in detail
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DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings lists an E-Sports section on its sportsbook, currently featuring the League of Legends World Championship and the LCP, Riot’s Pacific league. Its help center answers “Can I bet on E-Sports?”, and markets appear only in states whose regulator has approved the event. The app is rated 4.8 from 1.4 million ratings on the US App Store, and DraftKings is live in 27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico.
Who it suits: League of Legends fans who already use DraftKings for traditional sports. sportsbook.draftkings.com
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FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel has a dedicated esports navigation page, with eSoccer odds and Dota 2 DreamLeague markets among those listed. It has the most-rated betting app in the US, 4.8 stars from 2.3 million ratings, and operates in 25 states plus DC and Puerto Rico.
Who it suits: casual bettors who want eSoccer and Dota 2 in an app they already know. sportsbook.fanduel.com
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bet365
bet365 publishes esports betting rules for its US sportsbook and covers League of Legends Worlds 2026 odds on its US news site. The app is rated 4.8 from 355,000 ratings, and bet365 is licensed in 18 states plus DC. The same brand is the largest bookmaker app in the UK.
Who it suits: bettors who follow esports in both the US and international calendars. bet365.com
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Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet added eSoccer, including the GT Sports League played on EA FC, in Florida in November 2024. In August 2025 it added H2H Global Gaming League eBasketball and eSoccer, short-format games that run all day. eSoccer markets include winner, total, spread, first to score and half results, with live betting. The app is rated 4.9 from 361,000 ratings.
Who it suits: Florida bettors and anyone who wants fast eSoccer and eBasketball markets. hardrock.bet
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Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars’ house rules include an eSports section, and they state that it takes no wagers prohibited by the relevant state gaming board. Markets vary by state. The app is rated 4.7 from 116,000 ratings.
Who it suits: Caesars Rewards members who bet on the occasional esports event. caesars.com/sportsbook-and-casino
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Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics’ house rules in Ohio and Tennessee cover eSports and eBasketball. The app, rated 4.8 from 291,000 ratings, rewards every settled bet with FanCash for Fanatics merchandise.
Who it suits: bettors who want rewards they can spend on team gear. sportsbook.fanatics.com
For welcome offers, states and full app comparisons, see our guide to the top US online sportsbooks.
Esports betting UK: the top licensed bookmakers
All ten are licensed by the Gambling Commission and confirm esports betting on their own sites or rules pages. They are listed by the number of ratings their apps have on the UK App Store.
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bet365
The UK’s most-rated betting app, at 4.7 stars from 456,000 ratings. bet365 runs an esports hub on its UK site and publishes an esports calendar. It is operated by Hillside (UK Sports) ENC under Gambling Commission account 55148. Check bet365’s site for its current welcome offer. bet365.com
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Paddy Power
Paddy Power, part of Flutter, publishes dedicated e-sports rules for its sportsbook. Its app is rated 4.7 from 265,000 ratings. paddypower.com
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William Hill
William Hill publishes one of the most detailed esports market lists in the UK. It covers Counter-Strike, League of Legends, football esports on EA FC, sim racing and ice hockey esports, with live match and handicap markets. New customers get “Bet £10 & Get £30 in free bets” with Promo Code R30. The app is rated 4.7 from 200,000 ratings. Read our William Hill esports review.
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Betfair
Betfair’s sportsbook prices League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike, with map, handicap, total, round and objective markets such as dragons, Barons and Roshans. The separate Betfair Exchange also publishes esports rules. The sportsbook app is rated 4.7 from 112,000 ratings. betfair.com
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Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes, part of Entain, prices Counter-Strike and League of Legends, settled on the official result. New customers get “Bet £5 Get £30” in free bets. The app is rated 4.7 from 102,000 ratings. Read our Ladbrokes esports review.
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Sky Bet
Sky Bet publishes the widest set of esports rules on this list: Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch and Call of Duty, plus eFootball leagues. Markets run from match winner and map handicap to next kill, next Roshan and player stats, with several events in-play. The app is rated 4.7 from 74,000 ratings. skybet.com
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Betfred
Betfred runs esports and Counter-Strike sections and publishes esports previews, such as for the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational. The app is rated 4.6 from 70,000 ratings. betfred.com
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Coral
Coral shares Ladbrokes’ licence and platform and lists esports among its sports. New customers get “Bet £10 Get £50” in free bets. The app is rated 4.7 from 69,000 ratings. Read our Coral esports review.
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Betway
Betway has the broadest confirmed range of titles among the big UK brands: Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, VALORANT and Overwatch 2, with an esports in-play tab. Its “Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets” offer excludes eSoccer and in-play bets from qualifying. The app is rated 4.7 from 47,000 ratings. Read our Betway esports review.
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888sport
888sport, part of Evoke, lists Call of Duty, Overwatch, League of Legends and Fortnite, with pre-match and live markets. The app is rated 4.5 from 19,000 ratings. 888sport.com
Unibet, owned by Kindred, is the specialist pick outside the top ten by app ratings. It covers Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch and EA FC esports, and it streams FIFA esports matches on its site. Read our Unibet esports review.
Esports betting apps compared
App Store ratings checked in November 2026: the US store for US sportsbooks, the UK store for UK bookmakers. Apple rounds rating counts.
| Operator | Market | App Store rating | Ratings | Esports confirmed on official pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | US | 4.8 | 2.3M | eSoccer, Dota 2 |
| DraftKings | US | 4.8 | 1.4M | League of Legends |
| Hard Rock Bet | US | 4.9 | 361K | eSoccer, eBasketball |
| bet365 | US / UK | 4.8 / 4.7 | 355K / 456K | League of Legends; esports hub |
| Paddy Power | UK | 4.7 | 265K | Esports rules published |
| William Hill | UK | 4.7 | 200K | CS, LoL, EA FC, sim racing, NHL sims |
| Betfair | UK | 4.7 | 112K | CS, LoL, Dota 2 |
| Ladbrokes | UK | 4.7 | 102K | CS, LoL |
| Sky Bet | UK | 4.7 | 74K | CS, LoL, Dota 2, Overwatch, CoD, eFootball |
| Betway | UK | 4.7 | 47K | CS2, LoL, Dota 2, R6, VALORANT, Overwatch 2 |
| Unibet | UK | 4.3 | 6.8K | CS, LoL, Dota 2, Overwatch, EA FC |
The esports betting market in numbers
Is esports betting still alive? The short answer is yes, but it is smaller than the headlines of the late 2010s suggested, and it now runs mostly through regulated sportsbooks rather than skin sites. These are the most recent official figures.
How much is bet on esports
Colorado is the only US state that reports esports as its own line. In August 2026, bettors there staked $4,450,916 on esports out of $388.1 million in total handle, about 1.1%. Almost all of it was placed online. July 2026 was similar, at $4,244,833.
In the UK, the Gambling Commission requires licensed bookmakers to report esports revenue as a separate line, but it does not publish a national total.
Audiences and prize money
The tournaments behind the betting keep growing. The Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh carried a record $75 million prize pool across 24 games, after the 2025 edition drew 750 million viewers and a peak audience of 7.98 million for League of Legends. ESL FACEIT Group called the IEM Cologne Major in June 2026 the most-watched Counter-Strike tournament of all time. Team Falcons beat FURIA 3-0 in the final.
Publishers are opening the door
The biggest shift came from Riot Games. In June 2025 it began allowing betting sponsorships for top-tier League of Legends and VALORANT teams in the Americas and EMEA. Partners are vetted by Riot and must use official GRID data, and Riot’s own broadcasts stay free of betting ads.
Regulators are widening the menu
US regulators are approving more esports events, slowly and event by event. Tennessee’s catalog, updated in October 2026, now includes CS2 events run by BLAST and ESL Pro League, League of Legends leagues, Call of Duty League and the Esports World Cup. Kansas added CS2, Dota 2, VALORANT and Rainbow Six in its April 2026 catalog. North Carolina adopted esports guidance in September 2024, and a 2026 New Jersey bill (A2370) would widen esports betting further.
Not every regulator is convinced. Louisiana refused to approve the Esports World Cup as a betting event in July 2025, and Pennsylvania’s regulator says it lacks the authority to allow esports betting at all.
Integrity: the number to watch
Esports draws more integrity alerts than its share of betting suggests. The International Betting Integrity Association logged 34 esports alerts in 2025, 11% of its 300 alerts across all sports, with a spike of 15 in the third quarter. That is why US regulators insist on approved leagues, official data and integrity monitoring before they allow a new event.
Where esports betting is heading
The direction is toward the licensed market. More publishers are accepting betting partners on their own terms, US catalogs keep adding leagues, and Valve has been acting against skin gambling sites since 2016. In the UK, the rules are tightening: bonus wagering has been capped at 10x since January 2026, and from April 2027 online bets, esports included, fall into a new 25% remote betting duty. The likely result is steady growth built on tier-one events, rather than a return to the skin-betting boom.
Is esports betting legal in the US?
There is no federal ban. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting ban in 2018, each state decides what can be bet on, and most treat esports as an event that needs specific approval. The table covers states where we could confirm the position from a regulator, statute or official catalog.
| State | Status | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Allowed | State law includes “e-sport events” in the definition of a sports event |
| Colorado | Allowed | Professional esports allowed; high school events and those with mostly under-18 players excluded |
| Kansas | Allowed (approved list) | Catalog includes CS2, LoL, Dota 2, VALORANT, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty League and others |
| Kentucky | Allowed with approval | Events must be sanctioned, approved and backed by third-party integrity certification; youth events banned |
| Louisiana | Case by case | Events must meet Esports Integrity Commission standards; Esports World Cup refused in 2025 |
| Massachusetts | Allowed with approval | Esports barred unless sanctioned by an approved body and endorsed by the Gaming Commission |
| Michigan | Allowed with approval | Every event category needs board approval; high-school-level events excluded |
| New Jersey | Allowed | Professional esports allowed; high school events and those with mostly under-18 players prohibited |
| North Carolina | Allowed with approval | Electronic sports guidance adopted September 2024; operators petition event by event |
| Ohio | Allowed | Law defines an esports event; school events excluded |
| Tennessee | Allowed (approved list) | Catalog includes CS2 (BLAST, ESL Pro League), LoL, Call of Duty League and the Esports World Cup |
| Virginia | Allowed | Law includes electronic sports and competitive video game events; youth events excluded |
| Indiana | Not on approved list | The December 2025 approved events list includes no esports |
| Pennsylvania | Not allowed | The law covers sporting events only, and the regulator says it cannot approve esports |
Elsewhere, check your state regulator’s list of approved events, and the esports tab of a licensed app once you are inside the state. The minimum age is 21 in most states. Our legal sports betting states guide covers each market in detail.
Bitcoin and offshore esports betting
Crypto esports books that accept American players hold no US state license. Some are licensed in Curaçao, which gives US players no regulator to complain to if a withdrawal is refused. No US state licenses crypto esports betting or skin betting, so the legal route is a state-licensed sportsbook.
Esports betting in the UK: the rules
In Great Britain, esports betting is ordinary betting under the Gambling Act 2005. Bookmakers need a Gambling Commission licence, customers must be 18 or over and pass identity checks, and credit cards have been banned for gambling since April 2020. There are no esports-specific rules, though the Commission expects operators to manage the risk of children trying to bet on esports.
Two recent changes affect esports punters. Since 19 January 2026, bonus wagering requirements are capped at 10x, and promotions that mix products, such as a bet that earns casino spins, are banned. From 1 April 2027, online bets including esports will fall under a new 25% remote betting duty.
Skin betting and unlicensed sites
Skin betting, where in-game items with real-world value are used as stakes, is not legal in Great Britain without a licence. In 2017 the Gambling Commission secured the first prosecution of a virtual-currency gambling site, FutGalaxy, whose directors were fined £174,000 and £91,000. A government review in September 2025 found 54 skins sites still reachable from the UK and said the problem is enforcement, not the law. Use a UKGC-licensed bookmaker, and use GAMSTOP and GamCare if you need to stop.
Which esports can you bet on?
Counter-Strike 2 betting
CS2 is the deepest esports market. Two teams of five play on maps from the active pool, and the first to 13 rounds wins a map. Bookmakers price match winner, map winner, map and round handicaps, total rounds and pistol rounds. The big events are the Majors, ESL Pro League, BLAST and IEM. The PGL Major Singapore runs from November 25 to December 13, 2026.
League of Legends betting
League of Legends has the largest audience. Markets cover series and game winners, kill handicaps and totals, first blood and objectives such as dragons, Barons, towers and inhibitors. The 2026 World Championship final is on November 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The regional leagues LCK, LPL, LEC and LCS run most of the year.
Dota 2 betting
Dota 2 markets mirror League of Legends, with Roshan and barracks in place of Barons and inhibitors. The International 2026 was played in Shanghai in August, and Team Spirit beat Team Vision 3-2 in the final.
VALORANT betting
Riot’s tactical shooter uses CS-style markets: map winner, map handicap, round handicap and total rounds. The VCT season builds to Masters events and Champions, which was held in Shanghai in September and October 2026.
EA FC and eSoccer betting (FIFA esports)
What used to be called FIFA esports betting now runs on EA Sports FC. Most of the volume comes from eSoccer leagues, short simulated matches between pro players that run around the clock, such as the GT Sports League. Markets look like football: match result, goals totals, handicaps and correct score. They are approved in Kansas and Tennessee and offered by Hard Rock Bet, FanDuel, William Hill and Unibet, among others.
Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, Overwatch and drone racing
Call of Duty League and Rainbow Six events appear in several US catalogs, and Overwatch, Rocket League and NBA 2K simulations are priced by some books. New Jersey’s approved list also includes Drone Racing League races, the sport this site was built around. See our drone racing coverage.
Esports betting markets explained
Match winner and series betting
The simplest bet: who wins the series. Most esports matches are best-of-one, best-of-three or best-of-five, so check the format before you bet.
Map handicap and round handicap
A map handicap is a spread on the series score. In a best-of-three, a team at -1.5 maps must win 2-0, while +1.5 maps wins if the team takes at least one map. A round handicap works the same way inside a single map in CS2 or VALORANT. Back a team at -4.5 rounds and it must win the map by five or more, such as 13-8. A 13-10 win would lose the bet.
Totals
Over/under bets on maps played, rounds on a map or kills in a game. Over 2.5 maps in a best-of-three simply means the series goes to a deciding map.
First blood and objective props
Bets on the first kill of a game, the first team to 10 kills, or the first dragon, Baron, Roshan or tower. They settle early, which makes them popular for live betting.
Outrights
Tournament winner and MVP markets for events such as the Majors, Worlds and The International, available long before the event starts.
Live esports betting and streaming
Most licensed books that offer esports also offer in-play markets, with odds that move between rounds and objectives. Some US states approve events for pre-match betting only, so the live option can be missing for particular tournaments. Streaming inside betting apps is rare for esports: Unibet streams FIFA esports, but most bettors watch on Twitch or YouTube alongside the app.
Esports betting tips
Esports rewards homework more than most sports. Patches change which strategies and heroes are strong, map pools change which teams are favored, and rosters move between seasons. Follow official league sites for confirmed line-ups, compare prices across more than one book, and keep stakes small on low-tier events, where integrity risks are higher. Our odds converter and implied probability calculator help you compare prices.
Esports betting calendar: late 2026
| Event | Game | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| League of Legends World Championship final | League of Legends | November 14, 2026 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| PGL Major Singapore | Counter-Strike 2 | November 25 to December 13, 2026 | Singapore Indoor Stadium (finals) |
21+ in US states (18+ in the UK). Bet only where it is legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (US) or visit GambleAware.org (UK).
FAQ
What is esports betting?
Esports betting means placing a wager on the outcome of a professional video game competition, such as a Counter-Strike 2 match or the League of Legends World Championship. Licensed sportsbooks offer it alongside traditional sports, with markets such as match winner, map handicap and total maps.
Is esports betting legal in the US?
There is no federal ban. Each state decides. Ohio, Virginia and Arizona name esports in their betting laws, New Jersey and Colorado allow professional events, and Kansas and Tennessee publish lists of approved esports leagues. Pennsylvania does not allow esports betting.
Which apps can you use for esports betting in the US?
Esports markets appear on DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, Hard Rock Bet, Caesars and Fanatics, but only for events your state regulator has approved. Availability changes by state and by tournament, so check the esports tab in the app once you are inside a legal state.
Is esports betting legal in the UK?
Yes. Esports betting is ordinary betting under the Gambling Act 2005. You must be 18 or over and use a bookmaker licensed by the Gambling Commission. Skin betting sites that take in-game items as stakes are not legal in Great Britain.
What esports can you bet on?
The biggest betting titles are Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2 and VALORANT. Bookmakers also price Call of Duty League, Rainbow Six, Overwatch, Rocket League and esports simulations of football and basketball, such as EA FC eSoccer leagues.
What is round handicap in esports betting?
A round handicap is a spread on the rounds won within one map, used in CS2 and VALORANT. If you back a team at -4.5 rounds, it must win the map by five rounds or more, for example 13-8. Backing the other side at +4.5 wins if that team loses by four or fewer, or wins the map.
What is a map handicap in CS2 betting?
A map handicap is a spread on the series score. In a best-of-three, -1.5 maps means your team must win 2-0. +1.5 maps wins if your team takes at least one map. It is the most common spread market across esports titles.
Can you bet on esports live?
Yes, at many licensed bookmakers. Odds move between rounds and objectives during play. Some US states approve events for pre-match betting only, so the live option can be missing for particular tournaments.
Is bitcoin esports betting legal?
Not in the US or the UK. Crypto esports books that accept Americans or Britons hold no state licence or Gambling Commission licence, so players have no regulator to complain to and no protection for their funds. Licensed sportsbooks take card, bank and e-wallet payments.
Is skin betting legal?
No. In Great Britain, using in-game items with real-world value as stakes needs a gambling licence, and the Gambling Commission prosecuted the operators of FutGalaxy in 2017. No US state licenses skin betting.
How old do you have to be to bet on esports?
21 in most US states with legal sports betting, and 18 in Great Britain. Many states also ban betting on events where most players are under 18, or on high school competitions.
Is esports betting growing?
Steadily but from a small base. In Colorado, the only US state that reports it separately, esports took $4.45 million of $388.1 million in bets in August 2026, about 1.1%. Publishers and regulators are opening up, with Riot Games allowing betting sponsorships since June 2025.
In this section
- Betway Esports Betting Review: CS2, LoL, Dota 2 and VALORANT Markets, Bonus and AppBetway covers more esports titles than any other big UK bookmaker, from CS2 to VALORANT. Our…
- Coral Esports Betting Review: Markets, Bet £10 Get £50 Offer and AppCoral offers esports on the same Entain platform as Ladbrokes, with the biggest welcome offer of…
- Ladbrokes Esports Betting Review: Counter-Strike and LoL Markets, Bonus and AppLadbrokes keeps esports simple: Counter-Strike and League of Legends, settled on the official result. Our review…
- Unibet Esports Betting Review: CS2, Dota 2 and FIFA Esports Markets, Streaming and BonusUnibet is the esports specialist among UK bookmakers, with Dota 2, Counter-Strike and live-streamed FIFA esports.…
- William Hill Esports Betting Review: CS2, LoL and EA FC Markets, Bonus and AppWilliam Hill publishes one of the most detailed esports market lists in the UK, from CS2…