Bookmakers and casinos have become more and more accustomed to esports offerings in recent times, however, prior to 2020 esports betting had failed to truly accelerate, for a multitude of reasons.
Esports betting went through somewhat of a ‘boom period’ in 2020, in part due to the global health pandemic, with many sporting events being cancelled or put on pause for a prolonged period. The sector’s growth is expected to continue too despite sports betting products now being close to fully operational once more, with more betting platforms putting a priority on competitive gaming, whether that be through offering odds or sponsoring esports entities.
For your convenience, Esports Insider has created a breakdown of the current players ‘betting’ on the esports industry.
Note: Esports bookmakers are listed in alphabetical order. This list does not include all bookmakers that offer esports odds but rather those that have made esports a focus. The list may be updated periodically.
Bookmakers in esports
1xBet
Parent company: 1xBet
Based in: Russia
Active in esports since: 2017
Esports partnerships: In 2021, 1xBet was named the official global betting partner of the ESL Pro Tour CS:GO and its ESL One Summer & Winter Dota 2 events. In 2020, 1xBet was named as the title partner of Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) after securing a partnership with the Ukrainian organisation. Moreover, in 2017 the platform also sponsored HellRaisers.
Bet365
Parent company: Bet365 Group, Ltd.
Based in: UK
Active in esports since: 2016
Esports partnerships: In 2020, British online gambling company Bet365 partnered with esports gambling affiliate brand Winners.net and UK-based betting solutions company Sports Information Services (SIS) to help optimise its SIS Competitive Gaming product.
Betfred
Parent company: Betfred Sports
Based in: UK
Active in esports since: N/A
Esports partnerships: As of the time of writing, Betfred does not have any available esports betting markets, nor sponsor any esports organisations. However, it is worth noting the company’s co-founder founder, Fred Done, has recently invested in Manchester-based esports publication GGIntel.
Betmais
Parent company: N/A
Based in: Brazil
Active in esports since: 2021
Esports partnerships: One of the most prominent bookmakers in Brazil, Betmais added an esports betting category in 2021 by partnering with live odds provider Oddin.
Betsafe
Parent company: Betsson Group
Based in: UK
Active in esports since: 2020
Esports partnerships: Betsafe is one of the most recent bookmakers to join the world of esports following its partnership with Swedish organisation GODSENT in November 2020. As a result of the deal, the Betsson Group-owned company has become the headline sponsor for the organisation’s CS:GO division.
Betway
Parent company: Betway, Ltd.
Based in: Malta
Active in esports since: 2015
Esports partnerships: Betway has been extremely active throughout the industry, including securing partnerships with organisations such as Ninjas in Pygamas (NiP), BIG, Invictus Gaming, PSG.LGD, beastcoast. Moreover, the firm has also collaborated/still collaborates with event organisers including FACEIT, BLAST, ESL, and DreamHack.
BUFF.bet
Parent company: XB Systems
Based in: USA
Active in esports since: 2016
Esports partnerships: XB System’s X-Bet.co brand merged with UltraPlay’s BUFF.bet and assumed all management and operations as of February 2020. UltraPlay will remain the platform provider of the joint venture for ‘the foreseeable future’.
Dafabet
Parent company: AsianBGE
Based in: Philippines
Active in esports since: 2015
Esports partnerships: Most notably Dafabet partnered with Fnatic back in 2015 and has since remained active in the space via its news site Dafa Esports.
DraftKings
Parent company: DraftKings, Inc.
Based in: USA
Active in esports since: 2015
Esports partnerships: DRIVE by DraftKings, a venture capital firm with support from the sports betting operator, has invested in Boston-based esports organisation Warriors International. In addition, DraftKings also offers a range of esports markets.
GG.BET
Parent company: Brivio Limited
Based in: Cyprus
Active in esports since: 2016
Esports partnerships: The esports betting platform has secured a range of partners in the industry, including the likes of esports organisation Heroic, tournament organiser ESL, and StarLadder. GG.BET’s previous sponsorship agreements include Fnatic in 2016, along with North and Alliance in 2018.
LOOT.bet
Parent company: Livestream Gaming Ltd, soon to be acquired by Intema Solutions
Based in: Curaçao
Active in esports since: 2016
Esports partnerships: LOOT.bet is a member of the Esports Integrity Commission. It has formed partnerships with tournament organiser StarLadder, Russian esports studio UCC, and Dota 2 team Digital Chaos (the team disbanded in 2020).
Luckbox
Parent company: Real Time Games Holdings Limited
Based in: Isle of Man
Active in esports since: 2018
Esports partnerships: Before Luckbox’s official launch in 2019 the platform’s team joined the Esports Integrity Commission in 2018. In the same year the firm also partnered esports broadcaster Paul ‘Redeye’ Chaloner. The firm has also teamed up with sports data company Abios, sportsbook solution OddsMatrix, and payment processor MoneyMatrix to enhance its esports betting platform. Luckbox has received over $3.8m CAD (£2.23m) in funding prior to its public listing, including an unknown amount by American football player Luis Robles.
Midnite
Parent company: Dribble Media, Ltd.
Based in: UK
Active in esports since: 2019
Esports partnerships: Since its launch in 2019 and subsequent $2.5 seed funding round, Midnite has joined the Esports Integrity Commission and partnered with Relog Media to sponsor its Nine to Five CG:GO tournament series – Cups 6 and 7, respectively.
Parimatch
Parent company: Parimatch Holding
Based in: Ukraine
Active in esports since: 2015
Esports partnerships: Since its inception, Parimatch has partnered with esports organisations Virtus.Pro, Team Spirit, and Fnatic. It’s event partnerships include EPICENTER‘s Counter-Strike: Global Series event as well as Dota 2 events EPIC League season two and Omega League.
Pinnacle
Parent company: Ragnarok Corporation N.V.
Based in: Curaçao
Active in esports since: 2010
Esports partnerships: To help enhance its services, Pinnacle has partnered with esports data providers Abios and GRID while integrating the live score API developed by GameScorekeeper. The esports bookmaker has also partnered with FLASHPOINT‘s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team, North, FACEIT, and RFRSH. Its services have been integrated into gaming platforms from FansUnite and Askott Entertainment.
Puntt
Parent company: RPGG Media
Based in: UK
Active in esports since: 2020
Esports partnerships: A newcomer on the scene, Puntt has formed partnerships with consumer acquisition technology firm Aquarius AI, giving exclusive rights to Puntt’s platform in Canada, as well as non-exclusive rights to other regions across the world including the United States. In addition, the betting site was a sponsor of ESL Premiership‘s August 2020 season.
Rivalry
Parent company: Rivalry, Ltd.
Based in: Isle of Man
Active in esports since: 2018
Esports partnerships: Rivalry has established esports betting partnerships with Brazilian organisation FURIA, as well as veteran esports content creator Richard Lewis. The firm was also previously a sponsor for FNATIC.
STS Gaming Group
Parent company: STS.Bet Limited
Based in: Poland
Active in esports since: 2014
Esports partnerships: STS is an official sponsor of esports organisations devils.one and AGO Esports. The betting site expanded its mobile app to include esports in 2018 and has since partnered with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player Paweł “innocent” Mocek. The company has also been a sponsor of the Polish Esports League.
Unibet
Parent company: Kindred Group
Based in: Sweden
Active in esports since: 2017
Esports partnerships: Unibet has partnered with a variety of esports organisations throughout its journey in the sector. Currently, the company is a global sponsor of Astralis’ CS:GO division. Moreover, the betting platform has previously partnered with esports data and statistics company Abios in 2019 and the Blast Pro Series in 2017.
Unikrn
Parent company: Unikrn, Inc.
Based in: USA
Active in esports since: 2014
Esports partnerships: Unikrn has a partnership with MGM Resorts International to bring live competitive gaming and esports tournaments to the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. It has also partnered with data provider GRID as well as organisations Unicorns of Love and Kings Guard Gaming.
VIE.bet
Parent company: Esports Entertainment Group
Based in: USA
Active in esports since: 2014
Esports partnerships: 2021 has been a busy year for EEG’s betting company. VIE.bet was named the exclusive betting partner of CS:GO event cs_summit 8, partnered with Liquipedia, and sponsored the Movistar Liga Pro Gaming league, and partnered with Infamous Gaming.
Vulkanbet
Parent company: Intelligent Innovations N.V.
Based in: Curaçao
Active in esports since: 2015
Esports partnerships: Vulkanbet is the title sponsor of Gambit Esports rosters in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, and Apex Legends until October 2021.