Esports betting

Esports betting is the practice of gambling on a video game match. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} Esports betting can be done before the match starts or during the match. The 3 types of esports betting are fixed-odds betting, private betting, and skin/loot box betting. Betting games may include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), League of Legends (LoL) and Dota 2 . Bets may be placed on such events such as: match winner, tournament winner, final score, odd/evens bets and over/under bets. Esports betting isn't regulated in same way as traditional gambling, thus sometimes underaged individuals end up betting. Esports betting is also substantially more complex than bets on traditional sports. ^[5]

Betting formats

• Fixed-odds betting, where odds are set in advance.
• In-play (live) betting, with odds updating during matches.
• Proposition bets, such as first kill or total kills.
• Fantasy esports betting, where users draft players and earn based on performance.
• Skin gambling, using virtual in-game items, particularly popular in games like CS:GO, which has prompted legal scrutiny.

Controversies and integrity

Main article: Counter-Strike match fixing scandal

The 2014 CS:GO match-fixing scandal involving iBUYPOWER resulted in lifetime bans for players. In response, the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) was created to monitor tournaments, enforce standards, and coordinate with sportsbooks. ^[6]

Legal status

United States

Esports betting legality varies by state. As of mid-2025, 16 states explicitly permit esports wagering through licensed sportsbooks, including Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, West Virginia and Virginia. Some states exclude esports from their legal sports betting statutes, while others remain in legal ambiguity. ^{[7] [8]}

See also

• Online gambling
• Skin gambling
• Loot box
• Gambling law
• Esports

References

1. "How to bet on eSports: Understanding odds and markets". esportbet.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
2. "Esports Betting – Overview Of The Esports Gambling Vertical". legalsportsreport.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
3. Lindholm, Luke (2024-04-01). "How To Bet On eSports?". pickswise.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
4. Thompson, Emma (2019-04-08). "What is esports betting?". yahoo.com. Verizon Communications Inc. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
5. Adair, Cam (26 May 2021). "What is Esports Betting?". gamequitters.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
6. Grayson, Nathan. "Pro Teams Implicated In Huge Counter-Strike Match Fixing Scandal". Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
7. Bisson, James (2024-04-16). "Legal Sports Betting States: US Legislation Tracker". Sportsbook Review. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
8. Shmatenko, Leonid (2024-02-26). "The Legality Of Esports Betting Across 7 Jurisdictions | Esports Legal News" . Retrieved 2025-07-07.