Esports Betting and Gambling
Esports Betting: Where Sports and Esports Meet Gambling
Esports betting means wagering on the result of a competitive video game event – a Counter-Strike final, a League of Legends match – either at a sportsbook or on a skin-based marketplace.
In most ways it works like sport betting on a football game. The one difference is the venue – the match is played on a server, and the data comes from the publisher or a data provider. People who gamble on football can gamble on esports through the same screens.
The audience is large. Newzoo counted 640.8 million esports viewers in 2025 – a measure of watching esports, and no guide to how many of them bet.
Esports Insider estimates that operators earned $2.8 billion in gross gaming revenue from esports in 2025, up from $2.5 billion a year earlier.
Wider market-size figures swing from $12.59 billion to $16.29 billion, depending on how each source defines the betting market. Next to the sports betting industry the segment is small, since US sportsbooks alone took $16.96 billion in 2025.
Concentration is the notable feature. Counter-Strike took 57% of esports handle in 2025 and League of Legends 27.3%, based on Sharpr and Abios data from a B2B sportsbook network.
What Esports Bettors Bet On
Types of esports betting follow the sportsbook menu.
- Match winner. The team that wins the series.
- Map winner. The team that wins a single map.
- Handicap. A head start given to the underdog.
- Totals. Rounds or maps over or under a line.
- Props. Player and event stats.
Players who bet on esports can also take live prices, since rounds and maps resolve within minutes. That pace is a large part of the popularity of esports.
Sport Betting and Esports Betting Side by Side
Traditional sports betting moves with the season and leans on long official records. Esports, by contrast, keeps the calendar full with tournaments, and each esports event generates its own live feed.
| Traditional sports betting | Esports betting | |
|---|---|---|
| Handle spread | Spread across leagues and sports | Two titles hold 84% of handle |
| Data source | League and stats providers | Game publishers and esports data providers |
| Pricing risk | Roster changes are slow | Roster changes and game patches can land within days |
Any esports bettor who has used a sportsbook will recognize the screen, and the markets match. The difference is data, and the history behind an esports line is thinner than for football.
Only a minority of US states permit esports wagering, and some approve events one by one. Esports wagering is not offered in every state that has sports betting.
Skins, Cash Wagers, and Why People Gamble
Skins are virtual items from games. Skin gambling is what happens when those items are staked on a match or on a game of chance, such as a coin flip site.
Gambling with skins needs no cash at all, and the line between gambling and video game design blurs, since the same item can be played with, traded or staked. It is another form of gambling, and esports cash betting appears next to it in the research.
Gambling research asks why people gamble on esports. Researchers surveyed 736 adult esports bettors and skin gamblers in the USA, UK, Canada and Ireland. Financial gain and excitement led the gambling motivations, and skin gamblers added a third motive, acquiring skins.
Gambling to escape or to lift one’s mood was linked to more gambling problems and harm across all three products. Problem gambling severity in the study was measured on the PGSI scale.
Problem Gambling and Gambling Disorder
Problem gambling covers harm from gambling at any point on a spectrum, whereas gambling disorder is the clinical diagnosis for persistent, problematic gambling. Even without a diagnosis, a gambling problem can do real damage to a household’s finances.
In a 2022 PLOS ONE study of 1,667 adolescents aged 12 to 17 in New South Wales, recent skin bettors turned out to be more than three times as likely to be at risk of problem gambling, even after accounting for recent monetary gambling.
The study covered gambling among adolescents only, and its cross-sectional design shows an association – it cannot establish cause.
Warren Buffett told Yahoo Finance in 2017 that he would probably bet against legalizing sports betting.
“Gambling is addictive, so I’m negative on it”
– Warren Buffett, in a 2017 Yahoo Finance interview reported by SBC News
For operators, an esports gambler can also bet on other products, so gambling frequency can climb across them. The same safeguards apply as on any sportsbook – deposit limits, age checks and spend monitoring.
How a Bookmaker Adds an Esports Vertical
For gambling operators, adding esports to an online gambling product usually takes four steps.
- A data and odds feed for each title, covering live scores and round-level events.
- Markets and limits set title by title, starting small where liquidity is thin.
- Pricing and risk tools that treat roster changes and patches as news.
- Responsible gambling controls that apply from the first bet, so players who gamble on esports are protected.
On the technical side, BSW’s sportsbook offering is built on a custom platform, while API integration can bring in outside data.
Which esports markets are included depends on the engine and the project scope, and licensing stays with the operator – BSW does not handle it.
FAQ
What is the connection between esports and gambling?
Esports is a betting product on matches at sportsbooks and a gambling currency through skins. Both draw on the same audience and the same games.
How does esports betting work?
A bettor picks a market, such as the match or map winner, takes the posted price and stakes money. The data feed reports the result, and the sportsbook settles the bet. Players who gamble on esports follow the same steps as on any sport.
What are the risks and consequences of esports gambling?
Risks include problem gambling, financial harm and, for younger players, a higher chance of at-risk gambling through skins. Research so far shows association, not proof of cause.
Where can I find help for esports gambling problems?
In the US, the National Council on Problem Gambling operates a 24/7 helpline by call, text and chat at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). Other countries have their own national services.
What is the 90% rule in gambling?
It is a popular saying that 90% of people who gamble or trade lose 90% of their money within 90 days. It traces back to trading forums, and no study is cited for it.
What did Warren Buffett say about sports gambling?
In 2017 he said he would probably bet against legalizing sports betting and called gambling addictive.
Which sport is the most gambled on?
No single source ranks every market. In esports betting, Counter-Strike took 57% of 2025 handle, ahead of League of Legends at 27.3%.
What are the motivations behind esports and skin gambling?
Financial gain and excitement lead, with skin acquisition added for skin products. People who gamble to improve their mood report more problems and harm.
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