The world of online sports betting is always improving and growing in many ways. Online sportsbooks are always on the lookout for new sports and markets, and eSports presented the perfect opportunity. A decade ago, no one considered competitive video gaming a sport. But, now it’s more than that and being considered as an Olympic sport. eSports isn’t as new as we believe. Its concept can be traced back to the 1970s as soon as home consoles become common.
Which Esports tournaments/leagues/races are good to bet on?
Although it’s a much newer sport to put your money on, there are still many tournaments and competitions bookies offer. The focus is one the majors, or the big international tournaments on the most popular games. Even if you’re a complete newbie in eSports, there’s a big chance you’ve heard about them or watched a show about them on TV or heard something on Twitch.
The International
The International is the biggest eSports tournament and the richest one. It’s a tournament on DOTA 2 that puts the world’s biggest teams and players in one spot competing against each other. It’s producer by Valve Corporation – DOTA 2’s creator and the studio that brought us Half-Life. This tournament was launched in 2011 and is reasonably the most important one in eSports betting. With a prize purse of over $40 million most recently, it’s the biggest eSports competition by a mile.
CS:GO Majors
Counter Strike: Global Offensive was recently updated to its 2.0 version. Nothing has changed when it comes to its most important tournament, though – the Majors. Counter Strike is the reason why eSports grew so popular in the first place, so it’s no wonder why it gets a lot of attention at the best betting sites in Nigeria.
LoL World Championship
The League of Legends World Championship—simply known as the Worlds—is the biggest tournament on LoL. It’s an end of season tournament where the best teams play for a prestigious trophy. It’s one of the most watched eSports events, and impresses everyone with theatrical presentation and sport-like atmosphere like no other. It has a major prize purse and gets a lot of attention from both fans of eSports and bettors too.
Fortnite World Cup
Fortnite is a newer game compared to DOTA 2, LoL, or CS:GO, but it has taken the eSports world by storm. After its 2019 launch, it found itself a base for many tournaments including the Fortnite World Cup. It puts the best players from all around the world in solo and duo pools with millions of dollars in prizes. It’s just as major a tournament in eSports betting, with all the best Nigerian betting sites offering odds on the Fortnite World Cup.
The Odds in Esports
One of the best things about online betting on eSports are the odds. As a newer and niche sport, the odds on these matches and tournaments are usually much longer than those on, say, football. There’s a difference in the odds between different Nigerian bookies, so you shouldn’t hesitate to compare odds between the two. That’s how you find the best odds for eSports. No one’s stopping you from registering at several bookies and choosing the ones with the best odds.
- When talking about eSports betting online, you’ll see a distinction between short-term and long-term odds.
- Short-term odds include betting on matches and odds that are resolved shortly, while long-term odds are betting on future outcomes.
- The lowest odds will be on early sections of eSports tournaments, while the longest odds are on futures.
As an eSports bettor, you can expect more of the same markets as in any other sport. Of course, there are differences in specific prop bets or markets that only apply to this particular sport. But, in general, most bettors will bet on 1×2, system bets, accumulators, and similar types of bets. Sometimes, there will be limitations to the odds themselves, especially when it comes to accumulators. The bookie will announce the maximum combined odds and how much money can you bet at max.
Which eSports betting markets are usually available for punters, when betting online?
As mentioned earlier, bettors can put their money on mostly the same markets in eSports betting. The main markers are moneyline and 1×2, as well as futures such as tournament winners or MVPs. Here are the most popular eSports betting markets at the top Nigerian sports betting sites:
- 1×2
- Handicaps
- Totals
- Futures
- Players MVP
- Prop bets
Some of these are short-term markets, others are long-term. These markets are available on the biggest tournaments we talked about above, and can be found at the top betting platforms in Nigeria.
Short-term betting in eSports
Short-term eSports betting is the most popular way to bet on this sport. The name says it all – you’re betting on a short-term outcome, for example, a CS:GO match where you pick the winner. Round winners and live eSports betting markets are also short-term. The biggest advantage of betting short-term is the fact that you don’t need to wait for long to see if you’ve won. The odds on these markets are generally lower than futures, and as such, more likely.
Long-term betting in eSports
Seasoned punters will surely look into long-term eSports betting. These are futures or betting on future outcomes, such as choosing a tournament winner or MVP. Compared to short-term betting, long-term betting odds are higher. However, this also means they’re riskier, not to mention you’ll have to wait for a long time to see if you’ve won anything.
Live betting/In-Play betting in eSports
Live betting is a very popular way to bet on any sports, eSports included. Just like with any football match, horse race, or a tennis match, you can live bet on eSports matches too. These matches may sometimes last for hours—especially when it comes to DOTA 2 and LoL. There are many specific niche in-play betting markets such as next team to catch the flag, next kill, and winner of the next round among many others.
Live eSports betting are extremely popular with punters in Nigeria. The best betting sites will have live streams for the biggest matches, allowing you to watch the action from the get go which could prove very useful for spotting patterns you can bet on later.
The best betting sites for eSports
The biggest betting sites in Nigeria are pretty big on eSports matches. The popular sport is a major attraction to punters, so many betting platforms will even offer special bonuses and prizes for fans of the sport. In the paragraphs below, we’ll talk more about the best betting sites in Nigeria that offer eSports betting.
22bet
22bet is quite easily one of the best online sports betting sites in the country. The sportsbook obtained its license in 2017 and has been a mainstay since then. It has a major fanbase in Nigeria thanks to the great eSports betting coverage and the lucrative bonuses and promotions. It’s not just eSports – 22bet offers betting on any other major sport you can think of, including horse racing, basketball, tennis, and football.
When it comes to the 22bet app, you can expect plenty of eSports betting action. There’s a separate hub for these tournaments where you can bet on all the Majors and even local and international qualifying tournaments. Despite the fact that eSports is a new addition to 22bet, it offers an amazing number of events daily, weekly, and monthly paired with great odds.
In terms of video games you can bet on, you’re looking at CS:GO, FIFA, DOTA 2, LoL, Fortnite, Starcraft II, NBA 2K, and Overwatch among others. The bookie’s simple user interface is easy to read and look great on any device, allowing you to easily browse through the tournaments and bet on the matches you live. In terms of betting markets, you can bet on fixed odds and live eSports betting markets.
Cloudbet
Cloudbet is the home for eSports betting for many Nigerian punters. The reason for this is the exclusive and extensive coverage of the biggest video game tournaments. Among them are Counter Strike, DOTA 2, LoL, Warcraft, Valorant, Fortnite, and NBA 2K among many others. You can choose any game and let the site display the most important international tournaments for it.
The odds are pretty good, and punters love the fact they can bet with crypto on eSports. That’s not something every betting site in Nigeria offers, making Cloudbet one of the most unique betting platforms for this sport. Of course, you can put your money or crypto on fixed odds and live betting markets, with the only disadvantage being the lack of live streams.
Betwinner
Betwinner was launched in 2018 and didn’t take long to arrive at the crowded Nigerian online betting market. It did a great job by doing so, offering an unparalleled betting experience with great odds and variety of markets. Bonuses are in the focus for new and seasoned punters, with great deals for all including fans of eSports.
In terms of eSports betting market variety, Betwinner is second to none. It covers all the Majors and many qualifying tournaments and competitions on DOTA 2, LoL, FIFA, and other video games. The odds are great too and you get both fixed odds and live betting markets. Unfortunately, live streams are not part of the offer, but despite that, you won’t miss anything as an eSports fan at Betwinner.
FAQ for Esports betting
Yes, it is. Due to the fact that it’s still not as popular as football, you can get some pretty great odds on Esports matches, making it a great choice for new and seasoned punters.
Yes, as mentioned before, Esports is characterized by great odds on the majors and minor international tournaments. Make sure to compare odds between Esports bookies in Nigeria to find the best Esports bets.
It’s easy to get started with Esports betting. Most of the big matches are featured on the front page as the sport is gaining popularity. Click on the odds you want to bet on and add them to your slip.
Absolutely. The safety and fairness depends on the bookie, but if you go with the best Esports betting sites in Nigeria, you don’t have to worry about it.
The stars in Esports
N0tail
Johan Sundstein, also known as N0tail in Esports, is the most successful Esports players of all time. Formerly known as BigDaddy, the Danish-Faroese DOTA 2 players have won well over $7 million in his career. He was one of the youngest and most competitive Heroes of Newerth players for his age. He played solo mid before making the switch to DOTA 2. Now aged 30, Johan became the de-facto leader of the Fnatic DOTA 2 team around a decade ago.
Despite his young age, N0tail has been a big favorite at every major DOTA 2 tournament. However, his time at Fnatic was cut short in 2014 when he announced that he’s surprisingly leaving the team. He formed Team Secret with ex Natus Vincere players Kuroky and Puppey, but he only stayed there for a few months. He then joined Cloud9 for the 2015 The International. Later that year, he formed OG with his friend Fly, and has been flying under this flag ever since.
The last time N0tail won The International was in 2019. He hasn’t competed since 2021, but despite rumors about retiring, he has stated that he’s not feeling competitive at the moment, and only taking a break.
Faker
A true League of Legends superstar, Faker’s real name is Lee Sang-hyeok. He’s first burst onto the scene in 2013 as a 17-year old phenom in the most competitive game on the scene. His rise in this field has been meteoric, and so far, he’s become one of only two players to win 3 LoL titles with his team SKT. He has won all the major tournaments including the World Championship, IEM, Mid-Season Invitational, and the All-Stars.
More importantly, Faker has been a major Esports ambassador. He’s the only player to grace the cover of ESPN’s magazine, and has earned more money than any other LoL player.
Scarlett
Sasha Hostyn, known by her in-game alias Scarlett, is the leading female Esports players in the world. She has earned close to $450,000 in her career thus far. Scarlett hails from the USA and primarily plays Starcraft II as a Zerg. She performs as part of the Shopify Rebellion team. She first played for Team Acer in 2012 where she achieved a rare three-kill before losing in the final round to Polt.
Nevertheless, Scarlett has won many tournaments with impressive gameplay skills. She’s a huge inspiration for female Esports players, and looks set to become the first one that reaches $1 million in earnings in the near future.
The best Esports clubs/country/teams
Team Liquid
Team Liquid is one of the best Esports teams in the sport’s history. It was founded in the Netherlands in 2000 and is among the most successful teams on the big stage. Originally a Starcraft team (Brood War clan), they later switched to DOTA 2. After making the switch, the team won The International in 2017, and finished second two years later.
The team has the most appearances at Major grand finals with 10 appearances, trailing only Virtus.Pro who has 9. The current team captain is Insania, with miCKe, zai, Boxi, and Nisha competing the active roster.
Fnatic
Fnatic is a professional Esports tournament with offices in Austria, England, and the Netherlands. The team was formed in 2004, making it one of the earliest ever in Esports. Fnatic has fielded some of the most successful Esports players in CS:GO. Just before 2010 when Fnatic’s popularity peaked, it managed to secure sponsorships of SteelSeries and MSI, the first of their kind.
In 2021, Fnatic was voted 6th among the most innovative gaming companies. It’s a major brand worldwide, and one of the most popular Esports betting teams at any betting site.
FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan is the most popular Esports organization on the CS:GO market. It’s also one of the most successful Esports teams of all time. FaZe was launched in 2010 and established itself as one of the most influential Esports organizations. With a global fanbase of 510 million people (combined over social media platforms), FaZe’s influence in the sport is undeniable.
FaZe’s roster of influential personalities includes Lebron James’ son Bronny, Lil Yachty, and NFL player Kyler Murray. The team has often been called an Esports rockstar, and is a mainstay in all the major CS:GO and CS:GO 2 tournaments. So far, FaZe has won over 40 trophies, including the 2023 CS:GO Intel Grand Slam most recently.
Esports Betting Conclusion
Esports is a fairly popular sport to bet on in Nigeria. It would be a mistake for betting platforms not to cover the major tournaments and a few minor ones as well. The youth in Nigeria love betting on this new sport which coincides with their age.
As a relatively new addition to the sports betting market, the odds on Esports matches are quite good as well. Of course, that depends from one bookie to another, but overall, you can expect much better odds than on football or other sports.
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