“Video game betting” and “esports betting” are largely the same thing, but the phrasing tends to attract a slightly different crowd - often bettors newer to the space who think of it in terms of the games themselves rather than the competitive scene around them. This page looks at the main types of video game betting websites and what tends to separate a good one from a mediocre one.
Types of video game betting websites
Esports-first sportsbooks. These are platforms built specifically for betting on competitive video games - titles like CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant are typically core to the product rather than an add-on. Thunderpick, GG.Bet, and Rivalry are commonly cited examples. They tend to offer the deepest market coverage, including map-level betting and live in-play options, and several lean into crypto payment support.
Mainstream sportsbooks with an esports section. Operators like Betway, Bet365, and 888sport built their businesses around traditional sports and later added esports coverage. These sites benefit from established licensing, broader regional availability, and integrated payment systems, but their video game betting markets are often narrower - typically limited to major tournaments rather than daily regional league action.
Skin and crypto-based platforms. A smaller category of sites lets users wager using in-game items or cryptocurrency rather than conventional deposits. These platforms carry additional considerations around regulation and regional legality, and bettors should be especially careful to verify legitimacy and licensing before using one.
What to look for
Regardless of category, the same evaluation criteria apply: how many games and leagues are actually covered, what bet types are available beyond simple moneylines, whether the platform supports your region and preferred payment method, and what its general reputation looks like among people who have actually used it. A flashy homepage means little if the underlying market coverage is thin or the operator has a spotty track record on payouts.
How we compare these sites
We group video game betting websites by these same categories and evaluate them on coverage depth, market variety, and general reliability rather than promotional claims. We don’t publish specific bonus terms, odds, or license numbers as fact - check each operator’s own site for current terms, and confirm it’s legally available in your jurisdiction before signing up anywhere.