One of the biggest innovations in the sports betting industry in recent years has been the addition of esports to the catalogue of events available to place bets on. As well as the likes of football, horse racing, basketball, tennis and other top sports, punters are now able to visit their favourite bookmaker, including pretty much any of the top betting sites UK, and place a bet on a host of esports, virtual sports and more. Here we run through some of the most popular esports games available in 2023, many of which have been established industry favourites for the best part of a decade.
Call of Duty
This is the biggest multiplayer shooter game on the planet, and the competitive nature of the CofD community is enough to rival the dedication committed to any sport. Call of Duty professionals are to be found participating in huge global tournaments with eye-watering prize pots at stake. It’s no wonder that the tournaments themselves now attract major betting interest, with contests often live streamed on bookmaker sites. The interest in this game is phenomenal.
Dota II
Ubiquitous on any major sports betting site, Dota II (aka Defense of the Ancients) is undoubtedly one of the most popular esports in the world, and generate millions in bets placed every year. On the scene for ten years now, this multiplayer online battle arena game is not only one of the most live-streamed games on the viewing platform Twitch, it also attracts some of the highest prize funds available in any esports tournaments. No wonder it generates such interest and has become one of the most competitive esports games on the planet.
League of Legends
LoL is another esports game that can be found on pretty much every sports betting site – or at least any sports betting site worth its salt. With literally millions of dollars handed out in prize money every year, this is a game that successfully blends elements of both first person shooter games and role playing. Teams of champions can go to battle in various game modes, and the constant updates from Riot Games – the developer – ensure fresh game play and additional competitive elements that keep LoL near the top of any esports gaming lists.
Overwatch
The brainchild of Blizzard Games, Overwatch has risen to become one of the best-known names in esports, with the developer creating the Overwatch League which has become one of the biggest and most competitive E-gaming leagues in the world. Events attract live audiences in their thousands, with millions more tuning in through platforms such as Twitch. This is another first-person shooter game with a huge game-playing community and dedicated fanbase that ensures millions are bet on Overwatch events annually.
Counter-strike: Global Offensive
Global Offensive, part of the universe of Counter-strike games, is without doubt one of the most popular and participated in esports communities anywhere in the world. Hundreds of CS:GO tournaments are organised every year either by third parties or by the game’s developer itself, Valve. There’s even a popular franchise league. Regular patches and major content updates ensure the game is kept fresh and this is another esports game that has developed a dedicated following in the ten years since the game’s release.
Starcraft II
It’s hard to believe that Starcraft II has been around since 2010. In Korea the game is nothing short of a religion, and attracts live audiences that established sports could only ever dream of. A third-person strategy game played in real time, the secret of its esports success is the one-Vs-one format that is, arguably, the most exciting of all the esports spectacles. That in itself guarantees its enduring success, and as a result the game continues to thrive and remain a constant on the list of betting sites’ esports offerings.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
