All of the legal bookies in Australia have to have one of the official licenses issued by official Australian regulatory bodies. A link to the license should be displayed in the footer of every page. If you can’t find it, we advise you to better stay away. Not having a betting licence is a major red flag!
eSports Betting Sites in Australia
It goes without saying that eSports have become an increasingly popular betting option in recent years. This means there are now plenty of eSports betting sites to choose from.
More experienced bettors can scroll down right away and check out our recommended list of the best eSports betting sites in Australia.
Best eSports Betting Sites
Sports and eSports
eSports Live Streaming
- Widest selection of eSports bets
- Fantasy eSports offered
- eSports streaming available
Best Live Streaming
Many Sports Covered
- eSports live streaming
- Lots of eSports markets
- Competitive eSports odds
Great Betting App
Watch Live Streams
- Great eSports markets
- eSports live streams
- CS:GO and LoL covered well
Aussie Sport Focus
Great for Multi Bets
- Good choice of eSports markets
- Solid betting app
- No live streaming available
Best Fantasy Betting Site
Large Prize Pools
- Excellent fantasy leagues
- Big prize pools
- No live streaming offered
If you’re still not sure where to go, scroll down and take a look at the quick overview of the very best sites for eSports betting. In case you want to learn more about any of the mentioned bookmakers, check out some of our in-depth reviews.
How We Pick the Best eSports Betting Sites
It’s important to stay alert and bet only with reliable operators. All of the eSports betting sites on our list are 100% reliable, meaning that they have zero safety issues. However, this is how you can easily check if some other operator is trustworthy.
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Licences
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Selection of eSports odds and markets
Esports are still a fairly new thing in the betting world, so some smaller bookies still offer only a basic set of markets. That’s why we have carefully picked bookies for our top list. For example, Picklebet is offering even over 100 markets on some CS:GO matches, while the average number of bets is somewhere around 40 to 50. Bet365 is also very good in this regard, with around 80 to 100 markets for top events.
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Betting apps
Having excellent betting apps is especially important for eSports since this type of betting usually attracts a younger audience. All the listed sites have excellent bet apps for both iOS and Android platforms. Top eSports betting apps have all the advanced features, such as live streaming, available on mobile as well. If a bookie has a slow and buggy app, or they don’t have native apps at all, we highly suggest you search for a different operator.
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Live streaming & live betting
Streaming is extremely popular in the gaming world, so it’s very common for top eSports bookmakers to offer live streaming on their sites and apps. Our top 3 eSports betting sites all have live streaming available. Some operators integrate Twitch streams on their platform, which is also a good way to do it. If streams are HQ and work on both desktop and mobile, we have nothing to complain about.
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Payment methods
Top eSports betting sites have to feature at least a few of the most popular payment methods, like POLi, BPAY, VISA, MasterCard and so on. Big sites, like bet365, also offer many other payment options, including PayPal and Apple Pay. However, if a bookie offers instant deposits, withdrawals within a day and at least a few of the popular banking options, we can say that they are a solid choice in this regard.
Our Top 3 Best Sites for eSports Betting
While any of the bookies on our recommended list above should be considered, we have dug a little deeper into our top three. Here we tell you a little more about what to expect from them and their top highlights for eSports betting fans.
#1 – Picklebet eSports Betting
- ✅ Best selection of eSports odds and markets in AUS
- ✅ eSports live streaming
- ✅ Excellent blog with eSports betting tips
- ✅ Unique Pick’em betting tournaments
- ❌ Less betting options for other sports compared to competitors
This is what the Picklebet eSports betting page looks like. As you can see, top eSports bets are featured right on the home page. All available eSports bets, as well as Pick’em contests, are listed in the menu on the right-hand side, making it super easy to find any eSports betting market you want.
#2 – bet365 eSports Betting
- ✅ eSports live streaming
- ✅ LoL, CS:GO, Fortnite, Overwatch covered
- ✅ Competitive eSports odds
- ✅ Lots of payment methods
- ❌ Long sing-in form
Here is what the eSports betting page looks like at bet365. Note that all games that are available for live streaming will have a little play icon on the side.
#3 – Unibet eSports Betting
- ✅ High odds for popular eSports events
- ✅ Integrated eSports live streaming
- ✅ Unibet Blog has eSports news and tips
- ✅ Excellent markets, especially for CS:GO and LoL
- ❌ Not that many markets for less popular eSports
Esports betting page is available from the menu on the right. From there, you can browse available bets and see which matches are available for live betting. Note that Unibet also offers an excellent selection of up-to-date stats for every game.
IEM Sydney 2023 Betting
Once you have joined one of the best eSports betting sites you can start to think about betting on the best tournaments around the globe. We cover some of the most popular events later in this article but one paricular tournament that all Aussie eSports fans will be interested on is IEM Sydney 2023.
The event sees Counter-Strike 2 action and expo events taking place in front of a sold out crowd at the theatre at ICC Sydney. Bookies make Team Vitality early favourites for the win but expect ENCE and G2 eSports to mount a serious challenge.
eSports Odds
Finding the highest odds is the easiest way to increase your potential winnings. That’s why we always suggest you go around and search for the best prices before every bet. After conducting research, we concluded that bet365 has the highest average eSports odds. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t double-check the prices before betting.
We have made an eSports odds comparison test, so you can see how it looks in practice. Keep in mind that this is just an example and that it would be the best if you could do something similar every time before placing a bet, as it’s the only way you can be sure that the odds you have are the most favourable.
IEM Sydney CS2 Odds Comparison
Here you can take a look at the results of our eSports odds comparison test. We included the prices offered only by the most competitive eSports betting sites in Australia for the upcoming IEM Sydney 2023 event.
CS2 – Sydney 2023 | ||
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Team Vitality | 3.75 | 3.80 |
ENCE | 4.0 | 4.0 |
G2 eSports | 4.0 | 4.0 |
MOUZ | 8.0 | 8.0 |
Cloud9 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
FaZe Clan | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Natus Vincere | 10.0 | 10.0 |
Monte | 21.0 | 26.0 |
GamerLegion | 26.0 | 26.0 |
BB Team | 34.0 | 34.0 |
Complexity | 34.0 | 34.0 |
Fnatic | 51.0 | 34.0 |
Apex | 51.0 | 51.0 |
Grayhound | 101.0 | 101.0 |
Lynn Vision | 201.0 | 201.0 |
VERTEX | 1001.0 | 1001.0 |
How to Place an eSports Bet
Betting on eSports works the same as sports or racing betting. In case you already have some online betting experience, you won’t have any problems adjusting. If this is your first time, take a look at the step-by-step guide below.
eSports Betting Markets
Most of the eSports betting markets are game-specific. However, there is a set of general markets that are available for almost every game. If you’re just starting with eSports betting, we advise you to stick to these markets, and then slowly try the more complex ones.
Also, keep in mind that bookies are still catching up with the exotic wagering options, so you most probably won’t see all of the specific markets at every top eSports bookie from the beginning of this page.
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Match winner
This is the most common eSports betting market that’s available at any betting site. You simply pick a team you believe will win the match. Alternatively, you can also bet on a team to win a certain round.
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Over/Under
You bet whether the certain in-game stat line will end up being over or under the mark set by the bookie. For example, you can bet whether the number of kills or the number of headshots will be lower or higher than a bookie’s line. Some bookmakers also offer an option to bet over/under on the number of total rounds played.
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Handicaps
It works the same as handicap betting on any other sport. The only difference is that the advantage (or disadvantage) is given in the form of rounds. So in case you bet on a team with a handicap of -2 rounds, they’ll have to win with more than 2 rounds difference ( 10-7 for example) in order for you to get paid. Note that this bet is available only when there are two teams in play.
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Maps betting
Many eSports are played across different maps, and you can bet which team will be a winner of a certain map. Alternatively, the best eSports betting sites allow you to bet on the correct round score on a map, winning margins, handicaps and so on. Keep in mind that certain teams prefer certain types of maps, so always consider the style of play when placing map bets.
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First to reach
With this type of bet, you try to guess which team will reach a certain number of kills or map wins first. With these markets, you have to consider the tactics teams are using and study matchups. First-to-reach markets are especially popular in CS:GO and LoL.
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Outright winner
Place a wager on the team you believe will end up as a tournament winner. Odds are usually very high in this market, but so is the risk. These bets will be available even months in advance.
eSports Betting Apps
More and more punters want to bet with top mobile betting apps, so all our top eSports betting sites have developed excellent products to meet this demand. Unibet is our favourite because their mobile app offers both a lot of special features, such as eSports live streaming, and a simple interface.
Bet365 and Picklebet also offer decent mobile apps, however, we put them behind Unibet because of a few reasons. Bet365 offers even more features than Unibet, but its interface is much more cluttered, so it may be too overwhelming for novice players.
On the other hand, the Picklebet app is very straightforward, making it excellent for beginners. They are the only app here that has a dedicated eSports betting tab available right from the homepage. On top of that, they also offer in-app live streaming of popular eSports.
If you’re seeking a simple app to bet only on eSports, Picklebet is a clear choice. However, if eSports betting is just one of the things on your bucket list, note that both Unibet and bet365 apps are offering a much more comprehensive online betting experience.
Payment Methods at eSports Betting Sites
The selection of payment options may differ depending on the bookmaker, but here are a few of the most popular banking options you can expect to finds at most of the sites from our list:
They are one of the longest-lasting payment options that can help you transfer funds almost instantly. All sites above accept Visa and MasterCard, while American Express isn’t usually allowed.
- Deposit – Instant
- Withdraw – Up to 24 hours
- Fees – Up to 2.5%
These are the newest to appear, but because of some obvious perks, e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill took the iGaming world by storm. They are super fast, very easy to use, and overall a great option for any kind of online money transactions.
- Deposit – Instant
- Withdraw – Up to 24 hours
- Fees – Up to 3%
POLi is the most popular online banking provider among Aussie punters. It’s safe, fast and very convenient, so many people opt to use it. The only issue is that POLi doesn’t support withdrawals, so you’ll have to cash out via bank transfer.
- Deposit – Instant
- Withdraw – N/A
- Fees – 1% (up to $3)
This is another 100% Australian payment provider that offers quick deposits and safe transactions via mobile or online banking. But same as with POLi, you’ll have to withdraw your winnings via bank transfer.
- Deposit – Instant
- Withdraw – N/A
- Fees – No fees
This is the oldest payment method there is. Bank transfer is the safest way to move money around, but keep in mind that the transfer can take up to 10 business days.
- Deposit – Instant
- Withdraw – Between 2 and 10 days
- Fees – Usually between $12 and $30
How to Deposit at eSports Betting Sites
It’s very easy to place a deposit or cash out winnings with Aussie betting sites. Different sites have different-looking interfaces, but in essence, the process always goes the same. In most cases, the money will reach your account almost instantly, especially if you’re betting with PayPal or some other instant payment method.
This is what you’ll have to do to make a deposit:
How to Deposit with eSports Betting Sites?
- Register an account
- Go to the cashier
- Choose a payment method
- Enter the amount and payment details
- Confirm the transaction
eSports Live Streaming
When it comes to the best live streaming bookies for sports and eSports in Australia, bet365 is streets ahead of the rest. This International betting site has streaming rights for a superb selection of sports, including soccer, horse racing, tennis and eSports.
If you want to bet and watch in one place, bet365 should be your next eSports betting site. You don’t even have to place a bet to stream some events, all you need to do is sign up and have a positive account balance! So, as you can see, when it comes to streaming eSports you won’t get any better than bet365 Australia.
Picklebet also offers eSports live streaming on their site, and all you need to do to start streaming is have a funded account. Everything works seamlessly on both mobile and app, but they simply don’t have as many integrated features as bet365. For example, bet365 has all sorts of live stats integrated on the live streaming page, giving you even more valuable betting data in one place.
Unibet TV is another solid option, especially if you appreciate a great mobile experience. They have integrated Twitch streams on their betting site, meaning that you don’t even have to register an account to watch live matches. As soon as you open the eSports betting page, streams will start automatically.
Live Betting On eSports
You will be delighted to know that some of Australia’s best bookmakers offer punters the option of placing live eSports bets. Unfortunately, due to regulations, Australian betting sites cannot offer live betting via their desktop or mobile betting sites. However, all of the latest live betting odds for the biggest eSports events are displayed on their sites, but you’ll have to pick up the phone and get an operator to place a wager for you.
If you are going to bet live on eSports, you should check out bet365 Australia and Unibet. Both are highly reputable Australian betting sites and both have top-class live betting suites with eSports available. At the time of writing, you could bet live on DOTA2 matches, and with bet365 Australia you can even stream eSports live! Find out more about how to stream eSports live in the next section.
- Great selection of eSports live bets
- Many live stats available
- Very best for live streaming
- Competitive live odds on eSports
- Very straightforward to use
- Great betting apps
- Good range of eSports live markets
- Excellent odds
- eSports live streaming
eSports Betting Bonuses
Lovers of eSports wagering can take advantage of all available betting bonuses, such as free bets and matched bonuses, just as punters of other conventional sports bets. If you’re searching for the sites with the best selection of special offers, we suggest sticking with big international bookies, such as Unibet or bet365, since they usually have the most freebies.
Here are a few of the most popular bonus bet types you’ll probably come across:
- Free bets
- Odds boosts
- Matched deposit bonuses
- Money-back specials
- Reload bonuses
- Cashback bonuses
Nowadays, you’ll even find eSports specific bonuses. Bookies tend to offer lots of dedicated offers for rugby or soccer, but as eSports are becoming more popular, those kinds of specials are now also available for popular games like CS:GO and LoL. Keep your eyes wide open especially around big tournaments, because bookies can offer specials like odds boosts or cashback for certain CS:GO or LoL clashes.
eSports Fantasy Betting
Fantasy betting is another emerging way of wagering on sports. It originated in US, but Aussie punters have quickly realised how fun it is. There are a few operators that offer eSports fantasy betting as well. It works pretty much the same as any other fantasy contest. You draft the team and earn points based on the players’ real-life performance.
If you’re into trying something other than the usual fixed odds betting, fantasy contests are a great pick. The best fantasy site in Australia is Draftstarts. Apart from the range of classic sports, they have eSports as well. It includes all of the top games, such as CS:GO and LoL. The offer may not be as extensive as with some other sports, but it’s almost certain that they will continue to invest in the eSports side of things.
Best Fantasy Betting Site
Large Prize Pools
- Excellent CS:GO and LoL fantasy leagues
- Big prize pools
- No live streaming
Top 5 eSports Betting Tips
You’ll find below a few more useful betting tips and strategies from our eSports experts, so don’t miss to give them a look. Those are all general pieces of advice, meaning that you can use them for any type of eSports bets.
eSports Betting Tips
- Don’t miss out on the latest news – Go in with both eyes open when having eSports bets and make sure you are well up to date on the current form.
- Keep your eyes on the stats – Stats can tell you if a team is out of shape or a particular player is on a hot streak. Head-to-head stats are also worth taking into consideration if you are placing an eSports wager.
- Take advantage of different markets – Different bets come with different opportunities. For instance, if you want to try and back a winner at a big price check out eSports futures markets.
- Bet only with reliable operators – Stick to well-known, regulated eSports bookies, preferably some of the ones we list on this page. That’s because they offer high odds, great additional features and have no safety issues.
- Be smart – Set a budget, stick to it and never chase losses. That is advice worth following for punters betting on any sport.
Top Games You Can Bet On
Here is a quick overview of the top eSports you can place your wagers on. The market is quickly expanding so there are new games coming in all the time. However, these ones are available at most of the best eSports betting sites in Australia. Check out where you can bet on each of these eSports or use the links in the table to learn more details.
CS:GO Betting Sites
CS:GO is one of the most popular first-person shooter games of all time, and still a number one choice for many eSports punters. It offers a range of great betting options, from basic ones like group winners and over/unders to some of the more niche markets such as map betting, first blood and knife/pistol rounds. If you want to spice things up even further, note that some bookies allow you to place handicap bets as well. To learn more about how to bet on CS:GO, take a look at our separate article.
You’ll find this game at many bookmakers, but it’s safe to say that bet365 is the best CS:GO betting site in Australia. Apart from the great odds and plenty of tournaments covered, they also offer a first-class live streaming platform and many betting specials.
Best Live Streaming
Many Sports Covered
- Great range of CS:GO markets
- CS:GO live streaming
- Very reliable brand
League of Legends Betting
If you’re more into betting on multiplayer online battle arenas, then League of Legends is the game for you. This popular Riot Games title offers fast-paced gameplay and more than enough wagering opportunities. You can bet on match-winners and outright winners, or even some of the more exciting markets such as a first tower or first baron.
Whether you want to bet on major events such as the World Championship, or some of the smaller tournaments, Unibet is the best eSports betting site for League of Legends betting. They are a big brand with lots of experience, meaning that they know how to cater to punters’ needs very well.
Great Betting App
Watch Live Streams
- Great odds for LoL betting
- LoL live streaming through Twitch
- Excellent eSports betting app
Dota 2 Betting Sites
Known as an online multiplayer battle arena game, DOTA 2 is another insanely popular betting medium for eSports punters. There are a number of professional DOTA 2 leagues. Most Aussie eSports betting sites have match betting available, as well as handicaps and over/under bets. You can also bet on map winners, total kills over/under, first to accomplish a certain number of kills or first to destroy barrack or tower, team to take the first blood and so on. Note that handicap variations of many of these bets are also available at eSport betting sites like Pikclebet and bet365
Our top pick for the best eSports betting site for Dota 2 is Picklebet. They are the top bookmaker for wagering on eSports in general, so you won’t make a mistake if you decide to join them. Picklebet offers unmatched selection markets and odds that are usually above the market average. They offer even more markets on the top Dota 2 events, like Pro Circuit or The International.
Sports and eSports
eSports Live Streaming
- 90+ markets on top Dota 2 games
- Dota 2 live streaming available
- Unique Dota 2 Pick’em tournaments
Rainbow Six: Siege Betting
Rainbow Six: Siege is not as popular as some other eSports. However, it’s quickly gaining popularity, which we can see from many professional tournaments. The game is a first-person shooter that offers 3 exciting game modes, Bomb, Hostage and Secure Area. You can bet on most of the markets that are available for CS:GO, such as map winner and group winner.
At the time of writing, bet365 was the only bookmaker to have Rainbow Six: Siege betting on offer. Since this is a rising game, we can expect that more betting sites will start offering it in the future.
Best Live Streaming
Many Sports Covered
- Many Rainbow Six betting markets
- Great coverage of Rainbow Six tournaments
- Live streaming available
StarCraft 2 Betting
StarCraft is one of the most popular gaming franchises in the world that has quickly found its way to the big gaming tournaments. It’s a real-time strategy where players can choose between three very different races named Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg. Each of them requires a different style of play, so make sure to consider that when placing bets.
Bet365 is the only bookmaker in Australia that’s currently offering StarCraft 2 betting. However, this is a game loved by many eSports fans, so don’t be surprised if more betting sites start including it.
Best Live Streaming
Many Sports Covered
- Great selection of StartCraft bets
- Live streaming on desktop and mobile
- Market-leading StarCraft odds
FIFA Betting
Aussie punters love betting on football, so it’s no wonder FIFA has become one of the most popular eSports at local betting sites. FIFA is a realistic football simulation where players can pick real-life teams or build their own ultimate lineup. Betting markets are pretty similar to real football betting, so you can bet on things like match winner, first goal scorer, total goals over/under, tournament winner and so on. Our top sites also offer live streaming of numerous FIFA tournaments, including The FIFA eWorld Cup.
Picklebet is the market leader when it comes to betting on FIFA. They offer the best range of markets, with over 100 bets for the most popular matches. You’ll find at least 30 markets, even for the less popular tournaments. On top of that, you can watch live FIFA matches on the Picklebet site or get involved in one of their’s unique Pick’em tournaments.
Best Live Streaming
Many Sports Covered
- Great selection of StartCraft bets
- Live streaming on desktop and mobile
- Market-leading StarCraft odds
Is eSports Betting Legal in Australia?
Yes, it is. eSports betting is completely legal for all people in Australia aged over 18. Even NSW bookmakers that fall under a much stricter legal frame are featuring eSports betting. In order to start betting on your favourite esports players and teams, you’ll have to register an account with some of the bookies registered under the laws of Australia.
We recommend you go with some of the sites from the list above, as they are all tested and 100% safe. In our opinion, bet365 is the best eSports betting site around here, but any other operator you see above will do the job.
There are plenty of international brands and homegrown bookies doing business around here, so you’ll have enough options to choose from. Note that they’ll probably ask you for an ID or some other personal document to prove your age.
Rise of eSports in Australia
Esports has been around for over 20 years, but they have started to enter the mainstream in the last few years. They first became popular in South Corea and then quickly expanded across the globe. Today there are more than 500 million eSports fans in the world, with Asia still leading the way.
Australian punters are quickly starting to catch up with the global trends, so now almost every bookmaker is offering at least a few eSports markets. We even have specialised operators, like PickleBet. The future is bright for eSports betting in Australia. It’s almost certain that the offer will increase even more in the future.
Are eSports Matches Fair?
The question of fairness has been at the centre of attention in the eSports community after a few cases of match-fixing. However, as eSports are becoming more and more regulated, this has stopped being a major concern. If you’re betting with a reliable bookmaker you can be 100% sure that all the clashes are completely fair. Big bookmakers won’t risk being involved with anything that even resembles match-fixing. They simply have too much to lose in that case.
Top eSports Tournaments
Just like with any other sport, there are also many leagues and tournaments for popular eSports. They cover different regions and games, so not all eSports will be available for betting every time.
Most of the bookies on our list focus on the major eSports tournaments, meaning that you’ll find odds on any of the events listed below. There are tens of other clashes throughout the year, but these are the events you shouldn’t miss if you’re taking eSports betting seriously.
- Battle.net World Championship Series
- Call of Duty League
- Electronic Sports League
- eXTREMESLAND
- FIFA Interactive World Cup
- International e-Sports Federation
- League of Legends Rift Rivals
- League of Legends World Championship
- The International
Conclusion
eSports are on a huge rise in Australia. It’s still quite a smaller market when compared with common Aussie sports like rugby and horse racing. But don’t be surprised if, in a few years time, the number of bets on popular eSports gets very close to the ones placed on traditional sports events.
Australia is one of the biggest video game markets in the world, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that wagering on CS:GO or Dota 2 tournaments have become so sought after. It’s always hard to predict where the industry is going to go, but we’re safe to say that the best eSports betting sites will continue to prove popular.
eSports Betting FAQs
What is the best eSports betting site?
Betting on eSports have become increasingly popular in recent years, so there are many popular Aussie bookmakers offering odds and markets on big CS:GO, Dota 2 and LoL tournaments. We have made a list of the best betting sites for eSports, so make sure you give it a look before deciding where to play.
What Australian bookmaker has the best eSports odds?
It is imperative to locate the best odds possible for every single bet you place, no matter what the sport or eSport. As a general rule, Unibet and bet365 are usually very competitive when it comes to the best eSports odds. However, to ensure you get the best price, keep your options open and shop around.
Can I watch eSports live streaming?
Yes, we are delighted to report that bet365 Australia has live streaming of some of the biggest eSports events. You just need an account with a positive balance. Picklebet and Unibet are also great choices for eSports live streaming.
What is the best eSports betting app?
The best bookies also offer excellent eSports betting apps for you to use. Unibet, bet365 and PlayUp lead the way but others may also suit your needs.