The eSports betting industry continues to grow in popularity. The best eSports NZ betting sites will provide customers with a deposit bonus or alternatively a matched free bet. eSports betting platforms provide a risk-free way of getting involved in betting on the likes of CS:GO, Rainbow Six and Valorant, which are the more popular eSports games available. 

Find out how to get involved with the best eSports bookies and how to make the most from this type of betting. It might be worth checking recent eSports betting sites reviews to find out all the information you need. 

Best Online eSports Betting Sites

So what are eSports betting sites? Ultimately, they are a form of online betting, and they provide customers in New Zealand with a chance to place real money bets on the outcome of eSports events. You will find a wide range of eSports betting markets and you can bet on a specific team to win a tournament, although the majority of bets are placed on a match-by-match basis. It’s a simple case of visiting your favourite eSports betting website and depositing money securely and then placing your eSports bets on the various outcomes when you have found the best odds for major eSports tournaments. 

The eSports betting world allows customers to generate bookies free bets and bonuses when they sign up with a particular betting site. You should look to take advantage of the most generous ones. New customer bonuses are usually easy to claim and involve taking a few simple steps. You may need to enter a promo code or opt into a specific offer.

We’ve put together a list of sites that provide the best online eSports betting experience. You can sign up with each of these bookmakers in order to secure the welcome bonus. You can also compare the eSports betting sites to establish what events are being covered, along with the in-play betting service and which eSports markets are the best.

CobraBet eSports Bookies

When it comes to eSports betting, CobraBet considers itself as the best eSports betting site around. It allows eSports fans to enjoy a free bet offer when they first sign up. There are regular customer bonuses available, and there’s nearly always plenty of choice when betting on eSports. Bettors might be especially impressed by the range of CS2 and Valorant wagering options, and that includes Lines, Map Markets and Matches.

LeoVegas eSports Bookmaker

LeoVegas it certainly one of the biggest online eSports betting sites, with this official partner of Manchester City covering a number of top leagues. New players can claim a generous welcome package and then enjoy the chance to bet on CS2 tournaments such as RB Cup, TP World Championship and CCT Central Europe Series. Check out the League of Legends, Overwatch 2 and Rainbow 6 betting markets.

William Hill eSports Betting

William Hill is one of the more popular eSports betting sites, and it’s good to see plenty of in-play betting options available. When visiting this bookmaker, we found the chance to bet on tournaments such as Rainbow Six – Six Major, CS:GO – Asia Championship and World of Warcraft. There are also lots of Map 1 winner betting options and the chance to place accumulator bets on this sport.

888Sport eSports Betting Sites

We like the fact that 888Sport often has price boosts available for the big eSports events, meaning that customers are able to get bigger odds on some of the more popular selections. Some of the betting options covered include professional gamers competing across platforms like CS:GO, OW, Rainbow Six and LOL, with some of the most competitive odds to be found with this bookmaker.

Betway eSports Bookies

Betway is among the best eSports bookies, and we enjoyed placing wagers on the League of Legends World Championship that was taking place. The big advantage to having an account with this bookmaker is that you can also access free live streaming if you have a funded balance. There are some big betting coupons that cover the likes of Counter Strike, League Of Legends and Dota 2 among others.

Mr Green eSports Bookmakers

What really sets Mr Green apart on eSports betting is the fact that you can choose from an enormous range of betting markets. Aside from the match odds, you can also wager on Map Handicap, Total Maps, Correct Map Score and Map 1 Round Handicap. There’s also the opportunity to place combination bets such as a team to win along with over / under for a specific number of rounds to be played.

Mr.Play Online eSports Betting

When you look through the sports menu at Mr.Play, you will see that many of the options relate to online eSports betting and we identified Counter-Strike, Overwatch, League Of Legends, Rainbow Six and Starcraft among them. All the main LOL tournaments are covered along with some that you won’t find featured on other eSports betting websites.

22Bet eSports Bookies

There are lots of different eSports betting options at 22Bet, which provides a wide range of pre-event and in-play markets to customers. You can be sure that when there’s a big tournament taking place, there should be a coupon bulging with matches where you can place wagers. Bet on the winner of a specific contest or alternatively place your bets on the winner of a map.

CS:GO Betting Sites List

Betting on CS:GO allows customers to approach a contest from a number of betting angles. You bet on which team will win, while Match Handicap and Total Wins are other options. Round Lines are also plentiful, which means you can wager on Rounds Handicap and Total Rounds, while there is also map betting for an alternative take.

DOTA 2 Betting Sites

DOTA 2 events are regularly streamed at eSports betting sites, with Match Lines affording customers the chance to back a specific team to win or alternatively wager on the match handicap. One of the most popular markets is the Kill Handicap, and you can also bet on Total Kills where there is an Over and Under line.

LOL Betting Sites

When it comes to online eSports betting on LOL, there are the usual Match Lines markets, although there’s also the chance to bet on Map 1 options that include the first team to achieve certain tasks. This includes First Blood, Slay Baron and Destroy Inhibitor. There are also Totals options such as Total Kills, Total Towers and Total Dragons.

eSports Betting Options

There are a number of different betting approaches when wagering on eSports. We have listed some of the most popular options although the markets can vary according to the actual game concerned.

• Outright winner: simply bet on the team that will win a specific eSports tournament.
• Match winner: bet on which team will claim the victory in a particular heat.
• Handicap betting: move the line by betting on the favourite or underdog with a particular handicap
• Total maps: bet on how many maps will be contested, with customers selecting over or under
• To Win Map: bet on the team that will win a specific map
• Rounds Handicap: bet on the favourite or underdog when it comes to the number of rounds won
• Total rounds: bet Over or Under when it comes to the total rounds that will be played

eSports Betting Odds

It’s good to know exactly how betting odds work for eSports. You need to have an account with an eSports betting site in order to get started. Once you have a funded balance, you are able to go ahead and decide which team to back.

Let’s say you select AGO to win a CS:GO match. You might stake $10 on AGO to win and the odds would be as follows:

Ultimately, the above odds are all the same. They are simply expressed in different ways. If you stake $10 at these prices, then you will enjoy a return of $20. That would mean a profit of $10 along with your original stake of $10.

eSports Betting Site Reviews – How we Rate Sportsbooks

The eSports betting apps need to meet several requirements in order for us to give them the green light. It always helps if an operator has industry experience and many of them have been providing eSports betting odds for several years. We have created the below sections to outline what is important to customers when it comes to betting on this sport.

eSports Sign Up Offers

eSports bookies will provide customers with a generous offer when they first sign up for a betting account. Once you have registered with a bookmaker, you can make a first deposit and claim a welcome bonus. Sometimes an operator will provide a bonus as part of the deposit or alternatively it might be a matched bookies free bet offers. Watch out for the need to either enter a promotion code or opt into a particular offer. You might need to choose a specific payment method to deposit or alternatively bet at minimum odds in order to qualify for any offer.

Existing Customer Offers

Once you have claimed a new customer offer, there is often the chance to take advantage of other promotions. We have noticed some bookmakers have price boosts available for eSports betting, while there might be the chance to enjoy a reload bonus. It’s also typical to find a bookie offering you a free bet if you wager on a particular tournament. Look out for money back specials where you can sometimes get your stake back if there’s a particular outcome that happens during an event.

Customer Support

When it comes to online eSports betting, we are always keen to locate the bookmakers who have the best customer support in place. Ideally this would be available on a 24/7 basis, allowing you to make contact with a trained member of staff on any day and at any time. There might also be the chance to utilise Live Chat functionality to good effect, while there should also be telephone support and the opportunity to send an email to an operator. Frequently Asked Questions are also in place for customers to find an answer to a particular query.

Variety of eSports Games and Markets

The more tournaments that are covered, the better. We’re especially keen to see CS:GO, Dota 2 and LOL events on the roster, with the best NZ betting sites offering over fifty markets for a particular match. Customers like the chance to bet on the match winner along with the handicap market, while it’s great if you can place an accumulator that includes a number of picks. There should also be a healthy range of map betting markets and an operator should stretch to the number of kills depending on the game involved.

Betting On Other Sports

While it’s important to enjoy eSports betting, New Zealand customers often like to wager on a number of other sports. Therefore, bookies should cover popular options such as rugby union, rugby league, cricket, golf and soccer. It’s not uncommon to find a bookmaker offering over 30, sports and there should be a good range of events that are being covered depending on seasonality. It’s also beneficial for customers to also bet on horse racing that takes place in NZ and Australia, along with race meetings across other parts of this world.

We always looking for betting sites that provide plenty of markets to enjoy the likes of cricket betting, NRL betting, darts betting and football betting.

Deposit Methods

Customers wanting to bet on eSports NZ betting sites should be presented with a wide range of deposit methods in order to make a transaction. This should include a registered bank card, where the customer saves their banking details and is then able to use them on a repeat basis. It’s even better if there are a wide range of e-wallet options on the cards, with PayPal, Neteller and Skrill some of the leading methods. It could be that pre-paid cards like paysafe card are available and some NZ bookmakers even allow cryptocurrency.

eSports Betting App

If there is an eSports betting platform for customers that includes an app, then we would always recommend using this particular option. Customers in New Zealand can download a betting app in order to log into their betting account and place pre-event and In-Play bets. The other big advantage is that you’re able to bet on the move and receive notifications relating to the various offers. The apps should be cutting-edge and available for iOS and Android devices, with Face ID often facilitated for speedy log in and bet placement.

Easy to Use Website

It’s no good visiting an eSports betting site and finding it difficult to locate a particular event or match. It’s much better if you can head directly to the page, markets and odds that interest you the most. We like to see all sports listed in a menu, with search functionality also allowing customers to head directly to the odds upon which they would like to bet. Many eSports bookies will also provide live streaming and that should prove to be a reliable service where customers can enjoy the live streams without any glitches. 

Online eSports Betting Free Bets

At Bookies.com, we have a full list of the top betting apps where free bets can be claimed. Check out the offers and decide which ones you would like to claim. The new customer offers can come in various shapes and sizes, including the following:

• Deposit bonus: this is a common type of free bet offer for New Zealand customers wanting to bet on eSports. This is where a bonus is added on top of a first deposit being made into a betting account.
• Free bet: an NZ free bet can be secured with an eSports betting site quite simply. You go ahead and fund your betting account before placing a first qualifying bet at specific odds. The bookie will then credit you with a free bet.
• Odds boost: there might sometimes be a new customer offer where you can bet on a popular betting selection at inflated odds. The winnings could be payable in free bets and it’s an ideal way of getting started with a bookmaker.
• Money back if first bet loses: sign up with a bookmaker and get money back if your first eSports bet loses. If it wins, then you get paid as a winner.

eSports Betting Apps

There are several benefits when it comes to using an eSports betting app. The vast majority of customers who bet on eSports want to use a mobile betting app. They can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play depending on whether you are using iOS or Android. 

There’s no doubt that eSports betting apps allow customers have easy access to the various betting odds on their phone and it’s especially good for In-Play wagering. A good eSports bookie will also serve up notifications when your bet has been paid out or there’s a particular offer available. 

How to Bet on eSports

The good news is that you’re just a few simple steps away from eSports betting. New Zealand customers can sign up for a betting account in minutes and that includes verifying your identity. This is always a positive step as part of a regulatory requirement, with the NZ betting site in question being licensed.

Make sure that you sign up through a link on Bookies.com. This will ensure you’re in line to qualify for a generous free bet and you need to find a way to fund your betting account. Sometimes Apple Pay and Google Pay can be used through an app. Once you have a funded balance, you’re then in a position to start placing wagers on eSports events.

Online eSports Betting Sites Available Payment Methods

Visa and Mastercard are go-to payment options for customers who want to register a bank card. You can make secure deposits and withdrawals, while there are usually a wide range of other methods that can also be utilised. This includes payz which is popular with New Zealand customers along with Revolut and Neteller. There is usually a minimum deposit amount of around NZ$10 and the same applies with a minimum withdrawal.

Is Online eSports Betting Legal in New Zealand?

Betting in NZ is legal and it’s usually the case that this legal status covers eSports along with other sports that are covered. There might sometimes be a different set of rules applies and it can often come down to where an event is taking place. If a bookmaker allows you to place bets on eSports, then it stands to reason that you’re good to go.