eSports betting is one of the latest forms of online betting and it is becoming increasingly popular. Competitive gaming is big business and there are many events taking place annually across the globe.
With so much prize money at stake in the big tournaments, the competition is tough and only the top players rise to the top. As with any other type of sport, thanks to the competitive nature of eSports, plenty of people want to have a wager on the outcome of individual games and tournaments. That has led to the rise of eSports betting but what does it involves and is it heading to a state near you?
What is eSports Betting?
All the major eSports events are streamed live online, and many bookmakers include eSports live streaming. There are dedicated eSports streaming channels on YouTube and Twitch and millions of people tune in to watch the best players compete in games including League of Legends, DOTA 2, and CS: GO to name but a few. eSports betting involves having a wager on these events. The betting markets can include who wins the match, who wins the tournament, the final score, odd/even number of games won, players killed, rounds played, and over/under number of games and players killed.
Live betting is one of the most popular forms of eSports betting and involves betting on a game as it takes place. The odds change as the game is played and bets are placed while the individuals or teams compete. Live streaming is key when it comes to live betting because it is possible to follow the action and make informed betting decisions. Now you know exactly what eSports betting involves, we can look at where it is possible to legally bet on eSports in the United States.
Legal Betting in USA
There are currently more than 10 different states in the US where eSports betting is legal. The states where it is legal to bet on eSports in the US include Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. There are currently only three states where it is officially prohibited, and they are Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
At the time of writing, there are many states where it is unclear exactly what the regulations are in terms of eSports betting. Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, and Oregon are all states where the laws are unclear and that means eSports betting is not regulated. However, some of these states are making changes which will legalize eSports betting soon. Illinois, Mississippi, and Oregon are three states that could see regulated betting soon.
If we take Michigan as an example of where the betting regulations for eSports are unclear, we can see why it is not always straightforward. In Michigan, sports betting has been legalized since the passage of HB 4916 in 2019 but it makes no specific mention of eSports. In this situation, we need to look at the details of the bill in question and it allows wagers of athletic events ‘that involves the athletic skill of 1 or more players or participants. This brings into question the nature of eSports in terms of skill but anyone who plays or watches eSports events at the highest level will confirm there is plenty of skill involved. It is whether the activity is classed as ‘athletic’ that may cause an issue.
Individual Operators
If we continue using Michigan as an example, where online sports betting is legal, there are several options when it comes to choosing a sportsbook. Each individual operator can decide what sports they want to provide and popular slots FanDuel have offered for many years continue to be a major draw for the brand. However, they have also added eSports betting to their portfolio and although it may not be a major aspect of their sports betting coverage, it is available.
As more states fully recognize eSports betting as being legal, we are sure to see more online gambling brands adding betting markets to their websites and mobile apps. It is an especially exciting time for those in Illinois, Mississippi, and Oregon, who could soon see full eSports betting.
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