eSports Betting In New York
Video game competitions have existed for decades, but even 20 years ago the topic of eSports betting in New York would have been unlikely to come up in conversation. eSports (electronic sports) are essentially professional video gaming competitions. The popularity of eSports has just started to rise in the United States over the past few years, but it has already become a staple in the sports betting world. There are numerous sites that offer eSports betting odds on the top games and tournaments. The Barclays Center in NYC was even the host of ESL One New York, a tournament brought to you by the largest eSports network in the world.
There are no sportsbooks located in the Empire State, which is why eSports betting in New York takes place online. You do not have to go searching for an exclusive eSports betting site, as the video game competitions are listed as a betting option at the online sportsbooks that you may already be familiar with. BetOnline, SportsBetting, and 5Dimes all have eSports at their online sportsbooks. Whether you are an avid gamer yourself or are just curious about how the wagering process works, we can tell you the basics of eSports betting in New York.
eSports betting in New York is completely legal when you use online sportsbooks. eSports are relatively new but fall into the same category of general sports betting. Federal sports betting laws like PASPA restrict land-based sports betting and the Wire Act focuses on transmitting sports wagering information in the US. There are no laws in New York that specifically address casual sports bettors, though there are strict laws prohibiting using a local bookie for any type of gambling. That is why New York sports bettors can safely bet on eSports online at an offshore sportsbook without having to worry about breaking non-existent laws.
There are numerous games and tournaments for eSports betting in New York. eSports video game genres usually include multiple-player online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), and real-time strategy. There are quite a few eSports titles that gamers play, but there are only a few games that are recognized at the professional level. The popular eSports games are as follows:
| Dota 2 | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) | Heroes of the Storm |
| League of Legends | Heroes of the Storm | Overwatch |
| SMITE | Hearthstone |
There are tournaments held throughout the year for each of these games. Some of the tournaments with the largest overall prize pools are the Dota 2 International Championships, the LoL World Championships, the Dota Major Championships, and the World Electronic Sports Games. You will be able to bet on these games and tournaments in a variety of ways at New York sports betting sites.
Before you can start placing wagers on eSports, you will need to understand how to read eSports betting odds. The online sportsbooks that you will use for eSports betting will feature American betting odds. With American odds, the favorite has the better chances to win and will be represented by a (-). The amount after the – is how much you need to bet in order to win $100, and you always risk more than your potential win if you bet on the favorite.
The underdog is perceived to have a lower chance of winning and will be designated by a (+). The number after the + is the amount you will win should you risk $100. Your potential win is more than your initial risk when betting on the underdog.
- G2 Esports -210
- Team Liquid +140
In this matchup, G2 Esports is favored to win. If you bet on G2 Esports, you would need to risk $210 in order to win $210. Wagering on the betting odds for Team Liquid would win $140 with a $100 stake.
You might be surprised to learn that eSports bet types are essentially the same as traditional sports betting wager types. In fact, eSports betting in New York is less complicated as there are only three main wager types to be concerned with. We will walk you through the eSports bet types that you need to know.
Money Line
If you have done any type of betting in the past, you are likely already familiar with betting on the money line. In eSports betting, a money line wager is when you bet on who will win an individual match. Let’s say you were betting on a Dota 2 match.
- Immortals -2500
- PoF +800
If you bet on Immortals to win, you would potentially win $100 for every $2,500 risked. If you bet on PoF, you would only need to risk $100 to get $800 should the team win.
Handicap
The handicap bet in eSports wagering can also be called the spread. The oddsmaker tries to make both sides of the action attractive by giving the underdog an advantage and the favored team a disadvantage. The underdog will have a positive handicap and must either win the match or lose by less than the handicap. The favored team will have to win by more than the handicap.
- WASD -1 ½ Movistar Riders +1 ½
In this Counter-Strike: Global Offensive example, WASD is favored while the Movistar Riders are underdogs. If you bet on WASD, the team must win by 2 maps or more to cover the spread. If you bet on Movistar Riders, the team can either win the match or lose by exactly 1 map.
Totals
For eSports betting, totals betting refers to wagering on whether rounds, maps, or another measure will go over or under a total set by the sportsbook. Here is an example of a League of Legends totals bet:
- Total Kills (Map 1) – Invictus Gaming vs Snake eSports
- Over 23.5
- Under 23.5
Outright eSports betting
Another type of eSports betting in New York is the outright market. Rather than betting on a team to win a matchup, you place a wager on the overall winner of a tournament. You might bet on the overall winner of Dota 2 – The International or the LoL World Championship.
How Do I Join An eSports Betting Site?
Joining an eSports betting site only takes a few minutes at the top online sportsbooks. To create your account, you will only need to provide basic contact info such as your name, email, birth date, and address. Once complete, the online sportsbook will send you a confirmation email and you can move on to make your first deposit. Deposits are simple, just make a quick bitcoin, Visa, or MasterCard deposit. All of these options are instant, though we recommend bitcoin sportsbook deposits for their reliability. Once your account is funded, you can visit the eSports section of the sportsbook and get started with eSports for betting in New York.
What Are The Best Sites For eSports Betting in New York?
The best sites for eSports betting in New York are SportsBetting and BetOnline. Both of these sites have a similar interface, so if you join both you will have no problem navigating the sportsbooks. You can go to their dedicated eSports platform bet on both live and upcoming competitions. Bettors can even select their favorite titles for easy viewing, and also look up past results. More games and tournaments are featured at BetOnline and SportsBetting than anywhere else. New York eSports fans will find plenty of eSports betting action at these online sportsbooks.
Can I Bet On eSports Live At Online Sportsbooks?
Live betting on eSports is an option at all of the top online sportsbooks. When you visit the eSports section of the online sportsbook, the live games will be highlighted or you can click on the dedicated Live Betting page. Some of the live eSports betting options will include your standard moneyline and handicap bets, along with individual map winner. Odds will change along with the action in the competition. Live betting is available on all of the popular eSports games, like Dota 2, CS: GO, LoL, Hearthstone, and Overwatch.