Hello, community! Esports betting is still a relatively new niche, which means it’s growing fast. More and more sportsbooks are opening up to esports events, and there’s also a wide variety of games to bet on. Some are super niche, while others are massive profit machines. So how do you choose the *right* game? Let’s figure it out together.
Before we dive in, a quick reminder — we’ve already published a comprehensive guide to betting. Be sure to check it out!
Where Do the Data Come From, and Why Do They Matter for Us?
The Global Esports Betting Monitor, in partnership with Abios, published a detailed analysis of the esports betting market. The results were shared by Sharpr.
This data is incredibly valuable for affiliates, as it helps us understand:
- The current state of the esports betting market;
- Who’s placing the bets — and who we should target in our ad campaigns;
- Which games are most popular and profitable, and what kind of creatives will drive the highest conversion.
If you’ve already been working with betting offers, this may not be entirely new — but it’s still valuable. And if you’re just entering this vertical, it’s a must-read.
Which Games Generate the Most Esports Betting Volume?
Even though esports betting covers countless games and events, the market clearly has a few dominant players.
Here’s the chart shared by Abios:
The undisputed leader is Counter-Strike 2. Its popularity isn’t just due to the size of the game’s community — the number of tournaments plays a huge role. CS2 has Majors, ESL, IEM, BLAST, qualifiers, group stages, playoffs, etc. This gives users the opportunity to place bets nearly every single day.
While League of Legends, Dota 2, and Valorant also feature frequent tournaments, the number of tier-1 events is much lower — which explains the numbers. At the end of last year, over 50% of all esports bets were placed on CS2 (it peaked at 64%), while LoL had around 27%, Dota 2 around 10%, and Valorant made up the rest.
In terms of specific events, the Shanghai Major (CS2) generated the most bets last year. The runner-up was LoL’s World Championship. In fact, 3 of the top 5 most-bet-on tournaments were CS2 events — no wonder it’s leading the industry.
It’s also worth noting that Valorant bounced back in Q4 after a dip earlier in the year, while Dota 2 lost momentum. This all comes down to tournament density and visibility.
So if you’re looking for the game that brings in the most money — it’s Counter-Strike 2, hands down. It’s the mainstream option. That said, a high-reward vertical comes with fierce competition. Don’t expect easy money.
Who Bets Most Often: Gen Z Rises as Millennials Decline
Esports betting is increasingly attracting a younger audience — especially clear when we look at data from late last year:
The percentage of users aged 18–27 placing bets grew from 36% in 2023 to 44% last year. Meanwhile, millennials (aged 28–43) dropped from 49% to 42%.
The 44+ age group remains steady at just over 10% of total bets.
Here’s a breakdown of who bets most often on CS2:
The average age of a CS2 bettor is 31. About 13% of bets are placed on specific in-game events (e.g. first blood, number of planted bombs, etc.) rather than just match winners. And 46% of all bets are placed live — during the match itself.
Conclusion
That was the state of esports betting last year. The trends are clear: more and more Gen Z users (18–27) are entering the market, CS2 remains king, Dota 2 is slipping, and Valorant is catching up.
We hope this data helps you earn even more this year — and that your performance will be reflected in the next industry report! Share your results with us in our Telegram community!
With deep respect, Your Geek!