With the USA being the largest market for video games in the world, it is no surprise that the market for esports betting in USA is ready to boom. We have gathered together some of the key information you need to know about this topic; including the best betting sites, bonus offers, banking options and any issues arising from legalities.
Esports betting sites for the United States
Bookmaker
Online gaming has had a long and complicated history in the USA, with companies struggling to provide entertainment for their customers whilst simultaneously striving to circumvent legal issues and exploit loopholes. Fortunately, there are now two very popular American operators that offer esports betting sites for United States citizens, being:
Bovada: A great source for US gamers, Bovada also has a rich section for esports fans to enjoy. You can bet on Dota 2, CS: GO, League of Legends and others. As with BetOnline, it accepts both USD and Bitcoin as currencies.
BetOnline: this site has been one of the most popular, US-friendly destinations for sports betting since 1991. Its esports section is clear and easy to navigate, with tournaments offered on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, League of Legends and Starcraft. It accepts customers from all 50 states.
Bonus offers & FREE bets for US bettors
It can be tricky for North American gambling fans to find free bets and bonuses because of all the laws and legalities which differ from state to state. For this reason, we’ve briefly listed some of the perks which BetOnline and Bovada have to offer.
Bovada esports Bonus
Bovada treats new customers to a 50% e-sports sign-up bonus, which can go up to USD$250. After placing a real-money deposit, they will match your amount within 30 minutes. This promotion can be used across all e-sports betting markets available on the website. Bovada esports betting in the USA comes with so many positives; it’s hard to keep up!
Bovada also has a Bitcoin bonus. Make a deposit using this cryptocurrency immediately after signing up, and the website will give you a bonus of 50% up to $500. The bonus code is BVSBITCOIN50.
BetOnline esports Bonus
All new customers are eligible for up to $50 in free bets upon signing up. This offer applies to your first ever sports bet, including esports. This promotion will compensate for any losses up to a maximum of $50 on your first bet.
BetOnline also greets newbies with a generous welcome offer of a 50% welcome bonus up to $2,500. The bonus code is NEW2500.
Last, but definitely not least, is BetOnline’s 100% Bitcoin Bonus. Your first deposit (minimum $20, maximum $1000) with this currency will be matched 100%, thus doubling the amount in your account.
Available payment methods for US players
Because the USA has far more restrictive gambling laws as compared with the rest of the world, North American citizens may encounter more difficulty when deciding on methods for depositing into or withdrawing from, online accounts. Having said that, there are plenty of ways to transfer money from the web to your wallet, and we’ve listed a few possibilities for you below:
Is esports betting legal in USA?
Due to legal issues regarding banking transactions between betting sites and financial institutions, it’s recommended that online punters from the US bet offshore when it comes to gambling websites. Is esports betting USA illegal? It’s a grey area.
This is why USA esport betting sites are based in domains where betting is legal. However, many of these sites will not accept players from the USA – which is where Bovada and BetOnline come in. The latter accepts players from all 50 states, whereas Bovada prohibits citizens from Delaware, Maryland, New York, Nevada and New Jersey.
Gray area or not?
With the esports gambling industry being an emerging market, some countries have fallen behind when it comes to organising suitable regulation for it. The USA are one of the countries stuck in this situation, mainly because it can be difficult to define what esports actually are. In most cases, the word “sports” doesn’t fully fit due to it being video games, which puts it in a grey area. This confusion has also led to delays in regulation, which opens the door to exploitive gambling platforms.
A step in the right direction
With this being said, in May 2018 the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992) after a lengthy campaign. PASPA had created a nationwide ban on all sports wagering, making it illegal for anyone in the United States to make, offer, or accept wages on single-game sporting events.
This update means that every US state can now create and define their own laws regarding sports and esports betting, so it should only be a matter of time before the confusion is lifted and esports betting becomes a normality.
Which esports games can US players bet on?
Bovada and BetOnline offer fans of online esports betting USA a range of the most popular esports games, from prominent developers such as Riot Games, Valve Corporation, Blizzard Entertainment and Hidden Path Entertainment.
These video games are divided into the different categories of FPS (first-person shooter), RTS (real-time strategy) or MOBA (multi-player online battle arena). Most competitions are multi-player, organized by professional players.
Those who play video games as a professional sport have now started to be recognized officially as legit athletes, though not without controversy.
Here is a list of the most popular games that are available to US players:
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
- Starcraft
- Counter Strike: Global Offensive
- Overwatch
- Hearthstone
North America is one of the largest esports markets
Esports has grown to such an extent in the USA that professional gaming is now being considered a legitimate career, with some of the biggest and most-watched tournaments being held in various states around the nation. In 2015, the global esports market generated $325 million of revenue, with even larger totals predicted for the following year. The mobile industry now owns about 42% of the current market and is estimated to reach 50% by 2020.
Esports pioneers in USA
One of the biggest pioneers in the esports industry is none other than Major League Gaming (MLG), whose headquarters are in New York. They are now regarded as one of the most respectable and leading names in esports, with prize pools of hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Their events draw millions of viewers, a figure that has ballooned in size over a total of six years.
EVO (The Evolution Championship Series) is a hugely popular annual event, with tournaments held across venues in Las Vegas Valley. It focuses on fighting games, such as Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros and Tekken.
Riot Games is certainly one of the game developers which have made a splash in the world of video entertainment – and, thus, esports. League of Legends is one of the most sought-after games on USA sports-betting sites, and now that LoL professional gamers have been legitimized as real sportsmen, they travel to the USA in droves to compete against rosters and teams from across the globe.
The connection Millennials have with esports
And what about the so-called ‘Millennials’, the generation that grew up with, and assimilated faster than anyone into today’s digital world? Well, the NBA owns the esports fans among them, as they’ve now got an esports league of their own. The first tournament opened the first week of last April under the name “NBA 2K eLeague”
Betting tradition
To conclude, the future of esports in the USA looks bright. It’s popular; it’s fun, and popular even with gamers who don’t usually play video games. CSGO betting from USA is now made easy thanks to sites like BetOnline and Bovada; US citizens all over the country can take part and be included in the latest online craze to hit the betting world. The community is still expanding at an explosive rate, and should you feel inclined to participate yourself as a gamer or entrepreneur, now is a good time as any. Strike while the iron is hot!