The 5 Most Popular Online Games With Sports Bettors 2023

While most sports bettors still haven’t woken up to the idea of it, betting on e-sports is becoming more and more common. In fact, it is so common that many of the top online sportsbooks now have dozens and dozens of e-sports available at any one time.

On this page, we figured that we’d take a look at the most popular online games with sports bettors. These are the games that seem to generate the most interest on sportsbooks, and all of them are insanely fun to play too! Let’s jump in, shall we?

DOTA 2

The intersection of DOTA 2, a prominent multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, and online sports betting presents a fascinating aspect of the modern esports landscape. As DOTA 2 tournaments offer significant prize pools, often running into the millions, they naturally attract the attention of the betting world.

DOTA 2, known for its complexity and steep learning curve, requires a high level of skill and strategic thinking. Players often treat it as a full-time job, dedicating countless hours to mastering its nuances. This dedication is essential to compete at a high level, where split-second decisions and rapid leveling are crucial.

The prowess of DOTA 2 players is a spectacle in itself, regardless of one’s familiarity with the game. For those who understand its intricacies, the level of play is even more impressive. Despite the high skill ceiling, DOTA 2 remains one of the biggest esports amongst players and spectators, making it one of the biggest gaming institutions worldwide alongside popular companies like Twitch.tv in the USA and sites like Unibet Free in Poland.

As e-sports continues to grow, with games like DOTA 2 at the forefront, the overlap with online sports betting becomes increasingly significant. Major tournaments are often accompanied by a surge in betting activities, with numerous websites offering odds and opportunities to bet on various aspects of the game. This trend reflects the growing recognition of e-sports as a legitimate and lucrative area in both the gaming and betting industries.

League of Legends

League of Legends is essentially the same game as DOTA 2. It is a MOBA, and they both have exactly the same origins. However, League of Legends has been designed to be a little bit easier for new players to enter. This means that League of Legends has a lot more players than DOTA 2, but it doesn’t quite have the same prize pool available to the competitors.

Still, League of Legends events do pack out arenas, and you will almost always find a bet or two available for this online game at some of the top online sportsbooks in the world.

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2 is a newish game. Well, sort of. Up until a few weeks before we wrote this guide to the most popular online games with sports bettors, Counter-Strike 2 was known as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. After a quick engine upgrade, the game was renamed. Although, it is still (almost) exactly the same game.

Counter-Strike 2 is one of the best tactical shooters in history. This team-based shooter has competitors killing their competition, disarming bombs, and maybe even freeing a hostage or two. 

Like the previous two games, tactics are an absolute must here. If you are not coordinating with your team, you’ll fail. If you don’t aim properly, you’ll fail.

The game is incredibly exciting to watch, and it is fair to say that it has a few nail-biting moments. It is likely that the re-brand to Counter-Strike 2 will continue to push this online game forward.

Valorant

Riot!’s League of Legends competes with Valve’s DOTA 2. Their Valorant competes with Valve’s Counter-Strike 2. Although, Valorant is more of a hero shooter than Counter-Strike 2, meaning that there is a bigger emphasis on the team composition than in Counter-Strike 2.

Goals for each mode in Valorant vary considerably. Riot! launched the Valorant e-sports scene in 2020, and it has gone from strength to strength. While it will be a while before it catches up with the likes of Counter-Strike 2, we reckon that with the amount of cash that Valorant has behind it, it will remain a staple for e-sports gamblers for years and years to come.

PUGB

You may not know this, but before PUGB (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) went free-to-play, it was one of the top-selling games in history. PUGB, of course, started the trend toward battle royale games (the most successful being Fornite), and PUGB remains the most-played battle royale on the competitive e-sports scene.

PUGB will pit up 100 players against one another (or in teams), with the last person/team standing being the winner. The game takes place over an ever-shrinking map where players will compete with limited resources, including weapons and medical products.

PUGB has a healthy e-sports scene. While it doesn’t attract as many gamblers as the previous games, all the top betting websites cover the major tournaments.

So, there you have it. If you are looking for the most popular online games with sports bettors in 2023, you’ve got that list. All major sportsbooks will have these games listed and, of course, you can watch the full competitions broadcast on the likes of YouTube and Twitch. Have fun!