Everything you should know about esports betting in 2025
The esports betting market is growing rapidly, attracting new audiences around the world. Real-time odds, new formats and global events, including the upcoming esports Olympics, are fuelling the interest of both national sports organisations and iGaming operators. Profits for the previously niche market are now reaching into the billions, and its audience has come of age.
Annual revenue from esports betting is approaching $3 billion
According to Statista, total revenue for eSports betting operators reached $2.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $2.8 billion in 2025. If this trend continues, the market could exceed $3 billion by 2026.
Revenue growth is directly linked to audience growth. Last year, approximately 74.3 million users participated in online esports betting, the majority of whom were U.S. audiences. Compared to 21.9 million in 2017, the audience more than tripled, reflecting esports betting trends.
Average revenue per user (ARPU) has also been steadily increasing and is expected to reach $34.9 in 2025. As a reminder, ARPU reflects the total annual revenue per user, including all bets placed, while the individual bet size tells how much people typically bet on a single wager.
The average bet in esports is as high as $30
According to recent research, esports fans may be betting less overall but with more risk per bet. According to IGB, the average bet in esports is now as high as $30. In comparison, the average bet on soccer is $6. Esports betting statistics across all regions indicate that this global industry is on the rise.
Betting for Generation Z
According to Sharpr, members of Generation Z are the most active in this type of betting. For 2024, 44% of bets on cybersports were placed by people between the ages of 18 and 27, up from 36% a year earlier. Millennials follow Generation Z: the 18 to 43 age group accounted for 87% of the total audience.
The difference can be explained by the fact that different games attract bettors of various ages. For example, the audience for League of Legends is younger than that of Counter-Strike. At the end of 2024, the average Counter-Strike bettor was 31 years old, while the average age of a LoL bettor was 29. The age difference may reflect the characteristics of gaming communities or how the game is advertised on popular esports betting apps.
At the same time, many eSports fans oppose or ignore betting. According to the IGB, in 2024, 33% of esports fans didn’t know how betting works. 15% were worried about match-fixing, and 10% thought betting could hurt the esports scene. The reason for mistrust could be gaps in knowledge or concerns about the iGaming industry itself.
The most popular games
The leader in the eSports betting market remains Counter-Strike. According to Sharpr, Valve’s game collected 64% of the total betting volume in the fourth quarter of 2024. Most of this amount came from the PGL Major tournament in Shanghai, with 28%, which is a significant share for a single tournament.
League of Legends, with 26% of all esports bets in 2024, consistently ranks second in the market. The most lucrative event in this discipline is the World Championship, which last year brought 19% of the total Q4 betting volume.
VALORANT is steadily moving into the lead, with its market share almost doubling compared to 2023, from 3% to 5%. The fourth quarter figures were slightly lower, but overall, the company is moving forward.
In contrast, interest in Dota 2 is on the decline. Its market share dropped from 14% to 10% in 2024, and Tournament International accounted for just 3% of bets in the fourth quarter.
Advanced and niche esports betting
Live esports betting during tournaments is becoming increasingly popular, especially in Counter-Strike. At the end of 2024, 46% of bets here were made live. VALORANT’s similar figure in the fourth quarter was 28%.
In addition, there is a growing demand for more niche prop bets. Users are interested in betting on props, guessing the number of kills of individual players and other unique outcomes. The data confirm the trend that 13% of all Counter-Strike bets were prop bets.
The advanced offerings of esports betting operators in 2025 are becoming bet constructors and flash markets. These features will allow users to create customised bets or bet instantly at key moments, which can significantly increase interest in watching games.
In conclusion
The cybersports betting market is starting to compete with traditional sports betting: according to Q4 2024 data, the average esports bet is significantly higher than the average soccer bet. The leaders in this market are Counter-Strike, League of Legends and VALORANT. The most popular bet types are live and prop. For operators planning to develop this direction, it is essential to inform the audience, as well as to show attention to detail and personalise the offer.
This article was first published in Russian on 19 May 2025.
