Esports betting statistics 2025: Who’s betting, what games, and how much

Esports betting is growing fast and is not just for hardcore fans anymore. 

More people are choosing to bet on esports, drawn in by esports betting trends like real-time odds, new formats, and global events. What used to be a niche market now brings in billions each year. 

If you’re curious where the action is heading, here’s a breakdown of what’s driving the boom in esports gambling right now.

The esports betting market has been growing steadily, and the numbers from 2024 make that clear. 

Total revenue reached $2.5 billion last year and is expected to rise to $2.8 billion in 2025. If this trend continues, the market could pass $3 billion by 2026 (Statista, 2024). 

More people are getting involved, too. In 2024, around 74.3 million users participated in online esports betting, with esports betting USA audiences making up a significant portion. This figure is up from just 21.9 million in 2017, amounting to more than three times as many people in just seven years, echoing esports betting trends that continue pushing the industry into the mainstream.

What’s also interesting is how much each person is spending. The average revenue per user (ARPU) rose to $33.59 in 2024 and is expected to reach $34.90 in 2025. That may not sound dramatic, but it shows a steady rise in the value each user brings to the market.

It’s important to note that ARPU isn’t the same as bet size. ARPU reflects total annual revenue per user, including all bets placed, while individual bet size tells us how much people typically stake per wager. 

Esports online betting activity also shows a higher per-bet value, with the average esports wager hitting €29 compared to €5 in football. That suggests esports fans may place fewer bets overall, but with more confidence or risk per stake (IGB, 2025). 

Whether you’re in Europe, Asia, or the USA, it’s clear that esports betting stats are pointing to one thing: this is a growing, global industry that’s just getting started.

Regarding esports gambling, Gen Z is clearly out in front. 

In 2024, people aged 18 to 27 made up 44% of all esports bettors, a big jump from 36% the year before. Add in older Millennials, and the 18–43 age group accounted for 87% of the entire betting audience (Sharpr, 2025).

Different games tend to attract different types of bettors. Those interested in esports betting on League of Legends tend to be younger, with average ages slightly lower than those of Counter-Strike bettors.

In late 2024, the average Counter-Strike bettor was 31 years old, while those involved in LoL esports betting were slightly younger, averaging around 29 (Sharpr, 2025). These age gaps might reflect the communities around each title or how each game is promoted on popular esports betting apps.

Still, plenty of fans choose not to get involved. In 2024, 33% of people felt unsure about how betting works. 15% were worried about match-fixing, and 10% believed betting could hurt the esports scene (IGB, 2025). 

So while betting on esports is growing fast, a chunk of the audience is hesitant,  mostly due to trust, knowledge gaps, or concerns about the industry itself.

Counter-Strike was the clear favourite among bettors in late 2024, making up 64% of the total betting handle in Q4. A big part of that came from the Shanghai Major, which alone pulled in 28% of all Q4 bets, a considerable share for a single tournament (Sharpr, 2025). 

League of Legends also held strong throughout the year. It accounted for 26% of all esports bets in 2024, with the World Championship alone bringing in 19% of Q4’s betting volume. Unsurprisingly, esports betting on League of Legends remains one of the most popular options, especially when betting odds spike during big international events.

VALORANT, while still smaller in comparison, is growing quickly. Its market share doubled year-on-year, going from 3% to 5% in 2024. Q4 figures were a bit lower, but overall, it’s moving in the right direction.

Dota 2, on the other hand, saw a drop in interest. Its share fell from 14% to 10% annually, and the International only attracted 3% of Q4 betting.

To conclude, LoL esports betting and Counter-Strike continued to dominate across every major esports betting app on the market, but VALORANT was starting to make its mark in 2024. 

Live esports betting is becoming more popular, especially in fast-paced games like Counter-Strike. 

In the last quarter of 2024, 46% of CS bets were placed live, while the match was still being played. For VALORANT, the number was a bit lower, with 28% of bets made in-play (Sharpr, 2025).

This shows that more fans are getting comfortable with placing bets as the action unfolds. The fast pace keeps things exciting, and esports live betting gives people more chances to react in real-time.

Another trend is the rise of prop bets, more specific wagers like guessing the number of kills a player will get. In Q4, 13% of Counter-Strike bets were props, showing that bettors want more detailed and personalised options.

Looking ahead, bet builders and flash markets are some of the newest tools most likely to be rolled out on leading esports betting websites in 2025. These features let users create custom bets or make super quick wagers during key moments, which could change how people approach betting on esports in the coming years.

The world of esports betting is getting bigger every year, with more people joining in, and the way they place bets is changing, too. Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and VALORANT continue to lead the scene, with live and prop bets becoming more common. 

For those looking to bet on esports, there are now more options than ever, but understanding the risks and staying informed will be just as important as the excitement.