E-Sport Games You Can Actually Bet Money On

E-sport games are a lot more mainstream than you may think. With the rise of high-speed internet, soundproof headsets, and ultra-thin monitors, it's never been easier to play video games for money.

While some esports competitions have been around since the early 1990s, today they attract live audiences in excess of 10 million people and offer prizes worth millions of dollars. One such game is DOTA 2 – which has a grand prize of over $18 million this year alone.

With the number of spectators for esports, it makes sense that the gambling industry starts to adapt. Online esports betting companies are now making bets on various games, offering lines for specific teams and other people. One of the best sites in this industry is smartbettingguide.com. In smartbettingguide, you can find many trusted esports bookmakers as well as various esports game titles you can bet on. Not only that, there you can also find useful resources like tips, suggestions as well as news you can use to place your bet more effectively. 

Here are some e-sports games and their competition you can actually bet money on:

League of Legends

The League of Legends World Championship (LoL) saw more than 46 million unique viewers tune in for the 2020 installment, making it one of the most-watched live video streams of all time. Like many esports titles, LoL is part strategy and part action, requiring players to work with teammates to battle against a group of computer-controlled enemies. The goal of the game is to destroy the opposing team's base, something that requires an intense amount of teamwork and skill.

Games with high spectator value tend to be targeted by gambling interests, which is probably why LoL has more than 100 online betting sites lining up for a piece of the action. With LoL's popularity, it's not surprising that betting sites are offering hundreds of lines on the game. Some online betting even offer contests for players to compete against each other in order to win prizes like high-end tech gear and cash.

Starcraft 2

Most people probably wouldn't expect an RTS (real-time strategy) game like Starcraft 2 to become popular in the competitive scene. However, Blizzard's sci-fi sequel is one of the most well-known e-sport titles in the world. After dominating the world of real-time strategy games, Starcraft was bound to become a popular e-sport. As it happened, Blizzard's sci-fi update would go on to create one of the biggest competitive leagues in the world.

Starcraft 2 features three unique factions (Terran, Zerg, and Protoss) who all have their own strengths when playing. To be successful, players must balance resource management, army building, and base construction. The game itself requires players to react quickly in order to make smart decisions on the fly; there's no room for indecision when playing Starcraft 2 at high levels.

Unfortunately, Starcraft 2 is mainly popular in Asia with only a small handful of established stars. Until recently, it was difficult for newer players to break into the scene. However, much like League of Legends, Blizzard is making smart moves to give its players more opportunities to succeed in the competitive world. It remains to be seen whether Starcraft 2 has a future in North America and Europe, though it's certainly well-known enough in Asia where betting markets are offering dozens of bets every day.

DOTA 2

Games with massive prize pools are naturally popular among gamblers. The International, an annual tournament for DOTA 2, has established itself as one of the premier esport titles in the world. This year's contest is offering $18 million to its competitors.

DOTA 2 is actually a sequel to what started out as a mod for Warcraft 3. The game was so popular that it eventually got its own standalone version, becoming one of the most played games in the world. DOTA 2 features two teams of five players who must destroy their opponent's base while defending their own territory. There are more than 100 playable heroes for players to choose from, and like any smart game, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

There are plenty of unregulated sites out there which make it easy to wager, some of which offer odds on The International. Still better do your own research and check the complete guide from smartbettingguide team on how to choose safe and quality bookmakers to avoid any scams.

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Titles like League of Legends and DOTA 2 are two titles that bettors should monitor if they want to get in on the action. With millions of dollars at stake, it's good for anyone following esports to try their hand playing games with high spectator value. It's smart to not underestimate the spectator value of LoL, DOTA 2 or Starcraft 2. Games that are popular with high-level strategy tend to be a bit more unpredictable for nontraditional gamers. Experienced bettors should take note of this and seek out gaming sites that cater to beginners.