How to Legally Bet on Esports in the U.S. in 2025

To bet on esports in the US, bettors must first verify their state’s legal status and prioritize licensed, regulated platforms to ensure their funds and personal data are safe. Most legal betting requires users to be 21 or older and physically present within the state’s borders.

State-by-State Legality Explained

The legality of esports wagering varies widely across the country, often defined by how states classify “electronic sports” under existing sports betting legislation.

Legal and Regulated States

19 US states have explicitly legalized and regulated esports betting. These jurisdictions have specific laws or regulatory rulings that permit wagering on professional video game competitions.

• Examples of Legal States: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia.
• Key Requirements: In these states, platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel must be licensed, use geolocation verification to confirm a bettor’s location, and typically restrict bets on any event involving minors or high school competitions.

Prohibited and Gray Area States

• Prohibited States: Esports betting is generally illegal in 13 states where strict anti-gambling laws apply. These include major markets like California and Texas, as well as Alabama and Utah.
• Gray Area: 19 other states where general sports betting is legal (such as New York and Illinois) have not explicitly specified rules for esports. This creates uncertainty, as some operators may offer markets while others hold back.

The Legal Alternative: Fantasy Esports

For users in restricted states, fantasy esports provides a legal alternative. Platforms like DraftKings Fantasy allow users to draft rosters of professional gamers and score points based on player performance, classifying the contest as a game of skill. Fantasy esports is legal nationwide, with the exception of Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington.

Choosing the Right Platform

Selecting a secure platform is the most critical step for any US bettor. The choice depends entirely on your physical location and tolerance for risk.

Licensed US Sportsbooks (Best Option)

In states where esports betting is explicitly legal, major licensed platforms offer the most security.

• Top Platforms: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, and BetRivers.
• Benefits: These sites offer consumer protection, fast and reliable withdrawals, responsible gambling tools, and are subject to state regulation. Their mobile apps boast high user ratings (e.g., DraftKings at 4.8/5).
• Wagering Age: The minimum age is 21+ in most states, though some, like Kentucky, allow betting at age 18.

Offshore and Crypto Sites (High Risk)

In states where betting is illegal, some bettors turn to unregulated offshore sites like Bovada and BetOnline. These sites are not licensed by any US state and carry significant risk.

For high-risk users, crypto-focused sites like Thunderpick offer anonymity and free bets, but winnings are not safeguarded by US law.

Step-by-Step Guide to Placing Your First Bet

Once you confirm your state’s legality and choose a licensed platform, betting on esports is a straightforward process.

1. Sign Up and Verify: Create an account on the app. You must provide a photo ID and the last four digits of your Social Security Number for age verification (typically 21+). Claim any available sign-up bonuses, such as cashback offers.
2. Deposit Funds: Use secure methods like a credit card, debit card, ACH bank transfer, or PayPal. Most licensed sites have a minimum deposit of $\$10$ to $\$20$.
3. Find Esports Markets: Navigate to the “Esports” or “Other Sports” tab. Look for popular games like League of Legends (LoL), Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), Dota 2, and Valorant.
4. Place Your Wager: Select your game and tournament. Choose a bet type, enter your stake, and confirm the bet slip.

Popular Bet Types and Strategy Tips

Esports bet types closely follow those of traditional sports, offering a variety of ways to wager on the outcome.

Main Bet Types

• Moneylines (Match Winners): The simplest bet, wagering on which team will win the match outright (e.g., betting on Gen.G at $+188$ odds).
• Spreads/Handicaps: Used to balance odds in a mismatched contest. For example, betting on a team with a map handicap of $-1.5$ means they must win $2-0$ in a best-of-three series.
• Totals (Over/Unders): Wagering on whether a specific metric—like total maps played in a series or total kills by both teams—will go over or under the number set by the oddsmaker.
• Proposition Bets (Props): Wagers on specific in-game events, such as First Blood (first kill) or the total kills a single player records.
• Futures: Long-term bets on the winner of a major tournament, such as the LoL World Championship (Worlds).

Essential Betting Strategy

Success in esports betting relies on detailed research and smart financial practices.

• Research Teams: Watch recent matches and streams to understand a team’s current form, champion picks (in LoL or Dota 2), and any recent roster changes.
• Bankroll Management: Never bet more than you can afford to lose. A common strategy is to limit wagers to $1\%-5\%$ of your total betting funds per bet.
• Responsible Limits: Use the responsible gaming tools provided by legal apps to set deposit and time limits. If you face difficulty, contact resources like 1-800-GAMBLER.