Oddin.gg Report Highlights Significant Growth and Maturation in Esports Betting
2026-07-03
Source: iGaming Business
Oddin.gg's latest report indicates significant growth and maturation in esports betting, with bettors staking seven times more than in traditional sports and overall betting volume up 31% year-on-year. The data highlights a strong shift towards live betting and sophisticated market options, signaling a highly engaged demographic and substantial opportunities for operators.
The latest "State of Esports Betting Report" for 2025 from Oddin.gg reveals substantial growth and evolving sophistication within the esports betting sector, offering critical insights for the iGaming industry. Released in March, the report compiles data from hundreds of Oddin.gg's esports betting clients, aiming to provide a clear, data-driven perspective on a vertical often subject to conjecture.
One of the most striking findings indicates that esports bettors place initial wagers approximately seven times higher than those in traditional sports. This trend suggests a highly engaged, educated, and potentially more affluent demographic participating in esports betting. Oddin.gg points to these larger average stakes as a clear indicator of increasing confidence and deeper involvement among esports enthusiasts.
The industry experienced robust growth in 2025, with betting volume across Oddin.gg’s extensive client network seeing a median increase of 31% year-on-year. This follows an impressive 103% year-on-year surge reported from 2023 to 2024. All five major esports titles featured in the report—Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, VALORANT, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang—recorded double-digit growth in both betting volume and bet count. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang led this expansion with a 62% year-on-year volume increase, while even established titles like League of Legends grew by 46%.
Strong Engagement in Major Events and Live Betting
High engagement is particularly evident during premier tournaments. The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds), a pinnacle event in esports viewership, registered an average stake of €77 in 2025, marking a significant 166% increase from the previous year. For comparison, VALORANT Champions recorded an average stake of €47, and Dota 2's The International saw an average of €28.
A clear sign of the vertical’s growing maturity is the dominance of live betting. In-play wagering accounted for 72% to 86% of all esports betting activity across the five leading titles. Dota 2 led with 86% in-play action, followed by League of Legends at 79%. Oddin.gg notes that live betting is a key driver of engagement and margins for sportsbooks, benefiting from esports' minimal downtime, rapid pace, and dynamic volatility.
Expanding Sophistication of Betting Markets
The report further highlights a shift towards more sophisticated betting markets, moving beyond simple win/loss predictions. Player props, utility markets (bets on in-game consumable items), and combination bets all experienced substantial growth in 2025. For instance, player and utility-based markets in Counter-Strike 2 grew by up to 80% between major events, and combination markets in Dota 2 quadrupled in volume year-on-year. This expansion into advanced market offerings signals a more engaged and knowledgeable bettor base, dispelling any notion of the vertical being immature. For operators, this represents a significant opportunity for both player retention and improved margins.