Top 10 Esports Betting Sites in Malaysia 2023
Esports betting sites in Malaysia are taking off after the national Malaysian esports team managed to swipe three gold medals at the Commonwealth Esports Championship in August 2022. Malaysia has since enjoyed another win at the Mobile Legends Professional League in October 2022. As Malaysians all over the country turn their eyes towards this sport, participation, viewership, and online betting rates have naturally risen.
Best Online eSports Betting Sites in Malaysia
Ranking The Best eSports Betting Sites
Esports or electronic sports is essentially part of sports betting. This means that many bookmakers or sports betting providers offer this option as well. However, with the plethora of sports betting sites available, how can one narrow down which operators to bet with? Here are some factors to consider:
Betting Markets
If you love esports, the easiest way to narrow down websites is to look for sportsbooks that offer esports betting and a good range of different betting markets. This ensures that you have a variety of betting options instead of having to wager on the same bets each time.
Betting Odds
Choosing a site that offers good betting odds means that you can maximize your winnings over time. Although the site is unlikely to offer the best odds every time, having one that offers good to excellent odds is reasonable enough. Some gamblers also opt for membership with multiple sites to gain access to the best odds.
Live Betting
Esports live betting involves you placing bets on events that have already begun. Not only is live betting more exciting, it can also be potentially more profitable as it increases your odds of winning.
Other Features
Other important features to consider when it comes to choosing an e-sport betting site include ease of website navigation and customer support. These features are important as it can improve your online gaming experience overall. You should also look for generous bonuses and promos such as welcome bonus and first deposit bonus to maximize your bankroll.
Understanding Esports Betting Markets
As the popularity of esports betting increases, there are more and more esports betting markets available. Here are some of the most popular types of bets you can place:
Match Winner Betting
Seen in many other sports, match winner is a bet type where punters place wagers to determine the winner of the match. This is the most popular bet as it is easily understood even by beginners to esports betting
Parlay Betting
A parlay bet enhances your odds as it enables players to add multiple selections before wagering on one combined bet. With more selections, the likelihood of winning decreases, but this also increases the payout if you win. In this bet, you must win all predictions to win the prize money.
Map Betting
Esports games are often made up of multiple maps. In map betting, punters place bets on each map, predicting which team wins the first map. This is a great bet for those who have a deep understanding of esports teams as some players perform better on specific maps.
Handicap Betting
In handicap betting markets, each player or team is given a deficit or surplus based on their likelihood of winning. In the event of a favorite and underdog, the favorite will be given a deficit to give the underdog a head start.
Over / Under Betting
Another popular bet is the over / under bet where punters try to predict if a specific measure in the game such as total kills is over or under. This bet can also be based on how many maps a team wins, or how many deaths per team.
Popular Esports Games, Tournaments, & Leagues
After understanding some of the different bet types available in esports, this section covers a brief overview of some of the most popular esports games, esports tournaments, and leagues. It is important to understand that competitions go on throughout the year, unlike other sports that may take breaks at specific times of the year.
Dota 2
A multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, Dota 2 was launched by Valve in 2013. This game is hugely popular with an audience worldwide. However, many of the leading teams are based in Asia. Touted to be the most lucrative e-sport today, the biggest tournament for this game is known as The International, an esports event hosted by the game’s developer with a total prize fund of $40 million.
League of Legends
A great first person shooter game, League of Legends (LoL) is one of the most prominent digital sports leagues worldwide with events that attracts millions of spectators globally. Although the prize amount may not be as significant as Dota 2, LoL has a bigger gamer base resulting in plenty of new talent and entertainment.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Often known as CS:GO, it is one of the biggest games to bet on. Initially launched in 2012 as the fourth in the Counter Strike game series, it has several major tournaments such as BLAST Premier, ESL One, and MLG Major. For esports bettors, it has the most active range of fixtures in the world today, making it a must-have for esports betting sites.
Esports Statistics
Compared to traditional sports, esports is considered relatively new. Here are some statistics to help you understand how much the industry has grown over time.
What is the Most Viewed Esports?
| Game | Game Type | Peak Viewers |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | PC / Console | 5,147,699 |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | Mobile | 2,845,364 |
| CS:GO | PC / Console | 2,113,610 |
| Dota 2 | PC / Console | 1,751,086 |
| Valorant | PC / Console | 1,505,804 |
| Free Fire | Mobile | 1,477,545 |
| PUBG Mobile | Mobile | 903,011 |
| Apex Legends | PC / Console | 676,653 |
| Arena of Valor | Mobile | 644,383 |
| Fortnite | PC / Console | 557,722 |
Credit to ESPORTS CHARTS – Numbers accurate as of 13 Nov 2022.
How Much Money is in Esports?
As the popularity of esports increases, thanks to streaming sites like YouTube and Twitch, the prize pools have gotten larger every year. Here is a peek at some of the largest prize pools up till 2019.
| Game | Tournament | Year | Prize Pool ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOTA 2 | The International | 2019 | 34.3 million |
| 2018 | 25.5 million | ||
| 2017 | 24.6 million | ||
| 2016 | 20.7 million | ||
| 2015 | 18.4 million | ||
| 2014 | 10.9 million | ||
| Fortnite | Fortnite World Cup Solo | 2019 | 15.2 million |
| Fortnite World Cup Duo | 2019 | 15.1 million | |
| League of Legends | World Championships | 2018 | 6.4 million |
| 2016 | 5 million |
Below is a chart of esports games that has the biggest prize pool in 2022 (as of 13 Nov 2022).
| Game | Game Type | Prize Pool ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Dota 2 | PC / Console | 31,322,024 |
| PUBG Mobile | Mobile | 22,523,429 |
| PUBG: Battlegrounds | PC / Console | 14,458,853 |
| CS:GO | PC / Console | 12,558,496 |
| Fortnite | PC / Console | 12,188,180 |
Credit to ESPORTS CHARTS – Numbers accurate as of 13 Nov 2022.
How To Bet On Esports
There are several methods when it comes to betting on esports, similar to placing wagers on traditional sports.
Pre-Game
The most popular or common way to place an esports bet is a pregame wager. This is where players place a bet on various markets before the game begins. Advantages of this bet includes being able to research, choosing the best market, and giving you more time to decide which site offers the best odds. Pre-game wagers tend to be more flexible as there are more betting options.
In-Play
Some operators offer in-play betting. This is where bets open once the match starts. Although the range of betting markets are considerably lower, leading sites will still have a good selection. The main advantage of in-play betting is where players are able to identify an opportunity during the course of the game as the odds update in real time.
Exchange
Betting exchanges are another popular way to place wagers on esports. These include sites where regulars become the bookie and are able to offer odds for the outcome of an event. This is very flexible as it allows you to take either side and potentially offers better odds.
Esports Betting Tips
Esports betting is essentially a gambling activity where wins are not guaranteed due to the competitive nature of the industry. Although winning is not 100%, there are some betting tips that can help you increase your odds of winning:
Understand The Games
Each game has its own rules and gameplay. No matter which game you are betting on, be it DOTA 2, League of Legends, or CS:GO, take some time to learn and understand the game. Instead of betting on all video games, it is better to specialize in one or two. All the better if you are a player yourself!
Teams & Players
Once you understand the games and specialize in one or two games, you will find that you also get to know the game’s teams and players. This is important as team dynamics can significantly influence the outcome of a match. Follow each team and player to keep up to date with their physical, emotional, and mental state.
Gaming Community
If you are new to esports betting, joining the gaming community can give you great insight and useful information. The community is an excellent way to keep up to date with updates, results, and trends.
Live Matches
Besides being highly exciting, watching live esports matches can be very beneficial to bettors especially with live bets. A good example would be in a situation where your original pick may not be performing as well as you anticipated. With live betting, you can switch your bet or even cash out.
Set A Budget
An important tip for both beginners and veterans to esports betting, setting a budget is crucial as it helps you to pace your bankroll. Never go beyond your set budget no matter how appealing the odds may be, as it can result in large losses. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.
Avoid Being Emotional
To make a profit on esports betting, avoid being emotional by wagering only on your favorite teams. Instead, rely on statistics such as past records, current form, and other data to decide on your bet.
The Future of Esports
Esports is an industry that has proven to grow exponentially. One of the biggest leisure activities worldwide with an enormous fan base that is ever growing, the esports betting industry valued at $1 billion in 2019 is estimated to exceed $2 billion by 2022.
These numbers were radically accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis throughout 2020 and 2021. In fact, the UK Gambling Commission has reported that the esports betting industry had an astounding year-on-year growth of 2992%.
Conclusion
Esports betting is still relatively young. However, it is only going to get more popular as time goes on due to the significant prize pool and its recent recognition as part of the Olympics. If you are interested in esports betting, now is a great time to get involved as there is a huge range of betting options available.
FAQs
Is esports betting in Malaysia legal?
In Malaysia, the majority of Malaysians are Muslims, making any gambling activities per the Sharia Law illegal. However, this does not apply to Malaysians who are non-Muslim. Combined with the recent High Court verdict where online gambling is not considered to be illegal, online esports betting is therefore not an illegal activity as long as the site is operating from outside the country. This is due to the country’s outdated gambling laws.
How safe is esports betting?
Esports betting is safe as long as you choose a site that is safe and secure. All of our recommended sites above have a great reputation and are licensed by relevant authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission. The sites above also use SSL encryption to protect their members’ personal information and identity.
What are the most popular esports to bet on?
There are many popular esports to bet on. Some of the most popular ones today include Dota 2, CS:GO, League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, Valorant, and more.
What payment methods are available for esports betting?
In Malaysia, some of the payment methods secure sites offer include credit cards or debit cards such as Mastercard and Visa; bank transfers; e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, or PayPal, and some even accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Have a look on our guide on casinos accepting e-wallets!
