Football is undoubtedly the biggest sport in the world. It’s the biggest draw at betting sites as well. Thanks to a large number of powerful leagues and events such as the Champions League, Euros, and the World Cup, football rules the online betting industry. However, there’s one special market that has been recently vying for the throne in New Zealand — eSports.

A largely popular online betting market, eSports is now offered at the best bookmakers on our list. if you’re not sure where to start, bettingsites24 will let you know everything you need to know about eSports. From the top New Zealand bookmakers with the best bonuses to the most popular eSports markets you can bet on, our eSports online betting guide is the real deal.

What is eSports?

The simplest definition of eSports we can offer is a form of sport (competition) with video games. Do you remember how we used to play games over LAN or over the Internet with our friends when we were kids? Well, games have evolved a lot since then and now offer the opportunity to test your skills against others in a team or individually on a global scale. After a lot of pressure from the gaming community, eSports is now widely registered as a form of sport that might even get a place in the Olympics.

The competition takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions all over the world. There are quite a few major tournaments year-round with many offering prizes worth millions. Of course, it didn’t take long for NZ betting sites to recognize this potential and add eSports to their list of options.

The best bookmakers in New Zealand you will find on our list all have the biggest eSports tournaments on offer. You can place bets online on all of them and even bet on the matches while they’re in-play. Many of our recommended online eSports betting sites offer live streaming too so you don’t miss a second of the exciting action.

The Best eSports Bookmakers in New Zealand

bettingsites24 is the place to be if you’re looking for nothing but top-rated New Zealand eSports bookmakers. Our list was created by a team of experts with vast knowledge in this particular area. Some of the members of our expert team are gamers themselves who have spent years battling some of the best eSports players of all time.

This kind of knowledge is invaluable when ranking the best eSports betting sites in New Zealand. The bookies you see on our list are not there by chance. Our team has ranked them on the list only after a detailed examination of the eSports markets they offer, whether live betting is included, and other aspects such as bonuses and promotions and of course, the license.

When we review NZ online betting sites, we take numerous factors into consideration. The list of best eSports bookmakers in New Zealand you can see at our site is the result of months of hard work. What you’re left with is a list of the best eSports online betting sites in 2020 in New Zealand you can put your trust in.

These bookmakers have the best eSports markets, the best odds, and of course, plenty of extra cash to earn. If you’re looking for an ideal bookmaker for eSports right now, you will surely find it on our list.

Most Popular eSports Tournaments

The world of eSports is expanding non-stop, adding new games and new tournaments to the schedule non-stop. 2020 is already shaping up to be a history eSports year with a number of major tournaments in the coming months. Below you can see a list of the top eSports tournaments you can bet on at our recommended eSports online betting sites.

Fortnite World Cup

Fortnite took the gaming world by storm. The surprisingly fun MMA shooter was released in 2017 and managed to get millions of players in a short time. Two years after its release, the first Fortnite World Cup was held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. This year, the tournament is expectedly bigger with a new qualification structure and of course, a higher prize pool. It is scheduled for August and will surely be the highlight at the best bookmakers in New Zealand online as soon as it starts.

The International

Also known as THE eSports tournament for DOTA 2 players, The International in 2022 will be worth north of $2.5 million. This tournament draws a lot of attention on Twitch and at New Zealand online betting sites too. This year’s tournament was postponed to 2022 due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, but it will return in 2022 with a bang.

LoL World Championship

The premier tournament for the popular League of Legends game, the LoL World Championship is one of the biggest events in eSports. It’s one of the most popular eSports tournaments you can bet on as well. The best New Zealand betting sites will undoubtedly be offering a bunch of markets (both pre-match and live) when it starts later in November this year.

ESL One

The ESL One is set to host its seventh Valve major in November 2020. It is one of the biggest global tournaments across a variety of games including DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. One of the most popular betting events at New Zealand betting sites, the ESL One will ‘occupy’ online betting markets in November 2020.

eSports Online Betting

Online betting on eSports is not that different than betting on, let’s say football. The markets are largely the same and the odds work in the same way. You can place bets in both pre-match and live eSports markets as well as bet on outrights and team/individual markets.

The match win bet is the most popular of them all, just like in all other sports. NZ eSports fans love to bet on their favourites and the win bet gives them a chance to back them up. It’s the most straightforward bet you can place on an eSports match, but if you want even more value, you’re better off with some of the other bets on offer.

For example, accumulators can bring you a bigger profit if you’re lucky to get several selections right. Point spreads on eSports matches are also very popular and profitable if you can guess the numbers correctly. Outrights are great as well, giving you a chance to predict the winner of a tournament/event. Since these last for weeks and up to a month, the payout on outrights can be pretty lucrative.

Much like with any other sports, eSports odds at New Zealand betting sites work in the same way. You will find favourites and underdogs, handicaps and live betting markets depending on the tournament or event. eSports might be a newer addition to betting sites in New Zealand, but it’s not that different from other sports in terms of betting.

Payment Methods at NZ eSports Betting Sites

If you want to win real money, you will have to place real money bets at the best eSports bookmakers in New Zealand. You can fund your account in a variety of ways including credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and even cryptocurrencies.

For your convenience, we strongly recommend going with either e-wallets or cryptos if the latter are on offer. They boast the fastest withdrawal times and the highest limits. Of course, e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill are perfectly safe and secure to use and most importantly, fee-free.

If you spot an NZ eSports bookmaker that accepts cryptocurrencies and you own Bitcoins (or any other option), you should definitely join it. The blockchain might be the safest payment option in the industry and cryptos often come with high withdrawal limits or no limits at all.