Video games have been popular for decades, but the professional gaming scene has really taken off in recent years, and is now reportedly worth over a billion dollars. Nowadays, the biggest eSports are not only watched all around the world, but wagered on too. This is definitely the case among Filipinos, and – in this article – you’re going to learn everything you need to know about eSports betting in the Philippines.
Read on to discover the very best eSports betting sites Filipinos can use right now. We’ll also tell you the games you can bet on, explain the types of wagers you can place, give you some top tips on turning a profit, and plenty more.
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Jiliko PH |
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Top 10 eSports Betting Sites in the Philippines 2023
eSports coverage among sportsbooks in the Philippines is absolutely fantastic. That said, we still managed to narrow your many options down to a clear top 10, which you can check out in full below:
- Jiliko – Your #1 Destination for eSports Betting in the Philippines
- Plae8 – Fantastic Philippines-Focused eSports Betting Site
- 22Win – Filipino eSports Betting Site With Fantastic Special Offers
- EU9 – eSports Betting Platform Focused on Player Safety
- PGAsia – Get Cashback on Your eSports Betting Losses
- W19 – Big-Time Welcome Offer for Newcomers
- 20Bet – Outstanding Variety of eSports Betting Markets
- Lucky Block – Exciting, Up and Coming Crypto Specialist
- Fun88 – Extremely Well-Rounded eSports Betting Site
- 1xBet – International Betting Site With an Excellent Track Record
Top 5 eSports Bookmakers to Bet At
It’s not only the coverage for betting on eSports which is extremely high, but the actual quality of the betting sites which facilitate it too. You’ve already seen our 10 best brands in this area. Now though, it’s time to focus on the elite of the elite, and explain how they took the top spots on our list.
1. Jiliko- Your #1 Destination for eSports Betting in the Philippines (300% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 300)
There are dozens of sportsbooks out there serving the Philippines and the general quality of these tends to be extremely high. It shows just how highly we think of Jiliko, therefore, that we were still confident in making this our number one pick for eSports betting.
Jiliko ticks just about every major box you could hope for. It has not just one, but two separate sportsbooks you can use to wager. The eSports markets are highly respectable, and – should you fancy a change of pace – there are plenty of other options. The odds tend to be highly respectable, and there’s a nice range of bet types you can choose between. Finally, you can also use the live eSports betting tools with ease, to either place new wagers or cash out existing ones.
Jiliko also has a pretty packed-out Promotions page. The welcome bonus is an excellent 300% welcome offer, and there are plenty of ongoing deals to back this up. These include a cashback offer for live betting, and lucky draws, and the VIP program is also very good. Add in downloadable sportsbook apps, and high quality live chat support, and you can clearly see how Jiliko took top spot for us.
What We Like:
- Very well-rounded eSports betting site
- Useful ongoing promotions, including cashback offer
- Nice selection of eSports betting markets
- Downloadable mobile betting apps
What We Don’t:
- Lack of live streaming for eSports
2. Plae8 – Fantastic Philippines-Focused eSports Betting Site (3 x Deposit Match Welcome Bonuses)
For some of the very best eSports betting sites serving the Philippines, Filipinos are just one of their many target markets. For others, however, the country is a clear priority, and Plae8 definitely falls into the latter.
While other Southeast Asian countries are supported, this really is a Philippines-focused eSports betting site through and through. The Filipino version of the site is the first you’re taken to, and there’s a full Tagalog version of the platform alongside the English one. PHP is also a supported currency, and Filipino payment methods like GrabPay and GCash are in place. Plae8 even has a license with PAGCOR – the Filipino regulatory body – in addition to its one from the Government of Curacao.
Filipino bettors should definitely also be pleased with the actual eSports betting options. These come from the well-known betting provider M8Bet, and can include well over 150 matchups per day in total, with the bulk of these coming from Dota 2, LoL, and CS:GO. Live streaming is also not only provided, but housed within its own user-friendly section.
On top of all that, Plae8 has some excellent special offers. These include an impressive three separate welcome bonuses, and there’s also a cashback deal, brand migration bonus, daily check-in bonus, and more.
What We Like:
- Clear focus on Filipino bettors
- Excellent eSports coverage
- Live streaming of eSports events is in place
- Plenty of excellent ongoing promotions
What We Don’t:
- Not the biggest welcome bonus overall
3. 22Win – Filipino eSports Betting Site With Fantastic Special Offers (eSports Welcome Bonus, Up to 25,000 PHP)
Like Plae8, 22Win definitely qualifies as a Philippines-focused eSports betting site. That’s even more of the case here, in fact, since the Philippines is the only country 22Win serves. Unsurprisingly, you can access the full platform here in Tagalog, in addition to English, and can use PHP directly rather than converting from another currency.
The eSports betting markets here are split across five different sportsbooks, most notably including M8Bet. There’s also a lesser-known eSports-specific platform, called TF Esport. All this ensures you have access to hundreds of eSports betting markets at once – including in-play matchups – and also have a nice selection of odds to choose between.
22Win’s main appeal to eSports fans, however, is definitely its selection of special offers. There were around a dozen deals in place at the time of writing, each of which provided something different.
For starters, 22Win actually provides a specific eSports welcome offer. This is worth up to a whopping 25,000 PHP, and can only be used for video game betting. The momentum after that is maintained with a great range of ongoing promotions. Several of these can be triggered every day – including a reload bonus – and there’s also a referral scheme, VIP program, cashback offer, and more.
What We Like:
- Special welcome offer for eSports bettors
- Five separate sportsbooks providing eSports markets
- Fantastic range of ongoing promotions
- Play directly in PHP
What We Don’t:
- Multi-sportsbook approach won’t suit all bettors
4. EU9 – eSports Betting Platform Focused on Player Safety (99% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 198)
In EU9, as with the previous few eSports betting sites on our prestigious list, we find a brand with a clear and pleasing focus on the Philippines. A full Filipino version of the website is available here, in addition to those for other Southeast Asian countries. You can access this site in Tagalog, deposit and play directly in PHP, and use Filipino-friendly payment methods like GCash.
Where EU9 arguably separates itself from other eSports betting sites, however, is in the major focus it places on player safety. Naturally, all of the other brands we’ve recommended are secure. EU9 takes this area particularly seriously, though.
For starters, it holds multiple betting licenses, including one with PAGCOR. It also holds security certificates with third-party auditors, further proving its credentials, and provides a few details on its actual security features too. In all, you definitely get the feeling here that your money and data will be looked-after.
Of course, EU9 impresses in plenty of other areas too. There are three different sportsbooks in place, each of which has eSports betting markets. You can also wager on video games on the go, thanks to the downloadable mobile apps, and there’s a daily rebate deal in place to help reduce your losses.
What We Like:
- Total peace of mind as you bet on eSports
- Particularly fast and reliable website
- Very good apps for on-the-go eSports betting
- Ongoing cashback special offer
What We Don’t:
- Bigger welcome offers available elsewhere
5. PGAsia – Get Cashback on Your eSports Betting Losses (Deposit Match Welcome Bonus, Up to 300 PHP)
Rounding out our list of the five very best betting sites for eSports nicely, we come to PGAsia. This brand is not only focused on the Philippines, but is literally based there, with its headquarters situated right in downtown Manila. It won’t come as a surprise, therefore, to learn that Filipino eSports bettors get plenty of concessions here, including a Tagalog version of the site, and the ability to pay directly in PHP.
PGAsia certainly goes beyond this, however, to provide eSports betting options that any punter would be pleased with. As with our number one pick, Jiliko, these come courtesy of the UG and iGK sportsbooks. Most of the major eSports bases are covered between this pairing, whether you’re looking for live or pre-game wagers.
PGAsia also helps your eSports betting money go further via a few handy promotions. The welcome offer is certainly impressive, giving you a bonus of up to 300 PHP, and there are several ongoing deals you can take advantage of thereafter. These include reload bonuses, lucky draws, and a cashback offer. Finally, should you ever encounter a problem on PG Asia, you’ll find responsive and helpful live chat support in place to help you out.
What We Like:
- Domestic eSports betting site, based in Manila
- Excellent live chat support
- Several helpful ongoing promotions
- iOS and Android mobile betting apps
What We Don’t:
- Lack of live eSports streaming
Philippines eSports Betting Sites Comparison
To a large extent, all of the eSports betting websites we’ve recommended here qualify as consummate all-rounders. Each will provide you with an experience which is not only safe, but modern and user-friendly too. That said, there are still some differences in their offerings, which we’ve highlighted for you in the table below.
Sportsbook Sign Up Bonus Promo Code Payment Methods Live Streaming 
300% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 300 N/A (opt-in required) GCash, GrabPay, Banking ❌ 3 x Deposit Match Welcome Bonuses N/A GCash, GrabPay, Cryptos, Bank Transfer ✔️ 
eSports Welcome Bonus, Up to 25,000 PHP N/A GCash, Bank Transfer ✔️ 
99% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 198 N/A (opt-in required) GCash, Bank Transfer ❌ Deposit Match Welcome Bonus, Up to 300 PHP N/A (opt-in required) Debit Card, Bank Transfer ❌ 100% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 19,800 N/A Debit Card, Bank Transfer ❌ 100% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 6,000 N/A Debit Card, Bank Transfer, eWallets, Cryptos ✔️ 200% Welcome Bonus, Up to €10,000 N/A Cryptos ❌ 
250% Sports Welcome Bonus
N/A (opt-in required) Debit Card, Cryptos, eWallets
✔️ 100% Deposit Bonus, Up To 5,400 PHP N/A Debit Card, Bank Transfer, eWallets, Cryptos ✔️ How We Rank the Best eSports Sportsbooks in Philippines
Trying to sort through the many excellent eSports betting websites can be time-consuming. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you, researching and testing the top eligible brands so that you don’t have to. This was all done according to a strict set of criteria, and you can see five of the most important examples below.
eSports Coverage
Naturally, this was the very first thing we looked at when finding the best sites on which you can bet on eSports. After all, if a Filipino bookie doesn’t show video games the respect they deserve, from a betting perspective, you’re simply not going to use them.
Our analysis here was broken down into two categories. Firstly, we looked at the sheer breadth of the video games that are covered. Quite simply, this was a case of ‘the more, the better’. After that though, we also looked at the depth of the selection, regarding tournament coverage, the variety of bet types, and so on.
Usability
We’re firm believers that an online eSports betting website should be user-friendly, from the very first time you log on. That should be true whether you’re a veteran punter, or a complete newcomer.
A large part of this is down to the quality of the user interface, which should be laid out in a clear and intuitive manner. Loading speeds are also key though, for both regular pages, odds, and live betting tools. Finally, the sportsbook must also be stable, with frustrating crashes kept to an absolute minimum.
Special Features
A bookie didn’t necessarily need to be ‘featured-packed’ to make our list. That being said, we certainly believe that the more useful tools a sportsbook puts in place for wagering on eSports, the better.
We consider some of these to basically be non-negotiable nowadays. Live eSports betting tools are the most obvious example, which should include the ability to both place and cash out in-play wagers. Live streaming is also highly preferable, as we’ll explain later in this article, and we also prefer to see the likes of bet builders, live statistics, and so on included.
Customer Support
Even on the very best betting sites in the world, you’ll eventually encounter an issue you can’t solve alone. That will always be the case, but it’s still crucial that you can get helpful support as quickly as possible.
We ensured this was the case on all of our recommended Filipino sportsbooks. At least one direct contact method needed to be in place, such as live chat, and we also liked to see a high quality FAQ section or help center. The actual coverage hours for support are also crucial, with 24/7 obviously being ideal.
Player Safety
Last but certainly not least, we take the issue of player safety extremely seriously, and expect our recommended sportsbooks to do the same. After all, you’re entrusting your chosen betting site with both your money and personal information, both of which are valuable.
We checked a few different areas as we analyzed each bookie here. First and foremost, we confirmed it held at least one license with a regulatory body, such as PAGCOR or the Government of Curacao. After that, we checked out the brand’s security features, before researching its broader track record for reliability and safety among both critics and regular users.
Easy eSports Betting Guide
We’ve already listed our 10 best eSports betting sites in the Philippines right now, explained how we reached these rankings, and reviewed the top five brands. Now though, it’s time to zoom out a little and take a broader look at eSports betting in the Philippines. If you’re a newcomer to the entire business, this section’s for you.
There are thousands upon thousands of video games out there. Of those, only a few become big-time, successful, competitive online titles. And of that select few, a mere handful get big enough to become genuine eSports titles. We’ll run through the main examples very shortly, but we’re talking about games on the level of CS:GO, Dota 2 and LoL.
At a basic level, eSports are simply competitive video games. They usually involve professional, full-time gamers duking it out – either online or at in-person LAN events – with the games streamed to viewers all around the world. Like regular sports, eSports can be unpredictable and thrilling to watch. Again, just like regular sports, actual eSports betting in the Philippines is one way to ramp up the tension and excitement even higher.
Is it Legal to Bet on eSports in the Philippines?
In many countries across Southeast Asia, it’s forbidden to open an online sportsbook. We’re pleased to say this is certainly not the case in the Philippines, where doing so is completely legal. In turn – whether you’re using sites that are actually based in the Philippines, or off-shore brands accepting Filipino punters – eSports betting in the Philippines is also legal.
This doesn’t automatically mean, of course, that eSports betting online is actually safe. To ensure this is the case, it’s imperative that you use a legitimate brand that’s licensed with a regulatory body, like PAGCOR. You can rest assured that this is indeed the case with all of our recommended sportsbooks, as shown at the top of this page.
Popular eSports to Place Your Pesos On
Very, very few video games genuinely ‘make it’ as eSports. Of those, fewer still are able to survive as such over the long haul. An elite handful do manage both feats, however, and – below – you can get a quick rundown of the most popular games for eSports betting online right now.
League of Legends
If you’ve got any interest at all in video games, you already have at least some knowledge of League of Legends. After all, some 600 million people are believed to have played it thus far.
Technically, LoL doesn’t have the biggest prize pools for its players. Still, this is comfortably the biggest (non-mobile) competitive game in the world, in terms of viewers, with a peak of well over 1.4 million people believed to watch at a single time. The structure of League of Legends is simple enough that even new bettors will be able to follow it with ease, but the skill level and teamwork required helps to make this an endlessly fascinating game.
Dota 2
In terms of its basic gameplay, Dota 2 is similar to LoL. It’s also a team-based action RPG, with mechanics that seem much like those of the top game on our list.
As an eSport, however, Dota 2 provides a different betting experience. Technically, it has fewer viewers (although it’s still very popular) and slightly less frequent competitions. At the very peak of the season, however, it’s the most lucrative competitive game in the world. This is thanks to the single biggest event on the eSports betting calendar – The International – whose most recent prize pool was a mighty $18.9 million.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Since its very first incarnation, Counter Strike has been a massive hit with online gamers. CS:GO is the latest and greatest version, and – despite launching back in 2012 – remains as popular as ever.
CS:GO is an extremely fast-moving game. Each round only takes a few minutes, with matches involving several different maps. The skill level of the top players is ridiculously high, making this a particularly exciting eSport to bet on, and new tournaments kick off constantly.
Valorant
Having only launched in 2020, Valorant is definitely one of the newer games on this list. It was actually created by Riot Games, who also develop LoL, but – in terms of its mechanics – is much closer to CS:GO.
Like Counter Strike, Valorant is a team-based first-person shooter, with five players per team and extremely quick rounds. There’s slightly less of a focus on realism here, however, with each player possessing a special ability, but Valorant is still a game of lightning-fast reactions and precise aiming.
Fortnite
It’s hard to overstate the popularity of Fortnite at its peak. This is a game that – shortly after being released by Epic Games in 2017 – truly took the world by storm. It’s not quite at that level now, but remains an extremely popular game to both watch and play.
Fortnite is a ‘battle royale’ game, in which players duke it out to be the last one standing. The arena shrinks continuously, driving the players closer together, but the entire environment can be destroyed or built upon for a basically endless amount of creativity and replayability.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
PUBG was actually released before Fortnite, and – even if it didn’t literally invent the ‘battle royale’ concept – was the first title to truly popularize it among gamers.
Like Fortnite, PUBG was released back in 2017 but is still going strong today. It is a far more realistic game than its great rival, with none of the building mechanics. Players are also much more vulnerable here, leading to extremely tense games, particularly as the arena grows smaller later in the round.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends was the last of our three ‘battle royale’ eSports to be released, first launching in 2019. It was developed by Respawn Entertainment, the studio which – in a previous incarnation – actually first created the Call of Duty games.
Apex Legends is basically a mixture of the previous three games we looked at. It works on a classic battle royale format, but it has ‘special abilities’ similar to Valorant. Crucially, in this case players will always be part of a team, whereas – in the other games – this is optional, making teamwork a crucial component of success at the professional level.
Call of Duty
Having started off in 2003 as a relatively realistic FPS, focused on single-player campaigns, Call of Duty has grown to become an absolutely enormous brand. In fact, it is reportedly the fourth-highest selling game series of all time, after only Mario, Tetris, and Pokemon.
While the single player campaigns are still present in current CoD releases, the focus for eSport fans – and bettors – is definitely on the multiplayer component. The specifics of this vary from sequel to sequel, but both regular and team deathmatch modes are popular, the gameplay relies on precision aiming and reactions, and the maps are relatively confined.
FIFA
FIFA isn’t quite as massive as CoD, but it’s not far off. ‘Only’ being the seventh-highest selling game series of all time is nothing to be ashamed of, after all.
FIFA is the biggest video game adaptation of the world’s most popular sport – soccer. Its multiplayer version isn’t necessarily realistic, but its fast-paced nature and constant tricks makes it a whole lot of fun to watch. Naturally, that’s especially true when you watch the incredibly talented pros duking it out.
Rocket League
You might think ‘football played by cars’ sounds like a strange idea for a game, and you’d be right. Developer Psyonix executed brilliantly on this innovative concept, however, with its 2015 release Rocket League.
Rocket League is a classic example of a game that is easy to learn, and extremely hard to master. That only makes it more appealing as an eSport, however, when you see the incredible feats that the pros are capable of. Rounds are nice and short, at only five minutes, and the action is basically non-stop.
Rainbow Six: Siege
With some of the shooters we’ve looked at here, the focus is on big maps and spectacular special abilities. Rainbow Six: Siege is basically the opposite of these.
What makes Siege special is the extremely confined nature of its maps. This leads to a level of tension which is hard to find, even in top level eSports. As in games like CS:GO and PUBG, players are also extremely vulnerable here, meaning that – if a pro does make a mistake – their round can be over before they know it.
Fighting Games
Finally, we have one of the genres which made video games massive in the first place – the fighting game.
We’ve collected these together under one banner, since no individual title is quite as popular as the games we’ve listed. There are still a number of games that remain major players on the eSports scene, however, including beloved brands like Tekken, Street Fighter, and Super Smash Bros. The mechanics in each case will be distinct, but each features fast rounds and close quarters action.
Big Betting Events for eSports Fans in 2023
One of the very best things about being an eSports fan is that the action never really stops. New leagues and cup tournaments are kicking off constantly, meaning that there’s basically always something to watch every single day.
We’re happy to say this is definitely the case with eSports betting in the Philippines too, with a continuing stream of online gambling opportunities. That said, these are definitely the biggest (and arguably best) events on the whole calendar to bet on.
The International (Dota 2)
The eSports calendar might be completely jam-packed with events, but – if you’re talking about sheer size alone – one competition completely dominates: The International. Valve’s very own Dota 2 tournament broke the record for total prize money in its very first incarnation, and – at its peak – has featured a whopping $40 million prize pool. The International continues to be held every year, has a round robin format, and sees 20 teams duking it out for the title. World Championship (League of Legends)
LoL is, of course, Dota 2’s great competitor, and the World Championship is its answer to The International. The 2022 version (the most recent, at the time of writing) was actually the second most-watched eSports event in history, peaking at a whopping 5.1 million concurrent viewers. This event is also held every year – usually in the late autumn/early winter – and has generally been dominated by South Korean teams. The Majors (Counter Strike: Global Offensive)
The Majors is the collective name given to CS:GO’s biggest eSports tournaments, which are sponsored by the game’s developer Valve. Interestingly, the Majors take place in various countries around the world, with the last few editions – for example – having been held in Brazil, Belgium, Sweesportsden, Germany, Poland, and so on. Wherever they happen, these tournaments – typically held twice per year – are the very peak of the CS:GO competitive scene.Valorant Champions (Valorant)
The Champions Tour is the biggest competition for Valorant, and is organized directly by the game’s developers, Riot Games. It has a shorter track record than the previous three tournaments we’ve looked at, but has already made a massive splash. Even the first edition received a hefty 1 million-plus peak viewers, and this ramped up to 1.5 million for the 2022 tournament. Like the Majors, this event tours around the world, and has already been held in locations as diverse as Sao Paolo, Istanbul, and Copenhagen. Call of Duty League (CoD)
As its name suggests, the Call of Duty League is a longer-term league-based event, rather than simply a one-off knockout competition. It features 12 teams which are based in cities, similarly to many real-life sports, and has an exciting playoff-based system which eventually results in the overall champion being crowned. While it doesn’t draw as many peak viewers as the previous few entries on this list, this is still the top competition CoD fans can check out. Betting Market Madness for eSports Enthusiasts
While your options won’t be as varied as with something like soccer, for example, you’ll still find plenty of choices when it comes to eSports bet types. There’s definitely enough flexibility here to allow you to approach a matchup or tournament as you see fit, and balance risk and reward to your liking. Here are some of the top bet types you can use:
- Match Result
This is the most straightforward eSports bet type of all, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook it. Simply betting which player or team will win might sound dull, but actually getting these picks right is tricky, and your rewards for doing so can be lucrative.
- Parlays
If getting one Match Result wager correct is hard, then getting several correct is even tougher. If you do choose to bundle multiple selections into a single wager, however, both your odds and potential winnings will swell accordingly.
- Handicaps
Sometimes, you just can’t get the odds you want from a regular Match Result wager. That’s where handicap betting comes in, with which you can make one team start with a ‘fake’ score, and this – rather than the real one – will determine the result of your wager.
- Over/Unders
Over/unders are an extremely straightforward bet type, which – along with Match Results – we’d recommend trying out as a newcomer. The bookie will set an over/under for something like the number of rounds a certain team will win, and you simply predict whether the actual total will be higher or lower.
- First To…
These are arguably the most popular examples of ‘prop’ bets, in which you wager on a pretty specific outcome. In this case you might wager on a player to get the first kill, a team to win the first map, or something similar.
- Outrights
All the bet types we’ve looked at so far are per-match, but – if you prefer a longer-term outlook – you can use outrights instead. The most popular example is to simply wager on the eventual winner of an entire tournament.
Nothing Odd About eSports Odds
If you’re completely new to eSports betting in the Philippines, you may well find yourself getting swept up in the excitement of special offers, live betting and high-risk parlays. That’s all well and good, but it’s also imperative that you’ve got a grasp of the basics, and understanding betting odds is the perfect place to start.
At the most basic level of all, betting odds tell you your potential return for an eSports wager. If the odds are 10/1, for example, and you wager 1 peso, you’ll get 11 pesos back (10 in winnings, plus your stake). When a market is ‘odds-on’ – which happens when one side is heavily favored – you’ll actually risk more than you’ll potentially win on that wager. If Team A is 1/2 to beat Team B, for example, and you wager 2 pesos, then you’ll only get 1 peso in profits (plus your stake).
How are eSports betting odds actually calculated? Naturally, a bookie will never actually tell you. We’re here to let you know, however, that there are a few key components.
The first, as you might guess, is sheer probability, which – for the bookie – is calculated using plenty of behind-the-scenes stats. There are other factors in play too here, however. These include adjusting the market based on the amount of betting action; adjusting it based on competitor prices; and always including a ‘vig’ or ‘overround’ to ensure the implied probabilities add up to more than 100%, and thus ensure bookies make a long-term profit.
Betting Bonuses From eSports Bookmakers
We certainly wouldn’t call special offers the be-all, end-all when it comes to sportsbooks. After all, your enjoyment of eSports betting in the Philippines depends on a whole range of factors, including a site’s usability, market selection and special features.
That said, high quality bonus deals can make a sizable difference to your long-term profits from eSports betting. Below, we’ve listed some of the top promotion types to target.
Deposit Match
In terms of the actual format, there’s little variety in the types of welcome offer you’ll find at eSports betting websites in the Philippines. The famous deposit match is absolutely dominant here, but – since this tends to deliver the biggest bonuses of all – that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
As the name suggests, these deals involve the bookie ‘matching’ your first deposit in the form of a free eSports bet. The match will normally be at least 100%, and can reach a certain maximum amount. Before withdrawing any winnings from your bonus, however, you will need to complete a rollover requirement.
Cashback Offer
When you’re looking to make a long-term profit from your eSports betting, winning wagers is actually only half of the equation. Cutting down on your losses can also have a major impact on your bottom line, and cashback offers help out tremendously here.
These deals usually work by insuring a certain percentage of your losses across a particular time frame, such as one week. Best of all, since the rebate you get from this offer will come as cash, there won’t be any annoying rollover requirements to complete.
Reload Bonus
Even the biggest deposit match welcome offers will only last a short amount of time. We’re pleased to say, however, that – even after that bonus has been used – some betting sites for eSports will keep the good times rolling in a similar way.
Reload bonuses follow the same basic format as deposit matches, ‘matching’ a certain percentage of your deposit. In this case, however, the deal can be triggered repeatedly as you continue to wager with the sportsbook. The only downside is that the actual size of the bonus will be smaller than with a welcome offer.
VIP Program
You’ll basically always find a VIP program in place nowadays, on all the top betting sites for eSports. The specifics might vary in each case, but the general idea will remain the same.
Basically, as you keep betting on eSports, you will progress through the VIP program, either by collecting points or moving up through the tiers. As you do so, you’ll gain better and better rewards. Just a few examples include cash bonuses, free eSports bets, higher transaction limits, and priority customer support.
Top Welcome Offers Compared
After reading the previous section, you know the most popular special offers to target on Filipino eSports betting sites, plus the main type of welcome bonus you can get. Now, it’s time to turn the focus to our recommended brands. Below, you can see at a glance how all 10 of our top eSports betting sites stack up when it comes to their special offers.
Sportsbook Bonus Promo Code Wagering Requirement 300% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 300 N/A (opt-in required) 20x 3 x Deposit Match Welcome Bonuses N/A 15x, 20x, 35x eSports Welcome Bonus, Up to 25,000 PHP N/A 22x 99% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 198 N/A (opt-in required) 15x Deposit Match Welcome Bonus, Up to 300 PHP N/A (opt-in required) 20x 100% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 19,800 N/A 25x 100% Deposit Match, Up to PHP 6,000 N/A 5x 200% Welcome Bonus, Up to €10,000 N/A 35x 250% Sports Welcome Bonus N/A (opt-in required) 20x 100% Deposit Bonus, Up To 5,400 PHP N/A 5x Know the Terms and Conditions
Every single special offer you encounter when eSports betting in the Philippines should come with terms and conditions attached. If it doesn’t, that should immediately serve as a red flag.
Reading through this small print might sound pretty boring. Still, it’s absolutely imperative that you do so, or you risk wasting both your time and money as you unsuccessfully attempt to claim a bonus. To help avoid this happening, here are some of the main T&Cs to look out for.
- Bonus Code
Bonus codes are specific strings of letters and numbers which must be entered in order to trigger certain deals. This might take place during the registration process itself, or via the deposit screen when it comes time to make a payment.
- Minimum Amounts
Minimum amounts will apply to various stages as you try to claim your bonus. With welcome offers, for example, your first deposit will need to meet a certain value.
- Payment Method Eligibility
Whether you’re triggering a welcome offer or an ongoing promotion, you’ll typically need to make some kind of deposit in the process. Be aware that not all payment methods will usually be eligible. You’ll typically be fine with your debit card, for example, but certain eWallets may be incompatible.
- Qualifying Wager Requirements
Placing a qualifying wager is a key part of claiming the vast majority of bonuses. This can have various stipulations attached to it, including a minimum amount, minimum odds and market restrictions.
- Rollover Requirement
This is a crucial part of claiming a deposit match bonus, which must be completed before you can actually withdraw any bonus winnings. It involves betting through your bonus amount a certain number of times, while usually adhering to minimum odds and stakes.
- Time Frames
Finally, almost every special offer will come with a time frame attached in one form or another. You might need to make a deposit or complete your rollover requirement within seven days of signing up, for example. Alternatively, you might need to be aware of when your window for a cashback deal opens and closes.
Live Streaming and Betting
The days of being limited to pre-match eSports betting in the Philippines are long gone. Nowadays, instead, the beginning of a matchup simply means that a whole new raft of betting opportunities have become available to you. Live eSports betting allows you to capitalize on the wild momentum swings for which eSports are famous, or simply exploit odds that wouldn’t have been available to you pre-match.
Hand-in-hand with live eSports betting, of course, is live streaming. Actually watching the action unfold for yourself doesn’t just make the whole experience more exciting; it also helps you spot the perfect time to place a new in-play wager, or cash out an existing bet. Better yet, eSports tournaments are almost always streamed for free on Twitch, and many bookies even incorporate Twitch streaming into their eSports section.
How We Pick PH eSports Bookmakers
There are dozens of online betting sites out there which happily accept Filipino punters. We’ve basically sorted through all of these so that you don’t have to, with these being four of the biggest reasons why we chose the brands we did.
Track Record
Obviously, a brand being around for a while is automatically a good sign. It’s not easy to survive in the hyper-competitive sports betting world, after all, and – if a bookie has managed to do so – that immediately tells you it has plenty going for it.
In general though, we look beyond simple longevity to assess the actual quality of a brand’s track record. Rather than just surviving, we look for brands that have thrived, innovated, and improved themselves, whether they’ve been around for one year or a decade. Assessing this involves not only researching the brand’s history, but also their longer-term track record with both regular users and experts.
Odds Quality
If a bookie’s odds are unfairly low, this will automatically put an invisible ceiling on your profits, however good your picks are. We do our very best to ensure this won’t be the case by checking a brand’s odds thoroughly before we even think about recommending them.
The main way we do this is by comparing their prices on certain eSports markets to those being offered by the brand’s competitors. If they’re more or less in line, or even better, then they pass our test. If they’re much lower, however, then they’re jettisoned from consideration immediately.
Live Betting Tools
In-play is enormously important to eSports bettors, and that’s just as true in the Philippines as it is anywhere else in the world. As such, we make it an absolute priority to check the live betting tools for any bookies we’re thinking about picking.
Basically every major brand will at least have these tools in place. What we’re looking at, however, is the actual quality of those tools. They should be highly responsive, allowing you to capitalize on any opportunities you spot as quickly as possible. Reliability is also crucial, since the tools simply must be available to use when you need to do so.
Filipino Friendliness
Naturally, each brand we consider must accept Filipino players as a basic requirement. We do prefer, however, to pick brands which actually prioritize their eSports fans in the Philippines wherever possible.
This can manifest itself in a few different ways. One thing we check, for example, is whether a Tagalog version of the betting platform is available. We also see if Filipino payment methods like GCash are supported, and whether you can use PHP directly instead of converting from another currency.
How to Sign Up and Bet on eSports
All of the best modern-day Filipino sportsbooks tend to be incredibly easy to use, from the moment you sign up onwards. We’re pleased to say this definitely applies to betting sites for eSports too, with these being the few simple steps you must take to get started.
Step 1 – Choose a Sportsbook
Your first task, as you can probably guess, is to choose which sportsbook you’ll be using. With so many great options available to you, this might actually be harder than you think. That being said, we’ve already narrowed your many choices down to a clear top 10, and – in this particular guide, we’ll assume you simply went with our top option, Jiliko.
Step 2 – Create Your Account
Whether you’re using your computer or a mobile device, you’ll get the ball rolling by bringing up the homepage of your chosen sportsbook. Seek out the Register or Sign Up button, and click it to start the registration process. Now, proceed to provide all the necessary personal information, such as your name, date of birth, home address, and so on. Afterwards, set your username and password. Once all that’s done, just agree to the general terms and conditions and finish creating your account.
Step 3 – Make a Deposit
Your final brief task – before you can get on with the business of betting on eSports – is to fund your new account. Log in, using the details you just set, then locate the Deposit or Cashier option in the main menu. Choose a deposit method from the list of available options, provide the necessary payment information, and enter a monetary value. Then just check everything over once more, and confirm your deposit.
Step 4 – Place Your Bets
With your account both created and funded, you’re officially ready to begin your eSports betting adventure. Head to the eSports section using the main navigation, then choose both the video game and competition you wish to wager on. Pick a matchup, browse the available bet types, then add one to your betslip by clicking the corresponding odds. Now just set a stake, hit the Place Bet button to get that wager down, and repeat the process as many times as you please.
Excellent eSports Betting Tips
As with all forms of sports betting – and overall gambling, for that matter – there’s no guarantee you’ll make a profit when eSports betting for real money. That being said, there are certainly steps you can take to boost your chances, with these being four of the very best examples.
1 – Build Up Gradually
When you first start eSports betting in the Philippines, the entire experience will feel new and incredibly exciting. That’s fine, but you still can’t allow yourself to get carried away financially.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, we’d advise using the lowest permissible stakes to begin with. Then, once you’re feeling comfortable and confident, you can gradually ramp up your spending. Even as you do, however, we’d still recommend creating a staking plan – determining both the volume and size of your wagers – and sticking to it religiously thereafter.
2 – Try the Games Yourself
Some of the games we’ve talked about here – like Call of Duty – still cost money to buy, and whether you do so or not is completely up to you. Many of the top eSports titles nowadays, however, are actually completely free to play.
If you have a device capable of playing the likes of LoL, Dota 2, Rocket League, or Fortnite – to name just a few – we’d definitely recommend doing so. This will give you a degree of understanding of the game’s mechanics, and its maps, which can’t be gained elsewhere. In turn, this will enhance your viewing experience, and inform your in-play wagers.
3 – Do Your Research
The concept of a ‘sure thing’ in betting is extremely misleading – there are absolutely no certainties whatsoever. With that said, we still firmly believe that the smarter your picks, the better you’ll do over the long haul.
The very best way to make those smart picks is to put the time and effort into doing your research. This means looking at the stats and form tables, watching recent matchups and live streams, and basically using any other information you can get your hands on. The vast majority of this will be completely free of charge, but the benefits it provides might be lucrative indeed.
4 – Watch Along
As noted in our previous tip, we’re certainly big believers in using statistical analysis to inform your betting on eSports. We also believe, however, that the good old-fashioned ‘eye test’ still has a major role to play.
If you possibly can do, we’d recommend watching any eSports competitions you’re interested in betting on for yourself. These are invariably streamed for free on Twitch nowadays. Tuning in not only gives you access to all the excitement that regular eSports fans enjoy, but also helps massively in your live eSports betting as you seek to find the perfect time to place or cash out wagers.
Mobile Sportsbooks & Apps for eSports Betting
The Philippines is an extremely mobile-friendly country, and is only growing more so as the years go by. This trend will naturally extend not only to fans of eSports, but to bettors on video games too.
Fortunately, if you are indeed a fan of on-the-go betting, you’ll be extremely well served by the eSports betting sites we’ve recommended here. Every single one of them has mobile features in place. Some have actual, downloadable Android or iOS apps, and all of them have mobile versions of their main website.
Whether you choose to use an app or mobile site, you’ll be able to access all the same eSports betting markets as you would on your computer. You can also claim the same bonuses, watch the same streams, and so on. The only real difference, in fact, will be in the layout. An eSports betting app might feel slightly more finicky to use than a desktop website, but – in return for this – you do get the freedom and convenience of placing eSports wagers whenever and wherever you please.
Final Thoughts
There has literally never been a better time to enjoy eSports betting in the Philippines. The real world eSports scene is going from strength to strength, with an amount of gaming options and volume of competitions which we’ve simply never seen before. In this, this has led to an unparalleled diversity of eSports betting options, which are basically endless nowadays.
After reading this article, you now have all the information you need in order to try eSports betting in the Philippines for yourself. All you need to do now is pick one of our recommended sportsbooks, create an account, grab your welcome bonus, and start having fun.
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Joe Halliday
Joe Halliday
