Esports betting Australia: markets, map maths and the law

Key facts

In a best of three, a team that wins 60% of maps wins the series 64.8% of the time and wins 2-0 only 36% of the time, in our calculation.
A map handicap of -1.5 needs a clean sweep; over 2.5 maps needs a deciding map.
The TAB's published Victorian sports rules have no esports section, so esports bets fall under the general rules for postponement and results; check your bookmaker's own esports rules.
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) was set up in 2015, and Victoria Police can receive real-time betting alerts from it on esports events.
Licensed Australian wagering providers cannot accept credit cards or digital currencies, so a betting site that takes crypto from Australians is not operating as one.

Esports betting in Australia, in short

Esports betting in Australia means betting on organised video game competitions, placed with a bookmaker licensed in an Australian state or territory. The markets work like any head to head sport, with one twist: most matches are series of maps or games, best of three or best of five, and the series format changes the maths. This guide covers the markets, the numbers, the integrity side and the legal line. It does not tip teams or recommend sites.

Esports markets

Market	What you pick	Notes
Match winner	The team that wins the series	The base market
Map handicap	A team to win after a map start, such as -1.5	The esports version of a line bet
Total maps	Over or under, such as 2.5 maps	Over needs a deciding map
Correct map score	The exact series score, such as 2-1	Longer prices, lower chances
Map winner	The winner of one named map	Settled on that map only
Tournament winner	The event champion	A futures bet
Game-specific props	First objective, kills and similar	Rules vary by bookmaker and game

The maths of a best of three

Series formats reward the better team. To show how, assume a team wins any single map 60% of the time, and each map is independent. That is a simplification, but it shows the shape of the market.

Best of three result	Chance in our calculation	Fair price
Favourite 2-0	36.0%	$2.78
Favourite 2-1	28.8%	$3.47
Underdog 2-1	19.2%	$5.21
Underdog 2-0	16.0%	$6.25

From that table:

The favourite wins the series 64.8% of the time, a fair price of $1.54.
Favourite -1.5 maps needs a 2-0, so it wins 36% of the time: fair $2.78.
Over 2.5 maps needs a third map, 2-1 either way: 48%, fair $2.08.
Stretch the same 60% map edge to a best of five and the series chance rises to 68.26%.

Map handicaps are a form of line betting, and the same principle applies: a handicap that looks small can need a much less likely result.

Prices and the margin

A match priced $1.55 and $2.40 adds up to 106.18%. In our calculation the fair prices are about $1.65 and $2.55, and a balanced book keeps 5.82%. Run any market through the implied probability calculator to see its total.

Multis multiply the margin. Three legs at $1.55 each combine to $3.72, which implies 26.85%. If each team's real chance is 62%, the multi's real chance is 23.83%, and the multi is a worse bet than any of its legs. The multi bet calculator shows the effect as you add legs.

How esports bets are settled

Settlement rules are where esports differs most between bookmakers. The TAB's published Victorian sports rules, for example, have sport-specific sections for cricket, tennis, golf, basketball and others, but none for esports. Where a bookmaker has no specific rule, its general rules apply. Under the TAB's general rules:

Situation	General rule
Event cancelled before it starts	Bets refunded (rule 10.5)
Postponed by 72 hours or less	Bets stand (rule 10.6)
Postponed by more than 72 hours	Bets refunded (rule 10.6)
No official result declared within 72 hours of the end	Bets refunded (rule 10.2)

Esports raises questions those rules do not answer directly: forfeits and walkovers, technical remakes of a map, a substitute player, or a match moved from a stadium to online play. Bookmakers that offer esports write their own answers. Read them before you bet, especially for props.

Integrity: who polices esports betting

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), set up in 2015 by esports stakeholders, describes its role as the disruption, prevention, investigation and prosecution of cheating and malpractice, and names match manipulation and betting fraud as core threats. Under a partnership described on its site, Victoria Police can receive real-time betting alerts from ESIC on esports events, and ESIC lists sanctions against 35 individuals for betting-related behaviour under its Anti-Corruption Code.

For you, the practical lesson is simple: be cautious with matches between teams you cannot follow, and treat a price that moves sharply for no visible reason as a reason to stay out.

Esports betting sites: licensed or illegal

The legal test for an esports betting site in Australia is the same as for any bookmaker:

Licensed in Australia. Only bookmakers licensed in an Australian state or territory can legally offer you betting. ACMA lists betting services not licensed in Australia among the illegal online services, and blocks illegal gambling websites.
No credit cards or crypto. Since 11 June 2024, licensed online wagering providers cannot accept credit cards, credit-related products or digital currencies. A site that takes crypto from Australian customers is not behaving like a licensed Australian bookmaker.
No online casino games. Online pokies and casino-style games cannot legally be offered to people in Australia. A betting site that offers them to Australians is breaking the law, whatever else it offers.
No online in-play betting. ACMA lists in-play betting on sporting events among the services illegal to offer online. Place esports bets before the match begins. Our guide to in-play betting in Australia explains the rule.

Pundit tip: before betting on a team you have watched for years, price the series yourself. Turn your map-by-map estimate into a series chance with the table above, then compare it with the bookmaker's price. Familiarity is not an edge unless the numbers say so.

If betting has stopped being fun, our gambling help page lists free, confidential support. For decimal prices from scratch, read how to read odds, and every other bet type is in our bet types guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is esports betting legal in Australia?

Yes, with a bookmaker licensed in an Australian state or territory. Betting services that are not licensed in Australia are illegal to offer here, and ACMA can have their websites blocked.

How do I know if an esports betting site is licensed in Australia?

A licensed Australian bookmaker holds a licence from an Australian state or territory and cannot take credit cards or crypto. If a site takes crypto deposits, offers online casino games, or appears on ACMA's blocked list, it is not a licensed Australian wagering service.

What does -1.5 maps mean in esports betting?

The team carries a handicap of 1.5 maps. In a best of three, it must win 2-0 for the bet to win. The other side, +1.5 maps, wins if that team takes at least one map.

What happens to an esports bet if a match is postponed?

It depends on your bookmaker's rules. Under the TAB's general Victorian rules, a non-racing event postponed by more than 72 hours is refunded, and one postponed by 72 hours or less stands. Esports-specific rules on forfeits and remakes vary, so read them.

Can I bet on esports while the match is being played?

Not online. ACMA lists in-play betting on sporting events among the services that are illegal to offer online in Australia, so place your bet before the match begins.