The 5 best Esports Betting Games in South Africa

It has been a long time ago since videogames and computers ceased to be mere “toys” and became a major market – that of competitions.

E-sport, cybersport, electronic sport, in short, all these names refer to the same thing. These are the names given to organized electronic games competitions that bring cyber athletes of all ages with them, who have three things in common: love for games, skills to show and the will to win.

The first competition of this type on record took place in the United States, in 1972, between Stanford University students who competed with the game “Spacewar”. As it was a small (despite historical) competition, the prize at the time was symbolic and quite modest compared to those distributed today: 1 year subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

A lot has happened since then and today the prizes are a bit different. To give you an idea, in 2017, for example, the DOTA 2 game tournament distributed more than 35 million dollars in prizes, in addition to that, another great game, Counter Strike, also distributed more than 11 million in prizes. 

In the same year, League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm and Call of Duty distributed in prize pools more than 18 million dollars. 

eSports and South Africa 

eSports has been growing in popularity all over the world and South Africa is no exception. In recent years there has been a growing number of players, teams, and tournaments emerging in the country. 

In addition, the country has hosted several international esports events, including the VS Gaming Festival, which is one of the biggest esports events in Africa. The event features multiple eSports tournaments, including Dota 2, CS:GO, and FIFA, and attracts top players and teams from around the world.

Gambling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment of all, and can even be considered an intrinsic aspect of humanity. And, like humanity, the way we bet has also evolved. Betting in eSports games is becoming increasingly popular and lucrative. 

If you don’t want to miss out on what’s happening in eSports betting in South Africa, check out next what are the 5 most popular Esports betting games.

1. Dota 2 

 Dota 2 is a popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Valve Corporation. It is the sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), a popular mod for Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.

In Dota 2, two teams of five players each compete to destroy the other team's "Ancient" structure located at the opposing team's base while defending their own. Each player controls a single hero character, each with their own unique abilities and playstyle, and must work together with their team to defeat the enemy team.

The game has a steep learning curve and requires a great amount of strategy, teamwork, and quick reflexes to succeed. The characters catalog is really vast, with over 100 different hero characters to choose from, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, players must learn how to use them effectively and defeat their opponents.

Dota 2 has a large and incredibly active Esports scene, with several major tournaments and leagues taking place throughout the entire year that attract players and bettors from everywhere in the world, including South Africa. The biggest of these is The International, which is held annually and has a multi-million dollar prize pool. The game's popularity has also spawned a number of community-created mods and custom games, adding to its longevity and replayability.

If you want to know more about the South African eSports scene, you have to know about the incredible Julia “Bish” Robson, a professional Dota 2 South African player who has competed in several international tournaments and is considered one of the best female Dota 2 players in the world

Overall, Dota 2 is a challenging and engaging game that has captured the attention of millions of players around the world, both casual and professional.

2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 

CS:GO, or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is the most popular first-person shooter game in the world and it was also developed by Valve Corporation. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series, and it has become one of the most popular eSports games in South Africa and the world.

In CS:GO, two teams, the Terrorists and the Counter-Terrorists, compete against each other to complete different objectives, depending on the game mode. The Terrorists' objective is to plant a bomb at one of two bomb sites, while the Counter-Terrorists' objective is to prevent the bomb from being planted or to defuse it if it has been planted. In other game modes, the goal may be to eliminate the other team entirely or to rescue hostages.

The game has a strong focus on tactical gameplay, requiring players to work together and make strategic decisions in order to succeed and win. There are a variety of different weapons to choose from, such as pistols, shotguns, rifles, heavy weapons and grenades, each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

South Africa hosted its first ever international CS:GO tournament in 2017 and it was a success. The tournament, called the ESWC (Electronic Sports World Cup) African Qualifiers, took place in Johannesburg and featured teams from all over the continent competing for a chance to qualify for the ESWC World Finals in Paris. This was a significant event for the South African Esports scene, as it helped to raise awareness of competitive gaming in the country and provided local players with an opportunity to showcase their skills on an international stage.

3. League of Legends

In League of Legends, you control a powerful character called a champion, who is part of a team of five players. Your goal is to destroy the enemy team's Nexus, which is located at their base, while protecting your own. To do this, you need to work together with your team and make strategic decisions about how to approach each situation.

Each champion has their own unique abilities and playstyle, and you need to master them in order to be successful. There are over 150 different champions to choose from, so there's a lot of variety in terms of gameplay. It’s impossible to get bored. 

League of Legends is a popular Esports game in South Africa, with a large and active community. There are several different game modes to play, including the standard Summoner's Rift match and ARAM, where all players are assigned a random champion to play. There are also several major tournaments and leagues held throughout the year, where top teams from around the world compete for big prizes.

Overall, League of Legends is a game that requires skill, strategy, and teamwork to succeed. It's a lot of fun to play, and there's always something new to learn and discover. Some people play it for decades.

4. FIFA

This popular eSports game is developed and published by EA Sports and is part of the long-running FIFA video game series. FIFA Esports involves professional players competing against each other in online or offline tournaments, with the goal of winning prize money, trophies, and recognition as some of the best FIFA players in the world.

FIFA esports tournaments are typically played on the latest version of the game, with players using gamepads or keyboards to control their virtual teams. Matches can be played either one-on-one or as part of a team, with players selecting their teams from a pool of real-life football teams and players. 

FIFA has become one of the most popular esports games in the world, with millions of players competing online and in tournaments. Some of the biggest FIFA eSports tournaments include the FIFA eWorld Cup, the eChampions League, and the FIFA eClub World Cup. These tournaments offer significant prize money, with the FIFA eWorld Cup awarding a total prize pool of $500,000 in 2021.

One of the reasons why so many people like to bet on FIFA eSports in South Africa is because of the game's popularity and the wide range of betting options available. 

5. Call of Duty

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game franchise that began in 2003. The franchise has released several games, all of which typically feature a single-player campaign mode with a storyline, as well as various multiplayer modes that allow players to compete against each other online.

South African gamers enjoy playing both the single-player campaign mode and the various multiplayer modes, which allow them to compete against other players from around the world.

The games are set in different time periods or fictional universes, with some of the most popular entries taking place in modern times or during World War II. Players take on the role of soldiers or other military personnel, working together to complete missions or defeat enemy forces. 

Over the years, Call of Duty has become one of the most popular and influential video game franchises of all time. Its fast-paced, tactical gameplay, immersive setting, and strong multiplayer component have made it a favorite among gamers worldwide.