Counter-Strike 2 has solidified its position as the world’s leading esports betting title, according to the Global Esports Betting Monitor: H1 2025.
The report, published by Sharpr in partnership with Abios and based on data from the Kambi network—covering more than 50 regulated operators worldwide—reveals that CS2 accounted for 40% of all esports events and a staggering 57.2% of global betting turnover in the first half of 2025.
This 1.42x return on its share of events makes CS2 the only title to outperform in both betting volume and monetization. The game’s global reach, consistent tournament structure, and betting-friendly format have made it a cornerstone of the esports betting industry.
League of Legends, VALORANT, and Call of Duty make waves in H1 2025 esports betting
While trailing CS2 in overall numbers, League of Legends continues to deliver reliable returns. The game made up 21.7% of esports events but drove 26.1% of total betting turnover, yielding a solid 1.2x yield per event.
Analysts attribute this performance to League’s well-structured seasonal calendar, which includes regional leagues and international tournaments like the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). These high-profile events drive liquidity and offer consistent betting opportunities throughout the year.
VALORANT, another esports title from Riot Games, maintained a remarkable presence in H1 2025, accounting for 15.8% of all tracked events. However, it contributed just 4.8% of global turnover, resulting in a monetization ratio of 0.30x, a sign that bettors wager less per match or markets are less liquid.
Despite the underwhelming monetization, VALORANT saw an uptick in total handle compared to the previous year. The title continues to inch upward as a betting property, supported by its structured VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) and growing international fanbase.
Call of Duty registered 3.1% of esports events and returned 2.9% of turnover, indicating flat yield but increased relevance. Notably, its share of betting handle nearly doubled year-over-year, rising from 1.7% in H1 2024 to 2.9% in H1 2025. This growth is largely credited to stronger CoD League Major tournaments and rising North American engagement.
Dota 2 and long-tail titles lose ground
Once a top-tier betting title, Dota 2 continues its downward trajectory. Its share of global betting handle slipped to 8.7% in H1 2025, down from 10% the previous year and a sharper drop from 14% in full-year 2023.
Other long-tail esports such as Overwatch, Rainbow Six, and Rocket League are also fading from betting markets. Collectively, these titles made up less than 12% of total turnover in H1.
Many of these games struggle due to inconsistent match schedules, limited publisher support, and regionalized appeal, factors that make them harder to price and promote effectively.
Esports betting market consolidates around top titles
Based on the report, the market is becoming increasingly top-heavy. In the first half of 2025, just three titles—CS2, League, and VALORANT—accounted for over 85% of global turnover.
Operators are clearly prioritizing games that offer consistent match cadence, comprehensive data and trading infrastructure like Riot’s esports ecosystem, and global appeal with multi-region liquidity, as seen in CS2 Majors and LoL Worlds.
This consolidation reflects a shift in operational priorities. Betting operators are streamlining their offerings, focusing on games with high reliability and strong return on investment. Without strategic investments from publishers to make long-tail games more betting-compatible, these titles risk further marginalization in regulated betting markets.
Check out the full Global Esports Betting Monitor: H1 2025 report.
Published: Jul 25, 2025 01:53 am