From Niche to Mainstream: Esports Betting in Canada

Just a few years ago, esports betting was seen as entertainment for a narrow circle of gamers. Today, the picture looks different: Canadian bookmakers are actively expanding their offerings in this category, while interest among players is growing along with esports itself. According to Grand View Research, esports revenue in Canada reached about USD 111 million in 2024 and could exceed USD 559 million by 2030. These figures show that esports is no longer a niche segment for betting operators but an essential part of their portfolio. We discussed other trends in Canadian betting in this article.

The state of esports in Canada

Canada is steadily securing its place on the international esports map. Major organizations such as OverActive Media, Enthusiast Gaming, and React Gaming Group are based in the country. These companies not only develop tournaments but also build an ecosystem that attracts players and audiences worldwide. Among the most recognized teams are Luminosity Gaming and Shopify Rebellion.

Large tournaments take place in Canada, including Canada Cup Gaming, Dreamhack Montreal, and Get On My Level. Canadian cities are also represented in North American franchises, such as the Call of Duty League. Popular games include Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Fortnite, VALORANT, and Rocket League, while leading players like Tyson “TenZ” Ngo and Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken gain international recognition.

The educational sector is actively supporting esports. New academic and college programs continue to emerge, while organizations like Esports Canada coordinate nationwide student tournaments such as the Canadian Esports Nationals and Canadian Intercollegiate Exhibition. Some institutions, including St. Clair College and Conestoga College, have established dedicated esports arenas that help young people develop skills.

Although the Canadian government does not officially recognize esports as a sport, local authorities such as the Vancouver Economic Commission and the Alberta Esports Strategy are creating initiatives to support it. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver aim to become esports hubs by providing infrastructure and incentives for tournament organizers.

Thus, esports in Canada is developing on multiple levels: major organizations, large tournaments, educational programs, and community initiatives are creating favourable conditions for market growth and wider participation.

How esports shapes the betting industry in Canada

With the rise of esports, operators are adopting new ways to engage audiences. They use platforms like Discord and Telegram to interact with players. In Canada, this approach is applied by companies such as Pinnacle and TonyBet. They also adapt their services to the habits of younger generations.

For millennials and Gen Z, esports betting feels like a natural extension of watching tournaments. For bookmakers, this means developing user-friendly mobile apps and interactive platforms with instant access to match data. We previously covered how the shift to online changed the betting market in Canada here.

Partnerships with game developers provide bookmakers with valuable tools: official, real-time match data that makes betting more transparent and engaging. In 2023, GRID Esports signed an agreement with Riot Games, gaining access to live game data for VALORANT and League of Legends.

Esports betting is also gradually changing the rules for traditional bookmakers. Operators that once focused on hockey, football, and basketball are expanding their lines to include online tournaments and interactive betting formats. This attracts new audiences and fuels competition in the market.

Most popular games for betting in Canada

According to Esports Insider, the most popular games for betting in 2025 are:

• League of Legends. Still leads in peak viewership. For example, in February 2025, during the LCK Cup, the peak audience reached nearly 2 million viewers.
• VALORANT. Holds second place among bettors. In 2025, the Masters Bangkok Grand Finals drew over 1.3 million viewers.
• Counter-Strike 2. Hosts the largest number of tournaments in 2025. Bettors closely follow the competition due to intense rivalries and massive prize pools.

These titles not only dominate in terms of viewership but also serve as the main focus for betting in Canada. With more tournaments and growing prize pools, interest in them continues to rise.

What to know about esports betting

Esports betting is similar to traditional sports wagering but comes with unique features. The simplest and most common type is predicting the match winner. Players choose a team or individual competitor they believe will win. In games like CS:GO, VALORANT, or Dota 2, matches consist of separate maps or rounds, so bettors can wager on the winner of a specific map or the outcome of a round.

More experienced bettors often go for exact score predictions, trying to forecast how many rounds each team will win. To balance odds, bookmakers offer handicaps – virtual advantages or disadvantages for one of the teams. Totals are also popular, where players predict whether the number of rounds or maps will be over or under a set figure.

Special bets attract particular interest. These allow wagers on in-game events, such as which team scores “first blood,” who destroys the first tower, or how many kills a specific player will achieve. Many also bet on the winner of an entire tournament, where odds are often higher and appeal to risk-takers.

Another key category is live betting. These wagers are placed during a match, with odds shifting in real time depending on how the game unfolds. This format lets players adjust their strategy, react instantly, and experience a more dynamic process compared to pre-match betting.

All of this makes esports betting flexible and engaging for different types of players: from newcomers who back favourites to professionals who analyze every map and rely on statistics for forecasts.

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