Maximizing Esports Betting: How Sportsbooks Can Fix Engagement Drop-Offs

Despite the undeniable promise of a digitally native audience and always-on competition, esports betting continues to underdeliver for many operators. The vertical boasts major titles like Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) and Dota 2, which recorded between 18% and 62% year-on-year betting volume growth in 2025, but sportsbooks are still struggling to convert this soaring availability into consistent engagement.

According to a recent report by esports betting provider Oddin.gg, the average esports bettor is just 23 years old. Raised on Twitch, real-time interaction, and in-game data overlays, these users demand a level of depth and immediacy that static, traditional sportsbook interfaces simply cannot match.

The core issue, notes Marek Suchar, Group Head of Strategic Transition and Growth at Oddin.gg, is not a lack of demand. Instead, the problem lies in what bettors experience once they are already inside the sportsbook. Suchar identifies three major friction points causing operators to lose valuable user engagement—and outlines exactly how to fix them.

1. When the Stream Falls Short

The first major breakdown happens during live play. Esports matches are incredibly fast-paced, complex, and highly contextual. Standard sportsbook interfaces rarely provide enough depth for bettors to follow the action confidently. As a result, users frequently leave the platform to find more information on external streams or sites, breaking the flow of their betting session.

The Solution: Operators must bring clarity and context directly into the betting environment. By integrating solutions like Oddin.gg’s Esports Widgets and BetPeek, sportsbooks can embed real-time statistics, player histories, and direct player point-of-view (POV) streams. When bettors understand what they are watching without needing to open a new tab, they bet more often and with greater confidence.

2. The Limits of the Traditional Bet Slip

The second friction point lies in the bet slip itself. Experienced esports bettors usually have a nuanced view of how a game will unfold. Unfortunately, traditional bet slips—designed for real-world sports like football or tennis—are poorly equipped to handle the unique logic and structure of esports.

The Solution: Bettors are forced to compromise or walk away when they can’t place the complex, multi-layered bets they want. Addressing this requires tools built specifically for esports. Products like Oddin.gg’s BetBuilder allow users to combine multiple selections within a single match, reflecting how games actually play out. Making the bet slip a facilitator rather than a constraint directly increases bet frequency.

3. The Hidden Cost of Downtime

Perhaps the most underestimated issue is what happens between matches. Esports titles operate on structured calendars with natural gaps between tournaments and regional prime times. When a match concludes, bettors often find themselves with nothing to do, leading them to log off and end the session.

The Solution: To maintain momentum, operators need to offer continuous, fast-cycle content. Products like eSimulators (which offer always-available formats of games like CS2 and Dota 2) and Penalty Arena (rapid, repeatable football scenarios) fill these quiet windows. Keeping bettors engaged during downtime ensures they are still on the platform when the next major match begins.

From Presence to Performance

Offering esports markets is no longer enough to guarantee revenue. Today’s operators must ensure that the user experience holds together seamlessly across an entire session.

By addressing the gaps in live-stream context, bet slip flexibility, and match downtime, sportsbooks can finally transform esports from a supplementary offering into a consistently high-performing vertical.