League of Legends has been around for years. But not until the pandemic-inflicted year of 2020 did U.S. sports bettors start paying attention. See below for all the info you require to provide League of Legends betting odds on the top leagues, teams, and players.
One of the fastest-growing industries globally, esports has become so popular that universities like UC-Irvine are offering esports management degrees. In 2021, at least two esports-based organizations released initial public offerings (IPOs) due to the rising demand for esports tournaments and products.
From a bookie point-of-view, esports has a long way to go before challenging football, basketball, or baseball. But esports revenues climbed 10.6% from 2019 to 2020.
Soon, American bookies must offer esports betting options. Agents, sportsbook operators that use bookie software, should get to know the top esports.
Alongside gambling on CSGO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive), without a doubt, one of the most popular for betting is League of Legends. League of Legends, or LoL, has become one of the most popular esports worldwide.
99.6 million people watched the first League of Legends World Championships in 2018. The Summoner’s Cup, the trophy awarded to the LoL World Champion title-holder, has become one of the most prestigious awards in esports.
The 2020 League of Legends World Championships prize pool was $2.34 million. Damwon Gaming, now called DWG Kia, pocketed $562,000 with their title win.
The numbers don’t approach the Super Bowl. But League of Legends tournaments happen throughout the year. Teams like DWG, Suning, and FunPlus make money on individual matches and their national or regional leagues.
Bet on sports players also wager on LOL matches throughout the year. Keep reading to discover everything you must know to offer and promote League of Legends betting odds, and for more general pro bookie tips, check out our separate guide.
What is League of Legends?
In 2009, inspired by the Defense of the Ancients custom map in Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft III, Riot Games based in West Los Angeles, CA, created League of Legends. LoL is a multiplayer online battle arena video game.
The game is on both Microsoft Windows and macOS operating systems. In the game, two teams of five players battle in head-to-head combat.
Each team occupies and defends their half of the map. League of Legend’s primary mode is called Summoner’s Rift.
Each team’s goal is to get through to their enemy’s base and overtake the Nexus, a large structure in each enemy’s camp. Once one team captures the Nexus, the game ends.
How does League of Legends esports work?
LoL esports is just like playing League of Legends at home. The gameplay doesn’t change. What does change are the format and the level of play.
Players for DWG Kia, Top Esports, G2, DRX, and others are the best at what they do. There is also more strategy involved, and teams often battle for three games.
The team that wins two of three games takes the match.
South Korea and LPL China are the two most significant leagues
See below for a list of 2021’s top League of Legends teams.
Top 15 Ranked League of Legends Teams
- DWG Kia – South Korea
- Top Esports – China
- G2 Esports – Europe
- DRX – South Korea
- Gen.G – South Korea
- J.D. Gaming – China
- FunPlus Phoenix – China
- AGO Rogue – Poland
- mousesports – Germany
- Suning Gaming – China
- Royal Never Give Up – China
- EDward Gaming – China
- Cloud9 – United States
- Rare Atom – China
- T1 – South Korea
Last year, DWG Kia, when they were called Damwon Gaming, beat Suning for the LoL world title. As pay per head agents can tell, South Korea and China produce the best LoL teams.
The South Korea League is also called the LEC. The China League is also called the LPL. Keep those acronyms in mind when you discuss League of Legends with your players.
League of Legends players becoming esports stars
Players like Heo “ShowMaker” Su for DWG Kia and South Korean Nam “Ben” Dong-Hyun for Top Esports have yet to approach Tom Brady status. Give the two top-ranked LoL players on the planet a few more years, and who knows?
How should PPH sportsbook agents handle League of Legends betting odds?
All esports odds, including League of Legends betting, are moneyline options. Players bet on esports teams to win straight up.
Because all esports matches are moneyline bets, agents shouldn’t allow players to add esports options to their parlays. Like all sports, esports betting experts, and specific esports League of Legends betting experts, exist.
DWG Kia is so good at what they do, expert LoL bettors will add them to parlays, even if it’s a parlay that includes different sports, to boost payouts.
Use PayPerHead bookie software and offer LoL betting odds
Now that you know about LoL, you should consider importing your players to PayPerHead so you can start offering League of Legends betting odds. LoL’s popularity should only increase.
As it becomes more popular, so will the demand for betting options on League of Legends matches. Make sure your sportsbook is ready to accept esports betting options.
By signing up with PayPerHead, you can use the Agent Payment Solution (APS) for free. The APS allows you and players to deposit into accounts via cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
You can also fund your account with credit or debit cards. We always have a trial happening, run multiple promotions, and offer the industry’s best referral program. Sign up today and see how much more money you can make with PayPerHead software.
