Bitcoin Sports Betting
The urgency of an in-play bet. The joy of a predicted goal. The incomparable rush of a victory against the odds.
Placing a sports bet is one of the best ways to amp up the thrill of a sporting event.
Even more so when you're betting with Bitcoin.
BITCOIN SPORTS BETTING
Faster, more exciting, and even more rewarding, Bitcoin sports betting is, perhaps, the ultimate betting experience.
And the cherry on top of the cake? It can be as safe and as private as it gets.
Still not convinced?
In this guide, we will:
- Take you through the world's best Bitcoin sports betting sites and Dapps.
- Help you choose the right sportsbook.
- Go through the pros and cons of betting with cryptocurrencies.
- Give you tips on how to get started.
Where To Place Sports Bets With Bitcoin And Other Cryptos?
Although still not as widespread as their fiat-currency counterparts, sports betting sites accepting Bitcoin and other coins are relatively easy to find.
However, not all Bitcoin sports betting sites are the same.
Many casinos offer a sportsbook section alongside their core product, while others (like Thunderpick for example) specialize in sports.
What's more, the betting options themselves can vary:
- Pre-Match
- In-Play
- eSports
- Virtual Sports
Let's have a look at each of these options and the casinos and sportsbook websites where you can play them with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Pre-Match Betting At Crypto Casinos
Alongside in-play (or live) betting, pre-match betting is the original form of sports betting, dating back thousands of years to Ancient Greece's Olympic Games.
The difference between pre-match bets and in-play bets is simple: while the former are placed right until the start of the event, the latter can only be placed after the event has started.
Traditional sports betting is so widespread, it takes place almost anywhere:
- In casual bets made between friends at sports bars.
- Online at big and small websites alike.
- At Vegas casinos.
- At traditional betting shops.
- Through state-sponsored betting monopolies.
Therefore, it's not surprising it has reached the blockchain casino world.
We've selected the following three as the top sports betting casinos where you can play with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Our picks are very different from each other, but they all offer:
- Great customer support.
- A wide range of international sports events where you can place pre-match bets.
- Several different payment options, including the world's most popular cryptocurrencies.
What's more, they are all legitimate websites with a pristine reputation for sports betting.
But let's have a better look at our top pick: BC.Game
BC.Game Sportsbook
BC.Game is our number one casino overall - and now they added a sports betting product, too!
Their newly added sportsbook is quickly becoming a favorite among bettors and we had to take notice.
BC.Game has a stellar selection of 39+ sporting events. They have your favorite live sports like soccer and American football, as well as a wide range of eSports and virtual sports, too. The dedicated sports betting player chat is a great feature, as is the ability to bet on special events like US and UK politics.
Plus, BC.Game isn't slacking on the juicy sports bonuses, either. The Network Sportsbook Marathon is an excellent opportunity to win big, with a prize pool of €100,000 and no wagering requirement for the prizes.
As a reminder, BC.Game is also a leading crypto casino that offers slots, live games, and provably fair games. So, if you're a casino-goer looking to try out sports betting, we couldn't recommend this site more:
Stake Sports Betting
Stake is a highly reputable and well-rounded online gambling website that was developed with cryptocurrencies in mind.
Its casino product is arguably one of the best in the industry, with provably fair games and a distinct emphasis on fairness and transparency (you can read more about it in our review of Stake).
However, it's Stake's social component that established it as our top pick for pre-match and in-play betting. At Stake, you can:
- Chat with other punters.
- Ask for and give tips.
- Discuss the latest news and developments on your favorite events.
- Boast about your wins, sharing your bets with the community.
You can even live-stream the events and take advantage of helpful stats on all the top matches.
Moreover, Stake caters to a broad audience, with a large offering of European and American sports alike. Here's a selection of what you can find:
- Association Football / Soccer
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Ice Hockey
- American Football
- Baseball
Bitcoin In-Play Sports Betting
In-play sports betting - or live sports betting - takes place only after the event has started.
It's, perhaps, the most action-packed and immersive gambling experience you can have at a blockchain casino: with an in-play bet, you're getting right in on the action, sharing the ups and downs of the team you're backing as if you were on the field yourself.
RESEARCH IS KEY
With the right knowledge, placing in-play bets can lend you a neat profit - and be a rewarding way to spend your Bitcoin!
Although nearly all Bitcoin sports betting sites have an in-play section, not all offer the same experience.
We've selected the following three as the world's best for in-play betting with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
For most of the same reasons we've explained above, Stake Casino is our top pick for in-play betting, as well as pre-match betting.
However, Cloudbet and FortuneJack both come close.
FortuneJack is the ideal website for those looking for the best of both worlds: casino and sports.
We're not shy in our praise of FortuneJack's top-notch casino, but we're here to talk about in-play betting:
- With several sports on offer, you're always going to find something to bet on.
- You can keep on track of the upcoming events with FortuneJack's handy schedule.
- Using the game-preview mode, you can keep on top of the action and strategize your bets accordingly.
eSports Betting Sites Accepting Bitcoin
Almost exclusively male, spread across the globe, young, and tech-savvy, the eSports audience matches the demographics of cryptocurrency users.
It sounds like a match made in heaven, doesn't it?
However, both markets are a bit niche, which means that finding the very best websites that cater to both is going to be tricky.
Luckily, we've done the dirty work for you.
The following are our top picks for Bitcoin eSports gambling sites:
Our picks go above and beyond to provide the very best betting markets for the leading eSports.
You can expect to find map winner, first blood, number of kills, and other bets on competitions such as:
- CS:GO
- Dota 2
- LoL
- Rocket League
- Call of Duty
- Fifa
- Fortnite
What's more, our selected websites are trustworthy and offer dedicated customer support and fast withdrawals.
However, one of our selections clearly stands out from the rest for its commitment to eSports gambling: Thunderpick.
Here, eSports aren't just another betting market, lost in a sea of more traditional competitions. On the contrary: games such as League of Legends, CS:GO, and Dota 2 reign supreme.
With a large variety of dedicated markets, like first blood and first kill, you won't miss out on anything.
And the best part? Thunderpick has a dizzying selection of games - your favorite eSport is almost guaranteed to be on there.
Virtual Sports Betting With Cryptocurrencies
Although virtual sports have been around for a while, it was the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that really put them on the map.
Since these fixed-odds events don't have audiences, players, nor do they require a venue and complicated logistics to take place, they are ideal events for lockdown times.
But how do they work? The answer is simple: with a random number generator, just like slot machines.
As such, they're perfect for cryptocurrency betting:
- There are no third-party influences, no match-fixing, nor corrupted results.
- It's beginner-friendly since there's a short learning curve and you don't have to follow sports events to take part.
- Events take place round-the-clock and they are not seasonal nor geographically restricted.
Unfortunately, only a select few blockchain casinos offer virtual sports. These are the very best:
Sports Betting Dapps
Although cryptocurrency betting websites can offer a higher degree of anonymity and quicker and cheaper transactions than their fiat counterparts, they still fail to provide a fully transparent and private betting environment.
If you want real anonymity and no middle man, you have to look for gambling Dapps.
ANONYMITY GUARANTEED
Decentralized applications forego deposits and withdrawals. Instead, you can bet directly from your wallet, which means that you get your earnings nearly instantly and virtually hassle-free.
Unfortunately, sports betting Dapps are not as widespread as we would hope.
Unlike decentralized casinos, truly reliable Dapps where you can place sports bets are hard to find, especially ones offering a good betting experience.
However, there are two that stand out: SportX and SportBet.
SportX is an Ethereum-based sports betting Dapp offering DAI payments.
Since it was built on a publicly-available smart contract, the app can guarantee full transparency and enhanced security while providing instant and hassle-free transactions.
As an added layer of security, SportX also holds a gambling license from Curaçao.
Unfortunately, the license does mean that players from countries such as the United States are excluded from gambling here.
At the time of writing, SportX offered bets on the following events:
- American football
- Association football (soccer)
- Current affairs
- Major elections
- Cryptocurrency prices
SportsBet is an EOS-based Dapp that doesn't require any form of identity verification since all payments are made directly to and from your e-wallet.
Although it doesn't hold a gambling license, it offers a wider range of betting options than SportX:
- Association Football (Soccer)
- Tennis
- Basketball
- American Football
- Baseball
- eSports
- And More!
Market variety is certainly appreciated, but the lack of a gambling license is somewhat concerning. Although we've encountered no issues when testing the platform, we advise caution if you do decide to try it out.
Choosing the Right Sportsbook
You now know all about the top-field Bitcoin sports betting websites where you can find great odds, but you may still be feeling a bit lost.
After all, choosing the right Bitcoin sportsbook is the most crucial step in becoming a punter.
You can always read our reviews for each of the suggested sites if you want to learn more about them. But we'll do you one better.
We're going to teach you how to select the right sportsbook for you. Simply follow these steps:
- Look for the right type of bets
- Learn about the website's reputation
- Test the waters
Look For The Right Type Of Bets
No, we're not talking about the best odds, nor the ones that are sure to give you a win.
We're talking about the bets that fit your playstyle.
Are you in it to win it, or are you trying to amp up the fun by backing your favorite team?
- If you're just looking to make a profit, then you want casinos with the best odds and the largest number of choices possible.
- If you want to bet on a specific event or team, then you should guarantee those are available before you sign in.
- If you're interested in something more niche, such as eSports or virtuals, you should go for a casino that specializes in them.
Learn About The Website's Reputation
Every sportsbook is different, and some are more trustworthy than others.
When it comes to player safety, our number one tip is always the same: look for licensed websites (more on that below).
However, we also hold the community's opinion in high regard. If the general consensus is that the website is a bit shady, then it's probably better that you stay away from it.
You can look for information in the following places:
- Real user reviews.
- Relevant forums (such as Bitcointalk).
- Expert reviews (such as ours).
See For Yourself
Several blockchain casinos let you play their slot machines for free and can even give you a no deposit bonus to try out their games in real mode.
You don't have such luck with bookmakers, but if your chosen website also has a casino section with a no deposit bonus, you can always give it a try. This way, you can at least get a good feel of the place before depositing your coin of choice.
If that's not an option, either because it's not available or you're not willing to play casino, you can always reach out to customer support and ask a few questions.
This way, you will know if they value their customers and if the support staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
TOP TIP
Reaching out to the customer support teams can prove quite rewarding. Not only will they let you know about any bonuses that you might have missed out on, but they can even offer you exclusive rewards you wouldn't know about otherwise!
Betting With Cryptocurrencies - How And Why?
If you've read this far, we've got good news: you've already taken the first step into your Bitcoin sports betting journey.
Yes, by now, you should know where to find a sportsbook where you can bet with cryptocurrencies.
However, you might still be on the fence. Maybe you're not sure if Bitcoin or other altcoins are your best bet (terrible pun intended).
Why Should You Do It?
The most significant advantage of betting with cryptocurrencies is a very modern one - cyberprivacy.
Since there is no middle man, no bank or financial institution between you and your money, you don't have to share your personal details.
For the very same reason, the transaction costs are always lower, and the processing times are much speedier.
MORE PRIVACY, LESS OF A HASSLE
Sports betting websites accepting cryptocurrencies also tend to be less demanding when it comes to their 'KYC' checks, which require you to share personal information before you can withdraw.
Since the transaction fees are smaller on their end as well, they can often offer a lower house margin, which allows them to provide better odds.
From another angle, cryptocurrency bonuses themselves tend to offer better value for money.
For instance, websites with a 1BTC bonus often have fiat equivalents where they just add three zeros to that number 1. And, of course, 1BTC is worth much more than €1,000 or $1,000.
To sum up, the advantages of cryptocurrency sports betting are:
- More privacy
- Lower transaction fees
- Faster transactions
- More value for money on odds and bonuses
Why Shouldn't You?
Betting (in fact, doing anything) with cryptocurrencies certainly carries a risk.
Although Bitcoin bonuses are definitely more enticing than fiat bonuses, they do have one big drawback: their value fluctuates.
This volatility is valid for your earnings as well. A bet you place today can be worth much more or much less overnight.
Basically, Bitcoin betting can be thrilling and very rewarding, but it certainly isn't for the faint-hearted.
And since Bitcoin sports betting isn't for everyone, there are fewer websites supporting crypto payments. However, PayPal's new crypto wallet will surely give you more options.
Furthermore, not all countries accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as legal tender. This creates loopholes, where cryptocurrency betting is not considered gambling because it doesn't use 'real' money. In short, crypto casinos may not be strictly legal nor illegal, depending on where you live.
THE DRAWBACKS OF UNREGULATED MARKETS
As a consequence of these legal loopholes, there is a lot less regulation when it comes to Bitcoin betting, which unfortunately means fewer player protections are in place as well.
To sum up, the main drawbacks of Bitcoin sports betting are:
- Currency fluctuations
- Fewer websites
- Laxer regulation
None of these disadvantages is a deal-breaker for everybody. Some people love crypto gambling not despite but exactly because of the added thrill of the currency fluctuations.
As for the laxer regulation, that's exactly what some players are looking for. This is fine… as long as they bet on trusted websites (more on that below).
Available Cryptocurrencies
From the mighty Bitcoin to the much-humble-such-fun Dogecoin, crypto sports betting sites are popping up like mushrooms.
These days, you shouldn't have any issues finding a website where you can bet with the most common cryptos.
On some websites, you can even place sports bets with coins that are a bit more niche, such as EOS and DAI, which are also the two most widely available cryptos at sports betting Dapps.
Is It Safe To Bet With Cryptocurrencies?
Betting with cryptocurrencies can be as safe as betting with fiat money.
In fact, as we've addressed above, it's surely more transparent and private since there is no institutional middle man between you and your money.
If protecting your privacy while gambling online and issues such as data security are important to you, then Bitcoin sports betting can be a great choice.
In any case, if you're worried about safety, simply make sure you follow these simple tips:
- Pick websites with a valid gambling license.
- Double-check all transactions since there's no way back.
- Choose a sportsbook with a pristine reputation.
- Play responsibly and within your limits.
IS BITCOIN SPORTS BETTING LEGAL?
It depends on your local legislation. As a rule of thumb, online gambling with cryptocurrencies is legal in your country as long as online gambling itself is legal.
Tips For Beginners
Have you never placed a sports bet? These tips might come in handy:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Bet on sports you know about and understand.
- Don't get overwhelmed with the endless amount of betting markets available until you're comfortable with them. At first, ignore handicaps, each-ways, combi bets, and the like and stick to simple win-draw-win / winner markets.
- Start small - place bets with a value you're comfortable with, and choose events with likelier outcomes and lower odds.
- Stay on top of the news and read betting tips to gather information, but learn to trust your gut.
- Check odd comparison websites and find the best odds.
Seasoned pros might look at these tips and think: well, I already know all about that! I just want to know what I can do to start betting with cryptocurrencies.
If you're one of them, don't worry - we've got you covered.
The following tips can be helpful to seasoned sports betting pros that are new to the world of blockchain technology:
- Never play at unlicensed bookmakers or Dapps.
- Don't see online gambling as a sure way to win Bitcoin. Bet responsibly and for fun.
- Double-check your cryptocurrency transactions before you process them since there are no chargebacks!
- Bet with common currencies before venturing into altcoins.