How to bet on the LOL World Championship: The Ultimate Guide

Key Points
  • The League of Legends World Championship is the biggest tournament in LoL esports, and you can bet on everything from match winners to prop markets.

  • Key strategies include studying team form, tracking meta updates, and managing your bankroll to stay disciplined.

  • Always bet through licensed and regulated sportsbooks, but also practicing responsible gambling.

In this article, we’ll focus more on how to bet on the LoL Worlds and help you to understand the types of bets, common mistakes, and give you some top tips to keep in mind for this year’s event.

The Summoner’s Cup trophy and text “League of Legends World Championship Betting”

How to bet on LOL World Championships

Betting on the Worlds works just like any other form of esports betting. The sportsbook will list matches and markets (match winner, map totals, player props, etc.), and you can place your stake on those predictions. 

Below, we’ve got a full step-by-step guide to walk you through the entire process of placing a bet on LoL Worlds.

  1. Create an account with a reputable.
    League of Legends betting site. Once you’ve created your account, you’ll need to verify it using your ID and proof of address.
  2. Deposit funds in your account.
    Choose a payment method that works best for you and offers low fees and quick processing times.
  3. Head over to the esports section of the sportsbook.
    Filter or search for the League of Legends Worlds matches. Oftentimes, they’re even put into their own category and pushed to the front of the page.
  4. Choose a match and market you want to bet on.
    Make sure to check the schedule and choose a match that piques your interest, then the market you’ll be betting on (match winner, total maps over/under, or first blood, etc).
  5. Enter your stake and confirm to place your bet.
    The odds will calculate your potential payout. If you’re happy with it, submit your bet.
  6. Follow the match.
    Most top sportsbooks will be livestreaming the matches, making it easy for you to keep up with what’s happening. If your prediction is right, the winnings will be added to your wallet, ready for withdrawal.
League of Legends team Fnatic posing on a rooftop with a city skyline at night
Image: Christina Oh – Riot Games

What is the LOL World Championship?

The League of Legends (LoL) World Championships (also commonly known as Worlds), is the biggest annual tournament in LoL esports. The best teams in the world compete for the Summoner’s Cup – the trophy given to the LoL Worlds winners. 

In 2024, T1 defended their title after beating Bilibili Gaming 3-2 in London, earning their fifth World Championship win.

It’s a hugely popular event in terms of viewership, with it reaching 6,856,769 million viewers in last year’s event. 

Types of LOL World Championships bets 

The Worlds has markets that are great for both casual and experienced bettors. We’ll cover some of the most popular types of bets that most bettors tend to go for during the LoL Worlds, and we’ll include an example for each to make it more practical.

Moneyline Betting

Moneyline bets are the simplest and most popular bet in esports betting – and naturally on LoL Worlds as well. In this bet, you’re simply predicting which team will win the match. It’s as simple as that. Odds are usually shown in American format (+/-) with favorite shown as negative and the underdog as positive.

Example: If you bet $100 on T1 at -150 to beat G2 Esports, you would win $66.67 profit if your prediction is correct. If G2 is the underdog at +130, a $100 bet would return $130 profit. 

Handicap/Spread Betting

Handicap betting (sometimes known as spread betting) gives one team an advantage or disadvantage in maps before the match starts. These bets are great to use if one team is a firm favorite against the other.

Example: T1 is a strong favorite over Team Liquid, so the line might be T1 -1.5 maps at +110. This means you need to win a best-of-five series by at least two maps (3-1 or 3-0) for your bet to win. 

Map Winner

In a best-of series, you can bet on who will win a specific map instead of the entire match. If you know that one team is particularly strong on a specific map (or particularly weak), you can place your bet accordingly.

Example: You bet on Gen.G to win Map 1 at +120 odds. If Gen.G wins the first map, your prediction is correct and the bet wins, even if they don’t win any other maps in the series.

First Blood 

First blood is a prop bet that predicts which team will get the first kill of a match. This type of bet is especially popular among LoL Worlds bettors because it’s an exciting part of the match, the first major in-game event.

Example: You bet on G2 Esports to get First Blood at +140 against T1. If G2 gets the first kill, your bet instantly wins – even if they lose the match.

Tournament Winner

Betting on the tournament winner is more of a long-term bet. You’ll be predicting which team will win the League of Legends World Championship overall. The odds are usually released a few weeks before the tournament starts, and they’ll be updated as the tournament progresses.

Example: You bet $100 on JD Gaming to win the LoL World Championship at odds of +600. If they win the tournament, your $100 bet would return $600 profit. 

5 Top Tips for LOL World Championship Betting

The standard in the LoL Worlds is tough, and betting on this tournament is not easy. With so many elite teams, unpredictable metas, and unique betting markets, having a solid strategy is key. We’ll cover some important tips for you to keep in mind below.

Do your research

Teams that can quickly adapt to the meta will have the upper hand in any tournament. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on how teams perform in the regional playoffs before the Worlds start. But remember, one patch can completely revamp the meta, so keep that in mind.

Track player matchups

In LoL Worlds, a player can swing the momentum of a game. Compare recent performance metrics (like their kill participation or KDA) to spot potential in individual lanes where one player could massively outperform their opponent.

Diversify your bets

It’s tempting to go with a market or a team that you know and love because it’s comfortable. But you’re better off mixing moneyline, map and prop bets to spread risk, and have more fun with your bets.

Manage your bankroll

Set a clear budget before the tournament and stick to flat or small-stakes betting strategies. It’s impossible to predict every upset and get every underdog bet right. Always make sure you play responsibly. Try to take advantage of esports bonuses that can give your bankroll a boost going into Worlds.

Follow reliable insiders

There are plenty of professional casters and analysts sharing matchup insights on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Their insights can be really helpful and give you a solid understanding and direction in your bets. We’d advise trying to stick with one or two options, as having too many opinions can be detrimental to your decision-making.

Avoid These Mistakes When Betting on LOL Worlds

Even the most experienced bettors can get it wrong during the biggest League of Legends tournament of the year. Metas are constantly changing, teams build and drop in form, and unpredictable outcomes can lead to emotional decision-making at the wrong time. Let’s go over some of the most common mistakes bettors make during LoL Worlds and how to fix them.

❌ Avoid this mistake✅ Solution
Emotional or fandom bettingResearch statistics, team form, and matchup data instead of blindly supporting your favorite team.
Ignoring the meta and latest updatesKeep up with the latest patches before Worlds kick off. Meta changes can shift strategies and shuffle the order of the teams.
Chasing wins after bad betsStick to your plan and avoid emotional betting. Change your strategy if it’s not working out.
Neglecting your bankrollSet a strict budget for the tournament and use a strategy to keep your losses manageable and prevent overspending.

Conclusion

The League of Legends World Championships is one of the biggest esports events of the year. And betting on it makes it even more exciting for fans all over the world. It’s easy to get carried away in such a massive, exciting tournament, so it’s vital that you stick to your budget and gamble responsibly. It’s also crucial to keep up with the meta to ensure you understand what’s happening in the game itself and how it’s impacting the strategies and gameplay during the tournament.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway here is that you need to separate emotions from logic. If you support a specific team or player in the Worlds, you need to put that aside. Looking into the stats, comparing team matchups, and analyzing the data is the smarter way to bet on teams at Worlds.

FAQs

What is the LOL World Championship?

The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) is the biggest annual LoL esports event, featuring all the top teams from around the world competing for the Summoner’s Cup and multi-million-dollar prize pools.

Can you bet on LOL Worlds?

Yes, most licensed sportsbooks offer LoL Worlds betting markets, allowing you to wager on match outcomes, map wins, total kills, and even tournament winners.

Is it legal to bet on the LOL World Championship?

In the U.S., esports betting (including LoL Worlds) is legal in certain states where sports wagering is regulated. Always check local laws and use licensed operators.

How do LOL World Championship betting odds work?

Odds show the likelihood of a team winning. Positive odds (e.g. +150) show potential profit on a $100 bet, while negative odds (e.g. -150) show how much you must wager to win $100.

Can you bet live during the LOL World Championship matches?

Yes, live or in-play betting lets you wager on matches in real-time, with odds updating in real-time based on game momentum and in-match performance.

What types of bets are available for LOL Worlds?

Popular bet types include moneyline, handicap, map winner, First Blood, and tournament winner. Some sportsbooks also offer prop and live betting options.

Where can you bet on LOL Worlds?

You can bet on Worlds through any licensed esports or sports betting platform that offers esports markets. Make sure it’s regulated and secure before placing bets.

Where to bet on the League of Legends World Championship?

Check your state’s legal betting options and choose reputable online sportsbooks that feature LoL markets. Go for the ones that offer competitive odds and fast payouts.

References

  1. LoL Esports Viewership and Statistics (Esports Charts)