VALORANT’s competition is already concluded on the Esports World Cup. Held from July 9, the tournament brought together Riot Games’ passionate FPS fanbase and casino-style bettors from across the globe. Over the course of the event, 16 elite teams battled fiercely, but in the end, it was Team Heretics who claimed the spotlight, securing the championship title and a US$500,000 prize, along with valuable Esports World Cup (EWC) club points. As expected, the event kept betting platforms buzzing with competitive odds and exclusive promotions for every round.
A booming market for esports betting
The growth of esports betting remains undeniable — and this upward trend is rapidly gaining traction in emerging markets like Brazil. According to esports.gg, the global esports betting segment is projected to reach nearly US$3 billion by the end of 2025. Supporting this momentum, data from KTO casino revealed that e-sports ranked as the 7th most bet-on sport in 2024.
Reflecting this surge, many betting platforms have expanded their offerings for VALORANT, featuring a wide range of markets tailored to both casual fans and seasoned bettors.
Additional insights from Statista highlight this sector’s global potential:
Projected revenue in the Esports Betting market is set to reach US$2.8 billion in 2025.
A CAGR of 5.47% is expected between 2025 and 2029, resulting in a market volume of US$3.5 billion by 2029.
The United States is expected to generate the highest revenue, with US$857.6 million in 2025.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) is projected to be US$34.90.
As more countries implement regulatory frameworks, global consumer trust in esports betting continues to grow — boosting both participation and engagement.
Unlike traditional sports betting, VALORANT enables online casinos to provide a variety of dynamic wagering options that go beyond predicting match winners. Some of the most popular betting types include:
- Match Winner: Bet on the winner of a specific match.
- Map Winner: Predict which team will take a particular map.
- Correct Score: Wager on the exact series score (e.g., 2-0 or 2-1).
- Total Maps (Over/Under): Bet on the number of maps played in a series.
- First Blood / Pistol Round Winner: Guess who will secure the first kill or win the pistol round.
- Outright Winner: Predict the overall champion — in this case, Team Heretics.
- Live Betting: Real-time wagers with fluctuating odds based on the action as it unfolds.
These options allow bettors to take a more strategic and analytical approach, especially those familiar with the nuances of the competitive VALORANT scene.
Although the competition has ended, bettors looking forward to future events can still benefit from examining what shaped the outcomes. Key areas to consider when placing smart wagers at a casino include:
- Head-to-head history between teams
- Roster changes that may impact synergy and performance
- Map-specific strengths, which influence outcomes in Map Winner and Total Maps markets
These insights proved crucial during the Esports World Cup and will remain valuable for upcoming tournaments. For the ones that enjoyed the matches, VODs are still available on the Esports World Cup official website.