Bethard Esports Review 2026
Bethard is a Malta-licensed sportsbook and casino that’s been around since 2012, with the consumer brand launching about 2014. Co-founded by Swedish entrepreneur Erik Skarp, it’s a properly regulated EU-grade operator rather than an offshore book — a genuine plus for trust. The honest caveats: its esports offering is modest (the sportsbook plays second fiddle to the casino), it doesn’t take crypto, and it’s heavily geo-restricted — including in Ukraine. This review covers what Bethard does well, where it’s thin, and who it actually suits.
| Launched | 2012 (brand ~2014) |
| Operator | Bethard Group Limited (Malta, reg. C69565) |
| Licence | Malta Gaming Authority (MGA/B2C/908/2021) |
| Type | EU-regulated sportsbook + casino (esports secondary) |
| Crypto | No |
| Best for | Bettors wanting an MGA-licensed, properly regulated book |
| Not available | Ukraine, Russia and 150+ other countries |
Short verdict: Bethard is a clean, properly regulated operator — a real Malta MGA licence puts it well above offshore books on oversight, and it has no non-payment or scam history. The trade-offs are honest: esports coverage is modest because the sportsbook is secondary to the casino, there’s no crypto, and the geo-restrictions are heavy — if you’re in Ukraine (or many other markets), you can’t use it.
Esports coverage
Bethard offers esports, but it’s a modest line-up rather than a specialist menu — the sportsbook is secondary to the casino, and that shows in the depth:
- Titles: CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, Overwatch, Rainbow Six and King of Glory, plus their associated leagues.
- Depth: coverage centres on the bigger circuits for those titles; it isn’t built out to the breadth of a dedicated esports book.
- Live / in-play: available on the main events, though don’t expect the depth of a specialist operator.
If esports is your sole focus and you want the widest possible title list and deepest in-play menu, Bethard isn’t trying to be that book. For occasional bets on the major titles alongside a broader sportsbook and casino, it covers the basics.
Odds & markets
Bethard’s sportsbook runs on a platform provided by Betsson (a technology relationship — Betsson is not the owner), which is an established, mainstream betting platform. Expect standard sportsbook markets — match winner, handicaps, totals, outrights and in-play on the bigger esports events. Because esports is a secondary market here rather than the headline product, the market depth on a given match is more limited than at an esports-first book. We don’t have verified margin figures for Bethard, so we won’t claim it’s sharp or soft on price — treat odds as the thing to check on the day against another book before you stake.
Bonuses & promotions
Promotions at Bethard shift over time and vary by region, and we don’t have a verified current esports-specific offer to quote. As always, read the live terms before opting in — pay attention to the wagering requirement, minimum odds and any market or time limits, and check whether esports bets even count toward a sportsbook bonus. Don’t take a promo at face value from a third-party page; confirm it in the cashier for your country.
Payments
Bethard does not support crypto. The cashier is fiat-only, with a solid spread of mainstream methods:
- Cards: standard debit/credit card deposits and withdrawals.
- E-wallets: Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter and ecoPayz.
- Bank / instant bank: Trustly.
- Prepaid: Paysafecard.
That’s a conventional, well-supported set of options for an EU-regulated book. If you specifically want to bet with Bitcoin or other coins, Bethard isn’t the right fit — there’s no crypto here at all.
Trust & safety
This is where Bethard scores well. It holds a Malta Gaming Authority licence (MGA/B2C/908/2021) — proper EU-grade regulation, a genuine plus over offshore-licensed books, with the consumer protections and oversight that come with it. The operator, Bethard Group Limited (Malta, reg. C69565), has held historical Swedish, Irish and Spanish licences too. There’s a clean track record: no non-payment or scam history, and independent site Scams.info rates it trustworthy. Ownership has changed hands — it was the B2C arm of Gameday Group, was acquired by Esports Entertainment Group in 2021, then divested in February 2023 (the current owner is undisclosed) — but its Swedish/Maltese origins mean there are no Russian ownership or links.
The one honest blot on the record is a regulatory matter, not financial misconduct: in 2019 Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, penalised Bethard for accepting bets on matches where the majority of players were under 18. On appeal the penalty was reduced to a warning plus a SEK 400,000 fine. It’s a real issue and worth knowing about — but it’s a conduct/compliance matter around underage-player markets, not a sign of unpaid winnings or a scam.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Properly regulated under a Malta MGA licence (EU-grade oversight)
- Clean reputation — no non-payment or scam history; rated trustworthy
- No Russian ownership or links (Swedish/Maltese origins)
- Solid spread of mainstream fiat payment methods
Cons
- Modest esports coverage — sportsbook is secondary to the casino
- No crypto support at all
- Heavily geo-restricted (150+ countries blocked, including Ukraine)
- A 2019 Swedish penalty for accepting bets on under-18-player matches
Who it’s for
Bethard suits a bettor who wants a properly regulated, EU-licensed book with a clean payout record and conventional fiat payments, and who only needs occasional esports betting alongside a broader sportsbook and casino. It’s a poor fit if you want deep, specialist esports coverage, if you bet with crypto, or if you’re in one of the many restricted countries — Ukraine included — where Bethard simply isn’t available.
FAQ
Is Bethard legit?
Yes — Bethard holds a Malta Gaming Authority licence (MGA/B2C/908/2021), which is proper EU-grade regulation, and has a clean record with no non-payment or scam history. Its one regulatory blot is a 2019 Swedish penalty (reduced on appeal to a warning plus a SEK 400,000 fine) for accepting bets on matches with mostly under-18 players — a conduct issue, not financial misconduct.
Does Bethard accept crypto?
No. Bethard is fiat-only — cards, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, MuchBetter, Trustly and ecoPayz. There’s no Bitcoin or other crypto support.
Is Bethard available in Ukraine?
No — Ukraine is blocked, and so is Russia. Bethard is heavily geo-restricted, with 150+ countries excluded. The reliable check is the registration form for your country.
Bet responsibly
Only bet what you can afford to lose, set a budget, and stop if it stops being fun. If gambling is becoming a problem, BeGambleAware offers free, confidential help. Compare options on our list of esports betting sites, or see our guides to betting on CS2 and Dota 2.