League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational 2025: Comprehensive Betting Preview

Among the premier esports betting events in 2025, the upcoming League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational stands out as a significant opportunity for wagering enthusiasts seeking to capitalize on high-level competitive play.

Key Takeaways:

• League of Legends MSI 2025 scheduled for June 27-July 12 in Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum
• $2 million prize pool and qualification implications for World Championship
• Top teams from five global regions will compete in play-in and bracket stages
• Gen.G leads betting odds at +180, with T1 at +220 and Top Esports at +450
• First Blood and First Turret markets seeing heightened volatility due to draft impacts
• Global esports betting revenue reached $2.61B in 2024, projected to hit $4.48B by 2031
• Seventeen U.S. states now permit regulated esports betting

The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) is poised to become one of this year’s most significant esports betting events as it prepares to take over Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum this summer. With a substantial $2 million prize pool and crucial implications for November’s World Championship qualifications, the tournament has captured the attention of betting operators and enthusiasts who recognize esports’ growing legitimacy as a wagering category.

Tournament Structure and Format

MSI 2025 represents a pivotal midpoint in the League of Legends competitive calendar, bringing together elite talent from all major regional leagues. The tournament structure has been carefully designed to balance competitive integrity with viewer engagement:

• Participating Teams: The event will showcase the top two squads from five major regions—LCK (Korea), LPL (China), LEC (Europe), LCP (Asia-Pacific), and LTA (Americas)—creating a truly global competition with diverse playstyles and strategies.
• Play-In Stage (June 27–30): Four teams will battle through a GSL-style bracket over the first four days of competition. The format features two initial matches, followed by a winners’ match and an elimination match, culminating in a final qualification match. Only the top two teams will advance to the main bracket.
• Bracket Stage (July 3–12): The tournament’s main phase will feature eight teams in a double-elimination bracket. All matches will be contested as best-of-five series, providing ample opportunities for teams to showcase adaptability and strategic depth.

A distinctive feature of MSI 2025 will be implementing the Fearless Draft format, which prohibits teams from selecting the same champions multiple times within a series. This format, first introduced in regional playoffs last year, has been praised for encouraging champion diversity and strategic innovation.

“The Fearless Draft format fundamentally changes team preparation and in-series adaptations,” explained Riot Games’ esports director Philip Halloway. “When teams can’t rely on the same comfort picks across multiple games, we see more diverse gameplay and strategic depth, which translates to more engaging viewing experiences and interesting betting markets.”

Betting Landscape and Favorites

As the tournament approaches, oddsmakers have established clear hierarchies among the participating teams, though the volatile nature of esports means upsets remain a distinct possibility.

Gen.G, representing Korea’s LCK region, enters as the betting favorite with odds of +180 following their dominant Spring Split performance where they compiled an impressive 17-1 record. The team’s cohesive teamfighting and innovative macro play have set them apart from competitors, and their victory at MSI 2024 demonstrates their ability to perform in international settings.

“Gen.G’s current form looks nearly untouchable,” noted Alex Chen, lead esports analyst at Betway. “Their mid-jungle synergy between Chovy and Peanut creates constant pressure that few teams have been able to withstand, and their disciplined approach to objective control gives them significant advantages in standardized game states.”

Defending World Champion T1 follows closely in the odds at +220, despite finishing second to Gen.G in the LCK Spring Split. The legendary organization, led by iconic mid laner Faker, remains a perennial threat in international competition thanks to their exemplary teamfighting and adaptability.

Among the dark horse contenders, China’s Top Esports has attracted significant betting interest at +450. The LPL representative has developed a reputation for aggressive mid-game macro play that can snowball advantages quickly, making them particularly dangerous in best-of-five series where momentum plays a crucial role.

“Top Esports exemplifies the LPL’s characteristic aggression,” explained Maria Wong, esports betting consultant. “Their willingness to force fights around neutral objectives creates high-variance games that can be particularly appealing to bettors looking for underdog value. If the meta favors early game tempo, they could certainly outperform their odds.”

Popular Betting Markets and Trends

The esports betting ecosystem has matured significantly in recent years, with operators offering increasingly sophisticated markets that cater to the unique aspects of competitive League of Legends.

According to data from Abios Gaming, match-winner markets remain the foundation of esports betting, accounting for approximately 73% of all wagers placed. Due to their simplicity and accessibility, these straightforward bets continue to attract both casual fans and serious bettors.

However, more specialized markets have gained traction among experienced bettors seeking additional edges. First Blood (which team secures the first kill) and First Turret (which team destroys the first tower) markets have become particularly popular, with odds fluctuating dramatically based on team compositions and draft strategies.

“Draft-sensitive markets like First Blood offer fascinating opportunities for knowledgeable bettors,” said Thomas Lee, head of trading at an international esports bookmaker. “When teams select early-game champions with strong level one potential or employ specific jungler pathing strategies, these seemingly volatile outcomes become more predictable. The challenge for oddsmakers is adjusting quickly to draft information in real-time.”

Prop bets focusing on in-game objectives have also carved out a significant niche, collectively attracting approximately 15% of the total handle. Markets such as Total Dragons Slain, Baron Nashor Timing, and Player Kill Totals allow bettors to capitalize on their understanding of team tendencies and matchup dynamics without necessarily predicting the overall winner.

Live betting has experienced particularly strong growth, accounting for over 60% of esports wagering volume during major tournaments. League of Legends’ dynamic nature, with its distinct phases and objective-based gameplay, creates natural inflection points where odds shift substantially, providing opportunities for informed in-play bettors.

Broader Esports Betting Industry Trends

The MSI tournament reflects broader trends in the rapidly evolving esports betting landscape, which continues to establish itself as a legitimate and growing sector within the wider gambling industry.

Global esports betting revenue reached $2.61 billion in 2024 according to Cognitive Market Research, representing a 17.3% year-over-year increase. Industry projections suggest this figure will climb to $4.48 billion by 2031, representing an 8% compound annual growth rate as regulatory frameworks mature and mainstream adoption increases.

The regulatory environment has also evolved significantly, with seventeen U.S. states now permitting regulated esports betting, including Michigan and Nevada. Mobile wagering has proven particularly dominant in these markets, accounting for approximately 70% of the total handle as tech-savvy esports fans embrace the convenience of smartphone betting applications.

“The demographics of esports bettors skew younger and more technologically engaged than traditional sports bettors,” explained Dr. Rachel Kim, gambling industry researcher at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “This population naturally gravitates toward mobile solutions, creating strong synergies between esports content consumption and betting behaviors on the same devices.”

International regulatory disparities remain a challenge for the industry, with approaches varying significantly across jurisdictions. While countries like the United Kingdom and Australia have embraced esports betting within their existing gambling frameworks, others maintain restrictions that limit market growth potential.

“Regulatory harmonization represents the next frontier for esports betting,” noted regulatory compliance expert David Martinez. “As more jurisdictions recognize the legitimacy of esports competitions and implement appropriate safeguards, we can expect accelerated growth and increased investment from established gambling operators.”

Looking Ahead

As the tournament approaches, both casual fans and serious bettors are anticipating an engaging competition with significant implications for the League of Legends competitive landscape. Tickets for MSI 2025 will go on sale March 27, with demand expected to be robust for the Vancouver event.

Beyond the immediate betting opportunities, the tournament’s outcome carries significant competitive implications. The MSI champion will secure a direct qualification slot at the World Championship later in 2025, providing additional motivation for participating teams and creating narrative storylines that may influence betting markets.

For those interested in wagering on the event, licensed platforms such as Betway, GG.bet, and Sportsbet.io are expected to offer comprehensive markets with competitive odds and promotional offerings targeted specifically at MSI bettors.

As esports continues transitioning from niche interest to mainstream entertainment, tournaments like MSI 2025 represent significant milestones in developing the betting ecosystem surrounding competitive gaming. With improved production quality, growing viewership, and increasing data availability, esports betting is positioned for continued growth and sophistication in the years ahead.

Sources

• Esports Insider: Everything We Know About MSI 2025
• Esports Insider: LoL Esports MSI Worlds Formats
• Gamer.org: League of Legends MSI 2025 Dates, Venue, Ticket Sale and More
• GosuGamers: League of Legends MSI to be Hosted in Vancouver
• OneEsports: All LoL MSI Winners
• Reddit: GenG vs T1 Head to Head
• Sportsbet.io: League of Legends Betting Options
• Esports.net: Best League of Legends Betting Sites
• Tips.gg: LoL MSI Betting Guide
• Cognitive Market Research: Esports Betting Market Report
• Abios Gaming: League of Legends Betting Data
• SportsBetting.Legal: Esports Betting Regulations
• Esports Legal News: The Legality of Esports Betting
• Esports Insider: A Brief Guide to the LCP 2025 Mid-Season
• AltChar: Riot Confirms Fearless Draft Returning for MSI and Worlds 2025