League of Legends (LoL) is Riot Games' five-a-side battle arena game. Each team tries to destroy the other's base, the Nexus, while fighting over objectives such as towers, dragons and Baron Nashor. Teams from Korea's LCK and China's LPL won every World Championship from 2013 to 2025, and international prices reflect that gap.
The competitive calendar
The season runs through regional leagues and three international events. The six major leagues are the LCK (Korea), LPL (China), LEC (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), LCS (North America), CBLOL (Brazil) and LCP (Asia-Pacific). The structure changes: North and South America were merged into one league, the LTA, for 2025, and the LCS and CBLOL returned in 2026.
| Event | When | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| First Stand | March | A short international event for the top teams from the first split of the season |
| Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) | Mid-year | The best teams from each league meet halfway through the season |
| World Championship (Worlds) | Autumn | The biggest event of the year, ending in a knockout stage of best-of-five series |
Series formats and Fearless Draft
Formats range from best-of-one to best-of-five depending on the league and the stage. Since 2025, Riot has used Fearless Draft across its leagues and international events: a champion played earlier in a series can't be picked again in that series (at Worlds, by either team).
Fearless changes long series. Teams must show more of their champion pool as a series goes on, so a side that dominates game one with its favourite picks can look very different by game four. Deep champion pools count for more than they used to, and the late games of a best-of-five are harder to call.
League of Legends markets
| Market | What you are betting on |
|---|---|
| Match winner | Which team wins the series |
| Map handicap | Winning by a margin of games, such as -1.5 in a best-of-three |
| First blood | Which team gets the first kill of a game |
| First tower | Which team destroys a tower first |
| First dragon | Which team kills the first dragon |
| First Baron | Which team kills Baron Nashor first |
| Total kills | Over or under a line of combined kills in one game |
| Game duration | Whether a game lasts more or less than a set number of minutes |
Most of these markets are offered for each game in a series, so check which game your bet applies to. For how handicaps and totals settle, see esports betting markets explained.
What moves LoL prices
- Patches. Riot releases a new patch roughly every two weeks. A team that adapts quickly can look much stronger for a few weeks, and older results count for less.
- Region. At international events, LCK and LPL teams usually start as favourites against teams from other leagues. That record is earned, but a best-of-one gives any team a chance.
- Roster changes. LoL relies on practised coordination, so a new signing or substitute often shows in a team's first few series together.
Betting on LoL, as on any esport, is for adults aged 18 and over. Only stake what you can afford to lose.
FAQs
What is Fearless Draft in League of Legends?
Fearless Draft is a rule for series of more than one game: once a champion has been played, it can't be picked again in that series, and at Worlds that applies to both teams. Riot has used it across its leagues and international events since 2025, and it rewards teams with deep champion pools.
When is the League of Legends World Championship?
Worlds is held every autumn, usually running from late September or October into November. It is the last and biggest event of the pro season, with a Swiss stage followed by a knockout stage of best-of-five series. The host country changes every year, so check the current schedule.
What does first blood mean in LoL betting?
First blood is a bet on which team gets the first kill of a game. It is settled as soon as the first champion dies, often in the opening minutes, which makes it one of the quickest esports markets to settle. Each game in a series has its own first blood market.