The Nationals are the first eSports franchise league in the Philippines, and the league had its inaugural season at the beginning of 2019. From August to October of 2018, teams and gamers from around the Philippines competed in the Road to the Nationals, an elimination tournament to determine who would compete in the franchise league. The Nationals events are broadcast on ESPN5 and livestreamed on the Internet.
Currently, the most trusted websites in the eSports betting industry do not have any betting lines or odds available on The Nationals. However, we expect this to change when the league kicks off competition in 2020. When the lines do become available, we’ll be the first to let you know. For now, eSports betting is growing in popularity, and websites are offering lines and odds on daily events and tournaments happening globally for Dota 2, League of Legends, CS:GO, and many more titles.
Is Betting On eSports Legal In The Philippines?
Yes, there are no Philippine gambling laws that make betting online at offshore sites or betting on eSports illegal. Philippine gambling laws are directed at the operators and not the gamblers.
The Philippine government suggests Filipinos only play at licensed and regulated offshore gambling sites for the added security that government regulation gives the player. Domestic Philippine gambling sites are not allowed to offer their services to the Philippines over the Internet, making offshore casinos the only viable eSport betting option at this time.
Top Online Sportsbook For Philippine eSports Odds
(Most Reputable)
Betonline Sportsbook And Casino
BetOnline is one of the most well-recognized names in the online eSports betting world. While eSports still has a lot of room to grow, bettors will find odds for games such as Counter-Strike, League of Legends, DOTA 2, and more. You can also bet on league futures and world championships.
BetOnline has a great reputation for fast payouts and multiple banking options for Filipino players. BetOnline currently offers new account holders a 50% Welcome bonus worth up to $1,000 when making their first deposits. Click the link below for more details.
Best Philippine eSports Betting Sites For Odds On The Nationals 2024
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | Age | Accepts Filipinos? | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ |  | Visit Site Review |
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
The Nationals – eSports League
In 2018, The Nationals eSports League was announced, and the competition was and is sanctioned by the eSports National Association of the Philippines (eSNAP), which is the country’s governing body on eSports.
The league began play in 2019, and these three video game titles were selected as the competitive games for the league’s first season:
- PC Game: Dota 2
- Mobile Game: Mobile Legends
- Console Game: Tekken 7
Once the Road to the Nationals elimination tournament concluded at the end of October 2018, five teams were formed by five business partners/sponsors, and each drafted the best Filipino gamers to form teams to compete in the league.
These gamers became pro gamers overnight, and they were given monthly salaries of ₱40,000-₱50,000. These did not and do not include the millions of pesos that are part of the league prize pool. Here are the five teams and sponsors for The Nationals (a sixth team is pending as of 2020):
- Team Name: Bren EPro
- Company: BrenPro Inc.
- Team Name: Cignal Ultra Warriors
- Company: Cignal TV Inc.
- Team Name: HF Emperors
- Company: HappyFeet Esports
- Team Name: PLDT-Smart Omega
- Company: PLDT Inc. / Smart Communications
- Team Name: Suha-XCTN Punishers
- Company: TBA
Road to the Nationals – Elimination Tournament
To qualify for The Nationals eSports League in 2019, Dota 2 teams and Tekken 7 gamers had to compete in an elimination tournament called the Road to the Nationals, which was held from August to October 2018. Mobile Legends used results from the Mobile Legends Professional League Season 2 and was integrated into the elimination tournament. The tournament dates for Dota 2 and Tekken 7 were as follows:
Dota 2 Elimination Tournament Dates
- August 4
- Venue: TNC Morayta
- City: Manila
- August 11
- Venue: Mineski Portal Cebu
- City: Cebu City
- August 25
- Venue: iPlay CyberSquare
- City: Cagayan de Oro
- September 22
- Venue: TNC Bacolod
- City: Bacolod
- September 29
- Venue: Localhost Café
- City: Iloilo City
- October 13
- Venue: UGZ
- City: Imus, Cavite
Tekken 7 Elimination Tournament Dates
- September 22
- Venue: First 5 Lounge
- City: Cebu City
- September 29
- Venue: Game Patch
- City: Davao City
- September 30
- Venue: Captain Poys Game House
- City: Cagayan de Oro
- October 6
- Venue: PlayBook Makati
- City: Makati
- October 13
- Venue: Secret Base Gaming Lounge and Boardgame Café
- City: Marikina
- October 14
- Venue: PlayBook Makati
- City: Makati
Road to the Nationals – Final Tournament
Once the elimination tournament concluded, the final 8 teams in each of the three different titles – Dota 2, Mobile Legends, and Tekken 7 – competed in the grand final at ESGS 2018 (Electronic Sports Gaming Summit) from October 26-28. The final was held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City and offered a prize pool of millions of pesos. The winners received eligibility to be drafted by one of the teams making up The Nationals at the beginning of 2019.