Overwatch League
Overwatch League Betting | OWL Schedule, Teams, Betting Odds
Overwatch 2 is a hero-themed first-person shooter developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It became free-to-play in 2022 when the sequel Overwatch 2 was released. Overwatch has steadily infiltrated esports with professional circuit play like the Overwatch World Cup and the infamous Overwatch League.
One of the most unique aspects of the Overwatch League, or OWL, is its emphasis on creating a thrilling sports-like atmosphere. Each team has its own recognizable logo, team colors, and branding as the pro players compete in front of live audiences. Overwatch League fans can experience a thrill of their own by betting on their favorite Overwatch League teams, and what better place to do that than with Rivalry?
Overwatch League History
Since its inception in 2018, OWL has become one of the most popular esports leagues in the world, with millions of fans tuning in to watch their favorite teams battle it out on the virtual battlefield. It is one of two professional Overwatch esports tournaments, the other being the Overwatch World Cup, held annually.
The inaugural season of OWL kicked off in January 2018, with 12 teams from cities across the globe, including Los Angeles, Seoul, Shanghai, and London. Each team represented a different franchise, with owners ranging from traditional sports organizations to venture capitalists and esports companies.
The first season of OWL was a massive success, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the matches online or in person at the Blizzard Arena in Los Angeles. The league featured a regular season, as teams competed in a series of rounds, followed by playoffs to determine the ultimate champion. London Spitfire emerged as the champions of the first season.
In 2020, OWL faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the cancellation of all in-person events and switching to an online format for the remainder of the season. Despite these difficulties, the league managed to crown the San Francisco Shock as the season's champions.
Overwatch League 2023: Schedule
Overwatch League Season 6 in 2023 is the first year where the competitive season will be split into two: the Spring and Summer Stages, anchored by two LAN events: Midseason Madness Global Tournament and the Grand Finals. The teams will remain divided into East and West regions, with the East featuring a more open ecosystem allowing smaller Overwatch Contenders teams to compete.
- Pro-Am (West): March 23 - April 9
- Spring Stage (Opens, Qualifiers, Knockouts): April 27 - June 6
- Midseason Madness: June, exact date TBA
- Summer Stage (Opens, Qualifiers, Knockouts): July TBA
- Playoffs/Grand Finals: August TBA
Overwatch League returned on March 23 with a pre-seasonal professional-amateur tournament in the West, demonstrating the might of both OWL and Contender teams. Florida Mayhem emerged victorious.
Overwatch League circuit play for East and West regions will begin on April 27 with the Spring Stage Qualifiers, determining the seeding for Spring Stage Knockouts and who advances to the Midseason Madness.
The Summer Stage will begin in July with the exact date yet TBC. It will mirror the Spring Stage format, with the West starting with circuit play immediately. The East Region's top Contenders teams from Spring automatically qualify for the Summer Stage Qualifiers.
The Overwatch League is entering a new era of excitement and evolution for the 2023 season. With two exciting global LAN events and an open ecosystem, the stakes have never been higher!
OWL 2023 Betting With Rivalry
OWL has also become a popular destination for betting enthusiasts, with the potential to score a jackpot. Overwatch League betting offers a thrilling experience for fans who are looking for a new way to engage with their favorite teams and players.
By betting on matches, fans can add an extra level of excitement to an already exhilarating competition - every match takes on added significance when there's money on the line.
Overwatch League betting isn't just about the thrill of the gamble. It provides an opportunity for fans to show off their knowledge and expertise about the game and its players. By analyzing team statistics, studying past performances, and keeping up with the latest news and trends, fans can make informed decisions about which teams and players to bet on. When those bets pay off, there's a sense of satisfaction and pride in having made a smart, strategic wager.
Give Overwatch League betting a try with Rivalry, the trusted home of all things esports, from Valorant to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, we have all the popular esports games covered.
Overwatch League 2023: Competing Teams
Here are all 20 competing teams in Overwatch League 2023, including 13 OWL teams and 7 contenders teams.
OWL Teams (West Region)
- Atlanta Reign debuted in the second season of OWL in 2019, representing the city of Atlanta in the esports world.
- Boston Uprising debuted in the first-ever season of OWL in 2018 and is a strong team with a devoted fanbase.
- Florida Mayhem made their presence known in the first season of OWL in 2018 alongside 11 other teams.
- Houston Outlaws debuted in 2018 and had a solid start to the inaugural OWL season, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
- LA Gladiators are one of two teams representing Los Angeles. They have had a mixed history, but they are determined to come out on top in Season 6 of OWL.
- LA Valiant has had its share of ups and downs in the OWL, having not competed in the previous OWL season in 2021.
- London Spitfire made their debut in 2018. They are the only European team left contending in the OWL and are owned by Cloud9, an esports juggernaut in the competitive scene.
- New York Excelsior joined the OWL in its inaugural season, quickly establishing itself as a strong competitor and a force to be reckoned with.
- San Francisco Shock joined the OWL roster in 2018 as an expansion team and is considered one of the top teams in the professional league.
- Toronto Defiant became a crucial part of the OWL in 2019 as an expansion team. They have had poor results in the past but have everything to prove in 2023.
- Vancouver Titans joined the OWL in 2019 and quickly established themselves as a top team in their debut season.
- Vegas Eternal, previously Paris Eternal, has had a rebrand following its move to Las Vegas. Their new branding signals a time of change, so seeing what they accomplish will be exciting.
- Washington Justice joined OWL in 2019. Despite their mixed results in previous years, they are an established competitor and a staple in the OWL.
OWL Teams (East Region)
- Chengdu Hunters joined the Overwatch competitive scene in 2019 as one of the 11 expansion teams. Their best season to date was in 2021 when they reached the semi-finals.
- Guangzhou Charge has improved massively since they joined OWL in 2019, consistently coming in the top ten teams.
- Hangzhou Spark debuted in 2019, having a strong start to its OWL tenure. They have since had mixed results but have gained a huge fan following due to their distinctive team colors; blue and pink.
- Seoul Dynasty is one of the 12 founding teams in OWL in 2018. They only continue to improve with their strong coordination and aggressive play style.
- Seoul Infernal, formerly Philadelphia Fusion, relocated its base of operations to Seoul, South Korea. They have been a staple of the roster since 2018 with consistently high results.
- Shanghai Dragons are an integral part of the OWL roster in the East, despite their troublesome first season with zero wins. They have become stronger than ever and can only go up from here.
Bet On Overwatch With Rivalry
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We do Overwatch betting different from most:
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Live Overwatch Odds. For every Overwatch match, we offer live odds to go alongside them so you can keep up with the action as it happens.
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How Overwatch League betting works
At Rivalry, we're all about giving you the edge in your betting game. Unlike many other betting markets, our odds system is straightforward to understand.
We express our Overwatch League betting odds as a decimal, which means you can easily calculate your potential winnings before placing your bets. For instance, if you bet $1 on Team A at 1.5 odds against Team B at 3.0 odds, you will win a sweet $1.50.
But it's not just about the payout - our odds also reflect the likelihood of a match winner. And if you're skilled at spotting a mislabeled underdog, you could bag some huge winnings!
Overwatch Betting Tips
Aside from our comprehensive learning tool, Rivalry Academy, we have some generic betting tips to help you succeed in your OWL betting ventures and maximize your Overwatch bets.
Game Sense
Learn the game! Figure out what current meta is using tier lists and by doing research - we have tons of Overwatch content on our news blog! Some Overwatch characters are stronger than others, especially when paired with certain champions. For example, a Pharah/Mercy combo works well against an enemy team with no hitscan champions.
Rivalry Academy
Our awesome learning resource Rivalry Academy provides simple and easy-to-understand breakdowns on how to gamble responsibly, read decimal odds, and much more. Whether you're new to the Overwatch betting sites or a seasoned bettor, Rivalry Academy is a helpful tool not to be slept on!
Watch Old matches
Learn your favorite teams inside and out to discover their strengths, weaknesses, and each team's performance overall. The best way to do this is by watching old streams on YouTube and analyzing them to see where they falter.
Consider the available betting markets
Prop bets involve predicting small details, like who the MVP of the match will be or which team will win the first map. These small details allow you to gain an edge over other bettors to claim more winnings. It is still within the early days of Overwatch esports, so there are fewer prop bets to consider than other esports giants like League of Legends or Dota 2.
Add some spice to the action-packed OWL 2023 and start betting with Rivalry today for your esports bets and the best Overwatch betting odds.
FAQS about Overwatch Betting
How does Overwatch betting work?
Betting on Overwatch is simple! Make an account with us today, find the match or tournament you're interested in, select a bet and place your wager. It's that simple!
Is betting on Overwatch legal?
Yes! Betting on Overwatch and the Overwatch League is 100% legal. Rivalry is fully compliant with the law and is regulated under the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission.
How can I make a deposit?
Rivalry offers a wide range of depositing options to accommodate our users, some of which are instant: MasterCard, Visa, Bitcoin, Skrill, Alipay, and tons more. Remember, your first deposit with us is free as part of our welcome bonus!
Where can I watch Overwatch League matches?
All Overwatch League games will be streamed on the official Overwatch League YouTube channel.
How do I get Overwatch League tokens?
You can earn free Overwatch League tokens by watching OWL matches on the broadcast platforms, typically earning 5 tokens per hour of a match watched. You must connect your Battle.net account to your YouTube account. OWL tokens let you buy OWL-themed unique skins or ones reflecting the colors of your favorite OWL teams.
Who are the best Overwatch League teams?
It can be hard to definitively say which team is the best in the OWL. However, three teams, in particular, have delivered consistently good results: London Spitfire, New York Excelsior, and San Francisco Shock, the latter of which has the most titles.
