If you also want to try eSport betting but don’t know where to start, don’t worry. We prepared a guide that will help you get going in no time.
What is Esports Betting?
Esports are becoming increasingly popular in recent years and can now match traditional sports in terms of audience, sponsors, infrastructure, and almost everything else. As a result, eSport betting is also on the rise, and a significant number of bettors are making it the primary focus of their gaming.
The concept of esports is similar to regular sports. You have teams or individuals competing against each other in different video games in a highly competitive environment. As a result, esports betting and sports betting also share many similarities.
You place your bets on different esports events just like you do in regular sports. For example, you can bet who will win a particular tournament, match winners, and much more. The differences can be mostly found in betting markets, which depend on the category of video games you want to bet on. But more on that later.
Is Esport Betting Legal?
Most people wonder are wondering: Can you bet on esports? You will be happy to know that the answer is yes: esports betting is perfectly legal.
The regulation of esports betting can vary depending on the region. Still, there are no legal obstacles preventing you from engaging in this kind of activity in most countries. But, of course, if your country doesn’t allow gambling or has a ban on sports betting, you won’t be able to bet on esports.
In the United States, the majority of the state that made sports betting legal also allow sportsbooks to add esports to their offer. The list includes but is not limited to Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The rule of the thumb is that if the sportsbook operating legally in your state has an esports event as part of its offer, you can safely bet on it.
Where Can You Bet on Esports?
As previously mentioned, eSport betting is becoming quite popular, and traditional sportsbooks are not oblivious to the trend. You will now see esports events being offered by almost every major operator. However, with sports like football, basketball, and baseball still dominating their offer, they don’t have many betting options for esports. You’ll find that the betting markets are pretty modest and usually include several basic ones like an outright bet.
Most esports bettors prefer to do their wagering with the specialized operators in esports betting. Fortunately, there are plenty of them around, and they operate mostly in the same way as the traditional sportsbook. The odds are set the same, and you have all the features like live streaming, cash out, and more. Also, plenty of them offer welcome bonuses for new players and have sports events included, so you won’t miss out on that.
What Are the Most Popular Esports Games?
If the video game can be played competitively, then it belongs in the group of esports games. However, not all esports games are fit for esports betting. Some may be less popular because of their basic concepts. Others might be overlooked because they don’t have a large audience.
The most popular esports games to bet on at the moment are first-person shooters, multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA), and sports video games. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) is the preferred choice for bettors when it comes to first-person shooters. MOBA games that attract a lot of betting action include League of Legends (LOL) and DOTA 2. The sports video games include the favorites like FIFA, NBA2K, and Madden NFL.
There are also lots of different events that players can bet on when it comes to esports. Many video games have tournaments and leagues taking place all year round, while there are also championship events for the major titles. The most popular CS: GO event for esports betting is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships, which the game’s developer, Valve, organizes. LOL has the League of Legends World Championship, while the most important DOTA 2 event is The International.
How to Bet on Esports?
The thing that you are probably most curious about is how to bet on esports. Well, the process is quite simple. First, you need to visit your esport betting operator and choose the event you are interested in wagering on. After that, all that’s left is to pick out the betting market, set your wager and wait until the event plays out.
Now let’s check out the different types of markets in eSport betting.
Outright Bet
This is one of the most common bets in esports. Since most esports events are played in tournaments or competitions, you are betting on the team (or an individual) that will win the whole thing. The interesting thing is that you can make an outright bet before the start of the tournament but also while the tournament is underway. Then, of course, the odds change on every participant left based on their performance.
If the esports competition is played in groups, most operators will give you an option to bet on the winners of each group as well.
For example, The International 2021 had two groups. So you could place a bet that Invictus Gaming will win Group A (which they did) or bet that they will win the tournament (which they also did).
Match Winner Bet
This is the simplest bet you can make. You are betting on a winner of a particular matchup. However, if there is a possibility of a tie in some events, you can also bet on that.
Score Bet
This category of bets revolves around the score of the match. You can bet on the correct score, whether it will be over or under a specific number, how many points each participant will have, and much more.
Handicap Bet
If you are confident that the event will be one-sided, you can place a handicap bet to boost your odds.
For example, you are convinced that FaZe Clan will demolish ENCE in their CS: GO ESL Pro League match. Therefore, you place a -3,5 round handicap bet on FaZe Clan. This means that in order for your bet to be a winning one, FaZe Clan has to both win and do it with at least four rounds of advantage.
Special Bet
There are a number of special bets that can be placed on particular accomplishments or objectives in esports events. For example, in matches that involve eliminating opponents, you can bet on the team or player that will make the first elimination. Other special bets can include betting on a number of rounds, winners of particular maps, the overall number of kills, and much more.
Proposition Bet
Proposition bet or prop bet is betting on whether some occurrence will take place during a particular match. The odds on these bets are set based on the likelihood of the occurrence. They are extremely popular in traditional sports as they make the event exciting to the very end regardless of the score. So it isn’t a surprise that we see them offered in esports betting as well. Esports prop bets can involve various in-match events and are prone to changes depending on the video game.
Esports Betting Tips
We told you how to bet on esports. Now it’s time we share some eSport betting tips that will help you get a better start.
Do Your Research
The most important thing is to do your research before starting to bet on esports. Even if you are familiar with a particular video game, you might not be up to date when it comes to dominant players and teams. Find out who they are, which maps they prefer, their weak spots, and everything else in between. Also, take time to dive deeper into the mechanics of the game to get more info on the crucial elements that influence the outcome of each match.
This way, you will be more comfortable and have a much bigger chance of success.
Focus on Big Events
Big events are more exciting and come with more markets to choose from. Also, you know everyone will be at the top of their game, making the betting decisions easier. Finally, the margin of surprise is a lot less likely.
Make Smaller Bets to Start Off
If you are a novice, the best way to go is to make smaller bets at the beginning. While your winnings won’t be spectacular, your losses will be limited as well. You will give yourself a chance to get the knack for this type of betting, and you can gradually increase your stakes as you go.
Choose the Right Esports Betting Operator
Choosing where you’ll make your esports bets is also important. Make sure you use a reputable operator with a successful history of doing business. Also, pick out the one that offers the events and markets that interest you.