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Esports Betting: Your Guide

July 26, 2024

Esports Betting: Your Guide

Esports betting has quickly become a popular hobby for many. With thousands of matches happening every day, bookmakers are offering odds on just about every detail of competitive gaming. Esports.net is your go-to resource for navigating the esports world and getting started with your first bet!

We provide all the crucial info you need to get a leg up on esports betting. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of placing bets on esports, discuss the legal side of things—like whether you can bet on esports in your area—and highlight what to look for when searching for the best bookmakers for esports gambling.

What is Esports Betting Anyway?

To kick things off, let’s clarify what we mean by esports and esports betting. Simply put, esports are competitive video games played by individuals or teams. This is different from regular gaming because players are up against each other instead of just the computer.

Esports cover a wide range of genres and have skyrocketed in popularity over the past ten years. We now see huge tournaments featuring top-tier esports teams and players battling it out in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans, with millions more watching live on platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, or Facebook Gaming.

Just like in traditional sports, the competitive nature of esports has created a whole new realm for betting on these games!

Is Esports Betting like Traditional Sports Betting?

Betting on esports might feel a bit different from your usual sports betting, but once you dive in, you’ll realize that placing a bet on esports is just like betting on soccer, basketball, or horse racing.

So, how do you go about making an esports bet and actually winning it? It’s pretty much the same process as with traditional betting! Pick the esports market that catches your eye and check the odds to ensure they work for you. The cool thing about esports betting is how interactive it is—there are communities, live streams, stats, social media, and more from top esports bookmakers, making the whole experience super engaging.

Games

So many genres of games, so many great tournaments – you can bet on them all!

MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)

Battle arena games are definitely a hit with esports betting enthusiasts. Games like Dota 2 and League of Legends rank among the top esports globally, and if you catch the finals of tournaments like The International or the League of Legends World Championship, it’s easy to see why these team-based games are a great fit for betting. There’s a huge variety of battle arena games available, with mythological ones like Smite and fantasy favorites like Warcraft really standing out. Sure, some characters and gameplay mechanics might take a bit of time to get used to, but many players have raked in some solid winnings from these games.

FPS (First Person Shooters)

If you’re in the mood for some intense action, you should definitely check out the awesome first-person shooters available for betting. Counter-Strike 2 is undoubtedly a fan favorite in this category, but games like Call of Duty and Halo have also made a name for themselves in the esports scene. It might seem a bit strange to place bets on military battles, but the team-based nature of these games makes them perfect for betting. Just take a peek at the thrilling Counter-Strike matches at events like the Intel Extreme Masters, and you’ll see how exciting it can be to bet on a first-person shooter. Whether you’re into new hits like Overwatch or timeless classics like Call of Duty, the options for esports betting are endless. And don’t forget about some of the lesser-known gems, like Valve’s Team Fortress 2, which also offers great betting opportunities.

Sports Simulators

It’s no shocker that a lot of folks enjoy betting on esports teams and players, especially when it comes to popular sports simulators. If you’ve ever placed a bet on football, diving into esports like FIFA should feel pretty familiar. Since the FIFA eWorld Cup hit the scene, a bunch of betting sites have popped up, trying to make wagering on this esports tournament just as exciting as the real deal. With our expert esports betting guide, you can still score some good cash by betting on this fantastic sports simulator. Other big names in this genre include NBA 2K and the wild, vehicular-football fun of Rocket League.

Other Games to try for Esports Betting

Every year, there’s always a new game that everyone thinks will be the next big thing in esports. Whether it’s the card game Hearthstone or the battle royale hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, there’s always something fresh to bet on. If you like to keep it straightforward, you can place bets on Street Fighter, or if you’re feeling strategic, you might want to dive into StarCraft II. The options are endless! Even collectible card games like Hearthstone are making waves in the esports scene, so you’ll never run out of chances to score a winning bet. You’ve got a ton of choices, from the super popular titles to the lesser-known gems like the free-to-play H1Z1.

Tournaments

The esports scene is home to some of the largest sporting events, attracting massive crowds, tons of viewers, and jaw-dropping prize pools. A top-notch esports betting site will not only dive deep into the major tournaments but also offer betting options for smaller competitions and e-leagues happening globally.

When it comes to viewership, the League of Legends World Championship is a giant, racking up over 3,985,787 viewers who tuned in for a whopping 139,000,000 hours of intense gameplay. Events like the Fortnite World Cup and Intel Extreme Masters Katowice also pull in millions of viewing hours. However, if we’re talking about prize money and betting excitement, Dota 2’s The International takes the crown, with an incredible prize pool of $34.3 million back in 2019.

Tips for Betting on Esports

Follow Trends

When you’re getting into eSports betting, especially for a CS:GO match, it’s super important to stay updated on trends. Just because a player has great stats doesn’t guarantee they’ll perform well every time. Take Team Vitality’s ZywOo as an example; his numbers are impressive, but that doesn’t always mean the team will win. CS:GO often follows certain patterns. Most eSports betting odds will give you some essential stats and insights into how a team has been doing lately.

Bet on Games You Know

Take your time when deciding which game to place your bets on. The eSports scene has a ton of different games to choose from. The best approach is to stick with what you’re familiar with. While Dota 2 and LoL have some great matches, if you prefer first-person shooters, then CS:GO and Call of Duty might be more your thing. Avoid betting heavily on games you’re not knowledgeable about. Focus on the games you really understand and enjoy.

Follow Your Favorite eSports Teams

Being a fan of an eSports organization is a lot like cheering for your favorite sports team. With so many top-tier eSports organizations out there, it’s hard not to find a team to support. Some of these organizations even compete in multiple games. Take FaZe Clan, for instance; they have teams in a wide range of titles. If you’re planning to bet on these teams, knowing their history is key to figuring out if they’re a good pick.

Get to Know the Top Esports Players

If you’re keeping up with the best teams on social media, you should definitely check out some of the top players too. Games like CS:GO, LoL, and Call of Duty have their share of superstar players, and nearly all of them are active on social media. This really boosts the popularity of eSports. CS:GO, in particular, has produced some big names recently, like Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Nikola “NiKo” Kovac, who have helped make the game a global sensation.

Always Shop the Odds

It’s a good move to grab some odds you spot on one site. Make sure to check out other platforms too to see what they’re offering. Shopping around for odds is a clever strategy, whether you’re betting on sports or eSports.