How to bet on eSports

Real money eSports betting isn’t yet a mainstay on most popular sports betting websites. Often lines on eSports are hard to find because some (or many) of the participants are under 18

Online eSports Betting

Real money eSports betting isn’t a mainstay on most popular sports betting websites just yet. However, as has happened with FanDuel, sportsbook operators are benefitting from offering eSports gambling to their users.

There are plenty of sportsbooks out there, and as operators start to offer eSports betting, it might be difficult to choose. Here’s a breakdown of popular sports betting sites and their introductory offers for new customers:

What are eSports?

To understand the growing popularity of eSports betting, simply take a look at video games as a trend. According to statistics, the value of the global video game market doubled from $50 to $100 billion from 2012-2017. It’s expected that the market will take in about $152 billion in 2019. Compare that to 2009’s figure of $19.7 billion.

eSports Bet-Types

If you’re wondering about how to bet on eSports, it’s helpful to have some experience with multiplayer video games. If you’re coming in with experience betting on sports, eSports odds are the same as sports betting odds: positive or negative figures in terms of $100 bets.

Here’s a list of common bet types in real money eSports betting. It’s helpful to play a few rounds of your favorite multiplayer games to get an idea of what these bets actually mean.

Outright Winner

This is an obvious one– just pick the team that you expect to win the overall tournament or set. eSports tournaments run similarly to college basketball: there are groups based on overall record, and these teams go head-to-head in a tournament bracket using swiss, GSL or round-robin systems. Betting on the outright winner is a bet on who will take home the #1 trophy.

First Blood

“First Blood” is a common voiceover that you’ll hear in modern multiplayer games. It comes initially from the early days of Quake Arena and has been a mainstay of multiplayer gaming since the 2000s. When you’re betting on “First Blood”, you bet on which player or team will make the first kill or score in a given match.

First Team to Score 10 Kills

Another straightforward bet, simply place a wager on the team that is expected to score 10 kills first. Keep in mind that “kills” simply refers to points scored, and assists do not count as kills in most modern multiplayer games (unless enough damage is dealt).

Head-to-Head Winner

The head-to-head winner, whether in Hearthstone betting or any number of one-on-one games, is the winner of a mano-a-mano match. Two gamers enter; only one leaves. It’s important to have a good knowledge of your preferred player’s match history before placing one of these wagers.

Map Winner

This is much like a best of 3 or best of 5 competition but is restricted to specific maps in a given game. For example, in CS2 betting, some players are used to playing Dust II, while others tend to train in Mirage or Nuke. The Map Winner is the player or team with the best record on a specific map and often will determine the outright winner of a best of 3 or 5 series.

Best of 3, 5, etc.

“Best of” bets simply pit two teams or players against each other for a given number of matches. Unlike the map winner, these best of bets are not area-specific. These bets can end a contest between two teams relatively quickly, as a team can show dominance by winning more than half the matches.

Favorite vs. Field

A simpler way to think about this bet would be to call it an “underdog” bet. Either you can bet on the favorite team to win, or you can place a bet on the “field of competitors”. Placing a favorite vs. field bet is a great way to potentially add some extra payouts to a win.

League of Legends Betting

League of Legends is known as one of the most-watched eSports because it is so fast-paced and the watching experience is a dynamic one. Surprise attacks, upsets, and even last-minute turnarounds are all possible in LoL, so it’s important to have a good sense of the underdog and the favorite. Be prepared for teams to employ unexpected tactics to catch you off guard.

Counter-Strike 2 Betting

Because it is such a tactical game, CS2 matches tend to be either evenly matched or one-sided: there are no special items that might give you an advantage in the late game. When you’re betting on CS2, knowing how your team performs when they’re at their best (and more importantly, when they’re not) can be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful bet.

Dota 2 Betting

Therefore, Dota 2 betting will naturally require one to be pretty well versed in the game to fully understand the action. It’s not as simple to notice who has the upper hand in a match, because players are also constructing and upgrading abilities and weapons as the match progresses.

Hearthstone Betting

While betting on the previous eSports is easier if you’ve played the games, with Hearthstone, previous playing experience is essential. There’s something within tactical games like Hearthstone that is called the “metagame”: essentially, there generally are a few accepted decks that will be the top competitors, and each player has to play that deck perfectly to win.

Overwatch Betting

Overwatch betting is like any battle royale betting: you’re going to want a good connection to stream after you’ve placed your bets, because things happen fast. Often, a streamer will go on a hot streak and become the popular streamer and competitor for a while, so keep your eye on Twitch if you want to make a successful Overwatch bet.

More popular eSports

eSports events are some of the fastest-growing events in the last decade in terms of both cash and viewership. It’s expected that most sports betting platforms will add eSports bets to their apps and websites in the near future, simply because not doing so would be to “leave money on the table”.

• Fortnite Betting – Fortnite betting isn’t as popular, and that’s because it is largely marketed towards folks who aren’t old enough to drive, let alone bet.
• Rocket League Betting – Rocket League is the clearest direct line between sports betting and eSports betting other than sports video games themselves.
• Starcraft II Betting – StarCraft II can also be one of the most fast-paced, intricate, and hard-to-follow games out there, so make sure you’re well versed in the game if you’re going to put your money into it.

eSports Betting vs Traditional Sports Wagering

There are a lot of similarities between eSports betting and traditional betting, however. Both involve outright winner bets (called totals in sports betting), and both require an in-depth knowledge of the eSports teams you’re following. Be aware, however, that it’s not like sports betting: on eSports, you can’t bet on props or parlays.

When betting on eSports, as with any real money betting, it helps to be a fan. Watch the streams, and read more articles on how to bet on eSports and where to find your favorite teams. Better yet, play the games.

Summarizing Your eSports Betting Journey

From our experience, successful eSports betting depends on understanding the games, teams, and players. Researching professional leagues and tournaments provides valuable insights. Here are a few things you should pay attention to: Always use reputable and legally certified betting sites. Pay close attention to the odds and explore various bet types to diversify your approach. Stay updated with the latest eSports developments and manage your betting budget responsibly. By combining knowledge, strategic thinking, and responsible practices, you can improve your eSports betting experience.

eSports Betting FAQ