Esports Betting Guide

Professional-level video game competitions or eSports leagues are events where teams compete against one another when playing different top video games.

They have become hugely popular in recent years, and the numbers show truly incredible growth. This sport has generated almost one billion dollars in revenue during 2021 and has reached around five hundred million viewers. Since the sport has increased in popularity, the number of fans placing bets on esports has also grown.

Guide To Esports Betting

Before participating in eSports betting, which is for sure more about skill than pure luck, fans should research the types of bets available. They must also look for the latest data on participating teams and players.

To become a successful eSports punter, every beginner must understand the mechanism of the games and have some knowledge of tournament rules. For example, in many esports, the players that win the first set have higher chances of winning the game. This kind of information helps bettors make better betting choices, especially when they are wagering while the game is in play.

Choosing a bookmaker with various markets and the highest possible odds is vital. Bettors should participate in line shopping and check for the sportsbook with the best odds before placing a bet. The website Sports Insights states that getting an extra 0.5-1.0 point on the odds increases the bettors' long-term win percentage by 1-3%.

Bettors should also look for a site with an easy-to-use app to bet on the go. Some major games in this type of sport that fans can bet on are League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), and Dota 2. Between them, these make up 85% of all esports bets.

How To Bet On Esports

If bettors choose a great sportsbook, they will find plenty of online esports betting options, and the respective betting apps of each sportsbook also offer plenty of different betting lines. However, the types of available wagers also depend on which sports players are betting on, as specific games have different options for laying out bets.

Popular esports bets include moneylines for the outright tournament winner and match-winner, which are the most often placed bet types for this sport. Another popular bet type in this sport is the proposition or prop bet, and the actual props available vary depending on the game being played. League of Legends World Championship, Call of Duty World League, and CS:GO Eleague Major are just a few events that bettors should not miss, as all kinds of bets can be placed on these events.

Some sportsbooks allow betting on smaller tournaments too. Timing is also essential when placing bets. If bettors place bets while live-streaming, this will help them gain a first-hand, strategic perspective. Fans can use other great betting strategies like arbitrage betting, which involves placing bets on a single event.

Another good strategy is so-called matched betting, which means taking advantage of welcome bonuses and other freebie offers.

Step-by-step guide

Betting on esports is just like betting on other sports.

1. First, choose a sportsbook, sign up for an online account and fund it.

2. Once the account has been verified, players should go to the esports section and select a specific sport or league.

3. Check the odds and choose the desired wager and click to add it to the betting slip.

4. Decide what size bet to place, and the potential winnings will be calculated.

5. Click the 'Place bet' icon and wait for the game's results.

Esports Betting Types And Formats

The types of bets that can be placed on esports, such as moneylines, props, and parlay, are the same as the wagering options available for other kinds of sports like football, soccer, and more. However, the specific bet may only be available for certain electronic games.

For example, an outright bet on who will win the First Map is a wager that can only be placed on first-person shooter games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Similarly, prop bets like First Kill and First Blood are also specific to shooter games.

Our esports betting guide will explain the three most used types of bets: outrights, including tournament winner and match-winner, over/under bets, and parlays.

Players can also make other types of bets, such as placing more complex prop bets based on team or player performance, including predicting the MVP. In the most well-known esports tournaments, fans can place a bracket bet, meaning they can wager on the winning team at different parts of the competition.

More experienced bettors can try accumulators or combi-bets, or even handicap betting.

Outrights

Newcomers to esports betting will find outrights wagers are the most common type of bet available. The most popular outright bets in esports are moneylines on the overall tournament winner or the match-winner for a particular round or match within the tournament.

Indeed, it is the most straightforward kind of bet. The favorite will have odds denoted by a plus (+) sign, while the underdog's odds are denoted by a negative (-) sign.

Both types of bets can be made before the event starts when the odds will be longer or during the match when the odds will be shorter as the outcome becomes more apparent. The odds can change significantly once the event progresses, as these games are highly dynamic.

Over/under bets

Another popular betting type in many sports, including esports, and just like outrights, over/under bets are simple to understand and place. The sportsbook predicts the total number of points that will be scored, the number of maps won, and so on. Then, bettors decide if the final score will be lower or higher than the sportsbook's total.

For example, suppose the sportsbook predicts Team A will win 3 Maps during a round. Betting that Team A's final score will be just two maps is under bet, while betting that Team A will win four maps is over wager. Should the total score end up being the same as the sportsbook has predicted, it is called a 'push,' and all bets are refunded.

Parlays

These bets are a bit more challenging to understand, and as a result, new players that have just started betting tend not to place parlays as much. Parlay betting in esports, as in any other sport, means laying a combo or accumulator bet composed of two or more wagers.

Each bet must come through for the bettor to win overall. The payout can be huge because the win from one leg is used as the stake for the next leg. But the chances of winning a parlay are also lower than the chances for other bet types. Additionally, the more legs a bettor adds to the parlay, the more difficult it is to win.

Some sportsbooks offer parlay insurance, where the original stake is returned if just one leg of the parlay fails. However, bettors should carefully check the T&Cs as there are usually odds restrictions.

How To Make Esports In-Game Bets

Live betting or in-game bets are wagers made once the game has started. These types of bets are trendy in esports and can be made at many bookies that offer bets for these leagues and tournaments.

As esports is quite dynamic by nature, the game evolves quickly, leading to the odds changing rapidly. Thus, the bettor should keep an eye on the match frequently. During live betting, bettors can cancel their bet by wagering on the opposite outcome or cash out if they feel they will ultimately lose their wager. Many fans prefer live betting as it is a more exciting experience.

The best betting sites for live betting are fully licensed in the US, have competitive odds, and offer live betting for major LoL, CS:GO, or Dota 2 tournaments. Ideally, they should also provide esports bets for less famous matches and smaller, niche events. Bettors can even live stream while they bet on these sportsbooks.

Finding The Best Esports Betting Apps

Because these sports have grown in popularity, bettors can now choose from many sites and apps. As a result, sportsbooks have started to offer more competitive odds.

In addition, bettors may want to look at what kind of promotions a gambling operator offers. Or maybe their main concern is usability when searching for an esports betting app. In fact, there is more to choosing the right sportsbook than it seems.

When bettors are searching for a great site or app to place a wager on their favorite esports match, they should check that the sportsbook is not a scam. If the bookie doesn't hold a valid license from a gambling authority and has a bad reputation, players shouldn't create an account with it.

Bettors should check whether the sportsbook's app is responsive and easy to use and how good the customer service is. If bettors read online reviews stating that the customer support of a bookmaker is not responsive, we recommend avoiding it.

While bumper bonus offers and an excellent app user interface are significant advantages, a great gambling site should have generous odds and offer a wide variety of e-sports and matches to bet on. The best sportsbooks also accept a large variety of banking methods.

Esports Online Betting Offers

Like in any other sport, fans can also find plenty of betting offers for e-sports. Bonuses and rewards are significant for esports bettors as they encourage them to play more and increase their chances of winning.

Welcome bonuses, for example, are a vital promotion scheme for online betting sites since the site gains many new users that may come back again to play. Some sportsbooks offer free bets as a welcoming package, and others provide matched deposit deals that can be up to 200% of an initial deposit.

Many bookies offer bonuses for old, loyal esports bettors too. Sometimes, they offer free bets or deposit bonuses on specific weekdays. Bettors should know the bonus requirements, as all bonuses have terms and conditions. Some rewards have a time limit and wagering requirements stipulating that bettors will have to wager their winnings a few times before withdrawing them.

Betting sites with the best esports bonuses

Several sportsbooks are offering great bonuses at the moment. GG. Bet, for example, is offering a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $200 for all new users. This bonus is available for betting on any esports, including FIFA, PUBG, Call of Duty, Overwatch, Starcraft 2, and Dota 2.

Smaller bookies can offer great bonuses too. Thunderpick sportsbook, for example, provides a 100% up to $200 bonus. Other bookies like Sportaza and Luckbox offer a 100% up to $100 bonus.

Some sportsbooks require a promo code to get the bonus, so bettors should make sure to check.