Call of Duty is one of the most popular first-person-shooter esports titles in the world. Since the launch of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in 2007, the competitive scene has grown exponentially. Today, the landscape is one worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and there are countless Call of Duty betting sites to enjoy the game on.
Although Call of Duty is yet to reach the lofty heights of League or DOTA, it’s a powerful platform in its own right. Every year, millions of fans tune in to watch Call of Duty esports, place a few wagers, and even compete themselves. It’s an altogether quite accessible platform, and in reality, everyone is given the opportunity to compete – given they have the skill, of course.
The franchise has existed since 2003, and since then, Activision has released another iteration every single year. It’s arguably the biggest first-person-shooter platform in history, and it evolves with each new release.
Currently, Call of Duty esports are played on either the Call of Duty Warzone or Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War platforms.
How To Use Call of Duty Betting Sites to Make Money
If you’re looking for Call of Duty betting tips, you’ve come to the right place.
There are many ‘esportsbooks’ out there, but which are the best platforms to use for Call of Duty betting? When it comes to Call of Duty odds, there are two titles to consider: Warzone, and Black Ops Cold War. The former is an easily accessible ‘battle royale’ title, while the latter is a traditional boots-on-the-ground multiplayer shooter.
While Call of Duty Warzone betting tends to be confined to gaming-only esportsbooks, Cold War bets are much more readily available. However, it can be a bit daunting when trying to decide which esportsbooks to invest your money with.
We’ll outline the best Call of Duty betting sites to use below, but before then, take heed of the following top tips.
1. Aim for ‘outright winners’, but try to understand the game. The outright winners market is by far the easiest to locate, but it does require a little in-game knowledge. It’s ideal to know which teams are likely to beat their opponents on given maps and game modes.
2. Take advantage of sign-up offers. Like any traditional sportsbook, esportsbooks offer new customer and welcome bonuses. You should take advantage of these whenever possible to avoid any early financial losses.
3. Find the best odds. Although the odds won’t change massively, there are usually a few points here and there that might be higher or lower. It does often pay off to scout around and get the best deal.
The Best Call of Duty Betting Sites on the Market
As Call of Duty betting becomes more popular, more esportsbooks are covering it to answer the demand. From place to place, the markets tend to remain fairly similar, with a few exceptions for ‘specialist’ esportsbooks. Typically, the best options to go with will be GG.bet, Unikrn, or Betway, but these options can change from time to time.
We’ve already advised you to ‘shop around’ if you’re interested in Call of Duty betting. It’ll certainly pay off in the long run, but we’ll get you started with these top options:
How Call of Duty Esports Games Are Played
Call of Duty is, at its core, a very basic title. There are very few nuances to the game, and it’s something that people can easily understand, given a little time. It’s a traditional A v B platform, with two teams doing battle in a variety of arenas.
In recent years, the formula has changed slightly in terms of overall competitor counts, but it hasn’t ever been by much. If you’re watching Call of Duty Warzone, you’ll typically be placing wagers on a single person or a duo, but Cold War is a little broader. As of 2020, competitive Call of Duty follows a 4v4 format, but it has relied on a 5v5 format in the past.
Although, that isn’t the be-all and end-all where Call of Duty betting is concerned. On some occasions, you’ll find games featuring a 3v3 or even a full 6v6 format. What is more reliable and rigid, however, are the types of games these competitors will be playing.
Search and Destroy
Search and Destroy is a videogame classic, and it’s one of the favoured gamemodes in and around Call of Duty. Like CSGO, Call of Duty’s Search and Destroy features one team defending ‘bomb sites’, and another team vying to destroy them.
It’s a classic formula that works extremely well in the esports scene, and it makes for some exhilarating opportunities for esports betting.
Hardpoint
As of 2019, Hardpoint made a comeback to competitive Call of Duty. It’s an age-old favourite where Call of Duty is concerned, and its premise is quite simple. There’s a ‘hill’ that rotates around the map as the game progresses, and teams must fight to retain control of it. For each second they’re on it, they gain a point.
Although it might sound very easy, Hardpoint is a battle of wits and map knowledge. It’s simple to learn but very difficult to master.
Control
In 2020, when Black Ops Cold War launched, Control was introduced. This never-before-seen game mode takes aspects of both Search and Destroy and Hardpoint. In Control, the attacking team must secure two objective sites, while the other team defends them.
However, each side is only given thirty respawns to achieve their goal, and the time limits are strict. The overall victory can be achieved by a full capture, a full defend, or by exhausting the other team’s ‘tickets’.
How Does Call of Duty Differ From Other Esports Titles?
Firstly, and most importantly, you’ll need to look at the overall genre of the game. It isn’t a MOBA like League, nor is it a hero arena shooter like Overwatch. Instead, Call of Duty is an ‘arcade’ first-person-shooter title, which walks the line between ultimate realism, and pure entertainment.
There’s a massive focus on movement in the Call of Duty world, and players often spend hours every day practicing their agility. When you’re playing, you’ll make use of drop-shots, jump-shots, and slide-cancel maneuvers, among many others. When you’re looking at Call of Duty betting, it’s worth identifying which players have the best movement in-game.
Furthermore, there’s a huge focus on raw gunplay, otherwise referred to as ‘the gunny’. If you want to be good at Call of Duty, you’ll need sharp reflexes, accurate thumbstick or mouse control, and the right weapon ‘loadouts’.
The Best Call of Duty Tournaments for Betting
In reality, there’s only one Call of Duty competition that’s ‘worth’ betting on, and that’s the Call of Duty League. First introduced for 2019’s Modern Warfare, the Call of Duty League is a multi-million dollar tournament constructed to service the global platform. It features the best Call of Duty talent in the world and draws in millions of viewers.
It’s essentially the home for Call of Duty betting, and every esportsbook will offer odds on the tournament. Thankfully, it follows a very traditional sports model and is extremely easy to follow.
There’s a regular season, which features standard group stages topped off with a Major Tournament. There are twelve teams that fight to secure points, climb a table, and win big prizes as the tournament unravels. At the end of the season, the Call of Duty League standings determines seeding for the Play-Offs, with one team being crowned the ultimate Call of Duty League champion.
In 2020, for the inaugural competition, Dallas Empire was crowned the first CDL champion.
Best Call of Duty Betting Tips
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of the finest esportsbooks and you understand how the game is played, let’s give you some tips. It’s a very competitive market out there, and you’ll need to know the tricks of the trade if you want to secure your wagers.
- Take the time to do a little research. While the Call of Duty League (and the game itself) is relatively easy to understand, you’ll need to know a few things. Firstly, learn which players are considered the ‘top dogs’ of the title, and try to study team tactics. While the odds will sometimes suggest which team is most likely to win, you’ll need to know if there’s anything going on behind the scenes that might help you.
- Have faith in the underdog. As with any sport, placing your faith in the underdog often pays off extremely well. There are several teams in the Call of Duty competitive scene that might not be at the top of the table, but they’re just as tenacious and determined as the best teams. Take the risk, and the rewards will be tangible.
- Try to actually watch the game itself. There are plenty of opportunities to watch a little Call of Duty, starting with streams, and ending with spectating the tournaments themselves. Whenever a new title launches, it’s quite important to watch people play it (if you’re not already playing it yourself). By doing this, you’ll learn about the maps, key game modes, weapons, and even the players themselves.