In this article, we look at the most popular esports titles and outline some basic facts on how esports betting works. There are plenty of traditional sports betting sites offering betting options on a variety of esports games, as well as dedicated esportsbooks.
Choosing the right partner for this type of gambling will allow you to enjoy a secure environment, competitive odds, and a broad selection of betting markets.
Esports Betting Meaning
Esports is the name given to competitive video games played by pro-gamers. There are more than a dozen games that qualify for this status and hundreds of tournaments scheduled throughout the year. Just like traditional sports, you can bet on the team to win the tournament, winners of individual matches, and place a multitude of live bets. If you know how to bet on classic sports, you will have no problem learning how esports betting works.
How does Esports Betting work?
Esports betting sites are specialized in providing betting odds on esports competitions. Some have them grouped based on genre, while others simply list them in the general section reserved for esports.
Placing a bet is surprisingly easy and in a matter of seconds one can wager on individual games or accumulators. Simply select the game of choice and explore the markets available. Depending on the popularity of the game, one can bet on more than 100 markets.
Most Popular Esports Tournaments to Bet on
There are regional esports touranments being held every day around the world and there are at least a few big tournaments taking place every month within the various esports titles.
International esports events usually take place once a year and these are the leading competitions for each game:
- The LoL Worlds Championship
- The Dota 2 International
- CSGO PGL Major
- CSGO BLAST Premier
- CSGO IEM Katowice
- Call of Duty League
- Overwatch League
- Valorant Champions Tour
- FIFAe World Cup
- and more…
How to figure out if you can legally place a bet?
Important as it is to have esports betting explained, this is not the only information you should acquire. Equally important is to find bookmakers where you can gamble in complete accord with the law and without taking any chances. Licensed and regulated bookmakers will provide the kind of gaming environment that punters need to fully enjoy esports betting. The seal of approval from the regulator should be visible at the bottom of the page, with additional information in the “about us” section. It always pays off to read a few reviews before making up your mind, to find the best deals.
The safest and most secure sites to bet on:
As mentioned above, security is one of the most important things when choosing a bookmaker offering esports bets. A licensed and regulated partner will provide you with the peace of mind needed to enjoy gambling and focus exclusively on the task at hand.
Some even have short tutorials for new players, which have esports betting explained and provide other useful guidelines. Esports books should use reliable payment methods and when possible have their software verified for fairness. Independent auditors will place their seal on the website if they were satisfied with the gambling environment they analyze.
Types of Esports Bets
Once you understand esports you can download a dedicated Esports betting app or bet straight in the browser. If you chose the right operator, you should have plenty of betting options, regardless of the game of choice. When betting on some of the most popular esports you will also enjoy a plethora of special types of bets. These are the most popular types of esports bets at a glance.
Basic Types of Esports Bets
- Outright winner of upcoming tournaments
- Winner of an individual match for the series
- Spread and Asian handicaps
- Total number of kills or points scored
- Total number of maps played – Under/Over Bets
Special Types of Esports Bets
- First blood, tower, and neutral objectives in MOBAs
- Total game duration in League of Legends and Dota 2
- Winner of the pistol round in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Total number of kills per player in Overwatch
Things to Avoid in Esports Betting
Once you get familiar with esports betting you will have no problem placing bets pregame and live. Everything will feel natural and even beginners will have an easy task navigating the waters of esports betting. There are a few things that players should avoid, in order to fully enjoy the gaming experience.
Steer clear of unlicensed operators – there are so many regulated bookmakers that offer esports betting that it is simply unnecessary to take any risks. Avoid bookmakers that haven’t applied for a license yet and stick to those that enjoy a solid reputation online.
Avoid unregulated markets – skin gambling can be fun but this is an unregulated betting market and can backfire badly. Sticking to standard esports betting should be sufficient, especially today when there are so many mainstream and special betting markets to choose from.
Exercise bankroll management – esports betting is just like any other types of gambling, so you shouldn’t treat it any differently. Set up a bankroll and stick to it, so don’t betting excessively and wager only the amount you can afford to lose. Never chase losses and keep the length of betting sessions reasonable.