Guide to Esports Betting

Esports has exploded in popularity and now like other professional sports you can bet on the games.  Like the NFL, MLB and the NBA before it, Esports has its own nuance.  

The Esports gambling market is expected to hit $30 billion in 2021.  This number is even more impressive given the infancy of the Esports industry.  Betting sites and online casinos should be reviewed before signing up, please see this site for more information.

The term Esports is short for electronic sports, and it refers to competitive video gaming. People play video games against each other competitively.  The biggest competitions see teams and players competing for millions of dollars in prize money.  

Some popular Esports games include Dota 2, Overwatch, Smite, Super Smash Bros, Call of Duty, Starcraft II, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, League of Legends and Rocket League.   Understanding the game itself isn't as important as understanding who is good at it.  

Major competitions that you can view include, The International Dota 2 Championship, Call of Duty Championship, League of Legends World Championship, Intel Extreme Masters and the Capcom Pro Tour. 

Types of Betting

Real Money Betting

Like traditional sports, you can bet on Esports with real money.   Viewers place bets against the game or match based on agreed odds.   If you choose correctly you get paid.  

Skin Betting

This is also termed item betting and is very popular in CS:GO.  If a competitive game has a currency or items that can be transferred between players then it likely has Skin Betting.  This type of betting can be against odds like Real Money Betting or the items can be used to bet on something as simple as a coin flip.  

Social Betting

Many sites allow you to bet with your friends.   This is social betting.  

Fantasy Betting

Though not betting in the traditional sense, this allows you to put together a team of Esports pro and using their statistics compete against other fantasy teams to win money.  

Esports Betting Sites

When you are considering an Esports betting site, consider the following:

• Ease of use
• How comprehensive is the event coverage?
• Variety of wagering options
• Competitive odds
• Many deposit and payment methods
• Quick withdrawals
• Reliable
• Trustworthy
• Established

Top Esports Betting Tips

Focus on a game that you enjoy watching

There are hundreds of games to choose from.  You are more likely to be successful if you pick a game that you enjoy watching.   Not only will it be more fun, but you will understand the nuance of the game and be more successful.   If  you have spent time understanding what characters in a game are superior then you are much more likely to make good choices when betting on a game. 

Follow a team

It's no different than cheering for the New England Patriots or the Buffalo Bills.  PIck a team and know the talent that is has compared to the opposition.   Again, it will be more fun and lead to more success. 

Follow players

The best and most exciting players don't all play on the same team.  Learn who is great at playing in specific situations, who switched teams and how will that affect the outcome of the next match. 

Set a budget and stick to it

Gamble responsibly.  Set a budget and never go over it.  Every bet won't be a winner and you will likely go on losing streaks.   One more bet is never going to change that.  Stick to your budget. 

Use Reddit

Reddit is full of opinion, but it is also a gold mine of great information.  The latest changes in Esports are almost always found on Reddit first. 

Ensure Betting is Legal.

Betting is legal in many jurisdictions, but not all.  Ensure that it is legal where you live before you bet.