Things to Know Before Placing Real-Money Bets on eSports

Online games are considered a sport in many countries worldwide. Therefore, betting on eSports is an opportunity to bet on games through licensed bookmakers. The most popular eSports games are Dota 2, CS: GO, League of Legends, and Overwatch, presented on every reputable site and right here.

What Are eSports All about?

eSports is a term used to refer to video game competitions played by amateurs or professionals for cash prizes. As in any other legally recognized sport, there is the possibility of betting on the results of competitions in eSports. Many games allow playing in teams. For example, two teams fight to destroy an enemy base in League of Legends. Besides, gamers can compete against each other in shooters like CS: GO. The biggest advantage of eSports is its accessibility to players of any gender and physical abilities.eSports Origins: Where It All Began? Stanford students organized the first eSports competition in October 1972. They played Spacewar and competed for a subscription to Rolling Stones. In 1980, the first Space Invaders video game tournament was held. It gathered about 10,000 participants and generated media attention.

With the advent of the Internet and instant messaging in the 1990s, the gaming industry grew rapidly, backed by sponsors like Nintendo and Blockbuster, who invested in video game championships. In 1997, the Professional League of Cyber Athletes (CPL) was established, and prize pools began to grow from one tournament to another. Major League Gaming (MLG) and Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) were introduced in the 2000s.

Today, the most famous competitions in eSports boast unprecedented prize pools. For example, the Dota 2 prize pool grew from $1 million in 2011 to over $40 million in 2021. Likewise, CS: GO's annual global prize pool has changed from $15.85 to $22.65 million over the past six years.

Is Betting Legit in Cyber Sports?

The law regulates cybersports in the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and many European countries (Italy, Spain). They even host international competitions in this sport. The rules for e-sports betting vary from one region to another. The basic rules are age limits, betting sites' licensing, and controlling tournaments' fair outcomes. Regulators from Europe, the United States, Australia, Canada, and other countries where the industry thrives have agreed on the basic principles of fair play in eSports. They include respect and safety for participants and no cheating. Strict legislative oversight of eSports makes the game and betting more trustworthy with each upcoming season.

Is It Possible to Win a Cybersports Bet?

Betting companies offer a wide range of e-sports events and games. Dota 2, CS: GO, League of Legends, FIFA, PES, PUBG, Fortnite, Overwatch, Valorant, and many others are the most popular and promising disciplines regarding real-money bets. These games feature plenty of tournaments with substantial prize funds. For example, in 2021, The International’s Dota 2 was awarded $40 million.

Bettors have good chances to win if they consider the odds and understand them right. Remember, the betting office or website will never be fans’ allies. Otherwise, all betting platforms would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. So odds predict players’ preferences about which team wins rather than showing you who has a real chance of winning. That is, putting a low odd, the bookmaker does not tell you, “This team is the favorite.” Instead, it just believes that bettors revere this team favorite.

Betting sites and agencies have a staff of analysts who form the lines, evaluating eSports teams’ chances. But if the bookie misreads the odds, it’s not gonna make a profit. So, bettors can catch high or just wrong odds to place a winning bet. Also, remember that different platforms may give different odds for the same outcome. So you can win more by choosing the highest of them.