eSports used to be a niche endeavour, until recently, with the sector experiencing significant growth over the years. Now, there are arenas full of cheering fans, world-class musicians performing at eSports events, and viewership numbers setting records each year.
As the discipline grows, so does its betting potential. Major bookmakers now offer a range of odds and markets on eSports – which can be very lucrative, if you know what you’re doing. That’s why in this guide, we go over the most common markets for betting in eSports and share some tips to make you a better eSports punter.
Here’s a rundown of the markets you need to know before betting on eSports:
Match Winner
Just like betting on a traditional sports match, you can bet on the possible result of an eSports match too. You get your money plus the reward for making a successful prediction. If your prediction doesn’t come through, however, you will lose your money.
Example:
Bookmaker William Hill offered the odds shown in the screenshot above for a recent League of Legends clash between EDward Gaming and Weibo Gaming.
- Edward Gaming at 3.00: If you place a £10 bet on Edward Gaming at 3.00 odds, the potential return would be (£10 × 3.00) = £30. That means you would earn a £20 profit from a £10 stake.
- Weibo Gaming at 1.36: If you place a £10 bet on Weibo Gaming at 1.36 odds, you can expect a total return of £13.60 (£10 × 1.36) if Weibo wins. In this case, you would earn a £3.60 profit from a £10 stake.
Handicap
You might have noticed that the payout for predicting a Weibo Gaming win is significantly less. This is because Weibo Gaming has a strong chance to win that match and the risk factor in predicting a Weibo win is quite low.
In such scenarios, punters tend to avoid betting on the favourite since the returns are less attractive. To address this issue, bookmakers offer handicap bets that somewhat levels the field.
When a handicap is assigned, teams are allowed to win or lose by a specific margin for the wager to pay out. That means you no longer need to predict the exact result of the match—getting close would be enough.
Example:
Have a look at the screenshot shared above. This also comes from William Hill and it shows handicap values for the match between BOOM Esports and Team Falcons.
Here’s a breakdown of the handicaps:
- BOOM Esports +1.5: Here BOOM Esports is awarded a virtual 1.5-map edge before the match begins. Your bet will pay off if BOOM Esports either wins the game outright or loses but wins at least one map. A +1.5 handicap bet always wins as long as the team doesn’t lose in straight maps, like 2-0 in a Bo3, since half-maps don’t exist.
- Team Falcons -1.5: For your wager to work, Team Falcons has to win by at least two maps. Your bet loses if the game is closer and Falcons only win by one map (e.g., 2-1 in a Bo3 or 3-2 in a Bo5).
Prop Bets
Prop bets are bets that have no direct impact on the result of a match. These wagers focus on a certain aspect of the game.
Example:
This is a screenshot taken from bookmaker Pinnacle and it shows a bet about whether or not both teams in a League of Legends will destroy an Inhibitor. The wager has nothing to do with the final outcome of the match. It’s a simple yes-no question about a certain development in the match.
Here’s another one. In this case, you only need to predict whether or not G2 will end a map or not. The match result doesn’t affect this bet, just like the previous one. So, both of these are prop bets.
Futures
Future bets are long-term bets. It could be on the potential winner of a tournament or the best player in a tournament, for example.
Example:
Here are the outright odds on bookmaker Pinnacle for the LCK Road to MSI. As you can see, Hanwha Life has the shortest odds to win the competition. Gen.G and T1 are expected to be their closest competitors. These odds can fluctuate as the tournament draws near. Some bookmakers offer futures bets even while the tournament is ongoing.
What Games are Available for eSports Betting?
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games
eSports betting fans clearly love battle arena games. Major titles like Dota 2 and League of Legends dominate the scene, and seeing the finals of tournaments such as The International or the League of Legends World Championship makes it obvious why these team-based games are great for betting.
From mythology-inspired titles like Smite to fantasy-driven games like Warcraft, the genre presents a great variety of choices, each with its own devoted following. Many gamblers have found success betting on these high-stakes confrontations even if the mechanics and characters could take time to learn.
First Person Shooters
If you’re after high-intensity action, first-person shooters offer some of the most exciting betting opportunities in eSports. Counter-Strike 2 leads the pack, but games like Call of Duty, Halo, and Overwatch also thrive in competitive gaming. The tactical, team-based nature of these titles makes them perfect for betting.
Sports Simulators
It’s no surprise that sports simulation games have become a major part of the eSports betting scene. If you’ve ever placed a traditional football bet, then wagering on eSports titles like EA FC should feel familiar.
Since the launch of the FIFA eWorld Cup, bookmakers have embraced eSports betting, making it as accessible as wagering on real-life tournaments. With the right strategy, you can turn a profit by betting on these digital competitions. Beyond EA FC, other top sports eSports include NBA 2K and the high-octane, car-meets-football action of Rocket League.
How to Bet on eSports: Special Tips
Here are some dos and don’ts that can help you win big in eSports betting:
Study Trends and Patterns
Tracking trends is absolutely vital while betting on eSports. Impressive statistics for a player do not always ensure consistent match performance across all games.
For instance, Nikola “NiKo” Kovac is among the top Counter-Strike players we have encountered. Still, he has never triumphed in a Major, so wagering on his team to win a Major would be quite risky. Most eSports betting odds provide you with useful information by including important data and recent team performance, allowing you to make an informed bet.
Don’t Bet on Games You Don’t Know
Choose which eSports game to wager on with patience. Given the huge variety of game genres in the eSports universe, the ideal strategy is to stay with what you know. Should you like MOBA games, high-stakes Dota 2 and League of Legends matches can be interesting.
CS2 and Call of Duty offer lots of betting chances if first-person shooters are more your taste. Your best odds of winning come from betting on games you know inside and out; avoid betting on sports you don’t understand.
Follow the Action
Cheering for an eSports organisation is no different from supporting a sports team. With so many top organisations, there’s always a team to follow. For instance, FaZe Clan competes in several games. To make informed bets, you need to understand the history and success of the teams you’re backing—without that knowledge, you’re taking a gamble.
Following the top players in eSports is just as important as keeping up with the best teams. Superstars in games like CS2, League of Legends, and Call of Duty are everywhere on social media.
Take CS2, for instance—players like Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Nikola “NiKo” Kovac have become household names, helping spread the game’s popularity to new heights across the globe.
Look for the Best Odds
It’s never a good idea to settle for the first odds you find on one site. Always compare prices across different platforms to get the best value. Shopping the odds is a smart practice, whether you’re betting on traditional sports or eSports.
Minimise Risk
Approach eSports betting with a steady hand at start. Even when you’re supporting a team on a winning run, things don’t always go as planned. The eSports scene is always changing, so don’t stake all your money on your first one.
Equally important is a thorough knowledge of the game or match rules you are wagering on. Although both first-person shooters, CS2 and Call of Duty differ significantly in terms of gameplay; Call of Duty provides more weapon choice freedom.
Explore Markets
One should keep in mind that wagering on the general result of a game is not your only choice. Many additional results are possible throughout a game. Anything can happen, even in eSports, just like conventional sports.
Though it may sound tempting, a money line wager should not always be your first option. At times, betting on particular events, such as which team will score more points or who will score the first kill, could be a superior strategy.
