Esports has practically blown up in popularity in the past few years. One of the main reasons for this is that almost anyone can get into esports or at least gaming. All you need is a decent internet connection and a gaming console or a decent computer.
Another main reason for the popularity of esports is that it is super exciting to both watch esports matches and take part in them. This explains why tons of people have started to get into esports gambling, and if you’re thinking of getting into it, then you are at the right place. Here is our extensive esports betting guide.
What Is Esports Betting
To put it simply, placing bets on esports events or matches is called esports betting. For example, let’s say that the finals for a CSGO tournament are taking place. You think that team A is more likely to win, so you place a 100 U.S. dollar wager on it. This is esports betting.
Important Esports Betting Terms To Know
Before we show you how to bet on esports, here are a few esports betting terms that you should know about.
Esports Betting Markets
When people bet on esports, they wager their money on specific outcomes for an esports event or match. For example, one possible outcome is for Team A to get the first blood in an esports match. Another possibility is Team B reaching 15 kills before Team A.
When two or more outcomes are similar, they fall into something called betting markets. For instance, the results mentioned in the above example fall under the “1st Team To” betting market.
Esports Betting Odds
Betting odds are used to represent the likelihood of an outcome occurring. The odds also determine the amount you will win if you win the bet. If you place a bet on a result with a high probability of happening, the amount you get after winning the bet will be smaller.
For example, if Team A is likely to win the match, it makes sense that you will get a lower reward for betting on it because the chances of Team A winning are high. On the other side, Team B’s chances of winning are lower, so the offered betting odds on Team B will be higher – representing a lower probability of success. Thus you get a larger reward if you bet on Team B.
There are several types of odd formats, like fractional or American odds. The most common way that odds are represented in esports betting is the decimal odds format, like 2.3 or 1.2. The higher this number is, the lesser the chances of the outcome occurring.
Decimal Odds
The number in decimal odds represents the exact multiple of your wager that you will receive if you win the bet. For example, if you make a 50 U.S. dollar bet with 1.5 odds, you will receive 75 U.S. dollars in total if you win the bet, which is 1.5 times 50.
American Odds
American odds have a negative sign (-) for the team that is likely to win. This is the amount you have to bet to win 100 U.S. dollars. If Team A has odds of -150, you will need to bet 150 U.S dollars to win 100 U.S. dollars.
On the other hand, the odds with a positive sign (+) represent the underdogs or a team that is least likely to win. This number represents the amount that a bettor would win if they wagered 100 U.S. dollars. So, for example, if Team B is the underdog with American odds of +200 and you bet 100 U.S. dollars on it and win, you will get to keep the 100 U.S. dollars plus the 200 U.S. dollars winning.
Fractional Odds
Fractional odds are probably the simplest to understand. They’re represented in a fraction like 2/1 or two to one. If you bet on an outcome with odds of 2/1, you get 2 dollars if you win. Likewise, 6/4 means you need to risk four dollars to win six.
Online Bookmakers or Bookies
Online bookmakers (bookies, sportsbooks) are online platforms where people can place bets. It is the online bookmakers that offer betting markets. While there are physical bookmakers you can go to in person, most people these days prefer online bookmakers, especially for esports betting.
First Blood
First blood simply means the first kill of the game. In esports betting, betting on which team will get the first kill or the first blood is quite common and comparable to the first goal bet in football.
First Tower
First tower is another popular bet type. As its name suggests, “first tower” is a bet on which team will destroy the first tower in any given game. This bet is only available in games with towers, namely two of the most popular MOBA esports games: Dota 2 and League of Legends.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is one of the most popular features you’ll find on most esports betting sites. It allows gamblers to watch certain esports matches live as they take place while they place bets on them. Although live streaming of esports games is not available on all betting sites, you can always follow the action on Twitch.
In-Play Betting
In-play betting or live betting refers to placing bets on a match after it has started. Live betting allows you to place bets as the match takes place in real-time, while conventional bets are made several hours before the game starts.
How To Bet On Esports
Here is a complete step-by-step guide on how to place bets on esports:
- Choose an online sportsbook that offers esports betting services.
- Create an account and register on the sportsbook.
- Make your first deposit of a certain amount that you can use for esports betting at the sportsbook.
- Open the esports section in the sportsbook.
- Select the esports game that you want to place bets on.
- Choose which esports event and betting market you like to place a bet on.
- Place a bet for the amount you would like to wager. Make sure that you take the odds into account before placing a bet.
- Wait for the event to end and claim the profits.
How To Choose An Esports Betting Site
One of the most important things to do before you start betting on esports is to choose a legit and safe platform that you can use. It is an important task because you don’t want to risk getting scammed and losing your money.
However, it is not that easy to figure out if a betting site is legitimate or not. To help you with this, we have created extensive reviews for several top betting sites at Esports-Gamblers.com.
Moreover, you need to make sure you choose an esports betting site with competitive betting odds and enough betting markets. Only this way can you ensure that you’ll always bet with the best prices and will be able on whatever you wish. A bookie that checks those two marks is a solid choice, so make sure whether it does before you create your account.
The easiest way to find a solid esports bookie is to check reputable and unbiased sportsbook reviews, so head over to Esports-Gamblers.com, where you’ll find a list of the best esports bookmakers for you!
