Electronic sports, more commonly known as esports, is a global phenomenon that shows no sign of slowing down. In their millions, people flock to events to watch the very best compete in games such as Counter-Strike and Fortnite.
In this guide, we’ll examine the world of betting that has sprung up around esports. We’ll look at some top tips for betting on events and fixtures, how to get the likes of the best CSGO odds, and the types of deals and bonuses that may be available.
But first, let’s take a look at what esports are.
What are esports?
Esports is the short name for organized and competitive computer gaming events – and there are many. Each game may have dozens of leagues. League of Legends, for instance, has 12 professional leagues.
As in other sports, significant events take place throughout the year, such as the world championships for the top games. These competitions see hundreds of thousands of people gathering to watch in arenas, with millions more watching at home all around the world.
To get an idea of the scale of its popularity, it is estimated that by this point in time, about 70 million people will watch a single esports final, easily surpassing the viewership of baseball, soccer and hockey finals in the US.
Some of the most popular esports games include:
- League of Legends
- PUBG: Battlegrounds
- Dota 2
- Fortnite
- Counter-Strike (CS)
As new games are released this list will grow. It makes you wonder if anything could hinder the growth in the popularity of esports.
Top betting tips for esports
There’s no golden rule when it comes to betting on esports. But there are a few things to keep in mind to help you ensure you have an enjoyable experience.
Firstly, bet small, especially if you’re new to the world of gaming and esports. It’s going to take time to learn the different games and teams, and how matches can ebb and flow.
By betting small amounts, you gain greater experience in placing many more bets than you would, say, by placing your entire fund on one match.
Linked to this is research. It’s difficult to make a good judgment call when you know little about who’s involved – maybe even try playing the game yourself to get a feel for how it works. That way, you can better judge how players and teams are performing, beyond their form and past records.
Another tip you could adopt is something called progressive staking. It’s often favored by those who are on a winning streak. It simply involves using your profits from previous bets to increase the stake slightly for your next bet.
One of the best tips of all is to keep track of big tournaments. Betting sites will offer special odds and bonuses in conjunction with them, and if you do your research, you could see a few positive results.
How to get bonuses and better odds
You’d be surprised at the range of bonuses and odds that you can get from betting companies, not just for esports but for all sports.
The best bonuses tend to be offered to new customers. So, if you’ve never tried a betting site before, you’re likely to be offered deals such as a matched first deposit or first bet bonus.
A matched first deposit bonus involves you receiving credit in the sum of whatever you place into your betting account the first time. So, if you initially deposit $500, the betting site will give you another $500 to play with.
Other companies may offer to match your first bet. So if you’re confident in a result, taking advantage of an offer like this could see you with a potential payout that’s double what you would have earned.
When it comes to accessing regular bonuses and enhanced odds on esports games, it’s important to spend time doing your research.
Betting comparison sites offer odds checkers as well as coupon codes for deals and discounts.
Some sites also reward you for playing regularly with them. And many sportsbooks offer enhanced odds and proposition bets for big fixtures and events.
For example, you may get enhanced odds on a team to beat the other by three or more goals.
The betting market is competitive and esports is very much a part of the battle to obtain and keep the interest of players. New deals and bonuses are announced all the time, so be sure to keep an ear to the ground.