Sports betting was once a pastime enjoyed mostly by gamblers who were familiar with all the ins and outs of sports. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, gambling fans turned to the internet as a way of watching sports and getting in on the action. And while many games have been moved to the virtual realm or canceled entirely, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy betting on your favorite teams and players.
Online sportsbooks saw a massive increase in the demand and volume of bets being placed during the pandemic, which allowed them to make some significant financial gains. E-sports was one of the fastest-growing segments in the online sports betting market last year, and many sportsbooks have made a special effort to cater to this growing sector. It is still one of the most popular among online bettors.
Currently, the global e-sports industry is valued at $1.2 billion and is expected to reach $5.4 billion by 2029. The popularity of e-sports means that more and more bookmakers are opening up their sites to esports punters. And the increasing prominence of e-sports has led to a big increase in the number of esports-specific betting markets. If you want to join the world of e-sports betting, this guide will show you how to get started and how to make money playing this exciting game. It will also explain some of the most common e-sports bet types and explain how to use each to your advantage. Continue reading!
The Rise of E-Sports Betting
While there are still many people out there who prefer traditional sports betting, there has been a shift in recent years towards the more “cutting-edge” nature of e-sports betting. The younger generation audience is drawn towards e-sports for its fast pace and exciting gameplay. They’re turning to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Discord to stream their favorite games and connect with other gamers around the world. Gen Z is the driving force behind the increased interest in e-sports, and they are proving to be extremely lucrative for sports betting operators.
Here’s why e-sports betting has caught the attention of so many punters worldwide:
Data Integrity
Data integrity is essential when placing any online bet, and esports is no different. You want to make sure that you’re placing your bet on a website that offers reliable and trustworthy odds and reliable results. Through auto data extractions, online bookmakers can provide information instantly without any delay.
Unlike traditional sports betting, where bettors have to rely on manual data collection, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming, e-sports bettors enjoy instant access to all the latest data from their favorite games as they happen. This allows you to make fast and accurate decisions when it comes to placing a bet.
Furthermore, the lack of delay in the betting market data encourages quick turnover of assets and ensures a faster payout process for the bettors. It reduces the risk of financial loss for bettors in e-sports betting. This makes e-sports much more attractive than traditional sports for making bets online.
In-Play E-Sports Betting
In addition to providing accurate data in real-time, modern e-sports betting platforms also offer live betting on the games. Due to its virtual nature, players can place bets on a game at any point during the match.
This allows players to take advantage of unexpected events that happen during a game and make smart bets based on their current status in the game. Players can also bet on the in-game performances of their favorite players and win big if they happen to achieve certain milestones during the game.
With other sports betting, in-play betting is only available for certain games or matches. The outcome predictions and betting odds are also complex to determine for bookmakers. But with e-sports betting, everything is much easier because all the information required to predict the outcome of a match is readily available online. This makes e-sports betting much more accessible than traditional sports gambling.
Betting Odds Accuracy
In a market with limited player liquidity, which happens when professional players play mainly for their gain and not for the glory of their team or country, there are no clear-cut ways of determining the betting odds for each match. As a result, most bettors have to rely on the bookmaker’s odds as a guide for their betting decisions. However, since bookmakers have access to vast data on the internet, they are more likely to generate more accurate odds based on their statistical analysis of previous matches played.
The algorithms that power the predictive models used by bookmakers are constantly being updated with new data to improve their accuracy. Using the scores, win-loss records, team rankings, and other information available on platforms such as Steam and Reddit, they can accurately determine the odds of winning for each player and the team as a whole. This provides valuable information for bettors to make well-informed decisions about their wagers.
Furthermore, since esports is relatively new and the only games that have been around for several years are League of Legends and Counter-Strike, there are many opportunities for new teams to emerge and replace old ones. This makes it easier for punters to bet on other esports games before online bookmakers have had the chance to create a stable market, stronger algorithm, and operating models for that sport.
Variety of Games
E-sports betting offers a wide variety of games and matches to choose from. Unlike traditional sports like football and rugby, where the rules remain the same throughout the season, there are almost limitless possibilities for the types of games that can be played during a tournament. This allows for more variety in the types of bets that can be made and opens up a whole new world of possibilities for players who might not have had the resources to gamble on traditional sports in the past.
The use of cryptocurrencies has also made it easier for players to deposit and withdraw funds without having to worry about high transaction fees and wait times associated with fiat currencies. This is especially important for players based in emerging markets where access to banking services can be limited due to government policies and other factors.
Entertainment Value
E-sports events attract millions of viewers every year, and the competition’s excitement draws in many fans of the sport who would otherwise never have considered betting on it. Once a punter has placed their bet, the fun really begins as the match unfolds. The unpredictable nature of the game means that you never know what will happen next and what effect this will have on your wager. They can place multiple bets to increase their chances of making a successful profit and have a great time doing it.
The excitement level doubles when there is money at stake. However, you should ensure you don’t get carried away in the frenzy and make the most of the game while enjoying it.
Types of Bets in Esports
Many types of bets can be placed in the esports world. Make sure you acquaint yourself with all of the different options so you can make informed bets!
Tournament Winner Bet
A tournament winner bet is a wager made on a player or team to win a tournament. Most bookmakers give odds on players winning a tournament and the odds on each match within a particular tournament. If you are betting on the outright winner of a tournament, you only have to predict which player/team will be declared the winner at the end of the tournament. If you bet on an individual match, you have to correctly predict the winner of that individual match. This is the most common type of bet placed on the esports market.
Individual Match Winners
On a daily basis, there are always a number of matches taking place within the esports ecosystem. These are low-risk bets, similar to that of the tournament winner bet, but have fewer potential returns as the tournament winner will receive the largest payout. This is a good option if you want to make a small profit on your daily bets.
This type of bet also requires less research and number crunching as you have to predict the winner of the game with very little information about the teams involved. In order to win this type of bet, you simply need to predict the winner of the match based on the information given before it starts.
Over/Under Win Points
An over/under win points bet is a wager placed against a certain number for the winning team in a particular match. Most e-sports betting includes a series of odds for upcoming games based on the bookmakers’ expectation of the final result of the match, which can be anywhere from 1 to 10 points. You can make this bet by predicting whether the number of total points for the winning team will be over or under a particular amount.
For example, if Team A and Team B are playing a match with Team A predicted to win, you can bet on them going over or under a certain amount of points. If Team A wins the match with a total of 2 points, your bet has won. If they win with 3 points, your bet has lost. If the game ends with 5 points, the result is a draw, and your bet has been lost. It is important to note that you are not limited to betting on the match ending in a certain way. You can also choose to bet on who you think will win each point or for the whole match itself. The odds will change depending on what you choose.
First/Most Kills Bet
In a First/Most Kills bet, you can predict whether the first player to reach a certain number of kills in a game will be the player from team A or team B. The odds for this bet will depend on the kill count of both teams as well as the expected length of the match. If the kill count is relatively equal, the odds will be close to even money. If it favors one team over the other, the odds will be higher.
Ways to Improve E-Sports Betting
Know What You’re Doing
Before placing a bet, make sure you know how to read betting odds, how to choose a bookmaker, how to place a bet, and how winnings are calculated. You should also be familiar with the game tournament and the player you’re betting on. Reading up on player statistics can help you make better decisions when choosing a winner. You need to understand how events and games work in order to bet on them effectively. This will increase your chances of winning and improve your overall gaming experience.
Betting Value
When choosing which events to bet on, it’s important to consider the value of the bet and the likelihood of the event occurring. If an event has a very low chance of occurring or has a low payout, it may not be worth placing any bets on it. However, if an event has a high likelihood of occurring or has a large payout, it may be worth placing some bets on it. It’s a good idea to do some research before you place your bets to determine which events are more worthwhile than others.
Don’t Rely on Your Gut Feelings
Your gut feeling about the outcome of a game or event isn’t necessarily a good indicator of how it’s going to turn out. Many beginner bettors make the mistake of relying on their gut feelings to guide their betting decisions, but this rarely works in their favor. While your intuition may tell you to back a certain team or player to win a particular game, it’s much better to base your decisions on real data and analysis rather than blind faith.
Avoid Overthinking
Once you’ve done your research and planned your strategy, try not to overthink your betting decisions. There’s no need for excessive analysis and second-guessing when you’re making a bet. After all, e-sports betting is supposed to be a fun and entertaining experience. If it starts to feel like a chore and you’re no longer enjoying your time at the sportsbook, it might be time to call it a day.
Set a Budget and Stick to It
When it comes to e-sports betting, it’s easy to get carried away and lose control of your spending. But if you have no limits on how much money you can afford to lose, you’ll end up putting yourself at serious financial risk. Make sure that you set a strict budget for yourself and stick to it. That way, you’ll always know exactly how much you can spend on betting, and you won’t run the risk of going broke in the process.
Bankroll Management
As a new sports bettor, one of the most common mistakes we see people making is blowing through their bankroll too quickly and not having enough money left to go on with their betting career. Managing your bankroll is one of the most important aspects of betting on sports, and it’s something that you should pay close attention to if you want to be successful in the long run. Successful gamblers never risk more than they can afford to lose and always keep a close watch on their bankroll to ensure it doesn’t run out.
Esports Special Bets
Many esports betting sites offer special bets on different games, matches, and tournaments. These bets give you a chance to bet on unusual and unpredictable outcomes, and they often pay out significantly better than a standard match-winner bet. Make sure you evaluate all your options for betting before investing all your money.
Join a Gaming Community
Gaming communities are a great way to improve your e-sports betting skills. By joining a community, you’ll be able to learn from other players, ask questions, and get feedback on your play. You’ll also gain access to exclusive tournaments and giveaways—some of which can have huge prizes. If you’re brand new to e-sports betting, you should also consider signing up for a gaming community with a mentor program. The mentor will be able to help you get started and help you improve your gameplay over time.
Bet Selectively
When you bet selectively, you’re betting only on matches or tournaments that you’re confident about winning. Not all matches have the same odds, so it’s important to do your research before placing your bets. Look for matches or tournaments that have favorable odds or that will give you a better chance of walking away with some cash. And remember that betting on a match doesn’t mean you have to win it. You just need to predict who will win the match.
Use Past Matchups
Assess the stats from previous matchups in upcoming games and try to form an educated guess about who will win the upcoming match. Previous matchups are one of the best ways to get a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of the teams competing in the game. This information will also allow you to make some educated guesses about the overall outcome of the game.
Top E-Sports Tournaments
The International- DOTA 2
The International Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Valve Corporation. The tournament is one of the largest e-sports events in the world and features some of the most popular teams in the world competing for a share of the $40 million prize pool. It is a 10-day long event that concludes with the finals among 18 teams from across the world.
League of Legends Worlds Championship
League of Legends is an internet-based multiplayer battle arena video game developed and published by Riot Games for Microsoft Windows and macOS. Commonly known as Worlds, it is a huge e-sports global tournament that pits some of the best professional players against each other for their share of a total prize fund of more than $4 million.
The tournament is organized by Riot Games every year. For bettors, this is a great opportunity to get behind the popular teams and watch them in action as they battle it out for the title.
CS GO Major Championship
Commonly known as Majors, this e-sports tournament is also sponsored by Valve Corporation. It features some of the top professional players from across the world competing in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for a share of the $1 million prize pool. Most tournaments feature a group stage followed by a single-elimination playoff phase to determine the best team in the tournament.
The Overwatch League
The Overwatch League is a professional esports league by Blizzard Entertainment. Founded in 2017, the league features some of the hottest up-and-coming teams in e-sports from across the world. The teams in the 2022 league played for a $1.5 million prize pool, and the grand final winners took home $1 million in prize money. The league had an average of 380,000 viewers on its main stream during its first season.
Following these big events can be a great way to get on board with the most popular teams and find your niche in the market. However, it can be risky to bet on an unproven team or one that is not well-known in the local community. Therefore, ensure you’ve done your homework before placing your money on a particular player or team.
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