How to bet on esports?

Placing a bet on esports is a long and proud tradition of video gaming. Long before bookmakers cottoned on - or pushed as hard at least - websites such as GosuGamers and joinDOTA had created virtual marketplaces where people could bet on the outcome of esports games for a little more than bragging rights.

The early days are now over, however, and esports betting has evolved quite a bit, becoming a cherished accompanying activity to watching esports. In this article, we will talk about the core principles of placing esports bets.

What is esports betting?

Esports betting is a form of activity derived from traditional bookmakers. Essentially, you will place a bet of a given monetary value on a certain outcome. For example, you could bet on Furia to defeat Na’Vi’s Counter-Strike 2 roster.

By betting on Furia, you hope to recover your original stake plus a small profit. Esports betting is hosted by licensed esports bookmakers, many of which also offer traditional sports selections on a separate built-in platform on their websites.

How does esports betting work?

Esports betting follows the same logic as traditional sports betting. The bookmaker or bookie will set the odds of a certain outcome. There are many different options here, and you may bet on the winner of a game, or even a round, as well as an entire tournament.

When you bet, you choose a selection. Let’s say that you have Furia versus Na’Vi, and they are playing Counter-Strike 2 again. The odds are set as follows:

• Furia (1.30)
• Na’Vi (1.81)

At first glance, this makes no sense, but hold on a minute, because it does. Let’s say that you bet $1 on each team. This means that if Furia were to win, you would be paid out $1.30, which includes your original stake of $1.

If Na’Vi were to win, you would be paid out $1.81, your total stake of $1 + $0.81. In other words, Na’Vi were given the "longer odds," or in layman’s terms, they were the underdog, i.e., the team that was less likely to win according to the bookmakers.

You need not pay any hidden fees on your winning and decimal odds, i.e., 1.81, 1.30, etc., making it very simple to track your potential returns.

How old do you need to be to bet on esports?

The legal age to bet on esports will vary. You may need to be either 18 or 21 years of age, depending on where you are based. You should always double-check with local gambling laws.

The United States is a good example of a country where the gambling age will be different depending on the state you are based in.

Esports betting tips & tricks

To get the most out of your esports betting experience, here are some practical pieces of advice to incorporate into your betting strategy.

Understand what you are betting on

It is crucial to have familiarity with video gaming and the game you are betting on, specifically. Esports bettors should always stick to games they understand and have preferably played. There is no rush, too. If you want to be on another game, just spend some time figuring it out first.

Analyze teams and players

Always try to take an impassive approach to esports betting. Focus on finding out more about each team, their players, and if there are any changes to the roster. As most esports players do, you would do well to watch a team or player yourself, courtesy of readily-available free streams, and form an opinion of each before backing them.

Check for the best odds

One of the best strategies to adopt as an esports bettor is to look around for the best odds. Since there are many bookmakers available, you will benefit from holding accounts with a few of those and then placing bets at the best possible odds. It may be a small difference at first, but if you bet frequently, the difference will build up quickly.

Don’t be emotional

You may have a favorite esports team or player, but this should not be a guiding principle when placing a bet. You want to focus on what you think is a winning team or player, instead, rather than adhering to someone you like. Either way, people bet for different reasons. You can still back a team you like over the favorite, if you think they have a reasonable chance of succeeding. Still, keep in mind that you may be biased!

Keep a lookout on your bankroll

Not least, you will want to keep a close watch on your bankroll. Do not bet excessively, and remember to keep track of how much money you have left. A good rule of thumb is to bet no more than 5% on a single selection.

Be part of the community

One of the reasons why esports bettors are arguably better than their sports betting counterparts is that they live and breathe the games they bet on. Watching streams, playing themselves, and participating in heated forum discussions are what mark the esports player. By becoming a fully-realized part of the community, you can improve your esports betting strategy and outcomes.

Conclusion: Esports betting is getting bigger

Esports betting is a continually expanding activity, with more bookmakers launching esports options and competitive odds. The activity has been adopted by the company for over a decade now, although some are still hesitant.

A key reason for this is that esports players are generally perceived to win more than their sports counterparts, and to be more vested in the mechanics and in-depth game knowledge, driving their better results.

Despite these challenges, esports is a surging and booming industry, and betting is a natural pairing for it.

How to bet on esports FAQs

What are the best esports betting sites?

Licensed esports bookmakers are your best bet. You should always double-check if a website is based in your jurisdiction, has a real license from a nationally-recognized regulator, and enjoys good feedback from fellow esports fans. Do not bet on websites that are hosted outside of the country or do not comply with local gambling regulations.

How to bet on esports in the US?

To bet on esports in the United States, you need to visit a licensed website in the country.

Can you win real money on esports?

Yes, you can win real money on esports. By placing bets and securing a good win-to-loss ratio, you may actually end up earning money. However, winning consistently is not a certainty, and esports betting should be treated as a form of entertainment only. If you think you are betting too much or feel you cannot step away from betting, refer to Casino Guru’s Responsible Gambling resources.

Will esports bookmakers ban you for winning too much?

Probably yes. Esports bookmakers could usually spot the "sharp" bettors and limit their betting activity. This is because bookmakers argue they are "for-fun" only platforms, whereas sharp bettors are always looking into niche markets (including bookmaker mistakes) to earn a profit.

Is it legal to place esports bets if I know something that has been shared by a player?

No, this is a form of corruption and has serious personal and financial consequences. Placing bets by acting on inside knowledge is called match-fixing and is treated as a criminal offense in most courts around the world. You should absolutely not exploit any inside knowledge on the outcome of an esports contest.

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