Betting on eSports

eSports is one of the newer additions offered by online bookmakers around the world and has become increasingly popular with punters. It’s added another angle to Betting sites and is extremely popular in countries such as Sweden, Japan and Canada.
eSports stands for ‘electronic sports’ and is competitive video gaming often in front of a large audience. There are a number of professionally organised leagues and tournaments which take place throughout the year and bettors can predict which player will emerge triumphant.

It’s simple to follow eSports and it’s always advised to absorb as much of the action as possible before placing a bet on any of the upcoming events. Both Youtube and Twitch TV show each and every tournament completely free.

Popular eSports games

There are a number of games which are played on a regular basis with the majority of them being multiplayer battle arenas or first person shooters. There are also tournaments and leagues for sports and racing titles but these are less popular and staged more infrequently as a result.

Dota 2 and League of Legends are the most popular games and continue to attract interest and new followers. The latter is the most watched eSports game across the globe and they have launched a LOL (League of Legends) World Championship which is staged throughout October on an annual basis! It sees two players go head-to-head over of a number of battlefields and historic terrains. It is hugely tactical and requires knowledge and expertise in order to succeed.

Dota 2 is similar and requires players to destroy their opposition’s settlements and there are various different combinations of costumes and weapons which can be uncovered throughout the numerous maps.

How to Bet on eSports

All of the major bookmakers (and many of the newer ones) now offer a dedicated eSports section on their website which makes it easier than ever before to place a bet on any upcoming event or tournament.
It is similar to betting on football or basketball, you are simply predicting which side will win with odds to reflect each team’s chances of success.

Markets

Winner – Straightforward market which is simply a matter of picking Team A or Team B to emerge victorious. The majority of games will be staged in a best of three format. This means there is no option for the draw, making it easier to predict the winner although it will also shorten the odds.

Correct Score – Played over the best of three format, this is simply predicting the final score. Will it be 2-0 or 2-1?

Totals – Similar to the above market, will a deciding game be required? Over 2.5/Under 2.5 is where the bar is set for this bet.

Handicap – Odds can occasionally be cramped on the favourites in eSports betting and the handicap market can help extract more value out of a bet. -1.5 / +1.5 is the handicap prediction and you are adding or subtracting 1.5 from the team’s final score. If you take -1.5 from their 3-0 victory, they are still winners and the handicap bet will land.

There is also the opportunity to predict the winner of one of the many tournaments which are played throughout the year. Bigger odds are available for correctly calling the eventual champion and their odds will shorten as they successfully pass through each round.

Major eSport Events

There are a number of eSports leagues and Championships which take place throughout the year and the number is continually increasing with organisers bowing the demands of the eSports public.

Some examples include Battle.net World Champion Series which has been running since 2012 and features World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Starcraft II. The Call of Duty World League is one of the newer events which began at the start of 2016 and is growing in popularity.

The European Gaming League primarily focuses on the UK whilst the FIFA Interactive World Cup is a hit with soccer fans around the world.

Finally, the International is the extremely popular annual DOTA 2 tournament which takes place in the USA.

Tips for Betting on eSports

eSports is still a growing industry so there are very few historical statistics to study prior to placing a bet. Getting used to each team’s tactics and gameplay is imperative ahead of placing a bet. Study how a team works together or how a particular player performs as the favourite/outsider in any given contest.

Bookmakers don’t know an awful lot about newcomers to the world of eSports and generally price matches up in anticipation of the money coming in. They often price the favourites up at a short price and it can often pay to side with the outsiders to upset the odds.

Odds often greatly vary between bookmakers so it’s imperative to make sure you have multiple accounts and you’re able to shop around for the best possible price before placing a bet. Don’t miss out on superior odds just because you only have a single betting account. Some bookmakers offer special sign-up bonuses for eSports players.

eSports continues to grow in popularity and is hugely appealing to both gamers and punters. Most bookmakers now have dedicated sections to eSports and many also offer live in-play betting on major tournaments throughout the year.

For more details, in depth reviews and playing guides we suggest you visit www.esportsbookies.com. We happened to stumble upon this website when researching for this post, in fact we got most of our information about each particular game like StarCraft  from their rather long and detailed ( yet interesting ) player guide. Check them out!

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