Esports betting markets 101: What you need to know
The digital age has brought online betting as a new and entertaining way to enjoy esports. Tons of sportsbooks are introducing esports betting to their customers. With live streaming services such as Twitch and YouTube, you can watch tournaments and bet on them simultaneously. The thrill of placing wagers on your favourite teams while watching the events in real time is the main appeal that esports betting offers.
One of the most important parts of esports betting is markets. Learn more about them and the different esports you can wager on here:
What are esports betting markets?
Esports betting markets are different types of bets you can place on a match or tournament. For each esports event, there are multiple betting markets to wager on.
Each of these markets focuses on a different aspect of the event. One of the most popular ones for esports is the match-winner betting market, where punters can bet on who they think will be victorious at the end of a game. If you're feeling brave, you can place several bets on more available outcomes.
Popular esports betting markets
There are a variety of esports betting markets that you can make the most of. Besides the usual ones in traditional sports, there are unique ones that cater to competitive online games. The markets will vary depending on the esports game you are betting on. Here are some popular esports betting markets you can find at your bookmaker:
Match Winner
One of the most popular betting markets in the esports space is the match-winner. Though a team can win the entire tournament, they will not likely have an undefeated run. You are simply betting on which team you think will win a match.
It is crucial that you do your research before the match and observe while you're watching the teams in play. You can have better chances of winning by doing so.
Tournament Winner
Another common esports betting market is Tournament Winner. Instead of just betting on a single-game outcome, you are wagering on what will come out on top from a tournament. Since esports games rely on team performance to win, research will also play a crucial role in this market. Small mishaps within a team can affect their entire performance in the tournament, risking your wager.
There are tons of popular tournaments where this betting market is available. One of which is the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). Anything can happen within the tournament, especially now with online events; what could occur is unpredictable.
Over/Under Bets
The Over/Under bet is a popular betting market in sports and esports scenes. With this bet, you are wagering whether a certain number, set by the bookmaker, will go over or under. In esports specifically, you can wager whether or not a Best of 3 (Bo3) series goes over or under 2.5 maps.
Bettors can wager on the number of rounds a game will stay under 25. If the game goes over 25, you lose the bet. A more specific example can apply to CS:GO.
Odd/Even Betting
When it comes to odd/even bets, punters must bet on whether the final sum of the scores of the game will be odd or even. In Valorant, there are a total of 25 rounds possible. If team A wins, five rounds and team B wins 13, the even wager will win the bet.
Correct Score
The Correct Score bet is one of the simplest betting markets. All you have to do is predict what the final score of a team will be. If you get it right, you can earn your wager back and decent profits in return. This is not an entirely native betting market for esports, as it is also a popular bet in sports.
First Map
The First Map betting market is placing a wager on who you think will win on a specific map. Punters who are familiar with the game's maps will have the upper hand and better odds of winning these bets. Like other betting markets, researching the teams participating in the match will be crucial.
In Valorant, eight different maps have different intractable environments. Knowing how each team performs on a specific map will help make wise bets.
First Kill
Most competitive esports games involve kills and executions. This is most prominent in games such as League of Legends and Dota 2. The First Kill betting market holds special symbolism due to the nature of esports games. First Kills can grant a team the lead in gold and experience. This lead can have an impact that can last until the end of a game.
This is why most competitive teams are careful at the start of a round, as they wouldn't want to give their opponents the upper hand. Teams with an aggressive playstyle often have the odds with them at the start of a game.
Most Kills
The Most Kill betting market solely relies on a specific player getting the highest kills in the match. This is a great side bet if your other wagers lose. To increase your odds of winning this bet, you must research the best players in that matchup.
Esports games you can wager on
Esports, over the years, has grown tremendously. There are tons of new games yearly that offer a competitive space for punters to bet on. Some of the best and most popular esports matches and tournaments you can bet on are:
League of Legends
League of Legends is a popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA). The game features ten players in two teams facing off with the ultimate goal of destroying the enemy Nexus. Picking META characters can increase a team's odds of winning the game.
It is one of the longest-standing games in the esports scene. Its most prominent tournament is the League of Legends World Championship which features the best teams worldwide in one event. Right now, the most popular teams in the scene are T1, DRX, and Gen.G. Popular betting markets for this esport are tournament winner or match winner.
Dota 2
Dota 2 is another popular MOBA with five players in a team battle and faces off in a test of skill. Heroes in Dota 2 are mechanically extensive. Players who can fully utilise a hero's potential can easily dominate games. Dota 2 games can last much longer than League of Legends, making it a battle that will last the longest on the field.
The International is undoubtedly the most prestigious event in the game. Held annually, it is most renowned for its huge prize pool, which increases yearly. Team Secret and Team Liquid are some of the notable teams that have been competing in The International for years.
When betting on Dota 2, you can opt to bet on the match winner and tournament winner, as these are the popular betting markets of the game.
Valorant
Valorant is the new competitive esports game in town. Despite its relatively young age in the esports scene, this First Person Shooter (FPS) game has broken records to be one of the fastest-rising esports games in the world. You can expect fresh, professional gamers in the VCT to compete for the championship title in a game of strategy and skill.
In Valorant, picking the right agent in specific maps can drive a team to win. Despite this, it is still up to the player to perform their best in games. Some popular teams include 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, and Gambit Esports.
The most popular betting markets for Valorant are First Kill, Correct Score, and First Map. This is because of its FPS game nature.
CS:GO
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is another popular FPS competitive esports game. It is one of the oldest games on the list but remains a popular option for punters. Similar to Valorant, the main objective of the teams is to win 16 rounds in a match. Winning games requires knowledge of the available maps, utility and various guns.
CS:GO Major Championships is the game's most popular and biggest event that is always anticipated by bettors and fans alike. With its massive prize pool, bettors are always on the lookout for this event which says a lot about its huge viewership. The most recognised teams in the CS:GO scene are Natus Vincere, Astralis, and G2 Esports.
Bet on your favourite esports team
Watching your favourite esports teams and players play is more fun when you make bets on them. With all the options you can find, you can be sure you'll not go home empty-handed. So what are you waiting for? Head over to Sportsbet, the best sportsbook in the market, and make the most of your chances!