A Guide to eSports Betting

eSports – the world of competitive video gaming – has exploded in popularity in recent years, garnering global attention from gamers and sports fans alike. This popularity is why eSports are beginning to get the same sort of interest as more physical sports like football and basketball, from scholarships to topflight schools and with the opportunity to place wagers on the winners of tournaments and leagues. 

AS eSports grow, the public interest in these tournaments has led to them moving away from online streaming on sites like YouTube and Twitch and onto the relatively more mainstream cable channels, so it is no surprise that big companies are sponsoring some of the biggest teams and individual players. 

If you want to get involved in wagering on the outcomes of these huge tournaments, with millions of viewers around the world getting excited over who will win the enormous prize pools on offer, then below are the things that you need to know. 

What is eSports Betting?

Sports betting is a popular gambling activity across the world. The industry has recently exploded in the US as more states continue to legalize sports betting online. Various online sportsbooks available in the US offer bets on US sporting events such as the NFL, NBA and NHL as well as other sports across the world like soccer, rugby and cricket. To attract customers to their sites, these betting sites will offer competitive bonuses including sign-up bonuses which customers can redeem on their first bet placed, for example, you can find a promo code for betrivers ny here, a popular sportsbook available in New York.

eSports betting works almost exactly the same way as sports betting for other competitions – like soccer, football, basketball, and hockey. You can choose to bet on the winner of a competition or tournament in the same way as you’d bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl, for example. 

There are other bet types that are available depending on the game that is being played, such as:

• Draw
• *Group winner
• Outright winner
• Over/Under
• First blood
• Map winner
• Total rounds

The odds for the possible outcomes are calculated by the sportsbooks, and that will determine the payout (and profit) that you will get if you make the right selection. 

What are You Betting On?

The list of games that are included in eSports tournaments is a long one, and it seems to get longer every year. Usually, you will find the following genres of games are the most popular in eSports:

• Mass Online Battle Arena
• First Person Shooter
• Fighting 
• Battle Royale
• Real Time Strategy
• Some of the most popular titles include:
• Call of Duty
• Dota 2
• Valorant
• Fortnite
• Player Unknown’s Battleground
• Counter Strike: Global Offensive
• Rocket League
• Super Smash Bros.
• FIFA Online 

How to Get Started

If you are ready to get started with betting on eSports, below are the steps that you will need to complete. 

Create an account with a sportsbook.

Not all sportsbooks offer odds on eSports tournaments, so you need to make sure that you choose one that does. You will also want to look for the best odds on these games, as well as other incentives like bonuses and promotions that could help you make the most of your betting.

Opening an account is straightforward and can usually be completed online immediately, but you will have to prove your identity for safety reasons.  

Make a deposit

If you are looking to place a bet, you will first have to fund your account. Most sportsbooks offer multiple payment options, including debit card, eWallets, and bank transfers, so choose the one that works best for you. 

Choose stake

While some sportsbooks might have a minimum bet amount, you can usually choose how much you want to stake on an outcome. 

This is where good money management should start – don’t bet too much all at once; you want to have the opportunity to bet again later, and if your luck isn’t in on this bet you don’t want to lose too much. 

Place bet

Choose the eSports tournament and choose the game that you want to bet on – then press the ‘place bet’ button. It really is as simple as that!

Wait for the result

Now all you need to do is wait. If you can’t watch the tournament, this might be a nail-biting time for you – but if all goes to plan, you’ll collect on a winning bet, and all you need to do is decide whether to cash out your winnings or to place a new bet. 

Strategies to help

Understand the game

While no one should expect to be an expert on a game before they start gambling on it, having some knowledge of the game, how it is played and what to expect will help. Not only will you know what it takes to play the game well, you will also be able to make more informed decisions based on the players, the teams, and their previous form. 

Research the form

If you were betting on football, you would know about how well the team have performed in the past in similar situations, you would know about the players and what their personal strengths (and weaknesses) are, and you would probably have a ‘gut feeling’ about who is going to win. All these are good factors in deciding who to bet on in eSports – so you will probably need to do some research. 

Manage your bankroll

Betting on eSports is no fun if you blow your spending limit on the first tournament, so make sure that you manage your money and your stakes. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and don’t chase losses – take a break and come back again another day.