Esports Betting Tips — How To Bet on Esports Online
Bets Available Online for Esports Betting
The most common types of esports betting markets available online are match winners (AKA moneylines), totals, correct score bets, handicaps, and futures.
Esports games also feature props that cater to specific in-game stats. For example, in League of Legends (LoL), you can bet on the team to kill first Dragon/Baron or the team to destroy first tower. In CS2, you can bet on the team to win both pistol rounds or whether the match will have overtime.
Match Winner (Moneyline)
Match winners, also known as moneylines, don’t need a lengthy explanation. They represent the most basic type of bet, where you aim to guess the winner of the match. Here’s an example:
NaVi vs G2
- NaVi to win at +145
- G2 to win at -165
Totals (Over/Under)
The most common types of esports totals are map totals, total player kills, total team kills, and match duration bets. Your task is to correctly guess whether the final count will be over or under the number specified by the bookmaker.
Here’s an example of a total bet for a LoL match:
SKT1 vs Team Liquid match duration (22.30)
- Over 22 minutes and 30 seconds: -110
- Under 22 minutes and 30 seconds: -110
Correct Score
A correct score bet requires not only guessing the match outcome but also the exact map score. For these bets, the available options depend on the type of the match (bo3, bo5, or bo7). The more rounds there are, the more possibilities to choose from. Here’s an example of a correct score bet:
Vitality vs FURIA (Bo3 clash)
- 2–0: +180
- 2–1: -150
- 1–2: +150
- 0–2: +220
Handicap Bets
Handicap bets, otherwise known as spreads, involve artificial advantages for the underdogs and disadvantages for the heavy favorites. This levels the playing field and makes for a much more exciting experience in heavily one-sided clashes.
For example:
MOUZ vs NiP
- MOUZ -1.5 at -110
- NiP +1.5 at +115
Props
Props represent proposition bets (AKA specials). These bets aren’t based on the final outcome of the match but rather on a specific in-game stat or occurrence. Here are a few examples of prop bets and the esports they can be found in:
- Team to win both pistol rounds (Valorant, CS2)
- Player vs player kills (Valorant, CS2)
- Team to destroy first tower/inhibitor (LoL, Dota 2)
- Team to slay the first major neutral monster (LoL, Dota 2)
- Will there be overtime (Valorant, CS2)
Futures
Futures are special betting markets that take the whole event/competition into account rather than just a single match. For example, futures allow you to bet on the winner of specific tournaments, the MVP award winner of specific tournaments, and similar. Here are the most common futures:
- Team to win outright
- Region of the winner
- To reach the final
- MVP award winner
- Group of the winner
Expert Tip:
Once you’ve found a few valuable bets, we recommend visiting our recommended esports betting sites to do some comparisons. Why? To find out which of them has the lowest margins (in other words, the highest odds) for the bet(s) you’re interested in.
Guide To Live Betting on Esports
Live betting on esports is readily available on the best online bookmakers for US punters. The biggest events, such as the Internationals, LoL Worlds, and CS2 Majors, typically have the best live betting coverage.
For players, live esports betting typically offers more ways to win and a more dynamic and exciting betting experience.
Watch the Game in Real Time
One of our biggest esports betting tips when live betting is to watch the game live in real time. BetOnline integrates livestreams directly into their live betting hubs for a more convenient betting experience.
Understand Game-Specific Tempo Swings
Momentum plays a big part in esports games. Let’s take a LoL match as the perfect example. Team A is winning the early game, but Team B has better late-game team composition, and they’ve just taken the Baron. This is the perfect recipe for a tempo swing. If you can predict it before the odds change too much, you could end up with a fine return.
Capitalize on the Underdog’s Comeback
If the favorite team has won their Valorant map pick, and now the underdogs have 2 maps they’re comfortable on, chances are the underdogs might make a comeback. If you can capitalize on them winning their map pick and wreaking havoc in the third map, you could be in for a hefty return.
Research Team Playstyles
Playstyles are important for all team-based esports, no matter which one you’re primarily interested in. In LoL, you should explore potential team compositions and hard counters. The same goes for Dota 2 and Valorant. For CS2, focus on players’ positioning and their previous head-to-head encounters on specific maps.
Use Live Stats and Heat Maps
Sites for esports betting in the USA, such as BetOnline and Thunderpick, have integrated esports livestreams. You can easily use them to your advantage by analyzing the live stats and predicting momentum shifts. Both can be a great way to boost your winning potential.
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How To Bet on Esports Online
You can start betting on esports within mere minutes. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Step One — Select a Platform
Check out our list of recommended sites for esports betting, do some comparisons, and select one that best fits your needs and preferences.
Step Two — Create an Account
Visit the bookmaker you want using the link from the table. Once there, click on the “Register” or “Join” button and follow the on-screen instructions to create your account.
Step Three — Make a Deposit
All sites for esports betting allow you to make a deposit shortly after creating your account. To do so, head on over to the cashier, select your preferred payment method, enter the amount you’d like to deposit, and authorize the payment.
Step Four — Find Esports Betting Markets
Some sites feature esports as one of their sports betting categories. Meanwhile, the likes of Thunderpick and BetOnline have dedicated esports betting hubs. Simply click on the esports hub/category, and you’ll be presented with a list of available betting options.
Step Five — Choose Your Desired Bet
The most important esports betting tip we can offer is to choose your bet wisely. Research sites like vlr.gg and hltv.org to find useful information that can help you make the most out of your betting slips.
Step Six — Finalize Your First Bet
You can finalize your first bet after double-checking your selection and entered stake. After doing so, simply authorize your transaction and hope for the best!
Popular Esports Games To Bet On
The most popular esports games to bet on are Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, CoD, LoL, and Dota 2. You can find more information on each of them below.
Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is the primary esports betting category on most online bookmakers. That’s simply because it’s been the most consistent esports game for more than a decade now. Majors are still the biggest and most important Counter-Strike events available at CS2 gambling sites, followed by the likes of IEM and BLAST.
- Counter-Strike Majors
- Intel Extreme Masters
- ESL Pro Leagues
- BLAST events
- PGL events
League of Legends
The most popular League of Legends (LoL) events you can bet on at LoL betting sites are the LoL Worlds, the MSI, and regional championships like LCK and LEC. There’s a new kid on the block in the form of the First Stand Tournament, which is now the first cross-regional LoL competition every season.
- League of Legends World Championship (LoL Worlds)
- Mid-Season Invitational (MSI)
- League of Legends regional leagues (LCK, LEC, LTA, LPL, etc.)
- LoL First Stand Tournament
Dota 2
The post-DPC (Dota Pro Circuit) era has been quite confusing for Dota 2 fans and punters. The Internationals are still here, which is what Dota 2 betting sites still cover the most. But there’s an obvious lack of Valve’s events throughout the calendar year. Luckily, third-party events from the likes of DreamLeague and PGL are keeping the scene afloat in terms of betting and competitiveness.
- Dota 2 The Internationals
- DreamLeague events
- PGL Wallachia events
Call of Duty
Call of Duty’s (CoD) competitive scene is still going strong. Bookmakers like BetOnline and Thunderpick offer deep coverage for the CDL and Esports World Cup. Warzone has its own major event too, the World Series of Warzone. It has solid coverage too, but don’t expect Call of Duty betting sites to provide the same depth they do for the CDL.
- Call of Duty League (CDL)
- Esports World Cup
- World Series of Warzone
Valorant
The bread and butter of competitive Valorant esports are the VCT events. Valorant Champions stands as the crème de la crème of the game’s competitive circuit. The best Valorant betting sites, like SportsBetting.ag and BetUS offer deep coverage for all VCT events, with the deepest set of props and specials available during Masters and Champions.
- Valorant Champions events
- Valorant Masters event
- VCT events
Responsible Gambling
We encourage all players to gamble responsibly. Remember that online betting is a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits. Budget your bankroll ahead of time to avoid losing more than you can afford to. Keeping these tips in mind will help you have fun and remain a responsible gambler.
If you are over-preoccupied with thoughts about gambling or exceed your budget regularly, you might benefit from some help. Consider the resources below if you recognize the warning signs and symptoms in yourself or a loved one:
- National Council on Problem Gambling: (202) 547-9204 or NCPGambling.org
- AGA Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct
- Have a Game Plan — Responsible Gambling Resource
- Gambling Responsibly America App (Downloadable)
- Gambler’s Anonymous: gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
Key Takeaways for Esports Betting Online
We’ve gone over several pivotal esports betting tips beginners can use to their advantage. You’ve learned that the biggest esports to bet on are CS2, Dota 2, LoL, CoD, and Valorant.
We’ve also dissected the most common types of esports bets and shared betting on esports tips for maximizing your chance of success.
According to our research, Thunderpick provides the best esports betting experience thanks to immensely deep esports coverage and integrated livestreams.
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