The history of esports is a long and storied one, with roots tracing back to the early days of video gaming. While the exact origins are difficult to pinpoint, it is safe to say that esports as we know them today began to take shape in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the advent of online multiplayer gaming and competitive tournaments.
Since then, esports has grown exponentially in popularity, with professional leagues and tournaments now being held all over the world. And as the esports industry continues to evolve, so too does the way in which people bet on these competitions.
If you’re new to esports betting, then this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything you need to know about how to bet on esports, from the different types of bets available on esports bookmakers to the most popular markets and tournaments.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
The Different Types of Esports Bets
As with any other sport, there are a variety of different types of bets that can be placed in esports competitions. The most common and straightforward of these is the Moneyline bet, which simply requires you to pick the team or player that you think will win the match.
For example, let’s say that you wanted to place a Moneyline bet on the result of an Overwatch match between Team A and Team B. The odds for this particular match might look something like this:
Team A: 2.00
Team B: 1.80
In this example, Team A is the underdog, while Team B is the favorite. This means that if you were to bet on Team A and they won the match, you would stand to win $2 for every $1 that you bet. Conversely, if you bet on Team B and they won, you would only win $0.80 for every $1 that you bet.
As you can see, then, there is more risk involved in betting on an underdog, but the potential rewards are also greater.
Another popular type of bet in esports is the Map Bet, which as the name suggests, requires you to pick the team that you think will win a particular map. For example, in a best-of-three Counter-Strike: Global Offensive match, you could place a Map Bet on which team will win the first map.
Map Bets are often used in conjunction with Moneyline bets, as they provide a way to increase your chances of winning while also potentially increasing your winnings.
Finally, there are also Prop bets, which are wagers on events that may or may not happen during a match. For example, you could place a Prop bet on whether or not a particular player will get a “kill” during the match.
While there are many different types of Prop bets, they all share one common characteristic: they are usually based on luck, rather than skill.
The Most Popular Esports Tournaments
Now that you know the different types of bets that can be placed on esports matches, it’s time to take a look at some of the most popular tournaments. After all, what good is knowing how to bet if there’s nowhere to place your bets?
The International
The International is an annual Dota 2 tournament that is organized by Valve Corporation, the developers of the game. First held in 2011, it is now the largest and most prestigious tournament in the Dota 2 calendar, with a prize pool that regularly exceeds $20 million.
The event takes place over the course of a week, with the main tournament being preceded by a series of qualifier matches. The grand final is usually held at a major arena, with the most recent edition taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.
The League of Legends World Championship
The League of Legends World Championship is an annual tournament that is organized by Riot Games, the developers of the game. First held in 2011, it is now one of the largest and most prestigious tournaments in the esports calendar, with a prize pool that regularly exceeds $5 million.
The event takes place over the course of a month, with the main tournament being preceded by a series of qualifier matches. The grand final is usually held at a major arena, with the most recent edition taking place at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China.
The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships
The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships are annual tournaments that are organized by Valve Corporation, the developers of the game. First held in 2013, they are now some of the largest and most prestigious tournaments in the esports calendar, with a prize pool that regularly exceeds $1 million.
The event takes place over the course of a week, with the main tournament being preceded by a series of qualifier matches. The grand final is usually held at a major arena, with the most recent edition taking place at the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland.
The Overwatch World Cup
The Overwatch World Cup is an annual tournament that is organized by Blizzard Entertainment, the developers of the game. First held in 2016, it is now one of the largest and most prestigious tournaments in the esports calendar, with a prize pool that regularly exceeds $1 million.
The event takes place over the course of a week, with the main tournament being preceded by a series of qualifier matches. The grand final is usually held at a major arena, with the most recent edition taking place at the Blizzard Arena in Burbank, California.
The Call of Duty World League Championship
The Call of Duty World League Championship is an annual tournament that is organized by Activision, the developers of the game. First held in 2013, it is now one of the largest and most prestigious tournaments in the esports calendar, with a prize pool that regularly exceeds $1 million.
The event takes place over the course of a week, with the main tournament being preceded by a series of qualifier matches. The grand final is usually held at a major arena, with the most recent edition taking place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
With so many different tournaments taking place throughout the year, there is always an opportunity to place a bet on your favorite game. So what are you waiting for? Get started today and see if you can make some profits!
