How to bet on esports

From types of bets to the best bookmakers

 

Esports is growing in popularity all the time, with many millions of viewers streaming esports contests of all kinds. It should therefore come as no surprise that esports betting has also become very popular, with thousands of punters placing bets on tournaments for games like CSGO, Dota 2, and League of Legends. Many esports players have become celebrities and there are new games, such as Valorant, for example, becoming a part of the competitive esports scene every year. Esports can only get bigger in the coming years, and knowing how to bet on esports is becoming something that increasing numbers of people want to learn.

If you want the answer to questions like ‘How to bet on LoL esports?’  then you are in the right place. Read on to find out all you need to know about how to bet on esports!

What are esports?

You might be reading this article with a baffled look on your face wondering what esports are. If that is the case then we can put your mind at rest by telling you that esports are competitive video games. Teams of players compete in tournaments at which they play certain video games to win often vast pots of prize money. Spectators watch the matches at the venue where they are taking place or, more commonly, via streaming platforms like Twitch.

What is esports betting?

Esports betting is where you place wagers on the outcomes of esports contests. It follows the same principles as betting on conventional sports, so if you already like to do a bit of betting on sports like soccer, tennis, or ice hockey you will already have some sound principles in place when it comes to putting together a successful strategy for esports betting.

What types of esports bets can you place?

The most popular esports games, such as Dota 2, CSGO, League of Legends, and Call of Duty operate in an adversarial, team-based way that makes it very simple to bet on them. The types of wager that you can place once you have learned how to bet on esports follow the same pattern as bets on sports like soccer or tennis.

One very simple type of bet that you can place on esports matches is to try and predict the winner. This is an easy type of bet to understand but it still requires a thorough knowledge of the esports game on which you are betting. This is why it is a good idea to play any game on which you want to bet before you start betting. Playing games like Valorant or League of Legends will provide you with useful insights you can use to help you place successful bets.

You can also usually find esports markets for events within games like which team will win the most maps, or which player will make the most kills. Obviously, the variety of these markets depends on the games on which you want to bet, as there are variations across different games. Some of these markets can also be found if you try some live esports betting.<

Live betting is something that you can try when you have learned how to bet on esports and have picked up some experience of doing it. Live or in-play betting is where you attempt to accurately predict events within a match while it is taking place. It is a popular form of betting for football fans, but you can find live markets for almost any sport nowadays, including esports. This type of betting requires thorough betting knowledge and a very fast mind, though, as well as good esports knowledge, so we recommend trying once you have picked up a bit of experience.

Where can you bet on esports?

There is an increasing range of bookmakers who offer markets for esports betting. As esports has grown in popularity over the last few years, a larger number of mainstream bookies have become serious about esports. You can now find a good variety of esports markets at bookies like Bet365 and Betway. Betway take esports so seriously that they have commercial partnerships with a number of esports teams and even sponsor one – Ninjas in Pyjamas.

In addition to these conventional online sportsbooks, there is also a growing number of esports specialist bookies, and these can be a good option to take if you want to feel that you’re in the hands of a bookie that really cares about esports. The likes of GG.bet and Unikrn are very good for esports punters and they cover a terrific range of games and offer a superb variety of betting markets. It is also worth looking at what Pinnacle can provide, as they like to offer a tempting range of esports options too.

How to find a good esports bookie

Now that you have learned something about how to bet on esports you need to find the right bookie to place some wagers. Finding a good bookie for esports betting is not hard as long as you stick to some solid principles. Knowing how to open an esports account is not hard to learn, it is the same as opening an account to bet on any other kind of sport.

  • Check that the bookie covers a wide range of esports games.

You don’t want to get bored once you’ve learned how to bet on esports, so check to see that the bookie you are considering using offers markets on several different esports games. Some mainstream bookies only make a token effort when it comes to esports, with perhaps a CSGO tournament covered and little else. It pays to make sure there is a good choice on offer.

  • Look at the bookie’s welcome bonus.

Every bettor likes to receive a nice welcome bonus when they decide to sign up for an account at an online bookie. A good welcome bonus should not just offer tempting value, but should also have fair terms and conditions that allow you to turn it into real cash pretty quickly with some well-chosen bets. You should also always check to see if you need to use a bonus code to claim an offer.

  • Does the bookie have live streaming of esports?

It helps when you are betting on esports if you are able to watch a live stream of the match on which you are betting. It is particularly helpful if you are doing some live esports betting. Some bookies do offer live streams of esports so always check to see what the choices are before you open an account.

  • Is customer service efficient and polite?

When you sign up for an account at an online sportsbook you want to know that you are in good hands. Check that customer service can be reached conveniently via live chat, email, or telephone. They should also answer your queries speedily and politely. Asking a question about their site’s welcome bonus is often a good way of checking the quality of customer service at a bookie.

  • See if there is a mobile app available.

If you’re keen on learning how to bet on esports then the chances are good that will like to wager on your phone or tablet. If a sportsbook is offering a mobile app then the chances are that it is a good bookie. Check to make sure that you can watch live streams on the app too.

Conclusion

Learning how to bet on esports is not difficult to do and if you already have some experience of conventional sports betting then you have a good foundation in place on which you can build. Many of the types of bets that you can place on esports are the same as you can place on conventional sports. Finding a bookie once you have learned how to bet on esports is a case of checking the range of esports markets, the value that the welcome bonus offers, and whether or not there is any live streaming on offer. If all of those things are in place, along with good customer service and a mobile app, you are ready to get stuck into some esports betting!

How to bet on esports FAQs

The truth is that esports betting is actually very similar indeed to betting on more conventional sports. If you already have some knowledge of general sports betting then you are very likely to already know how to bet on esports. Of course, you still need esports specific knowledge about teams, players, and tournaments if you want to be successful. Knowing how to bet on an esports match is about much more than simply knowing about bet types and odds.

Just as the weather has no effect on esports so tournaments can be played all year round, bookies accept bets on esports all year round. Of course, your betting options are shaped by what is happening in the world of esports at the time. Tournaments for different esports games take place at different times of year so check the schedules at esports news sites to see what upcoming events take your fancy when it comes to esports betting.