Esports betting may look very similar to sports betting, but in fact, it’s completely different, with a few exceptions. In betting on esports matches, bettors are always looking for the biggest value, but the safest bet. Together with some markets that are specific for each game, most of the regular esports bettors are using the 3 most popular esports bets that can be found in the sports markets too.
Three basic esports bets:
- Overall winner / Match winner / Money line
As in sports betting, this market and bet is the most popular among esports users too. Why? Well, because it requires less knowledge about the game and it’s easiest to place this bet without going deeper into the reasons or analysis. With this bet, you are picking the overall winner of a series or a match.
Mostly, in esports, matches are being played in more than 1 map, for example, best of 3 series, where all 3 maps can potentially be played (unless a 2-0 or 0-2 result). If you put a bet on the overall or match winner, you are targeting the team that will win the whole series, which means the best of 3 series. Of course, matches can be played in best of 1, best of 2, best of 5 series, etc. The same rule applies.
- Map handicap
Another very popular bet in esports is called map handicap, and it’s specific for esports markets only. There are handicaps in sports too, but different kinds. Map handicap bets can be used for example in best of 3 or best of 5 matches where multiple maps are being played. Basically, with map handicap you are wagering on the advantage of each team and the end map difference between the teams. Handicap bets are marked as “+” or “-”.
For example, in a game like League of Legends, you get to place a handicap bet of +1.5 on a team before the match, which will give your team an advantage of 1.5 games. That way, you’ll get paid if the team wins one game in the set or the entire match.
To make this easier for you, we have Team A and Team B playing a best-of-3 series. You place a +1.5 handicap bet on team A which means if team A wins at least 1 map out of 3 possible, you have won your bet. If the result is 2-0 for team B, or if team A doesn’t manage to take a single map, you will lose your bet.
- Map winners
Live betting on certain maps after a draft stage is widely popular in esports. A lot of bettors are taking advantage of streams and draft stages between games (for example Dota 2 or League of Legends) to be able to catch good odds very early in the game. Of course, those bets need to be placed via live betting. Betting on certain teams winning a map 1, 2, or 3 is possible too via pre-match, but it’s not as efficient as live betting, and it’s very random or luck based. When you are betting on a map winner, you are targeting only that map and the winning team, no matter the final result of a series.
Other interesting esports bets:
Total Maps. In a best of 3 or best of 5 series, total map bets can be placed. Basically, you can place a bet on such a market if you think some series will go over/under 2.5 or over/under 3.5 maps. For example, placing an Over 2.5 bet in a best of 3 series means that you predict that teams/players will play all 3 maps. If the end result is 2-0 or 0-2, and only 2 maps are being played, you will lose your bet.
First kill. This is applicable to LoL, Dota 2, Counter-Strike and other games. Basically, it’s very similar to betting on the first goal in a soccer match. For example, in League of Legends, you can predict which team will first kill the opponent champion on a map.
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