The booming esports sector has not only broadened the appeal of video games to the masses, it has also led a rise in esports betting. In the past, video game enthusiasts might have been happy to find a fellow audience to watch the outcomes of major fixtures and events, but as audiences grow, the appetite for gambling opportunity has also increased. In 2020, an estimated 23 billion US dollars was spent on wagers on esports fixtures. Much of this money was bet on big tournaments and major esports titles, such as The International DOTA 2 Championships.
Having an insight into player performance and individual gaming titles will of course give you an edge if you’re looking to wager on the outcome of esports events, but coming good on a bet is no longer a tall order. In fact, esports platforms like 1337PRO make it incredibly simple for the uninitiated to get involved. Looking to place a wager on an esports event for the first time? Our guide has some essential tips and strategies to help you see a serious return on your investment.
Esport Tournaments Worth Betting On
The best odds and betting opportunity tend to lie with the biggest esports tournaments. We’ve already talked a little about The International, a DOTA 2 tournament that is organized annually by the developers of the game themselves. Another major event to consider betting on is the Fortnite World Cup, organized by Epic Games. This battle royale tournament is one of the most viewed events of its kind, attracting millions of live viewers and tens of thousands of live spectators. The collective prize pool for the Fortnite World Cup has exceeded 30 million dollars since 2019, which should give you an idea of the kind of big ticket wins available to punters.
Esports Betting Explained
If you your esports bet to come good, you’ll first need to have some familiarity with basic betting practices. Thankfully, esports betting isn’t too dissimilar from conventional betting. Wagering on the outright winner of an event or tournament is one of the easiest ways to bet. Generally speaking, odds are fairly narrow with this type of bet, although you might make some money if you successful bet on a rank outsider. Match odds are another popular betting variant. This type of bet involves you having to successfully predict the winner of an individual match or fixture. Odds for this type of bet are generally more favorable and can result in more generous returns. However, if you want to succeed with this type of bet, you’ll need to do your research. Looking into player performance and event histories is definitely advised.
If you prefer more of a challenge and want to bring some risk into your betting activity, you could also consider handicap bets. These bets are often brought into play when one opponent is at a clear disadvantage and are designed to level the playing field somewhat when it comes to betting activity. Finally, you can have a look into over/under betting. In esports, this type of bet sees you wagering on very specific elements of play, such as the total number of kills a player may secure by the end of a game.
Tips for Betting Success
Even if you’re looking to play it safe by betting on an outright winner, you should always carry out due diligence before placing a wager. It’s recommended that you consult the guidance of betting platforms for odds, as well as delve into performance history to get a good idea of how likely it is your bet will come to fruition. As with traditional sports betting, esports betting odds are also likely to change considerably as an event or tournament draws near. Ideally, you should be looking to place your bet as close to the start of an event as possible to secure the best odds and returns on your wagering investment.
