It is obvious that eSports betting is on the rise and expected to reach soaring figures by the end of 2020. In 2016 alone, about $6 billion was spent on eSports gambling, a number expected to be as high as $26 billion by early 2021. But eSports betting is not as simple as sports betting and those new to the process may need to buckle up for lots of risks, and possibilities of eSports gambling.
What Are eSports?
eSports are an electronic sport. Yes, it’s that simple! Players round up against each other in a game that is in electronic form. eSports commonly involves players gaming as teams rather than individually. If you’re picturing eSports players like a bunch of lazy dudes wearing pajamas, and battling it out in home PCs, then you’re completely wrong. eSports competitions are very popular and take place in arenas all around the world. These tournaments draw up a large number of people as well.
As technology advanced, the fanbase is even larger with live streams online and on some television networks. If you’ve ever told your friend you’ll pay him $30 if he beats you in a video game tournament, then you’ve already gambled on eSports. The concept of eSport gambling started a long time ago and payouts have reached millions. For instance, the International 6 is one of the most expensive eSports competitions with the prize pool reaching $20.6 million.
Bookies and Online Casinos
eSports are available in online bookies and casinos. The first step is to look for a site that allows eSports betting and has convenient payment options. If you don’t know where to start, Top10Casinos.com may help you to find the best online casinos that provide this as an option. You’ll also be able to find casino bonuses that you can use on the latest slots.
What Are The Betting Types In eSports
Just as traditional sports, there are several ways to gamble on eSports. Each of the betting types has its own perks and cons. Some will be ideal for experienced gamblers while others are better suited for beginners.
As mentioned earlier social betting is the most fundamental way of eSports betting. It still has its own complications as they are unregulated and can easily do more harm. For instance, when you bet with friends or strangers in an informal capacity, if either of you does not fulfill their end of the bargain, there can easily be misunderstandings and may lead to breakdowns.
Social betting is a better place for beginners and can be a fun way to start placing stakes on eSports gambling. However, once you get your feet wet, you’ll easily grow out of it as scaling up in social betting is nearly impossible.
Real money betting works on the same principles like those of sports betting. Here, you place your wager on fixed odds for an outcome of a match. eSports betting on real cash has risen in past years due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most traditional sports were halted for a while and eSports betting was more popular than ever.
Skin betting is a type of wagering that is unique to eSports alone. It makes up about 90% of all gambling. It refers to playing to get in-game skins that give players a better look but no actual competitive advantage. Skins allow players to customize their clothes, weapons and character in general. Skins, therefore, act as statuses of symbols and make gamers with so many unlocked skins look the best in the game. There’s little truth to this concept, but the perception is what fuels skin betting.
Fantasy sports betting is also another form of eSports gambling which works more or less like traditional sports. However, each gamer gets to choose their own team with an allocated set of money. As the team players compete in real-life, they gain or lose points in the virtual team you created and then points are calculated in total and whichever gamer that has the most points at the end of the season is the winner.
Fantasy sports betting is a game of skill and can be tricky for beginners who are not familiar with fantasy sports. It is a game that requires in-depth knowledge of the players involved and needs constant attention over the whole season period.
Betting With Real Money On eSports
Now that you understand the different types of betting on eSports, let’s look at how you can wager with cash. Just like traditional sports, there are lots of daily eSports matches happening all over the world and it gives you endless opportunities to place bets.
Once you have chosen a gambling site to place your eSports bets, open an account, place your deposit and make your wager. But if you’re a professional gambler, you know that there’s at least some research work needed before placing any wager. Make sure you know some background about the team or player. Research helps you get better odds and improve your gambling skills.
Skin Betting On eSports
Making money through skin betting can be a skill that’s tricky to understand. It is not as simple as placing a wager on your preferred team. PC gamers hold the majority of skin gamblers and they use Steam as a platform for making skin bets. As you can see, it is a process that takes place on a computer and not a console.
Once a player earns or purchases a certain skin, they can transfer them to their Steam library and onto a skin gambling site. These sites allow you to exchange skins for currency or place wagers with the skin. You can place a chunk of skin wagers in any game and make your bets. Skin gambling can easily get you lots of money in just a few hours. If you win, you can continue gambling with your skins or sell them to a cash payout on a secondary market.
eSportsBetting Strategies For Beginners
Choose The Game You Know Best
Once you enter the realm of eSports, you’ll see a wide range of games from CS: GO to League of Legends. Though some games get released each year, it is advisable to stick to those that you know very well. If you have spent hours playing Call Of Duty and know all the strategies, then you will be in a better position to notice when a player makes a mistake or if they are more likely to win.
On the other hand, the less you know about a complex game like League of Legends, the less likely you are to predict who will win the game. So it is always best to narrow down on a game that you know the ins and outs.
Set Your Budget And Stick To it
Someone who is good at sports betting will tell you how important it is to set limits to what amount you want to wager on in eSports. Betting, in general, is quite addictive and it is important to bet enough amounts on each game. eSports is hugely unpredictable and there’s a good possibility that you can lose on a wager from time to time. But if you make a reasonable budget, you can get a nice amount of winnings or lose just enough to keep you going the next time.
Dig Deeper On Key eSports Players
Sometimes it pays off to know the pro gamers a little better even though popular sports like Overwatch are hugely-team sports. We have seen big names like Marcelo “Coldzera” and Lee “Faker” put out some amazing performances in the past. These are legendary names and whenever you see their names pop out in competitions, you know they are capable of landing you a winning bet. Similarly, if you hear a start player having a bad run of form, you can avoid betting on them for a while.
Timing Is Everything
When you have an idea on eSports betting, it is important to know how to time your bets. Know when to use a betting bonus, change your betting market, or when to place outright bets on competition winners, for instance. Timing is what will help you get better odds and avoid making bets too early or too late in the game. Do your research to a T and make sure everything is in place when you wager on a certain player. At times, your instinct may help you, so make use of it as well.