Even if you currently know next to nothing about gambling, you have probably noticed that there is a lot more talk about online sports betting in the US these days. Since the laws changed back in 2018, many states now have legal sports betting – with plenty of others trying to get legislation passed.
What you might not know is that sports betting also covers betting on esports. It depends on what your state’s laws are – for example, Georgia sports betting fans are still waiting for everything to be signed off. But, if you can bet on sports, you can bet on esports. So, if you are a gamer, you might find that you have suddenly have a little more interest in betting than you previously thought.
How to Get Started
Many of the new sports betting laws are concerned with online sportsbooks. This means that you don’t have to travel anywhere to place a bet. But you will need to sign up for a new customer account with an online sportsbook. This is a very quick and easy process though, so you don’t have anything to worry about there.
Finding the right online sportsbook might be more difficult if you are a complete novice. But you will find that they really want your business – and are quite happy offering bonuses to entice you. Read all the small print so you know what is required – but once you sign up with a sportsbook you can start exploring the betting options.
What Esports Can You Bet On?
If you already enjoy playing games – and know about esports – you are already starting off with a head start over traditional sports bettors. It is probably better to concentrate on the games you already play when it comes to placing bets. But all the big names are covered when it comes to esports betting.
You may have even played in tournaments that have had betting markets offered by the sportsbooks. The popular CS:GO competitions attract some of the biggest numbers when it comes to betting, but there are also markets for League of Legends, Dota 2 and many more. Traditional sports bettors tend to start off with more sport-related titles like FIFA. But you can take your pick.
Figure 2 Sportsbooks offer thousands of markets for the big esports tournaments
Esports Betting Options
It really depends on which esports you want to bet on as to what your options are. But there are some more general betting markets that cover most esports. The outright winner option is a favorite – and is exactly what it sounds like. Just pick the gamer or team that you think will come out on top and decide how much you want to stake.
But if you want to take a deeper dive into esports betting you might want to explore the more detailed markets. For example, in CS:GO you might be able to bet on the first team to get to ten kills. For League of Legends it could be that you bet on who will win the first map. When you know the games, you should be able to work out which odds offer good value.
Esports Betting Strategies
When it comes to betting on esports the main strategies are remarkably similar to what you should do if you were betting on more traditional sports. The main thing is to know what you are betting on. That might sound a little strange – but placing ill-informed bets is more common than you might think.
The best rule to impose on yourself is to only bet on the esports you either play or know very well. Then you can concentrate on doing your research on games and players, finding the best value odds, or making a proper budget for your betting. You will get to know more about betting by actually placing bets – but you should know the esports first.
The Future of Esports Betting
Esports betting is only going to become more popular and more widespread. Online sportsbooks are keen to get in on the market – and customers are looking for more gambling options. If you already have good esports knowledge as a gamer, it might be worth looking in to.
