Live esports betting – some basics…
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Esports tournament events
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Esports live betting
I’m intending for this guide to be something of a crash course for first-timers, but equally I don’t want to bore any of you guys who’ve spent many an hour betting on esports already yourselves. So, allow me to keep the basics relatively brief.
Esports live betting is pretty much the same as putting down regular bets on your favourite esports. Almost. Here’s how bog-standard betting and in-play betting differ:
| What it means | A quick example |
| Regular esports betting | Putting down an esports wager before a big game takes place. | Backing your favourite team to win a major Call of Duty (COD) tournament a day or so ahead of the event. |
| Live or “in-play” betting | Betting on esports in real-time, as a game unfolds. | Wagering on your favourite player to hit another three headshots in a Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) game mid-way through that particular game. |
And that’s about all you guys ought to know about the basics. But wait. What kind of bets can you put down? How can you tell whether
esport betting odds
are competitive? And how does the process of putting down a live bet actually work? Read on and all will be revealed, my friends.
What kinds of wagers are accepted when you bet live on esports?
Put simply, all the same kinds of bets you’d be able to put down ahead of a game. So, if you’re looking at a multiplayer first-person shooter like Overwatch, for example, you’ll be able to put down basic bets on things like:
- Match winner.
- Outright winner.
- Handicap.
Equally, you’ll see more specific and focused bet options on the table depending on the game you’re dealing with. So, with Tom Clancy’s
Rainbow Six betting, for example, you might be able to drop a bet or two on:
- First kill.
- Headshots.
- Total kills.
- Most Valuable Player (MVP).
- Individual map winner.
Now of course, it’s also worth considering that most esports games don’t last forever – even the most long-winded COD tournaments are over in minutes when the titans of gaming take to their keyboards, right? Well, this means that you’re going to need a certain set of skills to get the most out of esports betting live.
I’d argue that bettors who consider themselves good at the following, for example, are perhaps best suited to this kind of betting:
- Knowing one particular esport inside-out.
- Accurately predicting abilities/wins/kills etc.
- Placing multiple bets under pressure.[/toggle-item]
In a nutshell, esports live betting ain’t for the faint of heart. At times, you’ll be dropping bets 20, 10 or maybe even five minutes (or seconds) before a game ends, so will need to be able to read the air super-quickly. You’ll also need to know a thing or two about odds – which are likely to change frequently and in real-time as a game unfolds.
How can you tell whether esports live odds are fair?
In the esports betting live world, the way odds work is a little more complicated than when you’re putting down traditional, ahead-of-time bets. What I mean by that is, just as you’ll be editing betting slips and putting down wagers in real-time, bookies will be adjusting their odds to compensate for micro-changes mid-game simultaneously.
This means that when you bet live on esports, you really need to be on your toes. You’ll need to keep a watchful eye on things like player performances and game dynamics as the action unfolds – which is a little easier if your favoured site offers live-streaming capabilities.
In fact, choosing the right betting site is essential, as some betting brands themselves will of course offer better odds than others on specific games, too.
It’s tough for me to recommend one standout all-rounder for the following reasons:
- Betting sites are geo-restricted.
- Your favourite game won’t always be covered.
- Odds themselves can vary by region.
On this page, and elsewhere on my site, you’ll see targeted banners for some of today’s hottest live esports betting sites that are available where you live. My advice would be to compare sites alongside one another, to ensure you’re locking in the best possible odds on your preferred game. This is something I can definitely help you with – as I’ve a ton of comparison articles and expert guides for you to browse. Take as long as you need.
Putting down an esports live bet – how it works
Ready to bet live on esports? I’ve good news and bad news. The good? It’s generally an easy process so long as you’re using a trusted bookmaker that offers an uncomplicated and user-friendly betting site or app.
And the bad? Well, esports live betting is admittedly a little more complex than dropping a traditional bet before a big game takes place.
Step by step, here’s roughly how it all works, in seven easy steps:
Step 1
Use my trusted comparison articles and the banners on this page to find a betting site/app that offers competitive odds on your favourite esport.
Step 2
Click through to whichever site takes your fancy – then make sure they hold an iGaming license and offer legal esports betting where you live.
Step 3
If all’s good, sign-up for a new account. Give a few minutes for ID or KYC checks and don’t forget to claim any esports live betting bonuses if the site has these available. You’ll also need to hook-up a payment method and deposit some funds.
Step 4
Browse their esports game selection. Locate your favourite game and dive right in. Be sure to open-up a live stream of the event you’ll be wagering on, if the betting site offers this service.
Step 5
Keep a close eye on the action and any esports live scores. Click to open a betting slip and, when ready, put down your bets. Carefully.
Step 6
Continue watching the action – you may want to add in some additional bets at the last minute should the course of the winds change.
Step 7
When ready, it’s time to cash out. I’d recommend using the same payment method you deposited with, as this will usually help you avoid any additional verification checks.
The pros and cons of esports live betting revealed
Betting on esports
in real-time is a hoot. But I’m afraid to say, it isn’t for everyone. Here’s a quick pros and cons rundown:
- Bet in real-time.
- Make myriad bet combinations.
- Enjoy faster-paced thrills.
- Live-streaming is sometimes available.
- Less time to plan-out your bets.
Basically, being able to bet live on esports is a blast if you enjoy the thrill of piecing together bet slips and making split-second game outcome predictions as a big game unfolds before your very eyes.
With the best betting sites, you’ll be able to put down endless combinations of bets, as I explored earlier, and might even be able to live-stream selected tournaments to boot. But (and it’s a big but), if you’re a more strategic kind of bettor who likes to have ample planning time, then traditional advance betting may very well be a better fit for you.
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What are the best esports live betting sites now?
I’m sure you guys are all real keen to hear my answer on this one, but I’m afraid to say things aren’t as simple as me being able to say “X” site is best for live esports gambling”. Why? Well, as I said earlier, the best betting sites will always vary from one region to another.
I’ve set up the banners on this page – and pretty much every other page across my site – to display my favourite iGaming sites wherever you live. Feel free to have a click around to see what each has to offer in terms of esports live betting. You won’t be disappointed, I’m sure. Just make sure any site you go for has:
- A recognised iGaming license.
- Competitive odds.
- A broad selection of esports.
- 24/7 customer support.
- SSL encryption.
A quick checklist before you bet live on esports – get more out of your iGaming bets with these tips
I’m sure you’re all ready to go by now, but hang on a second. It’s important you guys master the following before you dive in:
Understand 100% how live betting on esports works…
As I’ve said time and again, live betting is different from in-advance betting. You’ll need to keep a close eye on what’s happening in your game of choice at all times, taking into account things like player performances before putting down your bets.
You’ll also need to act quickly – very quickly. So, if one player starts to really excel in the last five minutes, or the tides suddenly turn against the winning team, perhaps your next best bet will need to change?
Check for fair and competitive odds…
Before placing any bet on live sports, you should compare the odds your bookmaker is offering on your favourite game to those advertised by competitors.
My comparisons can help you do this before you register with a brand to bet, but you’ll also need to factor in the fact that live betting odds are constantly updated in real-time.
Pick a site that offers the game access (and betting tools) you need…
This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many seasoned bettors I talk to overlook this one. You should peruse a betting brand’s esports selection very carefully pre-registration, to make sure they offer access to your favourite games.
Check-out how their in-play betting options for things like kills, headshots and map wins fare against the bet types competitors are offering before you bet live on esports, too. If you’ll be betting from your smartphone or tablet, double-checking device compatibility is equally important.
See whether you can bag any live betting esports bonuses…
Bonus offers are basically the bread and butter of esports betting sites – but not all bookmakers will offer promotions that are live betting-friendly. Depending on your region, you might also need to punch in special
esports betting bonus codes
to activate any offers that are, too, so always check the T&Cs.
The best place to find the latest offers where you live is, of course, by checking the frequently-updated banners on my site right here.
Don’t stray from your strategy
Now, if you want to bet live on esports, there are a ton of different strategies out there to choose from, many of which I’ve written extensively about. There’s a guide here for just about everything – just have a look for yourself.
One place many players tend to slip-up, though, is in getting too tempted to test out every strategy and betting tip under the sun, when in reality, settling on one single, tried-and-tested approach and sticking to it is the best way to crank up the fun and keep easy track of all your bets.
Conclusion – betting on esports live is a blast. For most…
I’m a massive fan of in-play betting and by now you can probably see why. The ability to put down all kinds of different bets on your favourite esports in real-time really ramps the action up to eleven, especially if you’re dealing with a bookie that lets you live-stream your favourite games or you’re a bettor with a penchant for reading the air.
But be warned – understanding how live betting actually works and the pressure involved in placing last-minute bets is vital, and there’s no way in hell esports live betting will be a good fit for everyone. If you do fancy giving it a try, though, you’ll find the best available live betting sites in your region displayed in the banners across my site. And who knows, you might even be able to bag a live betting-friendly bonus to boot.
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Esports live betting FAQ
🔍 Do all bookmakers accept live bets on esports?
No – some do, some don’t. You can discover the best betting brands for live esports betting with my expert guides and reviews right here.
🎲 Which betting brand is best for in-play betting?
It’s pretty difficult to say, as not all sites are available in all regions, and some are a better fit for certain sports, esports and games than others. The good news? My comparisons can help you find the right iGaming site for you.
🎮 What are the cons of esports live betting?
Well… it’s fast-paced, requires solid game knowledge and an ability to make quick decisions under pressure. My guides explore how live betting and regular, ahead-of-time betting, work in detail.
