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Real-time strategy games are perfect targets for online wagering, which is why Starcraft 2 betting can be enjoyed far and wide with many of today’s top sportsbooks and betting apps.
But how does betting on Blizzard Entertainment’s flagship sci-fi title actually work? Well, as there are two competing players in most games, you can guess who’s gonna be match winner, map winner, or even outright winner of a multi-leg tournament. It’s a game that’s easy to understand and fun to get involved with, so what are you waiting for?
I’m sure 99% of you guys know a fair bit about this already – perhaps more than me, even. So, I’m not going to dwell too much on the ins and outs of the game itself, but here’s a basic description of how Starcraft 2 actually works; which is something I reckon everybody should at least know before giving online betting at Starcraft 2 a go.
Starcraft 2, is a sci-fi strategy game powered by Blizzard Entertainment. At its core, it’s a player-vs-player (PVP) affair. In the competitive world, two players will go head-to-head across anywhere from three to five maps. Each one will need to start out by selecting a species: Protoss, Terran or Zerg, and will get their own base, plus a team of 12 workers right off the bat. From there, the two competing players must get to work:
There’s a big battlefield of the kind you’d get in something like World of Warcraft (WoW) but of course, only two players are competing here, rather than a whole bunch of different people all at once. This really streamlines things when it comes to betting on Starcraft 2 – because you’re basically always going to be betting on one player or the other. In the next section, I’ll look at how that works.
Good news for any of you who are relatively new to esports betting – despite Starcraft 2’s undeniably complex maps and game mechanics, esports betting on Starcraft 2 is relatively straightforward. You just need to know enough about the game, and the players involved in the match, to spot the right wagering opportunities.
So, while Starcraft 2 players themselves are grappling with three warring species, and the competing pressures of training teams, building bases, and battling enemies simultaneously, all you need to worry about is, in a nutshell, who might win.
Below, I’ve put together a handy table to show you the most prevalent types of bet available for Starcraft 2, plus a very brief explanation of each.
Bet type | What is it? | How does it work? |
---|---|---|
Match winner | Basically, placing a bet on one of the two players to win a match (which is made up of three to five maps). | Simply pick which player you think will win the match, of course. |
Map winner | Betting on one player to win one specific map (e.g., Map 1). | It’s pretty self-explanatory, really… |
Correct map score | This one’s a little more specific. You’ll need to try and second-guess what a map’s final score will be. | Pick a score, punch it in and place your bet. You’ll usually need to guess the correct map score exactly. |
Tournament winner | Basically the same as betting on a match or map winner, except you’re betting on the overall tournament winner, here. | Pick which player you think will be victorious come the end of the tournament. |
Well… just as when you’re dropping bets at the best Madden betting sites, things can be as easy or as complicated as you want them to be, really.
You see, all sports betting sites vary in terms of what kinds of betting choices and odds they offer for different games. Take a click around the banners on this page, and you’ll find betting apps that are available in your region, each with a slightly different take in terms of its esports betting options.
If you like things spicy, perhaps the best way to make things interesting is to seek out sites that cover huge Starcraft 2 events taking place anywhere from South Korea to Italy and Poland, such as:
The potential six-figure prizes up-for-grabs to the best Starcraft tacticians certainly make things feel a whole lot more thrilling – and you can expect Starcraft 2 betting bonuses and odds at the best sites to get seriously competitive when such events are taking place, too.
And of course, you can always experiment with the following bet types and strategies to spice things up even more:
In recent months, I’ve penned everything from guides on how to bet on FIFA games to walkthroughs about how individual iGaming strategies work. Feel free to have a click around the site if you need any further guidance, guys.
If you opt for live betting, though, keep in mind that the ever-changing game dynamics of Starcraft 2 and the fast-paced nature of the game mean that, well… let’s just say you’re going to have to be on your toes at all times…
At their most basic level, odds are a probability that something may (or may not) happen.
I’ll give you a typical Starcraft 2 betting example using the former, as decimals are the format used by the vast majority of modern sportsbooks these days.
So, let’s say you’re looking at odds of 5.1 on MrMassacre to win the third map. Drop $100, and you may very well see $510 come your way. Basically, decimal odds always work in the same way: just multiply your stake by the odds you’re looking at. Simple.
A lot of people ask me this and, to be honest, it always puts me in a bit of a pickle because there is no single answer. Why? Well, in short, it depends on where you live. You see, the betting brands in each country or region vary – which is why this site offers every visitor geo-targeted recommendations for where they are located, on every page, including this one.
Don’t worry yourself thinking it’s going to take you an absolute age to locate the right site for you, though. As I said, you’ll see banners promoting some of the very best Starcraft 2 betting providers available for where you live right here on this page. And yes, I’ve already tested these out for myself and can confirm every single one is absolutely epic.
In recent years, the number of people betting on Starcraft 2 has really blown up. In a sense, betting on the game has become almost as popular as the actual game itself, which now gets centre stage at several global tournaments annually, as I mentioned earlier.
But whether this is your first foray into Starcraft 2 betting, or you’ve bet on esports a hundred times before and are simply looking for a new place to hang out, here are a few things I’d advise keeping in mind:
In the run-up to the likes of the Starcraft 2 World Championship Series or the ESL Pro Tour, chances are bookmakers are gonna start advertising Starcraft 2-friendly bonuses – and my advice would be to claim these while you can.
But – and it’s a big but – be very careful with the T&Cs. Some promotions might only be available in selected countries, compatible with certain credit or debit cards, or require you to deposit above a certain threshold before you can qualify. Don’t get caught out by the small print, basically.
Many of today’s best betting sites offer iOS or Android apps – and these can sometimes be easier and more convenient to use than the brands’ regular platforms.
Whether you want a NBA 2K betting app for iPhone, or a Google Pixel-friendly app with killer Starcraft 2 odds, be sure to compare the market to find the app that has the features you want. For example, I always look out for:
Betting on Starcraft 2 just like the game itself, is a blast. But even if this is your absolute favorite game, many bookmakers offer immense selections of odds covering all different kinds of PvP, strategy and battle games and, as the old saying goes, you shouldn’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
So, check out what other games are on offer, compare odds between sportsbook brands to ensure what you’re looking at is competitive, and try to go for a brand that offers a great esports selection, just in case you ever fancy a change of pace or game. Hint: you’ll find that the brands you can see displayed in the banners of this page do all that, and more.
So, Starcraft 2 may very well be a sci-fi strategy game with convoluted rules, competing forces and endless possibilities, but actually betting on Starcraft 2 is a lot simpler than you might think.
Why? Well, the majority of bet types offered by top bookmakers are, very straightforward. This means you’ll be backing things like one player to win a map or dominate three-to-five maps over the course of a match, rather than whether an individual Terran or Zerg gathers a specific resource or is first to erect a Townhall. And of course, these kinds of all-or-nothing bets are ideal if you’re relatively new to esports betting.
But look hard enough, and there are sites out there offering a greater range of bet variants and odds for more hardcore bettors, too. Just check out the banners on this page and you’ll see a whole universe of different betting sites and apps. But be warned – the game moves very quickly and this is definitely something to take into consideration if you’re going to be placing any live bets.
Bonuses are unveiled and rotated all the time by today’s top betting sites. What’s available (and where) will always vary depending on where you live, which is why you’ll need my regionalized reviews, comparisons, and guides to locate the best betting bonuses available to you personally. Generally, though, Starcraft 2-friendly bonuses are super-common, particularly during times that big global tournaments are being run.
Well… your first step is going to be to read up on Starcraft 2 betting strategies, then pick a reliable sportsbook that’s properly licensed in your region. I can help you with both of these – check out the banners on this page where you’ll see my top recommended Starcraft 2 betting sites for your location.
To be fair, most betting sites offer odds on things like match winner, map winner, correct map score and overall tournament winner. Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more complex or high-stakes, there’ll usually be other options available, too – and you can also experiment with things like accumulators and live or in-play bets. Check out the banners on this page where you’ll see a selection of my recommended sportsbooks displayed.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.