What is esports betting?
Put simply, esports betting is all about competitive video gaming. Teams of players battle it out against each other in regulated tournaments to win massive cash prizes while playing video games. You just have to figure out who you want to bet and how. The most popular bet type, in my opinion, is to back the winner.
That’s just one aspect of the multi-faceted esports wagering experience. You can choose to bet on the tournament winner or individual player performance. With the latter, you’re predicting the best player, the player with the most points, or the most valuable player. Your options are virtually infinite.
Types of esports bets
As I mentioned, esports betting is characterized by several bet types that suit different player skills. I’ll highlight the 5 most common ones in the table below.
| Bet Type | How it Works |
| Match Winner | The simplest bet, where you predict the match winner. |
| Tournament Winner | With the Tournament Winner esports bet, you’re predicting the team to emerge victorious in the entire tournament. |
| First Kill/ First Blood | Just like you’d wager on the first team to score in a football match, you’re betting on the team you think will make the first kill in an esports match. |
| First Map | Popular in first-person shooter games like CS:GO, the First Map bet requires you to predict which team will win the first map. |
| Total Kills | The Total Kills bet option needs you to predict the number of kills you think will happen in a particular match. |
eSports betting pros and cons
eSports betting isn’t all fun and games. It has a few drawbacks, like any other type of sports betting. I’ve outlined the benefits and downsides of betting on esports below.
- Follow a variety of games e.g, Fortnite, CS: GO, and Call of Duty
- Allows for community interaction with fellow esports wagering enthusiasts
- Widely accessible and easy to watch and wager from any location
- Offers enhanced accuracy because esports wagering software provides detailed stats
- Wide range of betting options
- Susceptible to cheating scandals and match-fixing
- Esports is notoriously unpredictable. making it difficult to win regular wagers.
Choosing the best esports betting sites
I can’t stress enough how the esports betting platform you pick has the power to make or break your gambling experience. You can use the following pointers to make the best decision:
- In-play betting:
Esports betting websites that allow Indian punters to place wagers while matches are underway make the experience more exciting.
- Live streaming:
Over and above live betting, the best esports betting sites assist punters in watching contests and following the action in real time. This gives players an edge to make informed betting decisions.
- Diverse betting markets:
The best site for esports betting offers a variety of gambling options, from Match winners to more complex markets for entertaining betting.
- Quality odds:
Competitive esports betting odds across several markets translate to maximum possible returns for players.
- Esports bonuses:
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Understanding esports betting odds
Esports betting odds are set by sportsbooks and show the probability of an outcome in a sporting event. At the same time, these odds give you an idea of how much you’ll get from the wager.
To arrive at the best odds, the best esports betting site uses data such as form, history between two teams, and other factors. Bookies express this probability as odds in various formats, which I’ve outlined below.
I find that with decimal odds, it’s easier to calculate the actual return on your bet. Simply multiply your stake with the decimal odds. The lower the decimal number, the higher the winning probability of that team and vice versa. Let’s say a bookie offers odds for two teams: Team Liquid 1.19 vs G2 Esports 16.00. If you back Team Liquid and bet 10INR, you get a total profit of 11.9INR (1.19 x 10INR).
Fractional odds appear as a fraction where the numerator represents the amount you will get from a winning wager. The denominator is the amount you must stake. 4/1 fractional odds give you a return of 4INR for every 1INR you wager. Add your initial 1INR, which will give you a total return of 5INR.
American odds are displayed with a plus or minus sign. The minus sign is for favorites and shows how much you must stake to win 100 INR. A plus sign represents underdog odds and shows the amount you win for every 100 INR you wager. If a team has +260 odds and you bet 50INR, your profit will be 130 INR (260/100 x 50 INR). Your total return, including your 50 INR initial stake, becomes 180 INR.
Handy esports betting tips & strategies
Joining the best esports betting sites is only half the job if you’re hoping for an optimal gambling experience.Why not use these tips and strategies to improve your game and hopefully neutralize the house edge?
- Research:
Knowing the winners to pick doesn’t happen by chance, even at the
best betting sites
for esports. Research into participating teams by analyzing past stats, best players, recent wins, and more.
- Look for the best odds:
If you’re like me and hoping to bag higher odds, focus on riskier markets like handicap betting. The best betting sites tend to have bigger odds on these, which translates to higher potential payouts
- Use Matched and Arbitrage Betting:
Using Matched and Arbitrage betting is a surefire way to lock in the profits. With the former, you use the bookmaker’s promotions to turn a profit and gamble on both sides of a market with the latter.
- Track your betting activities:
I’d advise you to keep track of your esports wagering activities, such as wins, draws, and losses. This information will help you spot your strengths and weaknesses and know which method is working and which one to ditch.
- Celebrate the small wins:
If you’ve been a gambler long enough, you should know that a win is a win. So don’t shun the small wins while waiting for the significant payouts.
Betting on esports responsibly
The highly thrilling and engaging nature of esports betting can really make you lose track of time—and funds— if you’re not careful. Indian bettors must adopt responsible gaming practices and place boundaries on their betting activities. Luckily, most bookies won’t throw you to the wolves and provide several tools to help keep things under control.
Depending on the platform, you’ll be in a position to set betting limits, activate timeouts, or excuse yourself from the entire betting process for a set period. Seeking treatment is also another option if your gambling habits become troublesome.
Esports betting in India on the rise
eSports online betting is a fairly new form of sports betting, although it has developed significantly in several areas. It now boasts multiple esports games, leagues, and bet types. What makes it unique is the strong unpredictability of the games. You need to have a sound understanding of the games and incorporate some tips to hopefully give you a winning edge.
The market is thriving in India as many sites are looking to get a slice of the pie for this lucrative market. Make sure you pick the right one using my trusted criteria, and the sky is the limit.
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eSports betting FAQ
💲 How much can wager on esports?
The bet amount will vary depending on the bookie. Just like a
minimum deposit casino India, you may have to wager as low as 20 INR to get in on the action.
📈 What is Arbitrage betting in esports?
Arbitrage betting is a common strategy in esports wagering, where you place two bets on the same sporting event. This guarantees a profit despite the outcome.
🎮 What are popular games in esports?
Several esports games have piqued the interest of Indian punters. These include Dota 2, CS: GO, Valorant, and League of Legends.
