Whilst electronic sports – better known as esports – are still seen as the new kid on the block, they’ve grown to become one of the most popular types of sport to watch and bet on. Competitive gaming in front of live and live-streamed audiences has exploded since the early 2000s, as has betting on esports, with the global esports market now worth more than $10 million.
Esports offer plenty of advantages when it comes to online betting. You’ll find esports events played around the world nearly every day, often live-streamed on easy-to-access sites like YouTube and Twitch. Esports typically produce a flow of data and statistics, allowing you to make informed bets. If you know your games, esports betting provides an exciting way to follow your favourite players and teams.
To help you get into esports betting, here we explain how to bet on esports and how esports odds work. Plus we give you our top tips for betting on esports.
How Do I Bet on Esports with BoyleSports?
One of the best aspects of esports betting is the huge variety of games you can bet on, from first-person shooters like Overwatch to battle arena games like League of Legends. And from StarCraft and FIFA to Hearthstone and more. You can place a selection of bets on your favourite games, with the most popular being:
● Match/Map Winner: Bet on a team or player to win their upcoming match.
● Tournament Winner: Place an outright bet on a team or player to win an entire tournament or league.
● In-Play: Place live bets on the outcome of a match whilst it's being played.
To bet on esports with us, first take a few minutes to set-up your BoyleSports account. Once you’ve registered with us, you’ll have access to all our current and upcoming esports betting markets right here on this page.
Part of successful betting is making sure you do so responsibly. You can practice responsible betting by:
● Making sure you understand the esports game you’re betting on and the bets you’re making.
● Setting a betting limit (bankroll), and stopping betting when you reach that limit.
● Never gambling with money you can’t afford to lose.
● Never gambling when you’re intoxicated or otherwise not thinking clearly, such as if you’re overly angry or excited.
● Treating gambling as entertainment only and not a way to try and consistently make money.
● Seeking help if you think your gambling is becoming a problem.
Popular Games for Esports Betting
You’ll find esports betting markets for all the top games at BoyleSports. Some of the most popular online games include:
● League of Legends (LoL): An enduringly successful multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game where teams of five compete to destroy the enemy’s base.
● Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS): A tactical first-person shooter (FPS) where teams of terrorists and counter-terrorists battle in objective-based missions.
● Dota 2: An MOBA game where two teams of five aim to destroy the opposing team’s Ancient – a large structure in their base.
● Fortnite: Most often played in esports as a battle royale game where teams fight to be the last one standing on an ever-shrinking map.
● Call of Duty (CoD): The world famous fast-paced FPS series known for its multiplayer modes and competitive team-based gameplay.
● Overwatch: A team-based FPS where players use unique heroes with special abilities to compete in objective-based matches.
● Valorant: A tactical FPS blending character-based abilities with team-based, objective-focused gameplay.
● Rocket League: A unique game combining football with rocket-powered cars, where teams aim to outscore their opponents in an arena setting.
● StarCraft II: Arguably the best real-time strategy game ever made, where players build armies and manage resources to defeat their opponents in a Sci-Fi setting.
How Do Odds Work on Esports?
As with traditional sports betting, you’ll see all our esports odds written as fractional odds, like 10/1. Ten to one odds (10/1) like these mean you’ll earn back ten times your bet if you win.
For example, if you were to bet £1 on FaZe Clan to win in an up-and-coming Call of Duty Championship tournament match at 10/1, and they do, you’d win £10. Plus you’d have your £1 stake returned, for a total of £11.
Take a look at these other examples of fractional odds and payouts to make sure they’re clear to you:
• For a stake of £1 at odds of 10/1, the winnings are £10. With the stake returned, the total winnings are £11.
• For a stake of £1 at odds of 7/3, the winnings are £2.33. With the stake returned, the total winnings are £3.33.
• For a stake of £1 at odds of 13/3, the winnings are £4.33. With the stake returned, the total winnings are £5.33.
• For a stake of £1 at odds of 17/20, the winnings are £0.85. With the stake returned, the total winnings are £1.85.
• For a stake of £1 at odds of 7/9, the winnings are £0.78. With the stake returned, the total winnings are £1.78.
Tips for Esports Betting
Follow these tips to give yourself the best chances of success as you bet on esports:
● Know the game you’re betting on: Understand the mechanics, teams, and players of the game you're betting on.
● Understand the bets you make: Ensure you know what bets you’re placing and how you win them.
● Research teams and players: Study past performance, current form, and previous head-to-head matchups.
● Follow the meta: Stay up-to-date with news and game patches and updates, as changes can shake-up the meta, favouring particular teams and players.
● Watch live streams: Follow matches in real-time to better understand games and performances, and to identify in-play betting opportunities.
● Start small: Place smaller bets at first until you’re more familiar with the games and competitions you’re betting on.
● Manage your bankroll. Set yourself a clear budget and stick to it. Bet with your head, avoid emotional or impulse betting.
Bet on Esports with BoyleSports
Esports is a global phenomenon that’s growing year on year. With so many competitions played around the world across so many games, and streamed on easy-to-access platforms, there’s never been a better time to get into esports betting.
With our esports betting markets and competitive esports odds, you’ll find everything you need to start betting on esports right here with BoyleSports. Register with us today and place your first esports bets today.
