Welcome to the world of competitive gaming, full of fun and engagement! The esports industry is booming, so don’t be surprised if you see CS:GO , League of Legends , Rocket League and DotA 2 bets at your favourite Sportsbook . Want to learn more about popular video games and esports betting?
Short for ‘electronic sports’, esports is professional video gaming. The first video game competition took place on 19 October 1972, when a handful of hardcore Spacewar players gathered at Stanford University to compete for a year’s subscription for Rolling Stone magazine in the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics. Today, millions of fans fill massive stadiums and tune in online to watch their favourite professional esports teams and celebrity players battle for glory! The rewards are nothing to be sniffed at — CS:GO, LoL and DotA 2 players are competing for attractive prize pools! If you’ve ever stormed the Rift with your mates or spent a Sunday afternoon in Nuketown, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Odds are that this sounds like gibberish — don’t fret! Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular video games and how you, too, can get started on esports betting.
Hundreds of video games have come and gone, but the most successful titles have persevered through time and are the keystones of competitive esports. Here are some of the most competitive, popular esports games and genres which define today’s esports industry and current esports betting markets:
Counter-Strike (CS) is an objective-based, multiplayer first-person shooter developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. Two CS teams enter the fray. Each team is tasked with distinct objectives and must complete them while eliminating the opponents. CS gameplay is centred around objective control and choke-point dominance. At the end of each round, the players are rewarded with in-game currency based on their (and their teams’) performance, and eliminating opponents awards bonus cash. This currency can be spent on utility equipment or other items, for the following rounds.
Call of Duty is another first-person shooter (FPS) franchise with the most recent title, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, released on 13 November 2020. There are multiple game modes, ranging from objective-based combat to 1v150 battle royale and surviving the zombie apocalypse with a group of friends. Competitive CoD gameplay is centred around the game’s main modes, where two teams are competing against each other in a bid for objective control. The game’s battle royale, is also quite popular among fans and punters worldwide.
League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) from RIOT Games. The main game mode is Summoner’s Rift, where two teams of five players set forth to defend their half of the map. Each player controls a character, called ‘champion’, which has a unique set of abilities. Champions can be split into distinct categories, each suited for a specific role on the Rift. The objective of the game is to steadily gain control of the map by defeating opponents, taking on jungle monsters and bringing down enemy structures: towers, inhibitors and the Nexus. The team which pushes through to the enemy base and destroys the opponent’s Nexus wins the match. The matches are highly strategic and very team-oriented. A single misplaced click on the map can turn the tides of the match, which is precisely why millions of fans flock to the screens to see their favourite LoL esports teams clash on the Rift.
DotA 2 is Valve’s take on the MOBA genre, created in the guise of the original Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft III. Just like in League of Legends, the matches in DotA 2 are played between two teams, each one defending their base on the map. The players control unique characters, called ‘heroes’, and empower them throughout gameplay by defeating opponents, taking objectives and gathering resources. While player vs player combat is a key part of DotA 2 gameplay, teams must micro-manage their moves to gradually gain control of objectives and push past the enemy lines. The winning team is one that brings down the Ancient, a large structure at the core of the opponent’s base.
The FIFA video game series is perhaps the most popular football game around. Released by Electronic Arts, FIFA holds the Guinness World Record as the best-selling sports video game franchise, with over 325 million copies sold worldwide. This series simulates football matches, where players can build their dream teams and tackle fixtures of their choosing. Competitive FIFA players must climb the rank ladder in FUT Champions, a game mode in FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT), and participate in FIFA league competitions throughout the season.
With the meteoric rise of competitive esports, sports betting platforms were quick to jump on the bandwagon. Much like with traditional sports, punters can now enjoy a variety of betting markets on esports like CS:GO, LoL and DotA 2 at top odds. Arguably, esports betting may just be the future of sports betting as a whole! Esports are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between professional play and casual fun. There are hundreds of competitive titles on the market and anyone, even you, can dive right in and experience the thrill of competition right at home. Esports are far more accessible and, thus, allow punters to gain a greater understanding of esports betting, odds and available markets.
If you’re interested in learning more about competitive esports events, odds, and want to try your hand at esports betting, here are the major esports tournaments that you should look forward to:
Players can place bets on a variety of esports markets at great odds, which will vary greatly between esports games. First-person shooters are beginner-friendly, allowing bets on maps handicap, round/match winner and total rounds. On the other hand, DotA 2, LoL and popular esports games like Fortnite or Warzone are a bit more complex. The bets you will encounter don’t just cover the sports odds for match Win/Loss and rounds played, but also odds on a selection of additional markets, like first to destroy a tower. The odds on these esports markets heavily rely on the gameplay, so this is where your knowledge of the game will shine! Consider looking into professional sports teams as well as researching advanced strategy to gain a better understanding of what distinguishes the best from the rest. Once you are familiar with the key players in the esport of your choice and know what to expect in a match, you will be better equipped to estimate the fall of objectives and hedge your bets based on whether you expect the teams to play passively or aggressively.
Before you dive in and wager cash on the next action-packed matchup, learn as much as you can about esports betting and odds. To get started, pick a game that interests you and follow ongoing tournaments, top teams and high-ranking players. Take the time to get to know the game, and you’ll be in a better position to make informed, strategic decisions on your next bet. In esports, no two matches are identical — but you don’t have to be a pro player to make smart bets! When you have a solid grasp on the odds, markets and know what the best esports for betting are, choose a reputable Sportsbook and get ready for dynamic, jaw-dropping gameplay!
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